Posted April 11, 2023
Good vision is essential for daily activities such as reading, driving, and walking around. Unfortunately, many people experience vision problems that can interfere with their ability to perform these tasks. The symptoms of vision problems can vary depending on the underlying condition. This blog will discuss the common symptoms associated with vision problems, their causes, and what they may indicate.
Common symptoms associated with vision problems include blurry vision, eye strain and fatigue, difficulty seeing at night, headaches and squinting. These symptoms can be caused by vision conditions such as Myopia (nearsightedness), Hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism or presbyopia.
Blurry vision is a common symptom of vision problems affecting people of all ages. It occurs when objects appear out of focus, making it difficult to see fine details or read text.
Some causes of blurry vision include myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism and presbyopia.
You may have blurry vision if you have difficulty seeing distant objects and/or near objects or see double. Double vision is called diplopia and occurs when someone can see two images of the same object. This makes it difficult to focus on one.
Eye strain and fatigue are common symptoms of vision problems that occur when the eyes are overworked or tired. This can happen for various reasons, including prolonged use of digital devices, reading in poor light, and driving for long periods.
Eye strain and fatigue mean that the muscles which control eye movement are unnecessarily strained. Eye strain can be caused by the extended use of blue light-emitting devices such as computers and smartphones or activities such as reading in poor light or driving for long periods of time.
Suppose you are an avid reader, road tripper, or user of such devices, like most of us. You experience sore eyes, headaches, blurred or double vision and difficulty focusing. In that case, you may be experiencing eye strain or fatigue. Sometimes, you may also experience neck, shoulder or back pain.
Difficulty seeing at night is exactly what it sounds like. It is when you have more trouble than most seeing in low light conditions, especially when driving at night.
Difficulty adjusting to darkness can be due to a condition known as nyctalopia, which is where the eyes have trouble adjusting to low light conditions. Other conditions which may cause difficulty seeing at night include cataracts, vitamin A deficiency, glaucoma, retinal detachment and diabetic retinopathy.
If you constantly find yourself tripping/stumbling at night or seeing halos around lights and having trouble seeing in low light conditions, you may have an eye condition causing these problems.
Although they may be unrelated, headaches can be the cause of an underlying vision problem. Tension headache and migraines are two types of headaches that can be a result of such problems.
Tension headaches are the most common type of vision related headache, which is caused by muscle tension in the neck and scalp. This kind of tension can result from eye strain which, as previously discussed, occurs when the eyes are overworked or tired.
Migraine headaches, on the other hand, are a type of headache accompanied by visual disturbances such as flashing lights or zigzag lines, which can be a sign of underlying conditions such as migraine aura or optic neuritis.
Headaches may not be at all related to vision. However, if you experience persistent headaches and pain behind the eyes and temples or have a sensitivity to light with some nausea. It may be a sign of an underlying vision problem.
Squinting is a common behaviour that people may unintentionally engage in to improve their vision. Squinting can help clear up blurry vision or reduce eye strain but it is not a long-term solution and can worsen vision problems overtime.
Squinting may mean that you have a vision problem causing blurry vision which you are subconsciously trying to correct.
If you experience eye strain or fatigue which causes squinting resulting in headaches you may have an eye condition that can be treated.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, it is important to have your vision checked by an eye care professional with a comprehensive eye exam. While it may be tempting to buy a pair of reading glasses or use over-the-counter eye drops to alleviate symptoms, these solutions may not address the underlying problem and could worsen the situation.
In conclusion, having good vision is important for our daily activities. Blurry vision, eye strain, difficulty seeing at night, headaches, and squinting are common symptoms of vision problems that may indicate various underlying conditions such as myopia, hyperopia, astigmatism or presbyopia. If you experience any of these symptoms, it is essential to consult an eye care professional to have a comprehensive eye exam to determine the root cause of the problem. Don't ignore these symptoms as they may indicate a more serious problem that could worsen if left untreated. Taking good care of our eyes is crucial for maintaining good vision and overall health.
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