Blurry vision that results from dry eyes, allergies, or eyestrain from screen use may resolve with at-home care. However, some refractive errors or diseases may need medical treatment.

Blurry vision makes your eyesight feel out of focus, making it difficult to see fine detail. You may need to squint to see more clearly.

Your eyesight may become blurry as you age or due to certain health conditions. You might also experience blurry vision when you first wake up or after staring at a screen, like a computer or tablet, for long periods.

While there are several natural ways to protect and even improve blurry vision without needing to wear glasses or receive medical treatment, the underlying cause ultimately determines the best option.

If you’re experiencing blurry vision that worsens over time, meeting with a professional for an eye evaluation may be a good idea.

When it’s an emergency

Vision that suddenly becomes blurry can sometimes be an emergency. If you have sudden vision loss or severe eye pain, contact 911 or your local emergency services.

Get emergency medical attention if you have symptoms of a stroke, such as:

  • sudden vision changes
  • speech changes, including slurred speech
  • drooping face
  • weakness in your arm or on one side of your body

You can manage some causes of blurry vision naturally using home remedies or simple lifestyle changes. These include:

Dry eyes

Dry eyes can cause blurry vision, especially when you wake up in the morning. Sleeping with a fan blowing at night or living in a dry climate can make this worse.

Digital eyestrain, which usually results from staring at a computer screen without blinking for long periods, can also cause dry eyes and blurry vision.

Sleeping with your contact lenses in can also cause dry eyes and increase your risk of an eye infection.

Allergies

Allergies can make your eyes itchy and irritated, resulting in blurry vision. An eye allergy may also be called allergic conjunctivitis. Other symptoms of allergies can include:

  • runny nose
  • nasal congestion
  • sneezing

Eyestrain due to prolonged screen use

Eyestrain can cause blurry eyes. It can occur after looking and focusing on something for a long time without interruption, such as your computer, cellphone, or tablet.

It’s sometimes referred to as digital eyestrain or computer vision syndrome.

Corneal abrasion

Your cornea is the clear coating in the front of your eye. A corneal abrasion occurs when the cornea is scratched or injured.

Fingernails, tree branches, and makeup brushes are common causes of corneal abrasions. They may also be more likely if you have dry eyes. In addition to blurry vision, it might feel like there’s something in your eye.

If the corneal abrasion is small, it’ll likely heal in a day or two, but larger abrasions may require medical treatment.

Cold weather

Cold air is drier than warm air, and dry eyes can cause blurry vision. Windy conditions can also play a role.

Other causes of blurry vision will likely require medical treatment. Natural or home remedies are unlikely to help. These include:

Refractive errors

Refractive errors are common eye problems. They include:

  • hyperopia (farsightedness)
  • myopia (nearsightedness)
  • astigmatism (fuzzy or distorted vision)
  • presbyopia (loss of the ability to focus on things that are close), which can occur naturally as you age

Refractive errors often need to be corrected with eyeglasses and contacts, but surgery may be an option for some people.

Inflammation (conjunctivitis)

Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, is an inflammation of the outer layer of the eye that can cause:

  • itchy eyes
  • eye pain
  • blurry vision

While a virus often causes this inflammation, it can also result from a bacterial infection or allergies. Conjunctivitis caused by bacteria usually requires antibiotic eye drops.

Eye diseases

Many eye diseases can cause blurry vision, including:

Diabetes

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder associated with high blood sugar, but it can also affect the eyes.

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) causes progressive damage to the retina’s blood vessels and may result in blindness.

To treat it, you’ll likely need to take medications to control your blood sugar and may need other eye treatments or surgery.

Graves’ disease

If untreated, a thyroid disease known as Graves’ disease can cause eye symptoms, including blurry or double vision.

High blood pressure

High blood pressure can affect the entire body, including the small blood vessels of the eyes.

High blood pressure may cause the blood vessels in the retina to narrow, restricting blood flow and causing swelling. Over time, this can damage the blood vessels and lead to vision problems. This is called hypertensive retinopathy.

Depending on the cause of your blurry vision, some natural treatments and lifestyle changes might help you see more clearly:

Rest and recovery

Your eyes are sensitive and need rest, just like the rest of your body, so make sure you’re getting enough decent sleep. If you sit at a computer for long periods of the day, take breaks about every 20 minutes using the 20-20-20 rule.

To follow the 20-20-20 rule, shift your eyes to look at an object at least 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes.

