Your eyes help you see the world around you. Whether it’s a spectacular sunset, scrolling through funny videos on your phone, seeing your loved ones, working on a computer, choosing an outfit, reading, writing, cooking, or crossing the street, you rely on your eyes for almost everything you do. If you notice any impairment, it can affect the quality of your vision and the quality of your everyday life. Often, it won’t be anything of concern; but in some cases, it may indicate an underlying issue. Here are 8 warning signs and symptoms of possible eye problems you must be aware of so you can see an eye doctor when necessary and protect your vision:
1. Eye Pain
Eye pain accompanied by blurry vision, itching, burning, or pressure can indicate a potential eye problem. It can result from dry eyes, infection inflammation, sinusitis, a foreign object in the eye, or glaucoma. If there is a sudden onset of concerning symptoms, seek medical care immediately.
2. Swelling
Swelling around your eyes, along with itching, pain, or excessive tearing, can also indicate a potential eye problem. It could be due to congestion, inflammation, chalazion, a high salt diet, allergy, or an injury. If the swelling doesn’t seem to subside and interferes with your routine, go for an eye exam immediately.
3. Eye Floaters
Eye floaters are tiny strings, zigzag lines, cobwebs, threads, black spots, or cloud-like shapes that you see in your vision drifting away with your eye movement. These are generally harmless. Aging is a common cause of eye floaters. Other causes can include injuries, inflammation, and high blood pressure.
If there’s a sudden increase in eye floaters accompanied by flashes of light, blocked peripheral vision, pain, and redness, it’s likely time to schedule a comprehensive eye exam. Eye floaters are normally painless and don’t interfere with your ability to see clearly. If these are increasing in size or number, you will benefit from a visit to the eye doctor.
4. Double Vision
Number 4 on the list of these warning signs and symptoms of possible eye problems is double vision or diplopia, where you see two images of a single object. It’s most prominent during nighttime and results from general eye weakness, headaches, or nausea. If the problem persists, get your eyes checked.
Double vision can be caused due to an increase in your prescription, eye pain, injury, astigmatism, dislodged lens, pterygium, keratoconus, dry eyes, cataracts, problems with the retina, and more. It’s important to get a physical eye examination and determine the exact cause for tailored treatment.
5. Light Sensitivity
Light sensitivity or photophobia can be a major eye concern. It can result from dry eyes, pink eye, keratoconus, cataracts, macular degeneration, a scratched cornea, and more. It may be painful and also associated with medical issues. If you’ve become sensitive to light or have unexpectedly developed this condition along with floaters, flashes of light, and reduced vision, schedule a comprehensive eye exam for proper diagnosis and treatment.
6. Excessive Tearing
Excessive tearing can result from dry eyes, blocked tear ducts, droopy eyelids, infections, allergies, environmental irritants, and eye conditions like blepharitis. In most cases, excessive tearing will resolve on its own, but if the problem persists, it’s time to see your eye doctor.
7. Impaired Side Vision
Side or peripheral vision loss is when you lose the ability to see from the corners of your eyes. It can occur due to several reasons Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, HIV, aging, optic nerve compression, migraine, brain injuries, retinal detachment, etc., are some of its causes. If there is sudden or severe eye pain, recurring pain around the eyes, hazy or double vision, flashes of light, bright floating spots, and reduced side vision, it is best to see an experienced eye doctor. Prompt care can help diagnose and manage this vision impairment before it worsens.
8. Losing Central Vision
Central vision loss is a common symptom of macular degeneration. It’s when you lose your ability to see things right before you and only have side vision. It can be a major cause of blindness in older adults. Those 50 and above, with high blood pressure, smoking habits, and a high saturated fat diet, are more at risk of this eye problem.
Book Your Eye Exam Now To Prevent Eye Problems
Often, these signs and symptoms aren’t urgent. But when other vision problems accompany them, it’s important to prioritize your eyes and get them checked. At Woodharms Eye Clinic, we can help! Please call 770-394-4000 or schedule an eye exam online and allow our experienced eye doctors to help you see better.