A large percentage of the human population will experience eye problems at some point in their lives. Some of these eye problems are usually minor and will heal on their own, or can be treated at home. Others will require care from an eye specialist.
Here is our list of the 5 most common eye problems you should know about:
1. Macular Degeneration
Over 10 million people in the US will experience macular degeneration, also known as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). There are more cases of macular degeneration than cataracts and glaucoma combined. Macular degeneration happens when the central portion of the retina, known as the macula, gets damaged over time. At present, macular degeneration is an incurable eye disease.
Common symptoms include partial vision loss, blurry vision, problems seeing in dim light, and things appearing smaller than they actually are.
2. Cataracts
Cataracts are a widely occurring eye problem and usually affect more than half of all Americans over the age of 65. They usually have visually impairing cataract in one or both eyes. It’s when the eye forms clumps that prevent the eye lens from sending information to the retina. Cataracts are usually seen as the formation of a dense, cloudy area in the lens of the eye. When this happens, light is simply unable to pass through to the retina and the victim is unable to clearly see objects in front of them.
3. Glaucoma
Glaucoma occurs when the eye’s optic nerve gets damaged, usually due to fluid buildup and increased pressure from the inside. This restricts the optic nerve from sending images to the brain. The buildup of pressure may lead to permanent loss of vision if it continues for longer without treatment. Glaucoma progresses relatively fast and can render victims blind in just a few years.
The biggest symptoms of glaucoma include tunnel vision, peripheral vision loss, blurry eyes, halos around the eyes, and redness of the eyes.
4. Dry Eyes Syndrome
Dry eye syndrome is caused by a lack of moisture and lubrication on the eye’s surface. Some patients may experience subtle but constant eye irritation, others may undergo significant inflammation leading to scarring of the front surface of the eye.
There is a large variation in the number of people affected by dry eye syndrome, with estimates ranging from as low as 5% to as high as 50% depending on different parts of the world. People who wear contact lenses are at risk of getting dry eyes. It also occurs due to old age.
5. Retinal Detachment
This is a rare condition when the retina gets detached from its place in the eye. It may happen gradually as small areas get torn before the entire retina gets detached. This will affect a person’s vision and the longer you suffer from it, the higher your chances are of complete vision loss in the affected eye. Although the process sounds painful, patients don’t usually feel any pain during retinal detachment.
But there are various warning signs such as blurred vision, a sudden appearance of light flashes, and a curtain-like shadow in one’s field of vision.
Wrapping Up
The human eyes play an important role and are extremely sensitive to diseases and damage. They require extra care and attention if you want them to last long. Part of the care and prevention strategy is to make regular appointments with your eye specialist.
If you require further advice on getting help, you can book an appointment with a physician at Health One Family Medicine.
Visit https://www.healthonemedicine.com or call (469)262-5762 for more information.