The mere thought of losing your vision is enough to send chills down your spine. After all, your eyes are the most important sensory organ in your body.
However, vision loss is something that is more common today than ever. The worst thing is that changes in your vision are so subtle that they slip your attention most of the time. And when they are not diagnosed early, they lead to more problems inside your eyes.
But, why does vision loss occur one might think. Your vision is affected by everything from your lifestyle, digital media consumption to some vision-threatening disorders. If you need a clearer answer, read this blog.
Common Causes Behind Vision Loss
If you have started to have troubles with doing regular activities such as reading or driving, it could be the effect of your poor vision. The best thing is to consult an optometrist to rule out the cause and start with proper treatment.
If your doctor asks you to use an eye prescription, get your glasses made from a local optician or buy glasses online in the UK. Taking the right steps ahead of time will prevent you from severe eye conditions in the future.
Here are the most common reasons behind vision loss.
Cataracts
Cataract refers to the clouding of your eye lens. It is an age-related problem that may lead to permanent vision loss if not treated timely.
But, age is not always to be blamed for cataracts. This problem may even occur due to exposure to the sun, diabetes, and internal eye injuries.
Common signs and symptoms of cataracts include:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Double vision
- Not being able to see in low lights
- Diminishing colour intensity
- Seeing halos around bright lights
- Problem with glare
A cataract is generally treated with surgery. However, you may still need to wear prescription glasses for blurry vision.
Macular Degeneration
The macula is a part of your retina that contains photoreceptor cells and gives you central vision. Any change or damage in your macula could lead to a significant decline in your central vision.
This disorder could be triggered by environmental factors or an unhealthy lifestyle. But, when you reach 60, this problem comes naturally as your eye health drops. In that case, we would call it AMD (age-related macular degeneration).
Some people believe that macular degeneration may also occur due to screen time. However, there are not many pieces of evidence to back this claim. But screen time does trigger digital eye strain which could be avoided by using blue light-blocking glasses.
Common signs and symptoms of macular degeneration include:
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty perceiving fine prints or details
- Colours appear fade
- Blurred spots in the field of your central vision that get bigger with time
- Straight lines appear wavy
Glaucoma
It refers to a number of problems that damage the optic nerve connecting your eye to the brain. The damage can cause significant vision loss or permanent blindness.
Glaucoma is more natural and common as you age. If someone in your family has this eye condition, you should be extra careful as you may develop it as well.
Glaucoma is not presented with any symptoms until it turns severe. This is why you must take regular eye tests so you can detect this problem. Symptoms of glaucoma may include:
- Bloodshot eyes
- Blurry vision
- Excruciating eye pain
Glaucoma can be avoided by adopting proper eye care techniques. Ask your eye doctor about what you should do and eat to reduce the possibility of developing glaucoma.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Chronic health conditions such as diabetes can affect your eye health and diabetic retinopathy is an example. It occurs when high levels of blood sugar affect the tiny blood vessels in your eyes.
When diagnosed at a primary stage, this could be treated with the help of medications. However, once the problem gets out of hand, it may impose serious defects to your vision.
Signs and symptoms of diabetic retinopathy are:
- Blurred vision that is either permanent or temporary
- Poor night vision
- Reduced colour intensity
- Seeing floaters in your field of vision
An uncorrected refractive error such as myopia or hyperopia may also lead to vision decline. Make sure you get your eyes tested to find out any slight or severe problem with your eyesight.
Use prescription glasses to correct any form of refraction in your eyes. If you are getting new glasses, buy them online. Some retailers offer next-day glasses delivery in the UK so you don’t have to wait for the turnaround time. Although vision loss is scary, it could be prevented by taking care of your eyes. Ask your doctor about measures or lifestyle changes that will bring out a positive change in your vision.
Shelina being a mother of twins spends her day with Deny and Dania. She love to read books and write blogs. She has also been actively volunteer participating in ladies fighting breast cancer.