Sight is one of the most vital senses available to the human body. You rely on your sight from the moment you wake up until the moment you go to sleep. Clear vision allows you to read, work, avoid hazards, and interact with your loved ones. Since sight is so important, blurry vision can be extremely disruptive. Here are four things you must do if you experience blurry vision:

1. Call your eye doctor.

Blurry vision can be a sign of trouble if it happens suddenly. When in doubt, the first thing you should do is call your eye doctor. Your optometrist will ask you to describe your symptoms over the phone. They may ask if you're seeing lights or floaters in your field of vision, which might suggest diabetes-related eye damage. If your blurred vision is accompanied by weakness on one side of your body, you may be suffering from a stroke; in this case, your optometrist will suggest that you seek emergency medical attention by calling 911.

2. Remove your contact lenses.

If you wear contacts, you should remove them at the first sign of blurred vision. Dry or damaged contact lenses may be the cause of your problem. Contact lenses can also exacerbate other eye conditions. If your blurred vision is caused by retinal damage, a contact lens could further irritate your eye, for example. If possible, you should wear glasses until your vision problems resolve or until your eye doctor clears you to wear contacts again.

3. Get an emergency eye exam.

If your optometrist is concerned about your eye health, they may ask you to come to their office for an eye exam. During an emergency eye exam, your optometrist will check your eyes for scratches and abrasions. They will also dilate your pupils to examine the back of your retina. By looking at the back of your eye, your eye doctor can identify problems affecting your optic nerve. An emergency eye exam will allow your optometrist to diagnose eye infections and illnesses which require treatment.

4. Update your vision aids.

If your blurry vision did not come on suddenly, you might simply require a new prescription for glasses or contact lenses. Out-of-date vision aids won't help you as much as they should. To maintain perfect vision, you should visit the eye doctor to update your prescription at least biannually. People who primarily rely on contact lenses, rather than glasses, should get their prescriptions updated annually. If you are not suffering from eye diseases or injuries, updating your vision aids may completely solve your blurry vision problem.