Vision problems can affect people of all ages. And if you have been recently diagnosed with something you never heard of before, it can feel very scary and overwhelming.
Fortunately, most eye disease can be treated if caught early enough. Here are four of the most common vision problems and what you should do about them:
The Problem: Cataracts
Cataracts form when proteins form in the lens of your eye, clumping together and impacting your vision. Cataracts can form in one or both eyes and they can make performing daily tasks like driving difficult.
What to do about it:
Cataracts can be managed temporarily with prescription eyewear. But the only long-term solution is cataract surgery. Fortunately, it is one of the safest and most common surgeries performed in the United States. Learn more about laser cataract surgery.
The Problem: Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease that causes fluid to build up in the eye. This fluid increases the pressure in your eyes and damages the optic nerve over time. Glaucoma can be very easy to miss because patients rarely experience pain in the beginning.
What to do about it:
Vision loss from glaucoma is permanent; once you lose it you can never get it back. However, glaucoma can be managed with surgery and medication.
The Problem: Refractive errors
If you have refractive errors than light doesn’t bend and land where it should on your retinas. This causes nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
What to do about it:
You can fix refractive errors with contacts, glasses, or LASIK surgery. Your doctor can help you decide if LASIK is right for you.
The Problem: Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes can cause your eyes to swell which damages the blood vessels in your eyes. If left untreated, it can cause blindness.
What to do about it:
Treatments vary depending on the severity of your situation. If you are living with diabetes, it is very important that you stay on top of appointments with your ophthalmologist.
The best way to manage a serious eye condition is to catch it early. Most common eye problems can be treated if caught early enough so the importance of yearly comprehensive eye exams can’t be overstated. Contact our Fort Myers, Naples or Cape Coral offices to schedule your appointment today.
