Far too often, people avoid scheduling an eye exam or visiting their eye doctor, even if they experience some sort of eye discomfort or change in their vision. But doing so can put them at risk of potentially serious consequences. In this blog post Dr. Linda Vu, an eye doctor in Los Angeles, discusses eye symptoms that should never be ignored.
Flashes and Floaters
Floaters are cobweb-like lines and spots that drift around in your field of vision. In most cases, floaters are harmless. However, the sudden appearance of floaters along with flashes of light could be a sign of posterior vitreous detachment or a retinal tear that could lead to retinal detachment. If not treated promptly, retinal detachment can lead to blindness.
Red, Teary Eyes
You may think red, teary eyes are a product of sleep deprivation, but they could be a sign of a condition known as keratitis. This condition is characterized by swelling and inflammation in the cornea, affecting vision. Some forms of keratitis are caused by infection while others can be caused by a fingernail scratch or from wearing contact lenses for too long. If left untreated, keratitis can lead to serious complications including blindness.
Double Vision
Double vision occurs when you see double images (often times overlapping) of a single object. Double vision can occur for a variety of reasons, including drinking too much alcohol, dry eye syndrome or exhaustion. Depending on the cause, double vision can resolve on its own over time. It is important to note if the double vision resolves with covering one eye. More serious causes of double vision include stroke or brain tumor.
Eye Pain
Eye pain should always be taken seriously. Causes can range from obvious ones such as injury to an underlying eye condition that can lead to blindness. Pain in the eye can be caused by a corneal abrasion (scratched cornea), dry eye, conjunctivitis (pink eye), eye infections and contact lens discomfort. Pain behind the eye can be caused by migraine headaches and sinus infections. In any case, you should schedule an appointment with your eye doctor immediately if you experience any sort of eye pain.
To discuss your eye health with Dr. Vu or to schedule a regular eye exam, please call (626) 382-2020 today.