Conditions | Eye Tests | Our Clinic | Services

How to Spot Early Signs of Eye Conditions

By Umesh Patel

January 13, 2023

Our eyes are not, unfortunately, exempt from health-related issues. Our vision and eye health can change all the time, and sometimes it can be difficult to spot any symptoms of a condition when it has just started developing. Spotting eye conditions early on can help treat and manage the issue. The only way to formally diagnose a particular eye condition is by getting an eye test from an optometrist. There are certain clues that you can look out for that could prompt you to book an eye health test earlier than normal

If you have any of these symptoms, get in touch with your optometrist to discuss the next steps.

WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EYE CONDITIONS?

Red eyes

Having red eyes can be an indication of multiple different eye-related conditions, some more serious than others. Either way, you must get in touch with your optometrist to get to the bottom of it and get advice on treatment.

Eye conditions associated with red eyes:

NIGHT BLINDNESS

If you are having trouble seeing properly when it is dark or at night, this could indicate an issue with your eyes. If you are having trouble with this, please get in touch with your optometrist.

Eye conditions associated with night blindness:

Headaches

There are many causes of headaches, such as dehydration, tiredness, common illness and injury. However, it can also be caused by vision or eye health issues.

Some eye conditions that bring on headaches include:

Angle-Closure Glaucoma
Refractive Error
Photokeratitis

SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT

If you find yourself overly sensitive to light, or even experience pain when exposed to light, you are suffering from photophobia which needs to be investigated

Eye conditions linked to light sensitivity include:

Cataracts
Allergies
Keratitis
Corneal Abrasion
Keratoconus
Uveitis

Floating dots/spots/shapes and/or flashes

The floating specks or dots are actually caused by shadows cast on the retina by small clumps of cells which are usually harmless. Sometimes however they could indicate a significant problem. Flashes are often causes by tension on the lining at the back of your eyes known as the retina. If you notice floating dots flashes in your vision, you should consult your optometrist as soon as possible.

Eye conditions associated with floating dots or flashes:

Diabetic Retinopathy
Torn or detached Retina
Posterior Vitreous Detachment
Uveitis
Migraines

DRY EYES

Dry eye is when a person cannot produce enough tears or moisture in their eye. This means that your eyes can feel scratchy and irritated. Dry eye is very common in the UK, and fortunately, there are great treatment methods. Mandy Davidson and Ann Forbes, at Dolphin Optometrists are experts in the dry eye field. If you have this condition, get in touch with us for more details.

Conditions associated with dry eye include:

Bell’s Palsy
Blepharitis
Chronic dry eye

Excessive tearing or moisture

When eyes are irritable or inflamed they can produce tears that are too watery. If this doesn’t go away on its own after a day or two, then you should get in touch as we can help.

Eye conditions associated with excessive tearing:

Dry eye
Allergies
Blocked tear ducts
Conjunctivitis

BLURRED VISION

Blurred vision is a common symptom of a lot of different eye conditions. If you notice a sudden increase in blurriness, you should book an eyesight test with your optometrist to check it out.

Some eye conditions that can cause blurriness include:

Refractive error: Short sight (myopia), long sightedness and/or Astigmatism
Cataracts
Conjunctivitis
Torn or detached Retina
Keratoconus
Macular degeneration

Swelling Eyes

Swelling around the eyes can be caused by trauma, infection or allergies.

Conditions associated with swelling include:

physical attack
Blocked tear ducts
Blepharitis
Conjunctivitis
Cellulitis
Graves’ Disease
allergies

Watching out for the above symptoms can significantly improve your overall health and well-being. If you have any of the mentioned systems, please contact Dolphins Optometrists to get yourself booked with one of our friendly team members for an eye health test. Contact our experts today on 01444 454808 or hello@dolphinsoptometrists.co.uk to book an eye test, glasses or contact lens appointment, or for myopia management.

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