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April 2014 | Read this issue and more at www.healthandwellnessmagazine.net |
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attempt to reduce extraneous light
from entering the eye, or reducing the
scattering of light, in order to improve
vision. This is often one of the first
signs in children who need eyeglasses.
Squinting can also accompany an eye
turn, more commonly known as lazy
eye.
Signs You
Should See An
Ophthalmologist
Sensitivity to Light
Light sensitivity can be a symptom
of several disorders, eye diseases of an
eye infection.
Eye Infection
Swelling of the eyelids, itchiness,
redness, a pink discoloration of the
whites of the eyes and/or discharge
can signal an eye infection that could
require medication to clear cure.
Loss of Vision
By Angela S. Hoover,
Staff Writer
Sudden vision loss in one or both
eyes can signal macular degeneration
or glaucoma.
Whether you have perfect vision or
known eye issues, there are some signs
that shouldn’t be ignored and warrant
an immediate trip to the ophthalmologist.
Blurry Vision or
Problems Focusing
Eye Pain, Fatigue or
Strain
Infrequent eye pain or strain is normal and can be brought about by lack
of sleep, seasonal allergies, the cold or
flu and too much electronic reading. If
eye pain or strain occurs for more than
a few days, it could be a sign of an eye
infection or more serious health condition. Eye pain can be caused by glaucoma, dry eye, an eye injury, a scratched
cornea or cancer of the eye.
Eye Injury
Eye injuries should be evaluated by a
doctor, especially if there is redness or
pain that lasts for more than 15 to 20
minutes.
hole, nearsightedness, glaucoma or
other eye diseases. Medical attention
should be sought immediately – within
24 hours. These symptoms include:
flashing lights, a noticeable increase
in the amount of floaters, a shadow in
your peripheral vision or a gray curtain
moving across your field of vision.
Blurry vision or focus problems can
be a sign of eye problems or a larger
health issue and should be taken seriously – even if the problem comes and
goes or is limited to one eye. Some eye
problems it could indicate are glaucoma, uveitis, a torn retina, macular
degeneration. Losing vision in one eye
may be an early symptom of a stroke
because the carotid artery, a major
supplier of blood to the eyes, could be
blocked.
Gradual Blurring of
Vision
Floaters, Flashes of
Light or Obstruction
of Vision
Frequent headaches can be a sign
of a vision problem. Changes in vision
can occur slowly with little notice at
first. Headaches can be an early warning sign of a change in vision.
Sudden onset of any of these visual
disturbances could be a symptom of a
serious vision threatening disorder like
retinal detachment, retinal tear, retinal
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You should see the ophthalmologist
if you notice you’re moving reading
materials or computer screens further
away from your eyes to improve clarity,
or conversely, if you are sitting closer
to the television and bringing objects
closer to you to read.
Headaches
Squinting
Frequent squinting can be an
Persistent Eye
Discomfort
If you have any eye discomfort
after doing an activity that could have
allowed a small particle to have entered
your eye (hammering, working under a
car, etc.), have your eyes checked.
Red Eye
Having two red eyes is less worrisome, and can indicate a cold or conjunctivitis and other minor infections
that are self-healing. However, just one
red eye can mean deeper inflammation
that can be associated with scleritis or
uveitis.
Poor Night Vision
This is the result of changes in the
pupil, lens and retina, and can lead to
gradual loss of vision.
Motion Sickness
or Dizziness When
Following A Moving
Object
This could be indicative of a neurological problem.
Blurry vision or focus problems
can be a sign of eye problems or
a larger health issue and should
be taken seriously.