Can small scractches on my glasses lenses affect my vision clarity?

Question

I have tiny, almost invisible nicks and scratches on my lenses from wiping them with a cloth when there must have been dust on the lenses.

I was wondering if these tiny scratches and dings (some are in the center where my pupil is sighted on), can actually make my overall vision appear blurry? Or, as my dad said, are they too small and close to my eyes to affect my vision whatsoever?

My vision in my left eye is a little blurry, and I'm wondering if it's because these new scratches, or because of me straining them with being on the computer so long and etc.

Answer 1

It is possible that your left eye is a little blurry because your vision (maybe only in the left eye) has changed and you need new glasses. If it had something to do with the computer, I would think both eyes would be affected. Concerning the scratches, just because the scratches are too close to your eyes to be able to focus on them, doesn't mean they do not reduce visual acuity, although probably only slightly. This is somewhat like how a CD can look pretty scratched up but still play, because the scratches are not at the depth where the lens is looking at it during playing. But they do add to the level of blur and eventually it will get to the point where it starts skipping. If you have a friend who has glasses about the same, or even a little stronger than yours, you could try them on and see if you suddenly see a lot better, if so, it suggests that you might need to get new glasses.