“Eyes are the windows to one’s soul.” You must have read this quote at least on a dozen pinterest or some other social media. Though it has a philosophical, rather Shakespearean touch to it, it is true. Eyes are one of the most attractive things in a person.
The different colored irises, the way they light up when you are talking about your favorite thing in the world. It’s all beautiful. So, it is also our responsibility to take care of these organs.
However, it gets difficult to maintain proper health of these organs due to the busy and demanding lifestyle. This is what causes the delay in detecting problems and addressing issues that may develop to serious vision problems.
The vision problems that may be confusing to navigate through have been discussed in this article. The article also focuses on illustrating the symptoms that help us detect the issue and take prompt action.
| If you are someone who is experiencing sudden vision problems, seek medical attention as soon as possible. |
Why Should You Read This?
It is a logical thing to ask when you are reading something on the internet, right? Well, if you answer ‘yes’ to any of the following questions, this article has been written for you.
- You have recently faced issues with your vision
- You cannot see things ‘normally’ as before
- You are someone who is exposed to a lot of screen time (laptop/PC/phone)
- You have found yourself increasing the brightness on your device
- You get unexplained headaches that do not go away
What Are Vision Problems?
Vision problems are issues that occur either naturally, injury or trauma. These problems are common in people who are aging and may affect people from birth (congenital). Vision problems mainly refers to the abnormalities in the vision system which may include vision-altering damage to the eyes.
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Who Is Affected?
Vision problems are not restricted to a certain age group. The issues can be caused due to several factors and affect different age groups. Generally, people undergoing the natural aging process are seen to experience changes in their vision. Some may be severe, and some may be minor alterations.
However, the following categorization has been made for ease of understanding:
- Elderly people
- Someone with a family history of vision problems
- Someone with a poor lifestyle- excess screen time, poor dietary habits, etc.
- Diabetic person (mainly hyperglycemia)
- Someone with a sexually transmitted disease
- Person with multiple sclerosis
Types Of Vision Problems
There are different types of vision problems that may affect you. This depends on the age group you are in and the factors that can alter your vision.
Most Common Vision Problems In Adults:
- Cataract
This is an issue that develops slowly with time and may not be apparent initially. It is commonly detected through an eye exam.
Symptoms of cataract include:
- Weak vision at night, trouble seeing movements
- Uncomfortable/blinding glare from headlights or sunlight
- Colors look faded or yellowish
- Brighter light for reading
- Normally dark pupil that looks opaque or milky white
- Inflammation and ocular pressure
- Double or triple vision
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-Related Macular Degeneration or AMD is an eye disease that blurs the central vision of the affected individual. This results from the damage that is caused to the macula as a result of aging. A part of the retina, the macula is responsible for controlling the straight-ahead, sharp vision.
Symptoms of AMD:
- Painless, gradual loss of central vision
- Wavy or dim vision
- Blank spots that cloud the central vision
- Lines look crooked
- Diabetic Retinopathy
High blood sugar due to diabetes can lead to damage to the retina. This condition is a severe effect of diabetes and may occur when the condition has progressed severely. Specifically, the blood vessels in the retina are known to be damaged due to the elevated blood sugar levels.
Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy:
- Fluctuation in vision
- Empty vision areas
- Blurred vision
- Floaters in vision
- Loss of vision
- Glaucoma
Group of eye diseases that cause loss of vision and blindness due to damage to the optic nerve. It is caused due to the build up of fluid in the front side of the eyes which leads to excess pressure. This pressure damages the optic nerve.
Symptoms of glaucoma:
- Pressure and eye pain
- Red eyes
- Rainbow halos visible around lights
- Blurred, low vision
- Tunnel vision
- Blind spots
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headaches
- Blurred Vision
Blurred vision can be caused due to eye conditions that impede clear visualization of things. The difficulties can include far-sightedness or near-sightedness, presbyopia and astigmatism.
Symptoms of blurred vision include:
- Burning or stinging
- Haziness in vision
- Loss of balance
- Dizziness
- Optic Neuritis
This condition affects the vision and the eyes such that the optic nerve is inflamed. The inflammation can lead to disruption in the interpretation of visual images.
