There are various medical causes behind vision-related problems. Vision loss could result from age, genetic conditions inherited through family trees, accidents or infections among other things.
According to research by IAPB Vision Atlas and Lancet Global Health Commission, up to 90% of visual disorders can be successfully treated or prevented with professional assistance.
Early treatment can often be critical in correcting or managing vision issues. Discover more by reviewing five early warning signs of vision issues below.
1. Chronic Red Eyes
Red eyes are typically identified by red and bloodshot looking whites of your eyes, making them appear red or bloodshot.
Red, painful eyes can be caused by more than just pink eye. Long-term red eye symptoms could be an early indicator of allergies or more serious medical conditions like orbital cellulitis, uveitis, glaucoma and more.
Red eyes may indicate serious infections, inflammations and eye diseases – along with many more potential causes that are related.
If your red eyes don’t seem to be clearing up or you experience rapidly blurred vision, pain, light sensitivity, nausea or headaches then be sure to visit a physician as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis.
2. Blurry Vision
Although blurry vision may simply indicate the need for glasses or contact lenses, it could also be an indicator of something more serious happening to you.
One important distinction between them both lies in whether or not the distortion has appeared suddenly. Sudden blurring could indicate conditions like detached retina, corneal infection, macular degeneration, Parkinson’s disease, glaucoma, macular edema pink eye diabetic retinopathy or other eye issues.
Careful eye exams that include imaging instead of air puffs can provide a more complete picture of any eye issues you might be experiencing.
If your blurred vision stems from needing corrective lenses, wearing glasses specifically tailored for your eyes may significantly improve it.
No matter the extent of your eye care needs, it’s vital that you remain proactive so that life may unfold with clarity. Even if all you require are glasses, make sure your needs are taken care of regularly so they do not hinder the quality of life for yourself and those around you.
3. Eye Floaters
An eye floater may appear as an object traveling across your eyeball like an invisible dot or stringy thing.
Floaters can obstruct your vision, making life extremely frustrating. Perhaps you have even attempted to remove one but without success.
Since floaters don’t actually reside within your eyeball, you couldn’t remove them easily.
Floaters are caused by cells or deposits clumped together within your vitreous body – not near the surface of your eyeball.
Floaters appear because you are seeing the reflection of cells onto the surface of your eye, not due to any actual decline in vision. They may just be part of life.
However, they can also signal other conditions, including uveitis, retinal tears and detached retinas as well as cancerous growths, posterior vitreous detachment or diabetic retinopathy.
4. Flashes of Light That Aren’t There
If you are seeing flashes of light that don’t exist, this could be a telltale sign that something is amiss with your eyes – an issue which needs medical attention immediately. Symptoms may include sudden flashes that don’t correspond with any specific light source and flashes without an actual source. These flashes occur when your retina has been stretched causing sudden light flashes without an apparent source.
This may be caused by your eye changing shape or by excessively rubbing it too frequently or hard. Other possible causes could include posterior vitreous detachment, optic inflammation and retinal detachment.
5. Light Sensitivity
Light sensitivity or photophobia occurs when one experiences pain or discomfort when exposed to bright lights.
Light sensitivity can be normal; however, consistent light sensitivity that does not change with sudden transitions from dark to light spaces may indicate vision or medical problems.
Light sensitivity could be an indicator of meningitis, encephalitis, subarachnoid hemorrhage, migraines, corneal abrasion or scleritis – among many other conditions.
Minor conditions that should not cause concern include headaches, dry eyes and pink eye. Consult a physician immediately if you also experience nausea, extreme migraines, fever or mental confusion.
Conclusion
If you experience any or all of the above symptoms, it would be prudent to see either an ophthalmologist, optometrist, or even go directly to an emergency room if there is severe discomfort in your eyes.
Though the above symptoms indicate early issues, you should also monitor for other symptoms that could signal potential issues – for instance, unexplained swelling, chronic headaches and night blindness are just some of them.
Early treatment is key to avoiding permanent vision loss. You can take charge of your eye health by becoming educated on eye conditions and scheduling regular eye exams.