Decreased vision can occur due to age, disease, or genetics. Loss of vision can be treated with corrective lenses (glasses or contact lenses), medication, or surgery. If you suspect you have vision problems, it is important to seek medical help.
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Method 1 of 4: Identifying Symptoms of Loss of Vision
Step 1. Be aware of squinting eyes when looking far away
This is the act of pressing the eyes together in order to see the object better. People with vision problems often have a different shape of the eyeball, cornea, or lens. This physical change prevents light from entering the eye properly and causes blurred vision. Squinting narrows the curvature of light and makes vision clearer.
Step 2. Watch out for headaches
Headaches can be caused by eye fatigue. Eye fatigue is caused by too much pressure being applied to the eye. Activities that cause eye fatigue include: driving, staring at the computer/TV for a long time, reading, etc.
Step 3. Ignore double vision
Double vision is seeing two images of one object. This can occur in one eye or both. Double vision can be caused by having an irregularly shaped cornea, cataracts, or astigmatism (cylindrical eyes).
Step 4. Look for the light halo
A halo is a halo that surrounds a light source, usually a headlight. Usually, a halo occurs in a dark environment, such as at night or in a dark room. Halo can be caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, astigmatism, or presbyopia (old eyes).
Step 5. Realize if you are dazzled
Glare is a source of light entering the eye, which does not improve vision. Usually, glare occurs during the day. Glare can be caused by nearsightedness, farsightedness, cataracts, astigmatism, or presbyopia.
Step 6. Be aware of blurred vision
Blurred vision is a loss of sharpness in the eye that affects the clarity of vision. Blurred vision may occur in one eye or both. This blurred vision is a symptom of nearsightedness.
Step 7. Ignore night blindness
Night blindness is difficulty seeing at night or in a dark room. Usually, this condition worsens when you have just been in a bright environment. Night blindness can be caused by cataracts, nearsightedness, certain medications, vitamin A deficiency, retinal problems, and birth defects.
Method 2 of 4: Understanding Common Visual Impairments
Step 1. Identify nearsightedness (near-sightedness)
Nearsightedness makes it difficult to see objects that are far away. Nearsightedness is caused by having an eyeball that is too long, or a cornea that is too curved. This affects the way light is reflected on the retina, resulting in blurred vision.
Step 2. Identify farsightedness (farsightedness)
Nearsightedness makes it difficult to see close objects. This is due to having an eyeball that is too short, or a cornea that is not curved enough.
Step 3. Identify astigmatism
Astigmatism occurs when the eye does not focus light properly onto the retina. Astigmatism causes objects to appear blurry and stretched. It is caused by the irregular shape of the cornea.
Step 4. Identify presbyopia
Usually, this condition appears over time (above 35). This condition makes it difficult for the eyes to focus on objects clearly. Presbyopia is caused by loss of flexibility and thickening of the lens inside the eye.
Method 3 of 4: Go to the Doctor
Step 1. Do the test
Vision loss is diagnosed by performing a series of tests called a comprehensive eye exam. There are several components to this test.
- Visual acuity test is performed to determine visual acuity. This test is performed by standing in front of an eye chart with several lines of the alphabet. Each line has a different font size. The largest letter at the top and the smallest letter at the bottom. This test will test your near vision by determining the smallest line you can read comfortably without straining.
- Screening for hereditary color blindness is part of the screening as well.
- Do a cap test. This test will determine how well your eyes work together. The doctor will ask you to focus on a small object with one eye, and close the other eye. The purpose of doing this is to allow the doctor to determine whether the unclosed eye should refocus to see an object or not. If the eye does have to refocus to see the object, this can indicate extreme eye fatigue that will lead to "lazy eye".
- Check eye health. To determine eye health, the doctor will perform a slit light test. The chin will be placed on a chin mount that is connected to the slit beam. This test is used to examine the front of the eye (cornea, lids, and iris) as well as inside the eye (retina, optic nerves).
