Did you know that More than 4.2 million people in the U.S.A. are either blind or have poor eyesight? Was it possible for some of these people to save their eyes and vision? Maybe!
The best way to prevent your eyes and vision is to go for a detailed eye exam regularly. Gaining knowledge about the symptoms of common eye problems is also helpful. This post is written to inform you about the 6 types of vision problems that are pretty common.
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6 Common Eye Problems and Their Prevention
These are the 6 common eye defects that hamper your vision. The expert-recommended ways to prevent these eye disorders are also mentioned here.
Refractive Errors
Astigmatism vision is one of the most common refractive errors. Nearsightedness and farsightedness are the others. There’s presbyopia that emerges between 40-50 years of age. A refractive error occurs when the light which passes through the cornea and the lens gets distorted.
To correct and prevent refractive errors, you should go for an annual eye check-up before you turn 18 and after you are 65 years old. In between, you can opt for an eye exam every 2 years. This duration may differ if you already have any vision defect.
Dry Eyes
Do you know your eyes remain hydrated and comfortable because they produce a good number of tears? What happens when this mechanism of producing tears gets disturbed? You face the following eye defects:-
- Redness in eyes
- Blurred vision
- Poor eyesight
- Burning and itchy sensation in eyes
- Inflammation and pain in the eyes
- Gritty eyes (feeling of something stuck in eyes)
- Eyes becoming sensitive to light
To prevent dry eyes, keep yourself hydrated and visit your doctor. The eye doctor may suggest eye lubricants and other medications to help your eyes produce quality tears in sufficient quantity.
Cataract
In layman’s terms, we can call cataract clouding of the eyes. It needs proper and quick treatment as this is atype of vision problemthat makes a person practically blind. It generally occurs due to aging. The foggy and hazy vision worsens with time if not treated soon.
It is one of the leading causes of blindness globally and amongst Americans. Regular eye exams are the way to detect cataract soon. The only treatment for cataract is laser surgery which instantly cures it.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Due to high sugar, your retina gets damaged and detached. This ultimately leads to vision loss. It is quite a common eye problem in people with a high level of diabetes. What makes diabetic retinopathy dangerous is that the symptoms appear late. Therefore call your eye doctor as soon as you notice floating strings, dark areas in your vision with vision loss, and blurry vision.
To prevent retinopathy, keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in check. And if you have any of these lifestyle disorders, get an eye exam annually.
Glaucoma
In glaucoma, fluid builds up in the front part of the retina. It damages the optic nerve. Glaucoma is a common eyes problem among people over the age of 40. It often causes blindness in people over the age of 60, mainly because it is generally detected only in a later stage.
However, people of elderly age can avoid this eye defect by being alert about symptoms like tunnel vision, loss of side vision, & seeing halos of lights. Yearly eye exams also help in the early detection of glaucoma.
Macular Degeneration
Your macula is the central part of your retina. Its degeneration with age causes a blind spot in your central vision. This spot leads to poor eyesight and vision loss in the worst-case scenario. This is also the type of vision problem which doesn’t show early symptoms. Be alert if straight lines seem bent or you find it difficult to see fine details.
Smoking doubles your risk of getting macular degeneration, so you know what you need to do to prevent it. Other lifestyle changes also help, such as eating healthy, exercising, and keeping lifestyle disorders in control.
Conclusion
Ophthalmologists will agree that people take their eyesight for granted until a severe eye defect threatens their eye health. Now you know the symptoms of some of the most serious and common eye problems. So don’t let your eyes and vision suffer. Take all the necessary precautions, and get your eyes tested on a regular basis.
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