![]() Sometimes eye pain can mean the pressure in the eye is high, which could indicate glaucoma, says Brissette. Many eye diseases are painless, but some conditions or injuries can result in eye pain. If your ophthalmologist diagnoses a stroke or ministroke (amaurosis fugax), they will refer you for a full stroke workup with your doctor, adds Dr. “This may indicate that there are blockages elsewhere, which can lead to a bigger stroke in the future.” If you experience sudden vision loss you should see your ophthalmologist as soon as possible or visit the emergency room. “Vision loss, especially in one eye, could be a sign that there is a blockage in the small arteries or veins that bring blood to and from the eye,” explains Ashley Brissette, MD, an assistant professor of ophthalmology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City and a clinical spokesperson for the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Losing vision in one eye may be an early symptom of a stroke. But any new visual symptoms should be brought to your ophthalmologist's attention depending on your description, the doctor may suggest that you be evaluated quickly, or they may say your symptoms are not suggestive of any serious problem and no urgent appointment is necessary.įloaters are also usually harmless, but call an ophthalmologist right away if you notice new ones, especially if they are associated with persistent flashes of light, a shadow that appears in your peripheral vision, or a curtain that covers part of your vision, notes the AAO. In general, brief, single episodes of flashing lights do not require any intervention, and are not usually a sign of retinal disease. Flashes of light that look like shimmering, jagged lines or appear wavy may be due to migraine aura, which is not an emergency, notes the AAO. On the other hand, it's common to see flashes of light occasionally, especially as you get older, and this is usually harmless. See an ophthalmologist right away if you have any symptoms of a torn or detached retina, because quick treatment can preserve vision that might otherwise be lost. Unless treated quickly, usually with surgery, a detached retina can lead to permanent vision loss or blindness, per the National Eye Institute. ![]() ![]() Nearsightedness, eye diseases like glaucoma, and physical injury to the eye are among the risk factors for detached retina, according to the AAO. Sudden flashing lights, a noticeable increase in the amount of floaters (small specks, dots, circles, lines, or cobwebs in your field of vision), a shadow in your peripheral vision, or a gray curtain covering part of your field of vision could be symptoms of a tear or detachment of the retina - the light-sensitive nerve layer in the back of the eye that sends images to the brain. Flashing Lights, Floaters, or a Shadow or Curtain in Your Vision Here are nine symptoms to be on the lookout for, and how to know when to seek urgent medical attention. Still other eye conditions can have symptoms that require immediate medical attention, and shouldn’t wait for a routine checkup. ![]() Blindness from glaucoma can often be prevented with early treatment.Īge-related macular degeneration (AMD), another leading cause of vision loss, can also begin without any symptoms, but can be detected during a routine eye exam, per the AAO. If you are 65 or older, you should have your eyes checked every year or two. People with known eye problems, a familial history of certain eye diseases, or systemic diseases such as diabetes or rheumatoid arthritis may need to be seen annually, or even more frequently.Ī vision checkup can be particularly helpful in detecting progressive eye conditions, such as glaucoma, a common age-related disease that has no symptoms in its early stages but is a leading cause of blindness for people older than 60, according to the AAO. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends seeing an ophthalmologist for a complete exam once in your twenties and twice in your thirties, then again at age 40, when early signs of disease or vision changes may occur. That’s why regular eye exams are so important. Of these cases, about half of them could have been prevented, or still need to be properly addressed by a doctor. At least 2.2 billion people worldwide have some form of near or distance vision impairment, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
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