One of the reasons why people turn to an ophthalmologist only when everything is already bad is the insidiousness of diseases of the visual system. Many problems do not manifest themselves in the initial stages, so patients often do not realize that there is cause for concern. However, there are still symptoms that will indicate that something is wrong.
Tearfulness, blurred vision, and discomfort in the eyes are not always associated with a busy work schedule. That's when it's necessary to check your eyesight.
In some cases, such manifestations are quite understandable and do not require treatment. For example, even in healthy people flies sometimes appear due to increased physical activity, an abrupt change in posture, or rising after sitting at a computer for a long time. This condition is explained by Psychological implications of vitreous opacities — A systematic review / PubMed A sudden drop in blood pressure when the blood supply to the brain is disrupted for a couple of seconds.
But if you constantly notice these symptoms when looking from object to object or at any change of activity, this is a serious reason to consult a doctor. In ophthalmology, such signals indicate problems Role of the vitreous body in vitreoretinal diseases / PubMed with retina: these can be destructive disorders of the retina, detachment, inflammatory diseases of the vitreous body and others.
To fix the problem, you may need to Primary Sjögren’s syndrome and the eye / PubMed medical, laser or surgical treatment.
Lacrimation, a feeling of something foreign in the eye, photosensitivity, visual fatigue — everyone has encountered one of these symptoms at least once. Of course, the environment in which we are located also affects the condition of the eyes: strong wind and bright sun sometimes make tears flow, and after hours of continuous work at the computer, the eyes hurt.
But if you notice that you react much more actively than many to weather conditions and often feel discomfort and photophobia, this may indicate the presence of Dry eye syndrome: comprehensive etiologies and recent clinical trials / PubMed dry eye syndrome (dry eye). And this problem is more serious than it might seem at first glance.
Without proper treatment, dry eye syndrome often leads to TFOS DEWS II Tear Film Report / PubMed to the development of other pathologies: infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, corneal lesions. It is not always treated with only moisturizing drops. In some cases, surgical intervention may be required to reduce the outflow and increase the flow of tear fluid, as well as reduce its discharge from the conjunctival sac.
Blurred vision, blurred objects, impaired color perception, the appearance of halos around light sources, difficulties with the selection of glasses and contact lenses are more serious symptoms, and they say At a glance: Cataracts / National Eye Institute they are about the possible development of the initial stage of cataract. This is a condition in which the lens of the eye begins to lose its functions. In most cases, the process is associated with natural age-related changes in the body.
If cataract was previously considered a 60+ disease, now the disease is being diagnosed The global state of cataract blindness / PubMed and in middle-aged patients. The problem is solved once and for all Cataracts / NCBI an operation to replace the lenses, thanks to which you can see equally well at all distances.
This, as well as painful sensations in the head, temples, eyes, the need for frequent replacement of correction tools are quite alarming symptoms that may be the cause Acute angle closure glaucoma / NCBI the initial stage of glaucoma. This is a disease in which intraocular pressure increases and irreversible changes in the optic nerve occur.
Glaucoma is incurable, but thanks to the possibilities of laser surgery and drug therapy, it is possible to stabilize indicators, preserve eyesight and live a full life.
Like cataracts, the disease "gets younger" every year. Special attention should be paid to unpleasant symptoms Cataracts / NCBI patients are 55+, since natural age-related changes begin during this period and the visual system is most vulnerable.
As well as double vision, blurred images, the need for focusing say Epidemiology of refractive errors / NCBI about refractive errors, that is, visual impairment. These can be myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism, presbyopia (age-related hyperopia).
Violations can occur at any age. As a rule, the problem is solved by laser correction, implantation of phakic lenses, wearing glasses or soft contact lenses.
Similar manifestations can be combined with more serious diagnoses, such as cataract Signs, symptoms, and clinical forms of cataract in adults , glaucoma Binocular vision in glaucoma , retinal dystrophy Age-Related Macular Degeneration / NCBI .
If you find the symptoms listed above, you can not self-medicate. Be sure to make an appointment with a doctor to determine the cause of such manifestations and timely prescribe appropriate treatment.
But there are other, more dangerous conditions that cannot be ignored in any case. Call an ambulance or go for an examination immediately if:
Obvious symptoms of some dangerous diseases often appear only in the late stages, which is why it is so important to be examined in a timely manner.
Make it a rule to regularly undergo comprehensive vision diagnostics:
Such an examination is carried out with the help of various diagnostic equipment — this is a guarantee that you will be able to take measures in time and avoid serious complications in the future.
