It is a matter of great concern if one gets problems related to vision. It can be cloudy vision, blurred vision or double vision. Cloudy vision can occur due to certain medical conditions like cataracts, glaucoma or due to retinal detachment. Sometimes it can occur due to life-threatening serious conditions like stroke or trans ischemic attack. It is necessary to seek immediate medical care if you have cloudy vision.
People often confuse the term “blurred vision” with cloudy vision. Blurred vision can be due to refractive error which is not a serious problem and can be easily corrected by wearing eyeglasses or lenses. But cloudy vision can be due to serious problem also. It can occur due to loss of transparency in your eyes.
Causes :
Often, cataract is the major cause of cloudy vision. Cataracts can occur normally as one grows older and in some cases at an early age due to chronic medical conditions like diabetes or use of certain drugs. Cataract is a condition that occurs due to accumulation of protein particles in the lens making it cloudy. Due to this, light cannot pass through the lens clearly leading to glared vision.
In some cases it can develop due to eye injury, trauma and eye infections. Inflammation of the cornea can develop due to infection and in some cases excess of accumulation of debris can cause cloudy vision. For some people vitamin A deficiency can cause cloudy vision.
Symptoms :
Some of the common symptoms of cloudy vision are partial loss of vision or blurred vision. The affected person has to strain largely to read certain words. It may also cause dryness in the eyes, irritation and double vision. You may have difficulty in seeing objects clearly which may appear to be glaring. The eyes may become overly sensitive to light and for some people there may be excess of production of tears. If you have cloudy vision along with certain medical conditions like severe headache, dizziness, numbness, and confusion of thoughts then it can be a medical emergency.
Diagnosis :
The doctor will listen to the patient’s history carefully and order for various tests like blood pressure, visual acuity test and visual field testing. An ophthalmologist will examine the pupils and measure the intraocular pressure for detecting glaucoma. If the patient has medical history of diabetes, he would check his levels of blood sugar since it can cause cataracts. Complete neurological testing may be done to rule out anomalies in the nervous system and the brain. He may also request for CT scan if he suspects pituitary tumor or atherosclerosis.
Treatment :
Treatment of cloudy vision depends entirely on the cause. A patient diagnosed with cataract may be operated for removing the cataracts. If cloudy vision is due to the intake of steroids then your doctor may prescribe suitable alternate medication for your illness. Surgery is the first line treatment for cataract. Cataract surgery is very simple procedure done on outpatient basis.
Prevention :
You cannot prevent the condition of cloudy vision since it occurs due to underlying medical issues. If you have diabetes ensure that your blood sugar levels are in normal range and visit your doctor regularly. People with family history of eye related issues should go for eye-checkup once in 2 years.