In life, it is important to take care of your eyes. Sight is one of our most important senses, as it defines many of our interactions with the world. According to the 2016 Census, there were 54,810 people in Ireland registered as blind or vision impaired. It is likely this number has increased over recent years as the population aged. Therefore, it is important to be aware of the warning signs of sight problems.
Many people in Ireland already require sight correction. According to a 2018 study, more than half of Irish people use either glasses, contact lenses, or both. Whilst needing glasses is not a sign that you will experience sight loss, we should all be mindful of our eye health.
Often, the sooner sight problems are identified, the easier it is to treat them. Here are 5 of the main warning signs, and the sight problems they may relate to.
1. Blurring Vision
It is important to recognise that blurred vision is not automatically a sight problem. Often, it is linked to near- or farsightedness, which can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses, or laser eye surgery. Sometimes, you may experience blurred vision when you’re tired, as you find it harder to focus on objects.
Usually, blurry vision doesn’t last long. However, if you have consistently blurred vision, this could be a sign of a sight problem. Sudden blurred vision could be a sign of damage, such as a detached retina or glaucoma. Consistent blurry vision could be a sign of age-related macular degeneration.
Blurriness may affect the centre of vision or mainly be peripheral. Either way, if you are frequently experiencing blurry vision, you should visit your optician. It may be that you need a new prescription on your glasses, or you may be experiencing another sight problem. However, sight problems are usually accompanied by other warning signs.
2. Floaters
It’s not unusual for people to experience infrequent floaters in their vision. These are lines, dots, or specks that form in your vision. Often, they will appear to move around, or float. Floaters are most noticeable when you look at blank surfaces, such as a wall.
Generally speaking, floaters are harmless. You may experience them after looking at bright lights. As you age, floaters can become more frequent. This is because eyes naturally deteriorate, causing the fluid in the eyes to become loose. Cells in the fluid become more likely to clump together, increasing the frequency of floaters.
If floaters become particularly frequent, or you experience larger clusters, you should arrange an eye test. More floaters could be a sign of damage to the retina. They could also be a warning sign of diabetes.
3. Extreme Photosensitivity
When our eyes are functioning properly, they naturally adjust to different levels of light. However, some eye problems can cause extreme photosensitivity. You have likely experienced this occasionally, such as when experiencing sudden bright light after being somewhere dark or waking up first thing in the morning.
However, if this photosensitivity lingers, it may be a sign of other eye problems. Certain eye conditions affect the eye’s ability to adjust to light levels. Conversely, the eye may also find it harder to adjust to less light. This is sometimes known as night blindness.
Extreme photosensitivity has been linked to cataracts. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in over-50s. Therefore, if you are experiencing sustained photosensitivity, it is worth getting your eyes tested. A less severe cause of extreme photosensitivity is a scratch on the eye. Most scratches will heal on their own, but if they become irritated or develop into an ulcer, they will require treatment. Some people also experience visual snow, where their vision resembles a slightly out-of-tune CRT television, which can heighten photosensitivity.
4. Dark Curtain Over Vision
There are several reasons to be wary of a dark curtain over your vision, and sight problems aren’t the only concern. When large sections of vision go dark, this is a sign of damage to the eye. It may be there has been a tear in your retina. It could also be a sign of a detached retina.
Both sight conditions require treatment to prevent them getting worse. Sometimes the damage can be reversed, but this is not guaranteed. This dark curtain over vision could also be a sign of damage to blood vessels in the eye, usually in the form of blockages.
Perhaps one of the most concerning possible causes of this dark curtain is an impending stroke. Therefore, if you have experienced this warning sign, you should arrange an eye test as soon as possible. It may also be worth visiting your doctor.
5. Eye Pain
If you experience pain in your eye alongside other symptoms, this could also be a sign of sight problems. For example, if you experience eye pain along with floaters, this could be a sign of a foreign object damaging the surface. Headaches could cause eye pain, but if they are long-lasting this could be a sign that you need to get your eyes checked.
The main worries that accompany eye pain are blurred vision or feelings of nausea. Alternatively, you may experience swelling or bleeding around the eye that is hurting. Another concern could be if your vision becomes suddenly blurry when you experience eye pain.
If eye pain cannot be remedied by an eye bath, you should seek medical attention to rule out any sight problems. Eye pain can be a sign of sudden sight loss or other health conditions, such as stroke.
Preventing Sight Problems
It is important to protect your eyesight regardless of age. However, in later life, this becomes even more important. Age naturally affects the health of your eyes. It is advised that over-60s get their eyes tested at least once a year. This becomes more frequent if you have any existing sight problems.
Regular exercise and a healthy diet are two ways to help look after your eyes. Doing so prevents the development of conditions that increase the risk of sight problems. Certain nutrients, such as omega 3, also strengthen eyesight. Furthermore, you should wear sunglasses on bright days, as exposure to sunlight and UV-rays can degrade eyesight.
It is also important to avoid eyestrain where possible. People who work with screens should try to give their eyes short breaks every 20 minutes or so. This could also help with headaches.
Finally, people who smoke are more likely to experience conditions such as cataracts. If that’s not reason enough to stop smoking, consider reading our article on the Health Benefits of Stopping Smoking.
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Editor’s Note: This article was updated on 16th May 2024 to reflect current information.