Lubricate the eyes

For blurry vision caused by dry eyes, you may be able to improve the blurriness simply by blinking a few times or using a warm compress to gently massage the eyelids. This can stimulate the meibomian, or oil, glands in the eyelid.

You can also purchase artificial tears over the counter at a local drug store or online. These work by keeping the eyes lubricated to prevent dry eyes caused by straining.

Improve air quality

If you live in a dry climate, use a humidifier to prevent dry eyes. Avoid having air blowing directly at your face, especially at night.

Stop smoking

Smoking can contribute to many eye diseases, including AMD, cataracts, and optic nerve damage. Cigarette smoke can also further irritate dry eyes.

Avoid allergens

To prevent and treat allergies, try to avoid whatever causes your allergy.

For example, if you’re allergic to dust, make sure to clean your bedroom frequently to avoid the buildup of dust that can affect your eyes while you sleep.

If your allergies are outdoor allergies, close the windows and use an air conditioning system that can filter out allergens.

If these strategies don’t work, you can also ask your doctor about antihistamine eye drops. Some are available over the counter (OTC), and others require a prescription.

Take omega-3 fatty acids

Research suggests consuming more omega-3 fatty acids has some positive effects on people with dry eye symptoms. However, additional research is needed to confirm these results.

Omega-3 fatty acids can be found in supplements, but you can also get your omega-3s through food by increasing your intake of:

  • fatty fish
  • flax seed
  • walnuts

Talk with a medical professional before taking omega-3 supplements. This is because they can interact with medications and increase bleeding risk.

Protect your eyes

Wearing sunglasses in the sun can protect your eyes. Choose sunglasses that block out both UVA and UVB light.

Sunglasses can also be helpful in cold, dry weather or when snow on the ground reflects the sun into your eyes. They can also block the wind from irritating your eyes.

Take vitamin A

A diet low in foods that contain vitamin A can lead to dry eye and other vision problems, including blurry vision.

Vitamin A has two forms:

  • retinol and retinyl esters, which are in animal products such as dairy, liver, and fish
  • provitamin A carotenoids, which are found in plant-based foods, such as:
    • sweet potatoes
    • carrots
    • kale
    • red peppers
    • spinach
    • butternut squash

Studies show that higher blood levels of provitamin A carotenoids may greatly reduce the risk of AMD. The recommended daily allowance (RDA) for vitamin A is 900 micrograms (mcg) and 700 mcg per day for males and females, respectively.

While vitamin A may lower the risk of developing AMD and other eye problems, any supplement should be used with caution.

Vitamin A is fat-soluble. This means it’s stored in your body and can accumulate to unhealthy levels over time. Taking too much vitamin A can result in toxicity and serious side effects.

Clean your contact lenses

If you wear contact lenses, be sure to wash your hands and clean the lenses properly. You can disinfect contact lenses following the instructions provided. Don’t wear your contact lenses to bed, which can be dangerous.

You may have heard about eye exercises to help maintain optimal vision, such as rolling the eyes back and forth. However, little credible scientific evidence suggests eye exercises can improve blurry vision.

Doctors may recommend a well-rounded diet high in fruits and veggies over supplements for eye health. These vitamins can be found in leafy greens and other colorful fruits and vegetables, like:

  • carrots
  • sweet potatoes
  • bell peppers
  • broccoli
  • kale

Don’t rely on vitamin supplements for adequate nutrition. If you’re unsure how to achieve a balanced diet, talk with a doctor or nutritionist.

You don’t need to consult with a doctor if the blurriness goes away after blinking or trying other home remedies. However, if your vision is gradually getting more blurry and the blurriness persists, visit an eye care specialist for an evaluation.

Eye doctors, also known as optometrists or ophthalmologists, may want to perform a comprehensive examination of your eyes on top of other tests.

Emergency care

You should call 911 or seek emergency medical care if your eyes suddenly become blurry and you experience any of these symptoms:

  • severe headache
  • problems speaking
  • loss of muscle control on one side of your body
  • facial drooping

This could be a symptom of a stroke.

You should also seek medical treatment if blurry vision occurs following a head injury, as this can be a sign of a concussion.

While there are some natural ways to protect the eyes and even improve blurry vision without glasses or medical treatment, this largely depends on the cause of the blurriness. Blurry vision can result from refractive error or certain diseases that require medical treatment.

If blurry vision results from dry eyes, allergies, or eyestrain from prolonged screen use, natural remedies and lifestyle changes may help. If blurry vision persists, or you have other symptoms or any pain with your blurry vision, see a doctor for a comprehensive eye exam.