Most Common Causes of Eye Problems You Should Not Ignore

Most people will experience minor eye problems or vision issues at one point or another. Most of these eye defects will resolve on their own, while others may signal certain types of eye disease.

If you are experiencing persistent eye problems that won’t clear up within a few days, visiting a reliable eye center (like the Diamond Vision Lasik Center) should be your next step. As a matter of fact, you should always check with your doctor if you encounter any possible eye defects.

Especially if you are experiencing the vision issues which we will be discussing below.

Red Eyes

Bloodshot eyes don’t necessarily mean that you have to visit our center for LASIK Eye Surgery in Manhattan, but you should definitely monitor the problem.

Bloodshot eyes are caused by infected and irritated blood vessels in the eyes. They can be caused by sleep deprivation, allergies, and even eyestrain can also lead to red eyes. When an injury is the culprit, visiting your doctor should be the next step.

On the other hand, red eyes can also signal other eye problems, like sun damage or conjunctivitis. These issues can be fixed by over-the-counter drops but if they don’t subside, visiting an eye doctor is the best option.

Eyestrain

Already mentioned above, eyestrain is a vision problem that is caused by exhaustion. It is a result of overusing your eyes, signaling to your brain and body that your eyes need rest. 

The best way to treat this eye problem is by taking some time off. Eyestrain should resolve on its own, but if the problem persists, you should check with your doctor about it.

Colorblindness

Being colorblind is among the more common eye defects in which people can’t tell the differences between certain colors or can’t see specific ones at all. 

This issue happens when the eye’s color cells don’t work. In severe cases, patients may only see shades of gray, but that’s really rare. In most scenarios, patients are born with this issue, but it can happen even later in life.

Night Blindness 

Night blindness is an eye problem that causes vision difficulties during the night or in dark places. Generally, night blindness can be a potential symptom of different types of eye disease. It can signal much more concerning problems like cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, keratoconus, and nearsightedness. 

Fortunately, all of these problems can be treated by a doctor. 

The problem may appear right at birth or may develop later on from a degenerative disease in which these problems can’t be cured.

Lazy Eye

Also called amblyopia, this vision problem happens when one of the eyes fails to develop properly. It’s accompanied by weaker vision in the affected eye, and it also tends to move around while the healthy eye stays in the same position.

This is among those eye defects that you shouldn’t ignore. It needs to be addressed immediately (especially in infants and early childhood) to avoid lifelong vision problems.

Uveitis

This refers to a group of eye problems that cause the uvea (the eye’s middle layer)  to become inflamed. 

These are also eye defects that shouldn’t be ignored, as they can potentially destroy the eye tissue and may even lead to more severe problems (like eye loss).

These problems may produce various symptoms of bad eyesight, such as: 

• Eye pain
• Redness
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light

Needless to say, if you experience these problems, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible.

Floaters

Floaters are small specks or spots that are floating across in front of your eyes, slightly affecting your field of vision.

These eye problems are pretty normal, but in some cases, they can signal more severe issues. They can be a symptom of retinal detachment, where the retina separates from its layer. If this happens, there are accompanying symptoms as well, like light flashes and darker shadows that might protrude in to your visual field.

In the latter case, you need to visit a doctor as soon as possible.

Dry Eyes

Pretty common among vision issues, dry eyes happen when the tear production becomes insufficient. Dry eyes will often cause a burning sensation, and they may even lead to vision loss in rare and extreme cases.

There are several treatments for the problem, and they can include: 

• Special eye drops that act like tear substitutes
• Plugging on tear ducts
• Using a humidifier
• The Lipiflow procedure
• Nutrition supplements

Excess Tearing

Regarding symptoms, this is the opposite of dry eyes and is mostly caused by light sensitivity, temperature changes, or wind. In these cases, wearing sunglasses can be a great way to mitigate the problem.

In more severe cases, tearing can point to other types of eye diseases like a blocked tear duct or eye infections. 

Presbyopia

This is an eye defect that happens when you lose the ability to see close objects clearly, even though you have great distance vision.

In this case, you may find yourself holding books farther away to see the small print properly.

This problem became more common with age, and apart from contact and glasses, the LASIK procedure can help treat the condition.

Eyelid Issues

These can manifest as tearing, itching, sensitivity to light. Other eyelid problems may include inflammation outer edges of the lids and blinking spasms.

While these aren’t necessarily symptoms of bad eyesight, eyelid problems may signalize the need for surgery. Still, most problems can be treated with medication and thorough cleaning.

Vision Changes

These changes can also indicate different types of eye disease. However, in old age, not seeing as well as you used to is rather normal. Corrective eyewear or surgery like LASIK can help restore your vision to its former glory. 

However, if you experience these vision issues at a younger age, they might signalize something more concerning, like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or cataracts.

Also, some vision changes can be even more dangerous and might need medical attention as soon as possible. Whenever you experience sudden vision loss or blurry vision visiting the emergency room is the right move.

Retinal Diseases

The retina can be defined as a thin lining in the back area of the eye. It’s made up of cells that a responsible for collecting the images that are sent to the brain.

Retinal disorders can potentially damage these cells that can block this image transfer from happening.

Here are the most common retinal disease types:

• Retinal detachment – this happens when the retina separates from its layer.
• Macular degeneration – a part of the retina (the macula) breaks down.
• Diabetic retinopathy – diabetes-related damage to the retina’s blood vessels.

When it comes to retinal problems, early detection is crucial, so scheduling regular eye exams should be high on your priority list.

Some Issues Shouldn’t be Ignored

As you can see, some of the issues highlighted above will resolve on their own, but in some instances, you will need professional assistance to regain your eye health.

Whenever you experience problems with your vision, we advise you to cautiously monitor the issues, and if they don’t resolve within a few days, reach out to us or schedule an appointment online. We are a team of committed professionals who will make sure that you get back on track as soon as possible.