Despite our eyes’ undoubtedly crucial role in our everyday life, we too often neglect them. We think that if we can see and identify things through our sense of sight, then we must be far from trouble. This very same complacency has caused a rising number of eye-related and vision-related health problems worldwide, and taught many people an important lesson: forgetting to visit your eye doctor can have dire consequences.
In this article, we’ll talk about the most common signs and symptoms of eye problems that people often ignore. If you’re suffering from even one of these concerns, you should book a consultation with a trusted eye clinic in your area.
Telling Symptoms of Developing Vision Problems
Don’t wait for the following symptoms to show up before finally booking that long overdue ophthalmologist appointment. What are the symptoms that you should beware of?
You’re having trouble focusing, especially when reading road signs.
Have you ever struggled reading signs on the road or text on your computer screen? Do the text or images seemingly multiply and overlap in layers, rendering them unreadable? Do you have blurry and wavy vision, especially when looking at light sources, such as streetlights and lamps?
These experiences are shared by people who suffer from astigmatism, an eye condition caused by a damaged cornea. This condition prevents your eyes from focusing on objects and texts at a distance. If left untreated, the illness could worsen over time.
You often get headaches and eye pains.
People suffering from eye problems often complain about constant migraine and pain, especially in and around the eyes. According to sufferers, these problems occur after a long day at work, reading a book, or watching movies. What’s worse, it also happens while doing even the simplest, mundane, day-to-day tasks.
While several factors can cause these discomforts, vision problems and possible eye infections are often the culprits. By having your eyes checked, you can identify these underlying issues and hopefully address any recurring problems.
You developed a sudden sensitivity to light overnight.
Suddenly developing an extreme sensitivity to light is one of the alarming signs that you need to see the eye doctor as soon as possible. Based on similar cases from those who suffered the worst of its consequences, sudden light sensitivity can be a sign of inflammation or irritation in the eyes. According to experts, this condition is not an actual illness but a symptom of more serious eye disease.
Home remedies, such as wearing sunglasses indoors won’t solve the problem. It’s best to consult your local ophthalmologist for help.
You’re seeing “floaters” or floating specks in front of your eyes.
Most people see floaters or floating specks in front of their eyes. While it seems that they’re on the surface of your eyeballs and might easily be removed by washing the eyes, they’re actually inside the eyes. They are cell debris that may look like bubbles or spots.
These are generally harmless but if you notice a sudden increase in the number of these specks or threads and accompanied by sudden flashes of light, they can be symptoms of a retinal tear. This could escalate into a more troubling condition so call your doctor immediately.
You have dry, red, and itchy eyes.
Most people dismiss eye dryness or red, itchy eyes as reactions to allergens, especially during allergy season. These symptoms also occur after prolonged exposure to computer or smartphone screens. However, when neither anti-allergy medications nor a break from the screen works, there’s a high chance that you’re experiencing dry eye.
Having dry eyes caused by inadequate tears make you more vulnerable to eye infections, abrasions, and vision loss. As a chronic condition, dry eye needs regular treatment and assessment from your doctor. An appointment with your local eye clinic can help you identify solutions and remedies that you can do at home.
These are just some of the several conditions that might indicate that you need your first eye test. Aside from being able to detect early signs of health problems, there are a lot of benefits that you can gain from consulting experts.
Ready for Your Eye Test?
A regular eye test will help your doctor determine your visual acuity or how clear your vision is without the aid of glasses and vision correction lenses. Doctors will also check for your eye alignment to observe where each of your eyes looks when they are required to focus on one spot. The same test will reveal how the muscles that surround your eyes react when you move them.
Ophthalmologists are also trained to examine your eyes for early signs of more serious health conditions, such as glaucoma, myopia or hyperopia, astigmatism, and cataracts. Most importantly, eye doctors use the latest in medical technology to examine the tiny blood vessels in the eyes and detect diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol levels that could lead to stroke and other cardiovascular diseases.
Based on the results of your test, they’ll recommend preventative treatment and solutions that can help ease your discomfort and overall improve your quality of life. Hopefully, this article has convinced you to finally book that long overdue eye exam and eye doctor visit. Remember that just like the other parts of your body, your eyes deserve care, too.
