Do you think you have pretty good vision? Chances are, you may be overlooking spells of blurriness, tiny floaters or other eye conditions that you have simply learned to live with. Recognizing and identifying sight issues early on can increase your chances of avoiding a much worse problem in the future. Here are six common eye issues that you should know about.
- Blepharitis: This condition causes mild to severe inflammation of the eyelid margin. Typically it is caused by bacteria, mites or other skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema and dry eye syndrome. Fortunately, controlling blepharitis is pretty straightforward. You simply need to consistently wash out your eyes with baby shampoo or another prescribed cleaner on a regular basis. If left untreated however, blepharitis can permanently scar or injure eye tissue.
- Cataracts: Do you feel as if your vision is slightly clouded or blurred and wearing glasses or contacts does not fix the issue? You might have a cataract. In the beginning stages, cataracts are relatively harmless and do not interfere too much with vision. However, if left untreated, cataracts can dramatically affect your eyesight and even cause permanent damage.
- Dry Eye Syndrome: Are you constantly rubbing your dry, red eyes? You may have DES, or dry eye syndrome. Although relatively harmless compared to other eye issues, it can be an extreme annoyance and impact your capacity to drive or operate machinery. Purchasing artificial tears or other lubricants can help alleviate this condition.
- Floaters: These gray specks resemble small strings or cobwebs that drift around your eye as it moves around. One floater in the eye is nothing to be too concerned about. As people age, an occasional eye floater is very common. However, if you experience a sudden increase in floaters it is very important to contact an eye specialist immediately. Too many floaters can be a symptom of a more serious, underlying issue.
- Sty: This swollen, painful red lump will appear around the edge of your eyelid and it is definitely not pretty to look at. Filled with pus, a sty usually begins to get better within forty-eight hours. However, if the sty continues to swell and the swelling extends beyond your eyelid and moves toward other parts of your face, contact a doctor immediately.
- Conjunctivitis: Known commonly as pink eye, conjunctivitis is one of the most contagious eye diseases. Symptoms include a flushed red eye and itchiness involving a discharge that forms a crust. If symptoms do not improve in twenty-four hours, it is important to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor, especially if the redness is accompanied by the sudden onset of blurred vision.
Whenever you have a problem with one or both of your eyes, it is always wise to consult your optometrist about how to go about resolving your issue. It is likely that the issue may go away on their own, but it is always best to err on the side of caution when it comes to vision complications.
