Don’t stop seeing an eye care specialist until you experience serious vision problems. You should see an ophthalmologist as soon as you start to have symptoms of vision defects. Early detection helps you avoid more serious problems that can arise from carelessness.
A good number of children experience visual impairment during their early years. Prescription glasses can quickly correct most childhood vision problems. An ophthalmologist or optometrist can prescribe corrective lenses that your child will wear for a set period of time. He will have different needs as he gets older. Be sure to visit a specialist from time to time to check the health of your eyes.
What causes visual impairment?
Many factors can cause vision problems. Some conditions are hereditary and will manifest over time, while others may be a birth defect. Nearsightedness or myopia is a very good example of a problem that can stem from genetics.
Other problems arise from carelessness and bad habits. Your eyes need vitamin A and lutein. Vitamin A helps maintain vision, while lutein keeps the eyes lubricated and protects them from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. Not having enough of these two speeds up the deterioration of your vision. Reading habits such as reading in dimly lit places, reading for long periods of time, and reading at an awkward angle make your hereditary condition worse.
Aging affects your eyesight dramatically. Your body’s ability to retain the nutrients needed for healthy vision declines as you age. This can lead to nearsightedness and farsightedness, astigmatism, and more serious conditions like glaucoma, retinal detachment, and cataracts.
What types of treatment are available?
Prescription glasses correct most vision problems. You have to use it for a limited time or use it for the rest of your life. This will depend on the condition you have. Most people start with corrective lenses as children and move on to reading glasses once they start to age. You will need to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis of more serious conditions. They will give you a prescription for glasses and tell you if your condition is still reversible or not.
Other disorders may require surgical procedures. People with advanced nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism may qualify for LASIK eye surgery. It involves the use of lasers to reshape and reshape the cornea. Conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma require traditional surgical procedures. In the meantime, retinal detachment will need emergency surgery to prevent the retina from fully detaching.
Tips on caring for your eyes
Make sure you eat a healthy diet rich in vitamin A and lutein. Pumpkin, broccoli, and spinach are good examples of lutein-rich foods, while red bell peppers and carrots are rich in vitamin A. You should also watch your reading habits. Read at a comfortable angle and make sure you have plenty of light. Give your eyes a rest from time to time when reading for an extended period of time. You can exercise your eyeballs by looking up, down, and sideways. Finally, be sure to visit an eye care specialist every two years and keep your prescription up to date. Wearing the wrong prescription lenses does more harm than good.