Even if you have had perfect vision your entire life, many people in their early to mid-40s begin to develop eye and vision problems. This is because your eyes are constantly changing over time. Some of these changes will affect your reading, driving, and perception of color. Learn about some of the common vision problems and indicators of these conditions below.
Refractive errors, which occur when the shape of your eye prevents light from focusing on the retina, are the most common vision problems. Refractive errors are more commonly known as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism, and presbyopia.
If you are experiencing nearsightedness, or myopia, light comes to focus in front of your retina, rather than on the retina. Because of this, you are able to see objects up close clearly, but far away objects appear blurry.
Farsightedness, or hyperopia, develops when your eye focuses images behind your retina instead of on your retina. With farsightedness, you typically can see objects more clearly that are far away, but everyone experiences hyperopia differently. Some people may not notice any problems with their vision, while others with significant farsightedness may have blurry vision for objects at any distance.
If you have astigmatism, your vision may appear blurry and stretched out. This is because your eye does not focus light evenly onto your retina. The cornea of a normal eye has the same degree of roundness in all areas, while the cornea of an eye with astigmatism has some areas more rounded than others.
As your eye ages, your natural lens hardens and your eye is no longer able to focus light directly on your retina. Because of this, your eye begins to focus light behind the retina, which causes poor vision for objects that are close to you.
If you think you may be experiencing a common vision problem, you may be noticing some of the common symptoms associated with vision problems. Be sure to schedule your complete eye exam if you are experiencing any discomfort in your eye.
If you have blurred vision, the lack of sharpness and the difficulty to see fine details can be extremely frustrating. Oftentimes, blurriness is a warning sign of an eye condition, such as dry eyes or glaucoma. Because vision loss could potentially lead to blindness, it is crucial that you get your eyes checked as soon as possible.
Both halos and glare in your vision are uncomfortable and disabling. Halos are the bright circles that appear to surround a light source, such as car headlights at night. Glare is light that enters your eye, but does not help you see well. Instead, glare interferes with your vision in a negative way. Halos and glare are often symptoms of common eye conditions, such as cataracts and astigmatism.
Photophobia is when your eyes have an intolerance of light. Sunlight, fluorescent light, and incandescent light can all cause discomfort when you suffer from light sensitivity. Photophobia can also be a symptom of an underlying disease that does not directly affect your eyes, such as severe headaches or migraines. If you are experiencing any sensitivity to light, get checked out by a medical professional right away.
If you have noticed any changes in your vision, be sure to schedule an appointment with an eye doctor. With offices conveniently located in Livingston, Newark, Denville, and Cedar Knolls, New Jersey, Marano Eye Care is just a short drive away. Our experts use the latest technology to diagnose and treat a wide variety of eye conditions. Contact us today to schedule your eye appointment.
