The Ultimate Guide to Understanding Different Types of Vision Problems

Understanding Vision Problems

Your eyes are important, and protecting them means caring for the overall health of all their components. When age, lifestyle, and genetic factors compromise our vision, it’s important to take steps to correct the problem and maintain good eye health. What causes issues with a person’s vision? There are many different vision problems, and regular visits to the eye doctor are a good way to stay on top of them. Here, we look at some common vision problems, along with ways to prevent, correct, or slow the progression of these issues.

Common Vision Problems

While there are many different problems that can arise with your eyes, there are a few that are most common.

• Refractive errors cover a number of issues. These issues occur when light is not properly focused on the retina, leading to blurry vision. Refractive errors include nearsightedness, also known as myopia, farsightedness (hyperopia), and presbyopia (age-related vision loss). Astigmatism is also a refractive error, an uneven or irregular curvature of the cornea that causes blurred or distorted vision, along with squinting, eye strain, headaches, and eye fatigue. Most people have some degree of astigmatism from birth, and treatment is not required for minor cases. Refractive errors can often be addressed with corrective lenses or LASIK surgery.
• Cataracts affect about half of Americans by the age of 75. In fact, if you are over 40, there’s a one in six chance you have already begun developing cataracts. Cataracts are typically associated with aging, but this clouding of the eye’s lens can also occur because of trauma, certain illnesses, and long-term use of certain medications.
• Glaucoma is actually an umbrella term for a group of diseases. It’s the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, and impacts about three million Americans. Glaucoma involved abnormally high pressure in the eye, and it damaged the optic nerve. Without treatment, glaucoma results in irreversible blindness.
• Age-related macular degeneration is common among people over age 50. This is damage to the macula, a small spot in the retina, and it leads to a loss of central vision. It doesn’t have symptoms in the early stages, so regular eye exams are important for diagnosing this condition. It can occur in one or both eyes, and affects about 11 million people in the United States.

Preventing Vision Problems

Your eye doctor can help treat vision problems, but preventing them is a more beneficial course of action. Not all eye issues can be prevented, but you can structure your lifestyle to promote good eye health and reduce your risk of developing vision problems. Good habits for eye health include:

• Not smoking.
• Eating a nutrient-dense diet, with fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids.
• Exercising regularly.
• Wearing protective eyewear to prevent against injury, sun damage, and the light from screens.
• Seeing your eye doctor annually for an eye exam.

Visit us for an Eye Exam

If you’re looking for an ophthalmologist or optometrist in Derry, Londonderry, or Windham, Spindel Eye Associates is here for you. Having spent over 35 years providing eye care in New Hampshire, our eye doctors proudly provide our patients with personalized eye care, using top of the line technology. For more information or to schedule an eye appointment call 603.421.6536 or contact us through our website.