Blurry Vision During Exercise
Health ConditionsEye & Vision Health

Blurry Vision During Exercise

Blurry Vision During Exercise
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Updated on July 31, 2025
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When it comes to your body’s response to exercise, there are some physical symptoms you should never ignore. If you’re experiencing blurred vision while working out or immediately after you’ve finished, it could be a red flag that something more serious is going on.

Read on to learn about blurry vision, why it might happen during exercise, and more.

Blood Pressure Levels

If you’re dealing with blurry vision during or after exercise, your first step is to consider any underlying medical or health issue that may be to blame. In some cases, it could be a red flag for something more serious like a stroke, an aneurysm, or diabetes.

In fact, hypotension, or low blood pressure, is one condition that can cause you to have blurry vision. The National Institutes of Health defines low blood pressure as a pressure that is lower than 90/60 mmHg. This can happen as a sudden drop in pressure, although for some people, low blood pressure is a chronic condition.

In regards to exercise, dehydration can cause your blood pressure to drop.

Issues With Blood Sugar

High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is another possible culprit that can cause your vision to blur.

When you’re hyperglycemic, your blood sugar levels are higher than normal or higher than your target level set by your doctor. And when this happens, you can experience symptoms such as blurred vision.

Exercising when blood sugar levels are too high — or over 250 — can be dangerous. Make sure to monitor your levels prior to physical activity and time your workouts to start about 30 minutes after a meal, as long as your blood sugar levels are normal.

Blurry vision can also be a sign of hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, during or after a workout.

Other Causes of Blurred Vision

If you have blurry vision in one eye after working out, it could be a sign of a condition called optic neuritis. This happens when the nerve fibers that carry images from the retina to the brain become inflamed, which causes them to not function properly.

When you’re hot or tired, optic neuritis symptoms such as blurriness in your eyes can get worse. This is often triggered by exercise or taking a hot bath.

Another cause of blurry vision during exercise could be migraine. This could be the case if you have a known history of migraine. If you suspect that migraine or optic neuritis could be the reason for your blurred vision, talk with your doctor.

When to See a Doctor

It’s important to see a doctor if you’re experiencing blurry vision after workout sessions because you may be dealing with a condition called diplopia, or double vision.

Diplopia can cause you to see two images when you look at a single object. Although it’s generally temporary, it’s not something to ignore since it could be related to something more serious, like a problem with the brain or eyes.

If an ophthalmologist determines you have optic neuritis, they may recommend corticosteroids, a medicine used to treat this condition.

If you have blurred vision along with other symptoms like extreme thirst, tiredness, and the need to urinate more often, talk to your doctor immediately. These could indicate that you’re at risk of developing diabetes.

And if you already have a diabetes diagnosis, you could be dealing with a condition called diabetic retinopathy, which causes vision loss and blindness. One of the main symptoms of this condition is blurry vision, so make sure to let your doctor know if you’re experiencing blurred vision while working out.

Treatment and Prevention of Blurry Vision

In order to minimize or prevent blurry vision from happening, you should work with your doctor to treat the cause of blurred vision while working out.

Depending on the severity, your doctor may recommend lifestyle modifications or medications to raise your blood pressure. You can also talk with a registered dietitian to design a diet that addresses low blood pressure and its effect on exercise.

The Takeaway

  • There are multiple reasons that could be behind blurry vision, including during exercise.
  • Blurry vision during exercise may have to do with blood pressure or blood sugar levels, or could be a sign of other conditions like optic neuritis.
  • Talk with your doctor if you experience blurry vision while working out.

Resources We Trust

EDITORIAL SOURCES
Everyday Health follows strict sourcing guidelines to ensure the accuracy of its content, outlined in our editorial policy. We use only trustworthy sources, including peer-reviewed studies, board-certified medical experts, patients with lived experience, and information from top institutions.
Resources
  1. Vision Problems. MedlinePlus. August 5, 2024.
  2. Low Blood Pressure. National Institutes of Health. March 24, 2022.
  3. Hyperglycemia (High Blood Pressure). Cleveland Clinic. March 2, 2023.
  4. The Importance of Exercise When You Have Diabetes. Harvard Health Publishing. August 2, 2023.
  5. Optic Neuritis. University of Michigan Health.
  6. Retinal Migraine. National Health Service. January 19, 2023.
  7. Diplopia (Double Vision). Cleveland Clinic. August 6, 2024.
  8. Goyal R et al. Type 2 Diabetes. StatPearls. June 23, 2023.
  9. Diabetic Retinopathy. National Institutes of Health — National Eye Institute. December 10, 2024.
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Ghazala O'Keefe, MD

Medical Reviewer
Castle Connolly Top Doctor
Ghazala O'Keefe, MD, is an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Emory University School of Medicine in Atlanta, where she also serves as the section director for uveitis and as a fellowship director. A retina and uveitis specialist, she cares for both pediatric patients and adults with inflammatory and infectious eye diseases. She oversees the largest uveitis section in the Southeast and manages the care of complex patients with physicians from other disciplines. 

She is the lead editor of the EyeWiki uveitis section. She is a member of the executive committee of the American Uveitis Society and was inducted into the International Uveitis Study Group. She has served as the director of the Southeastern Vitreoretinal Seminar since 2019.
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Sara Lindberg

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Sara Lindberg is a mental health and fitness expert who enjoys writing about health, wellness, online therapy, nutrition, parenting, and education. With a bachelor's degree in exercise science and a master's degree in counseling, she's spent the last 20 years helping people improve both their physical and mental health.

Her writing career began after spending 17 years as a middle school and high school counselor. She takes a special interest in providing readers with easy-to-understand, factual health information that is grounded in science and research.

Her work has appeared in publications such as Healthline, Self, VeryWell Health, VeryWell Fit, Livestrong, Men's Health, SheKnows, Runner's World, and many more.
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