It’s important to get your eyes checked by an optometrist on a regular basis, as sight is the most dependent on one of the five senses. To have a better understanding of what could happen to your eyes if symptoms of pain or discomfort are left untreated, here’s a list of common vision problems that you could develop.
Nearsightedness
Also known as myopia, nearsightedness affects about 30% of the population. Distant objects are blurry because an image isn’t being focused directly on the retina, but rather in front of it. Objects and scenes have to be close to the face for an individual with nearsightedness to see it clearly. This condition affects men and women equally, and will often appear during childhood before stabilizing around age 20 to 30.
Farsightedness
Also known as hyperopia, farsightedness has the opposite effect of nearsightedness. Objects set close to the eyes are blurry, as the images are focused behind the retina this time. This condition can be outgrown as children mature and their eyes reach adult size.
Astigmatism
Often combined with near and farsightedness, astigmatism occurs when the cornea isn’t rounded but shaped like a football, resulting in no singular focal point. This means that some images are clear while others are blurry. While present from birth onward, most astigmatisms can be corrected completely.
Presbyopia
Blurry vision that occurs at a reading distance, but otherwise doesn’t affect distance vision. This happens when the eyes develop inadequate focusing power for near tasks. Presbyopia affects individuals in their 40’s or later, and obtain bifocals (or reading glasses) so they can see both near and distant objects clearly.
Retinal Detachment
The retina converts light signals into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain to form an image. When small holes appear through thin or damaged sections of the retina, vitreous fluid can seep in behind the retina and prevent the transfer of images. While it’s not painful, retinal detachment requires immediate medical attention or it can result in permanent blindness. Those who have moderate to severe nearsightedness, have thin retinal tissues, have experienced retinal detachment before or have had eye surgery are at risk of this occurring.
Night Blindness
When individuals have difficulty seeing in dark lighting situations, it’s likely they’re experiencing night blindness. This occurs when deterioration begins in rod photoreceptor cells. Night blindness is commonly linked to the liver disorder, vitamin A deficiency, cataracts, and retinitis pigmentosa (retinal disease).
Eyestrain
Eyestrain is a common vision problem that happens when the eyes are overused for long periods of time. Focusing on distant objects or tasks for a while without rest, like reading or driving, can result in eyestrain. Common symptoms include headaches, brow-aches, tired eyes and experiencing a pulling sensation. This condition can be remedied by resting the eyes and taking frequent breaks from your task.
Cataracts
This occurs due to the clouding of the eye’s lens, cataracts blocks or distorts the light entering the eyes, resulting in blurry or hazy vision. The lack of clear vision can worsen in dim lighting. It can also lead to blindness and requires surgery to restore lost vision.
Glaucoma
A gradual occurrence that slowly decreases vision overtime due to elevated pressure within the eyeball, damaging the retina. Most individuals don’t have symptoms other than the slow loss of visual function, but with regular eye exams, early signs of glaucoma can be detected. There are various stages and levels of severity for glaucoma and if left untreated, it could lead to irreversible blindness.
How to Prevent Vision Problems
At Orangeville Optometric Centre, we’re dedicated to providing the highest standards of eye care to our Orangeville patients. We perform services that include eye exams, contact lens exams, laser vision assessments, vision diagnostics, and spectacle dispensing. Be sure to call or go online to schedule your next eye exam with one of our Orangeville optometrists.
