When it comes to the health of your eyes you do not want to risk, because any kind of eye pain or discomfort can undermine your performance of your work, or be an indicator of a more serious problem such as infection or visual impairment.
Here are 12 signs that require your visit to the ophthalmologist in the near future:
Difficulty seeing at night or while driving
If you have difficulty seeing in the dark or from a distance, this is the biggest evidence that you are having vision problems. The solution may be as simple as acquiring new glasses, but it could indicate something more serious, such as the onset of cataracts, according to a report in the journal Reader's Digest by Krisan Grissy.
Red or pink eyes
This is associated with a variety of conditions, including conjunctivitis, a thin layer of transparent tissue covering the whites of the eyes and inner eyelids, allergies, as well as an uncommon type of catarrhal disease, a condition that often causes increased intraocular pressure. If it lasts more than 24 or 48 hours, you should see an ophthalmologist.
3. Sensitivity to light
The problem may be either in the cornea, the thin, transparent layer that covers the iris and pupil, or is deep in the eye. In this case, the eye should be treated quickly, because some cases of light sensitivity may cause permanent damage. However, light sensitivity can also result from conditions not associated with the eye at all, such as allergies, viral disease or migraines.
4. Blurry vision or problems focusing on things
The author states that there are a variety of explanations for these sudden changes in vision, so it is important to undergo a full examination by the ophthalmologist to determine the problem. Your doctor may recommend eye drops, pills, or even surgery to fix the problem.
Pain in the eye
Acute glaucoma causes severe pain in the eyes, and worse yet it is able to make you lose your sight within days. The uncommon disease is a medical emergency whose symptoms are blurred vision, headache, nausea and vomiting.
The most common causes of eye pain are infection or irritability caused by foreign body entry, corneal rupture, dry eyes, allergies or headaches. Therefore, even if you have slight pain in your eyes, you should consult your eye doctor.
6 - a disease that affects the eyes
There are many chronic conditions such as diabetes, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, which can affect the health of your eyes. To avoid any vision problems after you have been diagnosed with one of these diseases, see your eye doctor for the recommended procedures in these cases.
Frequent headaches
The writer explained that the cause of the headache may be linked to eye strain, or you may just need new glasses, or perhaps the situation is more serious, and what you should do then visit the doctor.
8 - see spots or flashes
The appearance of these spots may be normal, but they are sometimes a cause for concern. The retina may be torn, bleeding, or detached, which may cause you to see a few blinking lights or lights floating around in your field of vision. A separate retina is a medical emergency because of the risk of permanent vision loss.
According to the National Eye Institute, if you notice flashes of light or many gray or black spots in the field of vision, you should visit your eye doctor or emergency room immediately.
9 - dry eyes
If you feel that your eyes are inflamed or full of small rocks, you may have dry keratitis and conjunctivitis, a common condition that varies depending on the climate and your gender, the use of contact lenses and some medications that can also cause dry eyes.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends droplets, known as artificial tears that do not contain preservatives, because they can reduce the risk of eye irritation. But if the drops do not make you feel better within 24 or 48 hours, consult your optician.
10 - large amounts of tears
This may seem strange, but if your eyes don't stop producing tears, it's probably a sign that your eyes are dry. You should try over-the-counter moisturizing eye drops for 24 or 48 hours.If this does not help reduce the amount of tears, contact your eye doctor.
Double vision
Sometimes, patients end up being sent to the emergency room, because double vision may be a sign of a stroke or a vascular problem in the brain. Even if the cause is less serious, double vision cannot be normal at all, so you should seek help immediately.
12 - mild eye pain when staring at the computer screen
Humans usually blink about 15 times per minute, but that number decreases when we stare at the screen. This is a problem, because eyelash helps keep our eyes moist. So, if your eyes feel tired and dry after spending the day in the office, try to get away from the screen and take a break. Besides, moisturizing eye drops also help to relieve your pain. But if you do not notice any improvement within a few days, it is time for the intervention of the ophthalmologist.