Symptoms of optic neuritis:
- Pain, worsened by eye movement
- Loss of vision in one eye
- Loss of vision field
- Color vision loss
- Appearance of flashing lights
The Most Frequent Vision Issues In Children:
- Myopia
A common condition in children, the condition causes the affected person to see blurred images.
Symptoms of myopia:
- Eye strain
- Headache
- Blurred vision when viewing distant objects
- Compulsion to partially close or squint the eyes
- Hyperopia
This vision problem causes difficulty in viewing nearby objects clearly. The main causes of this issue is recognized to be shortening of the eyeballs from front to back, altering cornea shape and alteration in the shape of the lens.
Symptoms of hyperopia:
- Difficulty seeing nearby objects
- Strain in the eyes
- Trouble reading
- Squinting to maintain focus
- Lazy Eye Or Amblyopia
Reduced vision in one eye due to abnormal visual development in the early stages of a child’s life. This leads to wandering of the affected eye inward and outward, that develops from birth to seven years of age.
Symptoms of amblyopia:
- An eye that wanders inward-outward
- Poor perception of depth
- Eyes do not work together
- Tilting head
- Abnormal vision screening test results
- Squinting or shutting of one eye
- Eye Fatigue
Eye fatigue or asthenopia occurs as a result of overusing one eye during prolonged periods of focus.
Symptoms of eye fatigue:
- Headaches
- Eye pain
- Tiredness
- Frequent rubbing of eyes
- Continuous adjustment of books to read
- Poor hand-eye coordination
- Tilting head to focus
- Watery or red eyes
- Crossed Eyes
Strabismus or crossed eyes is a common occurrence in children. The condition affects around 4 percent of children below six years. It is common to see either one or both eyes to turn in an abnormal direction.
Symptoms of strabismus:
- Eyes do not look in the same direction at the same time
- Eyes do not move together
- Closing or squinting one eye when exposed to sunlight
- Tilting or turning head to look at an object
- Bumping into objects
- Double Vision Or Diplopia
Double vision can be caused either due to one of the above mentioned conditions or on its own. The condition may be long-lasting or temporary. The image may be twisted, vertical or horizontal in appearance.
Symptoms of diplopia:
- Moving head strangely to view objects
- Covering on eye
- Cross-eyed look
- Pain upon eye movement
- Pain around the eyes
Causes Of Vision Problems
The causes of vision problems can be several. Mainly the root cause of a vision problem can be tracked down to the following:
- Age
- Lifestyle
- Existing condition
- Injury
In addition, vision problems can occur due to emergencies such as a sudden attack or increase in blood pressure. Usually these changes in vision are restored once the condition reverses to normal.
Recently, you must have noticed small babies with glasses. Despite it being a cute look, it is heartbreaking to see young kids with vision problems. Research has concluded that children are developing such vision issues due to “problematic mobile phone use and addiction.”
People across age groups were found to be addicted to their devices, which caused a decline in proper vision. The study also acknowledged the growing addiction to mobile devices due to the technology-addicted lifestyle that has become normal.
Even the children and individuals classified as students, demonstrated a rapid increase in vision problems after COVID. This was due to the increase in the number of online classes due to the restriction in movement. This was concluded in a study published in 2020, which showed the rising concern of parents and guardians.
How To Take Care Of Your Eyes
So far, you must have understood that most of the vision problems occur due to the underlying conditions. Some may be genetic, while some are caused due to poor habits that lead to the development of a condition.
The majority of the conditions are caused due to neglect or improper maintenance of eye health. There are simple ways that can be incorporated into our lives to mend the issues. These can begin from birth so that the chances of developing a vision problem are reduced.
As eyes are one of the most important organs in our body, it is also imperative to take care of its health. Don’t worry, I will not suggest hard-to-do things that take up your entire time and show delayed results. Taking care of ourselves involves doing simple things consistently.
Following are the easiest ways to take care of your eye health:
- Go for regular checkups, at least once a month
- Eat a balanced and healthy diet
- Getting regular exercise
- Maintaining healthy weight
- Wearing sunglasses
- Wearing protective eyewear when engaging in sports
- Avoid smoking
- Control other risk factors
- Maintain proper hygiene when using contacts
- Take proper rest. Give your eyes a break when exposed to continuous screen time.
