What is meant by the term 'blurred vision'?

Blurred vision refers primarily to a decrease in visual acuity, which is the clarity or sharpness of vision. When an individual experiences blurred vision, it signifies that their eyes are not able to focus light correctly on the retina, resulting in a hazy or unclear image. This can be caused by various factors, including refractive errors such as myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness), as well as other more serious conditions like cataracts or corneal irregularities. Thus, the term 'blurred vision' is most accurately associated with a lack of visual acuity, reflecting difficulties in perceiving fine details clearly. In contrast, other terms provided, such as lack of contrast sensitivity, loss of ability to focus on close objects, or visual field loss, refer to different aspects of visual function that do not specifically define the phenomenon of blurred vision.