One of the best ways to take care of your eyes is to take note of vision-related problems and deal with them immediately. Even people with seemingly healthy eyes and great vision are susceptible to very sudden and dangerous eye-related conditions, especially if they aren’t looking after their health. So in this post, we’re going to discuss some of the most important eye health problems that you mustn’t ignore.
The symptoms of an eye infection
An eye infection occurs when there are foreign bacteria in the eye. It can also occur if there are viruses or fungi that invade the eye, causing it to become infected. This usually leads to your eyes becoming incredibly itchy and you may notice a strange discharge coming from them when you rub your eyes. It may be really watery and you might even notice swelling around the eye. In some extreme cases, your eye may actually be painful and your vision might become blurry.
These are very common signs of an eye infection, but what exactly causes it?
One of the more common reasons for eye infection is anything foreign coming in contact with your eye that could contain germs. For example, eye makeup is a common product that people use which can be contaminated depending on how it’s stored and used. If you try to use eye makeup that isn’t stored properly or has been contaminated by something, then it’ll cause irritation and potentially inflammation around the inside of the eye.
As such, the best way to avoid something like this is to take better care of the products you put in and around your eyes. If this is a repeat problem, then the cause could be due to your makeup or skincare routine. It can also be caused by sharing makeup or cosmetic brushes and tools. While makeup isn’t the only cause of an eye infection, it’s certainly one of the more common causes.
Inflammation in and around the eyes
Inflammation of the eyes is known as uveitis and is a little different to an infection. While uveitis can be caused by infections, it’s also related to your immune system and injuries. In many causes, inflammation of your eyes can be difficult to identify, hence why it’s important to take note of these types of changes so you can present them to your doctor for further assistance. Uveitis can quickly become a serious condition that leads to permanent vision loss if it’s ignored. Diagnosing it at an early stage can greatly reduce the number of complications you face.
There are also chronic uveitis treatments available for people who regularly experience it. This is often the case for people who are affected by the condition as a result of their immune system. If uveitis is found to be caused by an infection or injury, then it’s possible to avoid those scenarios in the first place. However, if your immune system is the reason, then you’re far more likely to experience it again in the future even if you try to improve your overall health.
Symptoms of inflammation are very similar to infection. This means you’ll experience eye redness, pain, blurred vision, or potentially decreased vision. In some cases, your eyes may also feel very sensitive to light and you may see dark spots floating around your vision known as floaters. Symptoms can quickly get worse if ignored and they may gradually develop over time in one or even both eyes.
If you do experience inflammation or any signs that could point to it, it’s best to book an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible so you can develop a treatment plan to halt the condition and prevent it from getting worse.
Reduced vision
Reduced vision can happen for a number of different reasons and there are different ways that it can happen. For example, low vision is a condition that makes it hard for people to perform everyday activities because it affects your ability to read, drive, or even tell colors apart. But unlike other forms of sight loss, low vision can’t be corrected with prescription eyeglasses, contact lenses, or even surgery. This is because of the way it occurs. In contrast, loss of sight can be corrected with the above-mentioned treatment options. Signs of this typically include double or blurry vision and it can happen both very suddenly and gradually over a long period of time.
The best way to tell if you have a loss of sight or any form of reduced vision is through personal experience. For example, if you have trouble reading signs or books that your friends and family members have no trouble with, then it could be a sign that you’re slowly losing your vision. You might also find it hard to read something in the distance that you previously could. Changes in your vision like this can be hard to detect, but your personal experience is often the best evidence that you have for identifying issues like this.
Thankfully, it’s more common that reduced vision is the result of age-related macular degeneration. This is common in people above the age of 50 and can be treated in many different ways. For those under the age of 50 that need glasses, it’s more likely that there is a refractive error in the eyes which causes nearsightedness or farsightedness. With help from an optometrist, you can quickly correct these errors and solve the problem once and for all. With a great number of treatment options available, you can get personalized care that will make you a lot more comfortable with your vision loss.
In conclusion, it’s important that you always take note of how your vision is. If you ever experience a change that wasn’t there before, you need to speak to a specialist or at least consider the possibility that your eyes may be facing changes. The sooner you deal with eye-related problems, the more likely you can stop the condition from progressing further.
*Collaborative Post