Step 2. Test for glaucoma
Glaucoma is increased pressure in the eye that can lead to blindness. Testing for glaucoma is done by blowing small bursts of air into the eye and measuring the pressure.
Step 3. Widen your eyes
It is very common to widen the eyes during an eye examination. Widening the eyes accompanied by drops of eye drops in the eye with the aim of dilating (enlarging) the pupil. This is done to reveal diabetes, high blood pressure, macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
- Usually, widening the eyes lasts for a few hours.
- Use sunshades after the exam, as bright sunlight can be harmful to dilated pupils. Pupillary dilation isn't really painful, but it can be uncomfortable.
Step 4. Wait for the test
A thorough eye exam may take 1-2 hours. Although most test results are obtained immediately, the doctor may wish to perform further tests. If so, consult your healthcare provider for scheduling a time.
Step 5. Determine an eyeglass prescription
This is done by carrying out a refraction test. Your doctor will show you a range of lens options and ask you for clearer lens options. This test determines the severity of nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism.
Method 4 of 4: Seeking Medical Treatment
Step 1. Put on glasses
Vision problems are mainly caused by light not focusing properly on the eye. Glasses help redirect light to focus properly on the retina.
Step 2. Wear contact lenses
Contact lenses are smaller lenses that are meant to be worn directly on the eye. These contact lenses float on the surface of the cornea.
- There are many options for you to choose from, for example some contact lenses are daily wear (single use), others are designed to last longer.
- Some contact lenses come in different colors and are designed for certain types of eyes. Consult your healthcare provider for the appropriate options to meet your needs.
Step 3. Correction of vision with surgery
Although glasses and contact lenses are the more traditional methods of correcting vision, surgical methods are also growing in popularity. There are several different types of surgery for the eye. However, the two most common surgeries are Lasik surgery and PRK.
- In some cases, surgery is proposed because contact lenses and glasses are not effective enough to improve vision. In other cases, corrective surgery is proposed as an option to long-term wearing of glasses or contact lenses.
- Formally, Lasik is known as laser in-situ keratomileusis. This surgery is used to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. This surgery replaces the need to wear contact lenses or glasses. The FDA has approved Lasik eye surgery to be performed on patients 18 years of age and older with an eye prescription for at least one year. However, most doctors will recommend waiting until your mid-20s, because the eyes are still changing.
- Formally, PRK is referred to as a photorefractive keratectomy. PRK is similar to Lasik, in that it also treats nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism. The age requirement for PRK is the same as for Lasik.
Step 4. Decide whether the drug is an option or not
For most of the common eye conditions, nearsightedness, farsightedness, presbyopia, and astigmatism, medication is not used. For more serious problems, a healthcare provider can prescribe medication, which is usually in the form of eye drops or pills. If you need further treatment, seek more information from your health care provider.
Tips
- If you feel your vision is decreasing, don't wait to seek medical help.
- Follow the doctor's orders.
- Learn about your specific condition.
- If surgery is an option, ask about the length of recovery time.
- If medication is an option, be sure to ask about any unwanted effects of the drug.
- Have regular eye exams. If you are under 50 years old, it is recommended to have an eye exam every 2-3 years. If you are over 50 years old, it is recommended to do it every year.
- Know your family history. The earlier you are able to identify the symptoms of vision loss, the better the results.
- Maintain a healthy diet. There are several foods that have nutrients that are good for eye health, such as eating those containing omega 3 fatty acids, vitamins C, and E. In addition, green foods such as kale and spinach are good for eye health.
- Protect your eyes. Always carry sun protection. The sun visor helps protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays, emitted by the sun.
Warning
- Understand all your medical conditions. In some cases, vision loss is caused by other diseases.
- Be aware of serious diseases that cause vision problems: neurological disorders, diabetes, autoimmune diseases (Multiple Sclerosis (SM), myasthenia gravis, etc.)
- Never drive or operate machinery if you suspect you have a vision problem.
