Eyesight

Whatever the cause, vision changes should never be
ignored. They can get worse and significantly impact
the quality of your life. Professional help is always
necessary. As you determine which professional to
see, the following descriptions may help:

• Opticians dispense glasses and do not diagnose eye
  problems.
  

• Optometrists perform eye exams and may diagnose
  eye problems. They prescribe glasses and contact
  lenses. In some states they prescribe eye drops to
  treat diseases.
  

• Ophthalmologists are physicians who diagnose and
  treat diseases that affect the eyes. These doctors
  may also provide routine vision care services, such
  as prescribing glasses and contact lenses.
  

• Sometimes an eye problem is part of a general health
  problem. In these situations, your primary care
  provider should also be involved.
  

Vision changes and problems can be caused by many
different conditions:

Presbyopia-- difficulty focusing on objects that are close.
Common in the elderly.

Cataracts-- cloudiness over the eye's lens, causing poor
nighttime vision, halos around lights, and sensitivity to
glare. Daytime vision is eventually affected. Common in
the elderly.

Glaucoma-- increased pressure in the eye, causing poor
night vision, blind spots, and loss of vision to either side.
A major cause of blindness. Glaucoma can happen
gradually or suddenly -- if sudden, it's a medical
emergency.

Diabetic retinopathy-- this complication of diabetes can
lead to bleeding into the retina. Another common cause of
blindness.

Macular degeneration-- loss of central vision, blurred
vision (especially while reading), distorted vision (like
seeing wavy lines), and colors appearing faded. The most
common cause of blindness in people over age 60.

Eye infection, inflammation, or injury.



Floaters-- tiny particles drifting across the eye. Although
often brief and harmless, they may be a sign of retinal
detachment.

Retinal detachment-- symptoms include floaters, flashes
of light across your visual field, or a sensation of a shade
or curtain hanging on one side of your visual field.

Optic neuritis-- inflammation of the optic nerve from
infection or multiple sclerosis. You may have pain when
you move your eye or touch it through the eyelid.

Temporal arthritis-- inflammation of an artery in the brain
that supplies blood to the optic nerve.

Migraine headaches-- spots of light, halos, or zigzag
patterns are common symptoms prior to the start of the
headache. An ophthalmic migraine is when you have only
visual symptoms without a headache.

Other potential causes of vision problems include fatigue,
overexposure to the outdoors (temporary and reversible
blurring of vision), and many medications.

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