Common Eye Conditions and Treatments

Many would consider their sight to be their most important sense, so it is logical to look after your vision by paying regular visits to the optometrist. But another part of maintaining good vision is to know when something is wrong, and to seek treatment for it. Here are some of the most common eye conditions, their symptoms, and the vision correction methods that can help remedy them.

Two of the most common vision-related problems are near and far-sightedness. Near sightedness (also called myopia) is when you can see things clearer up close, while things far away appear blurry. Far sightedness (also called hyperopia) is the opposite.

While many people will simply opt to get glasses or contact lenses for these conditions, countless others are choosing to get LASIK eye surgery instead. LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery that treats both near and far sightedness, as well as astigmatism - an optical condition where the optics of the eye can’t focus a point object into a sharp focused image on the retina. The result of astigmatism is blurred vision.

Other common vision problems include age-related conditions such as cataracts and glaucoma. Cataracts can form at any age, but are a common consequence of getting older. It is a clouding of part of the eye (the lens) which causes vision to become blurred or dim, as light cannot pass through the clouded lens to the back of the eye. Early stages of cataracts can be treated with glasses or contact lenses, but the only thing that will take cataracts away is cataract surgery - one of the most common surgical procedures for the eye.

Glaucoma, which characterises a group of eye conditions where the optic nerve is damaged - is associated with raised pressure in the eye. The result is a reduction in the field of vision, as well as blurry vision. Glaucoma is most common in people over the age of 40, and can be treated easily and effectively if detected early. The most common forms of treatment for glaucoma are eye drops to relieve pressure in the eye, as well as surgery.

Another common vision problem is presbyopia. Presbyopia is the loss of focusing ability, and is another common result of age. In younger people, the lens is more flexible and the eye has a greater range of focus from a far to near distance. However, with age, the lens loses flexibility and the ability to focus on objects nearby. Glasses and contact lenses are the most common form of treatment for Presbyopia.

While you should be in tune with your eyesight and any problems that may arise, it’s also important that you go to see your optometrist for regular eye checkups to detect any problems with your eyes quickly. Your optometrist can also recommend a particular course of action to best treat any problems with your vision; anything from LASIK eye surgery to eye drops depending on the condition and severity.

The sooner you can catch certain conditions, the sooner - and more effectively - you can treat them. So, take care of your vision - it’s one of the most important senses you have!