When To Seek Professional Help
Seeking professional help should not come when the condition has progressed significantly. However, in case of sudden onset of a symptom of any of the conditions described above, make sure you seek immediate medical attention.
Professionals will be able to detect any abnormality through eye tests and exams that are accurate in detecting any issue. Such eye tests that help an optometrist detect any vision problem are helpful in assessing your eyes when peripheral vision problems occur.
The frequency and urgency of getting glasses or contacts depends on a few factors such as age, sex, race and well-being. For example, African Amercians are at an elevated risk of developing glaucoma, which mandates an eye exam earlier than others.
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Conclusion
This was all on the vision problems that are common among adults and children. The article highlighted the symptoms and a brief description of the vision problems.
Moreover, it is expected that you will be able to identify the signs of vision problems in yourself, or your family. This will allow you and your family to take precautions and prevent any further damage from occurring.
Eye care is crucial for maintaining good eye health and preventing common eye disorders. Conditions like computer vision syndrome (CVS) and dry eye can lead to eye strain and blurry vision, especially after prolonged computer use.
These are some of the most common causes of visual discomfort. Additionally, age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and various types of glaucoma are leading causes of vision changes and loss of vision, particularly in individuals aged 65 years or older.
Regular eye check-ups can detect issues like congenital eye conditions, retinal detachment, and optic neuritis, which may not be present at birth but can affect central and peripheral vision.
To reduce the risk of eye problems, it’s important to take breaks from computer use every 20 minutes.
consider using eye drops, eyeglass, or contact lens and eye exercises if you experience eye discomfort. Overall, protecting your eye health is essential, as the visual system is a precious asset.
FAQs
Yes, some vision problems like macular degeneration or retinal detachment can cause dizziness or a sense of imbalance due to the impact on central vision.
While sinus problems primarily affect the sinuses, they can sometimes lead to visual disturbances or a feeling of pressure behind the eyes. However, these effects are usually temporary and resolve with proper treatment.
There have been cases where individuals experienced vision problems after contracting COVID-19. However, further research is needed to fully understand the relationship between the virus and such issues.
Cataract is a condition where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, leading to vision loss. It can cause blurred vision, distorted vision, and loss of visual acuity over time.
Glaucoma is often caused by increased eye pressure due to fluid buildup within the eye. This can lead to damage of the optic nerve and vision loss.
The National Eye Institute is a part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health and is responsible for conducting and supporting research to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of eye disorders and eye conditions.
Some common vision problems include myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), presbyopia (difficulty focusing on close objects as we age), and astigmatism (blurred vision caused by an irregularly shaped cornea).
Blurred vision can be caused by a variety of factors, including refractive errors (such as nearsightedness or farsightedness), eye strain, eye disorders, and certain medical conditions like optic neuritis.
Computer vision syndrome refers to the eye strain and discomfort that can occur when using a computer or digital device for an extended period of time. Symptoms may include blurred vision, dry eyes, headaches, and neck or shoulder pain.
Presbyopia is a common vision condition that affects the ability to see objects up close. It occurs as a natural part of aging and is caused by a loss of flexibility in the lens of the eye.
Floaters are tiny specks or threads that appear to float across your field of vision. They are usually caused by small clumps of gel or cells inside the vitreous, the clear gel-like substance that fills the inside of the eye.
Astigmatism is a common refractive error that causes blurred or distorted vision. It occurs when the cornea or lens of the eye has an irregular shape, preventing light from focusing properly on the retina.
Myopia, also known as nearsightedness, is a condition where distant objects appear blurry while close objects are clear. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light to be focused in front of the retina instead of directly on it.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is a condition where close objects appear blurry while distant objects are clear. It occurs when the eyeball is too short or the cornea is too flat, causing light to be focused behind the retina instead of directly on it.
Vision impairment can be caused by a variety of factors, including refractive errors, eye disorders, certain medical conditions, and environmental factors. It can also be caused by aging or injury to the eye.
Common symptoms of vision problems include blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, eye strain or discomfort, headaches, double vision, and halos around lights.
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