Did you know, around 6 million people (about twice the population of Arkansas) in America have vision loss and 1 million have blindness? Vision loss has become a major concern in the US. Most types of vision loss can be caused by many factors and don’t even cause any early symptoms. The only way to prevent them is to get an eye examination regularly and get treatment if any condition is detected. Learn the causes and treatment options of vision loss in this article. Visit our clinic or check our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com to see all the services that can help you manage your eye condition.

Causes of vision loss

Vision loss can happen for a variety of reasons and can lead to gradual or sudden vision loss. It is caused by a variety of conditions, including:

1. Migraine:

Many people experience visual symptoms known as migraine aura due to migraine. This migraine aura makes some people see zig-zag lines, sparkles, and spots. For others, they may experience tunnel vision, a complete loss of vision, or vision loss to the left or right side. These visual disturbances may be often (but not regularly) accompanied by a headache. It lasts less than an hour and lasts for 10 to 30 minutes. Some migraine attacks may even be gone after a few seconds. Migraine treatment may involve painkillers and staying in a darkened room, away from bright lights and loud sounds.

2. Keratitis:

This is also known as inflammation of the cornea; it mostly happens in people who wear contact lenses. It can also happen by infection or injury to the eye. Symptoms include blurred vision, pain, sensitivity to light, or vision loss. However, this condition is temporary, and you can manage its symptoms with prescribed medication.

3. Conjunctivitis:

It is also known as pink eye, and it can lead to vision loss. It occurs from an infection and causes inflammation of the conjunctiva. It causes symptoms like blurriness, redness, pain, or difficulty seeing. This condition is temporary and gets better on its own. For bacterial conjunctivitis, antibiotics, and eye drops are prescribed.

4. Eye strain:

This occurs when a person stares at a screen for too long and may start losing vision or perceive things they are looking at as blurry. It is usually temporary and gets better with time when you stop looking at the screen and give your eyes the rest they need. To manage this, practice the 20/20/20 rule to prevent eye strain which means you look away from the screen every 20 minutes and focus on something for 20 seconds from 20 feet away.

5. Corneal abrasion:

Injury to the eye can lead to sudden vision loss. Depending on how serious the injury is, you can expect temporary or permanent vision loss and treatment may also vary. People may look for an eye specialist to assess the severity of the eye injury.

6. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD):

This is an eye disease that affects a person’s central vision. It can lead to vision loss in people aged 50 or older. It may happen gradually or rapidly. Many people experience a blurry area near the center of their vision which may increase in size over time.

7. Glaucoma:

It’s a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve located at the back of a human’s eye. Symptoms of glaucoma happen gradually without you being aware of it until you get an eye examination. It can occur in one or both eyes, without treatment, it can lead to blindness, beginning with peripheral vision. Doctors use a few different types of treatment for glaucoma, including medicines, laser treatment, and surgery. However, treatment cannot reverse the damage that has already been done.

8. Diabetic retinopathy:

It is a condition that occurs in people with diabetes which leads to vision loss and blindness. It affects the blood vessels in the retina, which is a light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of the eye. Anyone with diabetes is at risk of getting diabetic retinopathy, so a person with diabetes needs to get an eye examination to catch it early. In most cases of diabetic retinopathy, it doesn’t cause any noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Treatment may involve medication, laser treatment, and surgery. In 90% of cases, blindness related to diabetes is preventable, so you need to manage your diabetes properly. If left untreated, it can lead to permanent blindness.

Treatment options

Your treatment depends on the cause that makes you lose your vision. Generally, treatment may include:

• medication in the form of eye drops, tablets, or injections.
• Steroids to treat inflammation.
• anti-infective medications to treat infections.
• Surgery

Vision loss needs fast diagnosis and treatment to improve the chances of getting your vision back. Sudden vision loss is a medical emergency, so call 911 or visit an emergency room immediately.

Vision loss can be caused due to many conditions and can be temporary or permanent. Most of them don’t cause any warning signs either. So, the only way to prevent it is by making an early diagnosis and treatment of eye problems to keep your eyes healthy and seek medical attention if you experience vision loss problems.

Take action now to ensure your eye safety later, visit our ophthalmology clinic in Brooklyn to get proper diagnosis and treatment. At Doral Health and Wellness Ophthalmology Center, our eye doctors can help you recover from all types of eye conditions and diseases. To schedule an appointment, please call us at 1-347-384-5690 or visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212. You can also visit our website at https://www.ophthalmologybrooklyn.com.