While some eye conditions—like most refractive errors—tend to develop in childhood, many have their onset in adulthood. The best way to safeguard your visual health as you age is to lead a healthy lifestyle and be proactive about your eye care. In today’s post, your expert eye doctors from Southwest Vision Center shares four common warning signs of age-related eye problems.
1. Sudden Eye Pain
Sudden eye pain should always be addressed as this could be caused by a number of visual problems. If the pain is accompanied by nausea, vomiting, and eye redness, narrow-angle glaucoma might be the cause. This disease occurs when something blocks the draining channel in your eyes, resulting in a rapid, dangerous increase in intraocular pressure (IOP). This may cause optic nerve compression, which can affect your vision. We may suggest surgery to remove the blockage.
2. Difficulty Seeing Nearby Objects
Presbyopia is a refractive error that typically develops in middle age. It is a result of your natural lenses losing their flexibility as they age, preventing accurate focusing of light onto your retina. The hallmark symptom is blurry close-range vision. We may prescribe multi-powered contact lenses or eyeglasses.
3. Hazy or Cloudy Vision
Cataracts result from excess protein deposits on the surface of your eyes, which obstructs light entry into your eyes. Common symptoms include cloudy or hazy vision. Cataracts may be managed through high prescription eyewear or surgery.
4. Blind Spots in Your Visual Field
Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that usually develops in adulthood. It is characterized by high blood sugar levels. This can compromise the nutrient and oxygen delivery to your eyes, resulting in a condition known as diabetic retinopathy. One of the trademark symptoms of this condition is the presence of blind spots in your visual field.
If you or any of your relatives are diabetic, seeing your reliable optometrist routinely is one of the best ways to maintain your visual health. It’s also important to regulate your blood glucose levels, so be sure to follow your doctor’s prescribed medications and any advice they have about lifestyle changes.
If you experience any of the symptoms described above, call us at (269) 241-0031 for Edwardsburg, (269) 241-0032 for Three Rivers, or (269) 241-0033 for Buchanan. We serve Granger, IN, and Three Rivers, MI.