Tag Archives: vision problems

Watching Out for Vision Problems

A parent, grandparent, or other family member may be the first to notice that a child is having vision problems. Or, it may be a teacher or other educator who notices the problem. Sometimes, a vision problem goes undetected until an annual eye exam. A child who is having vision problems may not come out and say something like, “I can’t see the blackboard,” or “It’s hard to see things that are far away.” They may not say anything at all! But there are some signs you can watch out for. When your child is reading or doing other close … Continue reading →

Astigmatism

If your eye doctor has told you that you have astigmatism, you aren’t alone. Astigmatism is a pretty common eye disorder — it is an irregularity in the curve of the cornea. The worse the curve is, the more help your eyes will need. Astigmatism can quickly and easily be corrected by wearing glasses or contact lenses. An eyeball is a sphere. In a normal eye, light enters the eye and refracts evenly to create an image of the object for your brain to process. If you have astigmatism, your eyeball may be shaped more like the back of a … Continue reading →

Cataracts

More than half of all Americans over the age of sixty-five have cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye that can impair your vision. For you to see, light must pass through your cornea, pupil, and the fluid inside your eyeball (called aqueous humor) before it hits the lens. The lens takes the light rays and bends them into focus onto the retina at the back of the eye. From the retina, the optic nerve takes the information and sends it to the brain as images. A buildup of protein in the lens creates a … Continue reading →

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is the number one cause of vision loss in people over the age of sixty. It is rarely a condition that leads to blindness, but it can cause a significant loss of vision. The retina is the nerve tissue at the back of the eye that senses light. The small central part of the retina is the macula. When the macula deteriorates with age, a person develops age related macular degeneration. There are two main types of macular degeneration: Dry form macular degeneration — deposits in the macula called drusen build up over time. These yellow deposits can … Continue reading →

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition caused by too much fluid pressure building up in the eye. This pressure is known as intraocular pressure and can damage the optic nerve — the one responsible for transmitting images from the eyes to the brain. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually lead to permanent blindness within just a few years. What makes the intraocular pressure increase? In a normal, healthy eye, the fluid inside flows out through a mesh-like opening. If the mesh becomes blocked, the fluid will start to build up. Doctors aren’t sure why the mesh becomes blocked; occasionally it can be caused … Continue reading →

Glaucoma In Pets

Glaucoma is common in both humans and dogs. When pressure fluid inside the eyeball is too high, internal structures can be destroyed. This is glaucoma. The pressure damage is similar to high blood pressure rupturing a blood vessel in the brain, causing blood flooding that damages brain cells — otherwise known as a stroke. Glaucoma renders the affected eye blind and useless in most cases. What causes glaucoma? The fluid in the eyeball is known as aqueous humor. Drainage issues — the aqueous humor not being able to drain properly from the eye — is the most frequent cause of … Continue reading →

Ten Signs that Your Child May Have Vision Problems

There are a number of vision disorders that affect children, some of which can cause permanent damage if not treated early. It’s true that newborns can see, but their vision continues to develop for many years as they grow. A child’s vision doesn’t finish developing until the age of nine. If you see any of these signs, it’s probably time to schedule a visit with an optometrist or ophthalmologist. It doesn’t necessarily mean the trouble is serious, but it’s certainly worth investigating further. Parents can’t expect their children to declare, “I’m having trouble seeing.” Many children have no idea they … Continue reading →

Tips for Catching Eye Problems in Toddlers

I was born with a lazy eye and needed glasses from a very young age and eventually two corrective muscle surgeries and a Lasik surgery later, I’m very fortunate that my parents paid very close attention to my eyes and my behavior, because I treasure my vision as one of my greatest senses since it allows me to see the world and to read and much, much more. Here are some tips to help you monitor for vision problems in your child, so you can give them the greatest gift by protecting their sight and helping them if they need … Continue reading →