It is recommended that you go for an eye checkup at least once every year to help preserve your long-term eye health. Early detection and treatment of eye diseases can help to avoid complications that could result in partial or total blindness. Besides, a routine eye exam can help detect other health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. Therefore, if you’ve not been going for an eye exam at least once a year, then you should start as soon as possible. Below are 5 eye diseases that Dr Truong says are the most common.
1. Dry Eye
Dry eye is when your eyes fail to produce enough tears for lubrication. This can cause inflammation of the eyes, which can be painful. In addition, chronic dry eye patients can feel uncomfortable reading or using the computer. Some symptoms of dry eye include redness of the eyes, a burning sensation and itchiness, light sensitivity, and blurry vision. You should see your eye doctor if you suspect that you have this condition.
2. Refractive Errors
Refractive errors are some of the most common eye problems. Refraction is the bending of light passing through a medium. This occurs when light passes through the lens and cornea. Common refractive errors include farsightedness, nearsightedness, and astigmatism.
3. Cataracts
Cataracts can make it hard to see clearly. As we age, our vision tends to diminish as the lens in the eye becomes cloudy. This may not be a problem at first, but it worsens and makes it difficult to read or drive at night. Some of the symptoms may include foggy vision, fading colors, seeing halos around lights, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to glare and light, and need for bright light when reading or to see fine details. However, with a regular eye exam, cataracts can be detected and treated. Visit your eye doctor as soon as you start experiencing signs and symptoms of cataracts.
4. Glaucoma
This eye disease commonly affects individuals over the age of 40 and remains a leading cause of old age-related blindness among individuals aged over 60 years. The front part of the eye experiences fluid buildup, which causes damage to the optic nerve. This condition can be very difficult to detect because it normally presents no symptoms and many people may not be aware they have it. However, some of the symptoms may include pain and redness of the eyes, tunnel vision or loss of side vision, and seeing halos around lights. Visit your eye doctor as soon as you start experiencing these symptoms. You are also encouraged to visit your eye doctor for an annual eye exam to help protect the eyes from possible glaucoma.
5. Diabetic Retinopathy
This eye problem commonly affects people with diabetes, as high blood sugar may damage the retina, causing it to detach and result in vision loss. Symptoms of this condition are not common in the early stages but you should see your eye doctor if you experience blurry vision, see washed-out colors and floating strings in the field of vision, vision loss, and blank or dark areas in the field of vision.
Eye doctors say these 5 eye diseases are the most common and you should go for an eye checkup once a year for early detection and treatment.