Any loss of eyesight can be terrifying. However, loss of eyesight can be slowed, prevented, and treated with the appropriate eye care to help people continue enjoying their life.
If you or a loved one is experiencing loss of eyesight, contact the specialists at Clear Choice LASIK today.
Types of Vision Loss
Vision loss is when you are losing the ability to see properly. There are many types of vision loss, including:
- Central vision loss
- Peripheral vision loss
- General vision loss
- Night blindness
- Hazy or blurred vision
Vision loss can happen for a short period of time or develop permanently. For instance, migraines cause visual auras that temporarily impair vision. Diseases like glaucoma cause gradual, permanent vision loss.
What Can Cause Eyesight Loss?
Eye-Related Diseases
- Age-related macular degeneration – affects central vision with a blurry spot that may increase in size over time
- Glaucoma – causes damage to the optic nerve and begins affecting peripheral vision
- Diabetic retinopathy – affects blood vessels in the retina, which may lead to total and permanent blindness if left untreated
- Cataracts – a common disease that causes clouding over the natural eye lens due to age
Other Causes & Conditions
- Injury or trauma, such as an eye stroke, exposure to certain chemicals, or corneal abrasion
- Migraines, which cause auras and tunnel vision
- Conjunctivitis, which is an infection or inflammation in your eye’s conjunctiva
- Eye strain, leading to temporary blurry vision
Symptoms of Eye Disease
Keep an eye out for these common symptoms of eye disease so you can know when to consult a doctor before vision loss begins or worsens.
- Iris color changes
- Double vision
- A dark spot in your central vision
- Difficulty focusing on distant or nearby objects
- Cloudy vision
- Excess discharge or tearing
- Straight lines appearing wavy or crooked
- Difficulty seeing in low light
- Colors appearing faded
- Tunnel vision
- Eye pain
- Seeing halos
- Red eyes
- Impaired color vision
- Excessive floaters
How Long Will It Take To Lose Your Eyesight?
The timeline of eyesight loss depends on the cause. For most eye diseases, it is a gradual loss that can span the course of years. However, losing your vision due to trauma or injury is instant.
Macular degeneration: about 10 years; rare cases of macular degeneration can cause sight loss in a few days
Glaucoma: about 10-15 years
Diabetic retinopathy: depends on blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol control
Cataracts: slow progression based on individual
Who Is at Risk For Eyesight Loss?
The people most at risk for loss of eyesight are the elderly. The elderly are the largest demographic group that suffers from eye diseases leading to vision loss.
Can Loss of Eyesight Be Prevented?
Once you have an eye disease, vision loss cannot be prevented. However, it can be slowed by proper diagnosis and treatment. In your younger years, you should live a healthy, balanced life to help prevent the chances of eye disease occurring.
Health professionals recommend the following for keeping your eyes healthy:
- Eating a diet full of fruits and leafy green vegetables
- Regular exercise
- No smoking
- Yearly eye exams
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis begins with a regular check-up at your local eye doctor. There, they will determine what type of eye disease you have. A second appointment may be necessary where the doctor will use more specialized diagnosis procedures.
Treatment and vision correction will vary depending on which eye disease you have.
Macular degeneration: anti-VEGF drug injection at least once a month
Glaucoma: eye drops or eye surgery
Diabetic retinopathy: laser treatment, anti-VEGF drug injections, eye surgery
Cataracts: cataract surgery
Find an Eye Disease Specialist in Ohio
Having trouble with vision? Want to get ahead of any diseases and schedule a check-up? We can help.
Our services include:
- LASIK surgery
- SMILE surgery
- PRK surgery
- Corneal Cross-Linking
- EVO ICL surgery
- Other life-changing procedures
Contact us to discuss your options with one of our friendly experts.
