Many people take their eyesight for granted until something happens to threaten its functionality; that’s when they realize the importance of eyesight. Here are the most common conditions affecting your vision and tips for preserving your eyesight.
The Eye Refractive Errors
A refractive error is an eye condition where the light rays do not bend and land where they should look in the eye. For good vision, your eyeball, cornea, and lens must be shaped just right for light rays to bend and land on your retina to make their way to the brain. If this process doesn’t happen, your vision blurs indefinitely. Refractive errors include; nearsightedness also known as myopia, where light rays fall short of your retina. Farsightedness is also referred to as hyperopia where light rays overreach your retina.
Astigmatism is a condition where light rays fall indifferently on your retina’s surface and presbyopia where Light rays overreach the retina, making reading and other work a challenge. Patients with this condition should undergo laser eye surgery. However, this disease can be prevented through regular eye exams annually before age 18 and after age 65, and every two years in between.
Diabetic retinopathy and Cataract conditions
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition where your retina fails to transforms light into signals your brain can process. This can be caused by diabetes which can swell the retina and make blood vessels leak, causing blurring, flashes, floaters, pain, and pressure. You can prevent this condition; however, by receiving yearly dilated eye exams to detect diabetic eye problems early. This can prevent or slow vision loss. Also, make sure you control your blood glucose and blood pressure as well. Cataract, on the other hand, is a condition where the lens of your eye becomes clouded, your vision fogs, and lights get a halo. This prevents the light rays from objects in view to naturally pass through your lens to reach your retina’s light-sensing cells. You can prevent this condition by protecting your eyes with lenses that block both UVA and UVB light, and avoid smoking. It’s essential to control your blood pressure, watch your weight, and manage diabetes as well.
The Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a condition where age-related macular degeneration tissue breakdown or blood vessel growth in the macula making it a hard one to have good vision like to see faces, read, drive, and more. We all need light-sensing cells in the macula, the center of our retina, for what is called central vision for good vision. Smoking doubles your risk of macular degeneration as you age; hence regulating smoking can help prevent this condition. Getting regular exercise daily and controlling your blood pressure and cholesterol is highly recommended by doctors. Also, including lots of leafy greens and fish in your diet.
The Glaucoma Condition
Your eyes require the right amount of fluid to fill the space within your eye. Pressure from too much fluid can damage the optic nerve, destroying your peripheral, and then your central, vision. Serious glaucoma conditions can lead to laser eye surgery. Still, simple prevention tips can include regular work with your eye doctor to keep your eye pressure well-controlled to avoid unnecessary loss of your vision.