Let’s face it; vision is one sensation that we fear losing. If you cannot see properly, you have to depend on others. In case the person you have been relying on isn’t around, you may suffer alone. Thankfully, you can restore your vision as long as you visit an ophthalmologist soon enough.
How would you know when to see one? Huntingdon Valley Suburban Eye Associates claim symptoms such as sudden blurriness, itchiness, floaters, and infection are more than enough reasons. Without further ado, here are five eye conditions that ophthalmologists treat.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to conditions that damage the optic nerve. This damage occurs due to high pressure from fluid buildup in the eye. When the optic nerve gets ruined, blind spots develop in your vision. In its early stages, you will not exhibit any symptoms. Once you experience acute glaucoma, you will experience blurred vision, vomiting, severe headache, and eye redness.
Doctors treat glaucoma by administering eye drops which lower pressure in your eye. Alternatively, they can reduce fluids in your eye through laser treatment.
Cataracts
Cataracts refer to the clouding of the lens. People who try to look at something through their clouded eyes liken it to looking through a foggy window. Besides cloudy eyes, you will experience double vision, sensitivity to light, and difficulty seeing at night. At first, cataracts start small, so you will not notice your vision changing. As they expand, your vision becomes limited.
Ophthalmologists can correct cataracts by removing the clouded lens and replacing it with artificial ones. Sometimes, patients may have other eye problems that block them from wearing artificial lenses. In that case, doctors will prescribe glasses or contact lenses.
Uveitis
Uveitis is an inflammation in the middle layer of tissue in the uvea (eye wall). It may affect one or both eyes. Its symptoms appear suddenly and gradually get worse and include eye pain, reduced vision, light sensitivity, and floaters.
One treatment for this condition is steroid eye drops. They lead to temporal blurred vision, which means you cannot operate machinery until your vision returns. If they do not work, surgeons may offer steroid injections. Before administering them, they use a local anesthetic.
Keratoconus
This condition causes your cornea to thin and bugles outward into a cone-like shape. When that happens, you experience light sensitivity and blurred vision. Both eyes usually get affected, but one will be more affected than the other.
You can correct your vision in its earlier stages with soft contact lenses or glasses. If your ophthalmologist notices that your cornea is extremely thin, they will correct it surgically through penetrating keratoplasty.
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is the inflammation of the eyelids. As a result, your eyelashes experience redness and irritation due to tiny oil glands clogging them. This condition is difficult to treat, but at least it does not damage your eyesight.
Doctors may offer steroid eye drops or ointments to control inflammation. At home, you can try massaging your eyelids with a warm compress for five minutes.
Believe it or not, you can take measures to avoid contracting these eye conditions. Therefore, your eye issue is not always a result of family history. Some factors that predispose you to these diseases include obesity, smoking, alcoholism, and excessive exposure to sunlight.
If you are struggling with any of these factors, it will help to develop some discipline. If you cannot be disciplined, ask a doctor or relative to help you. Once you get the help, you will not need to spend hefty hospital bills to correct your eye condition.