EYE CARE IN BOULDER: COMMON EYE PROBLEMS AND THEIR SYMPTOMS

Although eye problems are generally associated with aging, they can affect anyone at any age. Eye care specialists in Boulder can treat these problems, but people should know what to look for. Here is a list of common eye problems and their symptoms.

Presbyopia

This eye problem occurs when a person is unable to clearly see small print and close objects. It is a normal process associated with age, with most people not noticing any changes until after the age of 40. This problem can be made better or improved with reading glasses, LASIK, and a number of other procedures.

Dry Eyes

This occurs when the tear glands make poor quality tears or an insufficient amount of tears. Symptoms include uncomfortable, painful, stinging, burning or itching eyes, blurry vision, and redness of the eye. Dry eye syndrome may leave a person vulnerable to bacterial infections. If left untreated, it can lead to scarring of the cornea, and in severe cases can lead to loss of vision.

Cataracts

The lens of the eye is supposed to be clear. However, with age, sometimes the lens turns cloudy due to proteins inside the lens clumping together. This may be caused by not wearing eye protection when out in the sun, high blood sugar, smoking, high blood pressure, steroid medications or hormone replacement therapy. Symptoms include:

·         Blurry vision which gets worse over time

·         Poor night vision

·         Light sensitivity

·         Seeing ‘halos’ around lights

·         Frequent need for stronger glasses

·         Seeing through a yellow tint

·         Seeing double

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a result of pressure buildup in the eye and can lead to the optic nerve being damaged. It is often caused by eye injuries, eye infection, inflammatory conditions of the eye, and blocked blood vessels. Symptoms include eye pain, redness of the eye, sudden blurred vision, sudden disturbances in vision, and seeing colored ‘halos’ around lights.

Conjunctivitis

Also known as ‘pink eye’ or ‘red eye.’ Conjunctivitis occurs when the tissue lining the eyelids and cornea becomes inflamed. This is often caused by infection, allergies or exposure to irritants and chemicals. Frequent hand-washing before eating significantly reduces a person’s chances of getting ‘pink eye.’

Night Blindness

People with night blindness have poor vision in dimly lit areas or at night. The only symptom of night blindness is problems seeing in the dark. It can have many causes including cataracts or nearsightedness. Treatment will depend on the underlying cause.

These are just some of the common eye problems many people experience. If a person is experiencing these symptoms it is important that they see an eye doctor immediately. Treatment is often simple and may not require surgery. But if these conditions are left untreated, they can lead to more serious problems such as loss of vision.

General eye care Boulder is essential. Frequent eye checks should be done by a doctor and people can also help prevent eye problems by eating a balanced diet, wearing sunglasses and not smoking.