Last Updated on April 17, 2023 by asifa
Eye is the most sensitive organ of the body. Any problem in the eye is a cause for concern as it restricts proper and optimal vision. Here are 10 eye disorders that should not be left unattended and proper treatment is recommended.
Table of Contents
10 Eye Problems That Should Be Treated Immediately
Cataracts
A cataract is the most common cause of blindness around the world. People with cataracts have lenses that are clouded that prevent the eyes from seeing objects clearly. There are several reasons for developing a cataract- age, suffering from diabetes, etc. Some infants are born with cataracts. Cataract surgery is the most effective treatment option for removing the opaque lens.
2. Refractive errors
According to the Center for Disease Control, some common refractive errors are hyperopia (farsightedness), myopia (near-sightedness), or astigmatism (distorted vision at all distances). Another common problem ailing people aged between 40-50 years is presbyopia. These are the most common type as well as frequent eye problems affecting the people. Although these problems are corrected with contact lenses, spectacles, people should consider undergoing LASIK surgery.
3. Glaucoma
People with glaucoma have damaged optic nerves that leads to permanent loss of vision. Glaucoma is not a single ailment but a group of eye problems. In this condition, due to excessive intraocular pressure, the nerves get damaged. There are two types of glaucoma- ‘open-angle’ and ‘closed-angle’ glaucoma. As soon as one experiences excessive pain inside the eye, get in touch with a doctor. Unfortunately, there are no identifying symptoms for glaucoma. Therefore, continuous eye check-ups are recommended.
4. Floaters
People over 50 years of age often complain of tiny spots or specks in front of the eyes. These are known as floaters. Floaters is an eye problem in which there is excessive protein deposition in the vitreous of the eye. These do not block the vision but can cause irritation. Floaters can be an indication of another serious condition such as retinal detachment. Hence, in case you see spots in the sight of vision that don’t go away even after washing the eyes, consult with an ophthalmologist.
5.Pink eye
Pink eye is the common term for conjunctivitis. The conjunctiva of the eye gets irritated by allergies or infection. There are three types of conjunctivitis- bacterial, viral and allergic. For bacterial conjunctivitis, doctors prescribe antibiotic eye drops to cure the condition.
6. Dry eye syndrome
Sometimes the eye is unable to produce enough tears that can cause several symptoms such as itchiness, irritation, burning, sore eyes, blurred vision, excessive sensitivity to light, eye fatigue, reddening of the eyes or the feeling of sand particles stuck inside the eye. There are several remedies to try to prompt the eye in producing more tears.
7. Amblyopia
Amblyopia is the medical term for ‘lazy eye’. This is an eye disorder affecting mostly children. This is the problem in which the visual quality is poor due to improper coordination between the eye and the brain. People suffering from severe stages of nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism in one eye or suffering from cataracts, are more prone to amblyopia. The brain sends more signals to one eye than the other eye and thus, this condition develops. Early treatment is recommended or else the problem stays and often can lead to permanent loss of vision in one eye.
8. Macular degeneration
The middle area of the retina that catches most of the light rays is known as macular. With age, the cells in the macula can get damaged leading to improper receiving of light rays. In addition to age, some of the risk factors include smoking and family history of the problem. There is no treatment for curing macular degeneration apart from regular eye check-ups. To slow down the rate of the worsening of the condition, doctors often prescribe drugs that are injected into the eye, laser therapy and photodynamic laser therapy. In addition to this, doctors also suggest including vitamins C, E, beta-carotene, copper and zinc in daily diet to lower the risk of macular degeneration.
9. Diabetic retinopathy
As the name suggests, this eye problem is more common amongst people suffering from diabetes or elevated blood sugar levels. After cataracts, this is the most common cause of blindness. Diabetic retinopathy usually affects both the eyes. This is the condition in which the blood vessels leading to the retina get damaged over time. There are four stages of diabetic retinotherapy-
- Mild nonproliferative retinopathy
- Moderate nonproliferative retinopathy
- Severe nonproliferative retinopathy
- Proliferative retinotherapy
Although it is a severe condition, diabetic retinotherapy can be treated with laser treatment (also known as laser photocoagulation) so that significant vision loss can be prevented.
10. Retinal detachment
This is an eye problem that requires medical attention. People with retinal detachment are unable to see normally as the retina pulls away from its normal position to the back of the eye. Some other symptoms to look out for are small dark spots, a dark shadow on the sides or in the center of the vision.
Conclusion
There are some eye problems that just cannot be left untreated. Eye problems such as glaucoma, retinal detachment, or macular degeneration require immediate medical attention. If you are experiencing signs of less severe problems such as hyperopia, myopia, or astigmatism, plan of undergoing cataract surgeries and LASIK surgeries. In case you are suffering from any other eye disorder, get in touch with your nearest eye surgeon, and get your eyes checked without any further delay.
Apart from that, if you are interested to know about A Brief Guide to Maintaining Your Vision as You Age then visit our Health category.
