blurred vision

Question 1

what is blurred vision?

Answer 1

loss of clarity or sharpness of vision

vast majority of patients with blurred vision will have long-term refractive errors

Question 2

what are causes?

Answer 2

refractive error: most common
cataracts
retinal detachment
age-related macular degeneration
acute angle closure glaucoma
optic neuritis
amaurosis fugax

Question 3

how do you assess?

Answer 3

visual acuity with a Snellen chart
pinhole occluders are a useful way to check for whether the blurred vision is due to a refractive error or not
if the blurring improves with a pinhole occluder then likely cause is a refractive error

visual fields
fundoscopy

Question 4

how do you mx?

Answer 4

depends on the suspected underlying cause
if gradual onset, corrected by pinhole occluder and no other associated symptoms then an optician review would be the next step
other patients should be seen by ophthalmology. If there are associated symptoms such as visual loss or pain this should be urgent