Most eyesight deteriorates over time. For many, it means having to wear reading glasses in your later years, but others are at risk of losing their vision entirely. Often, medical issues do not get diagnosed and treated in time. It’s worth consulting an eye specialist as soon as you have any concerns. But to be educated is to be prepared, so take time to find out what issues you should be on the lookout for and the steps you can take to mitigate or correct the problem. Some of the common eye problems include:
- Cataracts
Cataracts is a condition in which the proteins within the eye break down, and the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. It can impair vision by varying degrees, from a barely noticeable amount all the way to blindness. Cataracts can develop in either or both eyes. It can occur at any age, even among newborn children; it is more common that it is something that will develop with age.
There are corrective measures for cataracts that do not involve surgery, but a specialist may suggest surgery if cataracts are preventing you from doing common activities such as reading, driving, or watching TV. In this case, the doctor would remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL). This surgery is very safe, and most people experience improved vision afterward.
- Refractive Errors
The most common form of vision difficulty was mentioned above, and that is refractive errors. The symptoms of refractive errors are blurring vision and an inability to see objects nearby or at a distance. There may be a few reasons that our eyes stop refracting light correctly, causing short-sightedness in most cases and far-sighted in others. This is the reason that most glasses wearers need corrective lenses.
Thankfully, refractive errors are now very easy to correct, either with glasses or contact lenses, that aid in focusing the light properly. These two options are fairly inexpensive, but the costs can add up over time. Corrective laser eye surgery is now fast and inexpensive, and you can even check your laser eye surgery suitability online.
- Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) mainly affects a person’s central vision—what is also called the field of vision or what a person will focus on. This can come in the form of a distortion or a blind spot. There are two types of AMD, wet and dry, with dry being by far the most common. Dry AMD occurs as we age, and the macula in our eyes gets thinner. Small lumps of protein can develop that move the macula out of place, distorting our vision. In wet AMD, blood vessels form under the macula, which leaks fluid into the eye, displacing the macular in that way. Symptoms of AMD include blurring central vision, the appearance of dark spots in the affected area, seeing straight lines as wavy, bright flashes in the dark, color distinction issues.
There is no operation that can correct AMD, but it has been shown that taking Vitamins C and E and supplements of Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Zinc, and Copper can help prevent AMD, and eye-healthy foods like dark greens, yellow fruits and vegetables, and fish are beneficial as well.
Visit A Specialist If In Doubt
Arranging a consult is the best way to assure yourself that you’re doing everything you can to maintain good vision and a healthy lifestyle. There are very few things that are used more than vision, so it’s worth investing in the future of your eyes.
