8 Common Signs Of Poor Vision You Shouldn't Ignore
The World Health Organisation estimates that in 2010, one-fifth of the world's blindness cases occurred in India. Vision problems often begin with slight signs, which people often initially ignore. They eventually become serious issues. Therefore, it's critical to be aware of the frequent symptoms of eye disorders that could indicate an acute or chronic illness.Primary causes
In India, glaucoma, cataracts, and uncorrected refractive errors are the leading causes of blindness and vision impairment. According to the National Blindness and Visual Impairment Survey, 66.2 per cent of blindness cases in India are attributed to cataracts, making them the primary cause of blindness. Glaucoma accounts for 6.7 per cent, and uncorrected refractive problems for 18.6 per cent. Diabetic retinopathy (3.3 per cent), infantile blindness (1.7 per cent), and corneal opacities (0.9 per cent) are additional causes of blindness and visual impairment.
Common signs to look for eye diseases
1. Distorted or blurry vision
Perhaps the most noticeable sign for patients to see is this one. See your eye doctor right away if you notice sudden blurriness or a distortion in your vision, such as a straight line that looks wavy. This may affect the centre of your sight or the sides (peripheral vision). Conditions like age-related macular degeneration, corneal infections, detached retina, or angle-closure glaucoma are common causes. Other diseases, such as macular oedema, conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye), and diabetic retinopathy, can also lead to blurred or distorted vision.
2. Swelling of the eye
Eye swelling happens when the eyelids or nearby tissues become inflamed or irritated. The eye may look bigger or change colour. This can occur due to injuries to the head, face, or neck, or from allergies caused by pollen, pet dander, bug bites, or other irritants.
3. Red eyes
The white portions of the eyes turn pink or crimson as the blood vessels enlarge due to irritation or inflammation. Red eyes can be caused due to the use of tobacco, or some allergies, and air pollution.
4. Persistent headaches
Depending on the cause, headaches can feel different. People may experience a strong pain in their temples or behind their eyes, or a dull aching sensation. It is best to speak with medical professionals if standard headache drugs aren't helping and the pain continues. Although they are often a sign of emotional or physical stress, headaches can also be a symptom of severe eye conditions. Headaches can be caused by migraines, corneal infections, angle-closure glaucoma, photokeratitis (also known as eye sunburn), and eyestrain.
5. Oversensitivity to light
Our eyes are naturally adapted to handle different levels of light. However, when the eye is unable to cope with the amount of incoming light, it causes photophobia, or light sensitivity. When you step outside after seeing a movie at the theatre or when you first wake up in the morning to sunshine in your bed, you may have minor photophobia. However, persistently high levels of photophobia could indicate a more serious condition. Prolonged or severe photophobia may indicate cataracts or migraines.
6. Floaters
Floaters are the tiny lines, dots, specks, and webs that appear to float in your field of vision, particularly when you're staring at blank or unadorned items like a computer screen or a white wall. Contact your eye doctor immediately if you notice an increase in floaters or if they appear suddenly. You are actually seeing clusters of cells floating inside your eyes, even though they appear to be floating about in front of them. These clusters appear as floaters and cast shadows on the retina, which is located at the back of the eye..Some conditions that may cause severe floaters include uveitis, a torn retina, a detached retina, ocular lymphoma, diabetic retinopathy, and posterior vitreous detachment.
7. Night blindness
The eye is normally well-suited to deal with low light levels. We can see in dimly lit areas because the pupil will enlarge to absorb as much light as possible. It can be difficult to see at night or in poorly lit areas due to certain severe eye disorders that impair the eye's ability to absorb or process light. Night blindness can result from several conditions, including nystagmus, glaucoma, cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa.
8. Flashes
As you age, you may experience sudden flashes in your vision, which are typically caused by vitreous fluid pulling or rubbing against the retina, which is located in the back of your eye. The initial indication of an injury or other eye disease may be lights that resemble bright stars, flashing bulbs, or lightning flashes. Seeing these following a concussion or other brain injury is concerning. Flashes can be caused by the following conditions: migraine, detached retina, torn retina, and complications following surgery.
What to do if you find these signs
If you can identify any of these vision problems' signs, immediately consult an eye doctor. In no circumstances should you try over-the-counter medicines. Remember, only timely intervention can save your eyes from further damage and protect your vision. Follow all the doctor's instructions until the condition of the affected eyes improves.
Vision loss is usually gradual, and the early warning signals can be modest. Recognising these symptoms and acting quickly can make a big difference in protecting your vision. It is therefore important to go for regular eye exams, even if you don't have any of the above symptoms. Early identification can prevent future damage and guarantee that your vision remains healthy for years to come.
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