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National Vision Awareness Month: Why Eye Health Matters?
During the month of October, eye specialists everywhere celebrate National Vision Awareness in the United States, emphasizing the importance of regular eye exams and eye health. Vision loss can often creep up on us, happening slowly and subtly. That is why it is important to be aware of the early warning signs of the most common conditions causing blindness and low vision.
4 Common Eye Disorders and Diseases that Cause Vision Loss
The leading causes of vision loss are primarily age-related eye diseases. Here are four common conditions that eye doctors want their patients to be informed about.
Cataracts
Cataracts are a gradual clouding that forms over the eye’s lens and blocks light from entering the eye. This prevents the lens from focusing images on the retina. If left untreated, vision loss and blindness can occur. According to the National Library of Medicine, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness, accounting for 50% of blindness worldwide. Some warning signs to look out for are:
- Blurry vision
- Difficulty seeing at night while driving
- Faded colors
- Halos around lights
- Sensitivity to light
Because cataracts develop slowly, it’s important to visit your eye doctor annually. The doctors at Performance Eyecare can diagnose cataracts and refer you to an eye surgeon for treatment.
Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness in American adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. DR is a complication of diabetes that happens when high blood sugar levels damage the retina’s blood vessels, which can then swell and leak. This can stimulate the growth of scar tissue as well, pulling the retina away from the back of the eye. DR symptoms to watch out for are:
- Dark areas or vision loss
- Dark floating spots
- Impaired color vision
- Poor night vision
Your eye care provider can diagnose DR during an eye exam. Early detection allows for effective treatment options, ranging from injections to laser surgery. If you have diabetes, it’s vital you get regular eye exams because early treatment can stop the damage and prevent blindness.
Glaucoma
There are many different types of glaucoma, but the most common type in the US is called open-angle glaucoma. This is a chronic eye condition with increased intraocular pressure, potentially leading to optic nerve damage and vision loss. Most individuals don’t know they have glaucoma until they start to lose their sight. As the disease progresses, people often report loss of their peripheral vision first. Your eye doctor can diagnose glaucoma with a comprehensive eye exam. Treatment ranges depending on the severity of the disease, but can include medicines, laser treatment, or surgery.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
AMD often blurs your central vision after aging damages the macula – the part of the eye within the retina that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision. This makes it difficult to see faces, read, drive, or do things close up, like cooking or other household chores.
AMD treatment varies by stage and type (Dry or Wet). Special dietary supplements can slow disease progression, while anti-VEGF injections and Photodynamic therapy (PDT), a mix of injections and laser treatment, are also options.
Don’t Skip your Annual Eye Exam
National Vision Awareness Month reminds us of the importance of staying on top of your annual eye exam. Eye doctors not only catch potential issues early, preventing them from worsening, but also ensure your prescription is accurate, helping you maintain clear, 20/20 vision.
Don’t put it off any longer. Schedule your eye exam with a Performance Eyecare doctor today!
At Performance Eyecare we put the CARE in Eyecare.