Your sight is perhaps your most precious sense, and so it’s worth preserving it proactively rather than allowing it to deteriorate without doing anything about it.
Of course issues with your vision can occur so gradually that it’s difficult to know that something is wrong until it’s too late, so here are some things to look out for which should compel you to get in touch with a medical professional.
1- Immediate Distortion or Fuzziness
It’s normal to have somewhat blurry vision first thing after waking up in the morning after a good night’s sleep, but if this problem comes on out of the blue and doesn’t alleviate itself after a minute or two, something serious could be going on which requires attention.
There are various potential causes of distorted vision, ranging from a detached retina to an infection of the cornea.
From your point of view the underlying issue is irrelevant, as the main responsibility you have is getting to an eye doctor as soon as possible.
2- Vision Loss can be a side Effect of Medications, e.g. Elmiron
Sometimes the catalyst for complications with your vision is related to another course of treatment you are undergoing. For example, there are cases of vision loss because of Elmiron consumption, as well as concerns associated with other medications.
Always read the list of side effects for new treatments carefully, so that you know whether sight-related snafus are a potential outcome.
3- Inflammation on sensitive skin next to your eyes
The skin that surrounds your eyes, including your eyelids, is some of the thinnest and most fragile anywhere on your body.
If it becomes inflamed, swollen, discolored, or otherwise irritated, there are a number of causes to consider which range from mild to more worrying.
Sometimes a simple bout of allergies will leave you in this state, and it should dissipate comparatively quickly.
However, persistent and painful inflammation of this skin could indicate that you’re suffering from things like conjunctivitis, cellulitis, a corneal ulcer or blepharitis.
4-Recurrent Headaches
There’s a long list of causes for headaches, from workplace stress to dehydration. However, if they recur regularly and do not respond to pain medication that you can buy over the counter, then a vision problem may be to blame.
For instance, you might be suffering from eye strain, whether as a result of attempting to read in low light levels, or because you do not have the correct strength of glasses.
You could also have an eye infection, or have glaucoma. Migraines are also associated with eye issues, so getting checked over is wise.
5- Photophobia
This sounds complex, but it actually just refers to anyone who’s got a heightened sensitivity to sources of light.
You’ll have experienced it when moving from a darkened room into the bright sunshine, and in small doses it’s not a cause for concern.
However, if you are frequently finding that lights are too bright, to the point of causing you pain and discomfort, then it’s time to see if something more troublesome is occurring.
This could be an early sign that you’re developing cataracts. It could be related to allergies that are seasonal or specific. It could indicate that you have got an abrasion on your cornea that has yet to heal.
6- Poor Low-Light Vision
Lastly, if you struggle to see well when the levels of ambient light in a space are low, then you could be suffering from night blindness that’s related to glaucoma, cataracts or a handful of other conditions.
Don’t dismiss any signs of vision problems you’re experiencing, as if left untreated they will only get worse.