Lana Bandoim is a science writer and editor with more than a decade of experience covering complex health topics.

Bryan Wolynski, OD, is a board-certified community optometrist who has been in the eye care field for over 30 years. He works in private practice in New York City.

Visual distortions can affect your ability to see normally. Often called visual disturbances, they can cause changes in eyesight such as blurry or wavy vision. Different medical conditions may cause visual distortions.

This article will explain more about visual distortions and your treatment options.

To understand visual distortions, it is helpful to learn about eye anatomy and function. The eye has different parts, including the:

Problems with different parts of the eye may lead to impaired vision and visual disturbances.

Visual distortions are things that affect your eyes and vision. There are different types of visual distortions, including:

Different medical conditions can cause visual distortions. Make sure to talk to your eye doctor about any new or changing visual disturbances.  

There are many conditions associated with visual distortions. It is important to see a doctor and discuss your symptoms for a proper diagnosis.

Although it is not possible to prevent all types of visual distortions, there are certain risk factors that increase your chance of having eye problems, such as:

Your doctor may do the following tests:

Your treatment options depend on the cause of the blurry vision. They may include:

Visual distortions are symptoms, such as halos or wavy lines, that affect your ability to see. Many medical conditions can cause them. Visual distortions may not always be a sign of a serious problem but still should be taken seriously. You should talk to your doctor and get an eye exam.

It is important to remember that not all cases of visual distortion are a reason to worry or a sign of a serious medical problem, but you should have them checked by an eye doctor. If the visual distortions are new or changing, you should see an eye doctor immediately or go to the emergency room.

No, some visual distortions happen because of migraines or other conditions that are not an emergency. However, since self-diagnosis can be difficult and incorrect, you should see your eye doctor to determine if you have a serious medical problem.

Wavy lines can be a sign of different eye conditions. You should talk to your eye doctor and get an eye exam.

Wavy lines can be a symptom of many conditions. One of them is AMD, which can cause blindness if not treated. Make sure you get an eye exam and talk to your doctor to get a diagnosis.

Stress and anxiety may cause visual distortions and affect your overall health. For example, stress can trigger a migraine, which can lead to seeing auras in your visual field. 

Aging does have an impact on your eyesight. As you get older, you may develop presbyopia. This is a condition that makes it difficult to focus on objects near you. Your eye doctor can correct this with glasses.

American Academy of Ophthalmology. Eye anatomy: Parts of the eye and how we see.

Cleveland Clinic. Seeing double? Get your vision checked promptly. Updated February 6, 2018.

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