From restless.co.uk/health
Our eyes aren’t exempt from wear and tear, and taking care of them is just as important as the rest of our health. Eyes change naturally with age – and, while some changes are harmless, others can be warning signs of conditions like cataracts and glaucoma
You may be tempted to wait until your next check-up to investigate symptoms or ignore vision changes, hoping that things will improve on their own. But it’s important to see an optician as soon as you notice anything unusual, as some eye conditions can increase the risk of vision loss if left untreated.
The Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) estimates that over two million Brits are living with sight loss – largely due to conditions like macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, and ocular hypertension.
With this in mind, we’ve partnered with Boots Opticians to bring you 11 signs of eye conditions you shouldn’t ignore.
1. Blurred vision
Blurred vision is a common symptom of several eye conditions, affecting one or both eyes and either your peripheral or central vision. It can make seeing detail more difficult and cause images to lose sharpness and definition.
Blurred vision differs from cloudy vision (when images look obscured or ‘milky’) and double vision (seeing two images of a single object).
Experiencing temporary or occasional blurred vision is often just a sign that your eyes are tired. However, according to Boots Opticians, blurred vision that’s sudden or doesn’t go away may signal eye conditions such as glaucoma, myopia, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and diabetic retinopathy.
2. Flashes and floaters
Flashes and floaters are small dots or squiggly lines that appear in your vision. They’re often clearer if you stare at a light, solid-coloured surface.
It’s normal to see flashes and floaters (small dots, specks, lines, or cobwebs) in your vision from time to time, particularly in later life. Usually, they aren’t serious and are due to a harmless process called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), where the gel inside your eye changes.
PVD is so common that 75% of people over 65 are affected by it, and it can also occur for no obvious reason. However, in some cases, flashes and floaters can signal a more serious eye condition, so it’s always important to get them checked.
According to Boots Opticians, experiencing a sudden increase in flashes and floaters, shadows in your peripheral vision, or floaters that appear after eye injury or surgery can signal a retinal tear or detachment. In these cases, it’s important to seek urgent advice from your optician, GP, NHS 111, or go to A&E. If left untreated, retinal detachment can lead to permanent vision loss.
3. Headaches
Headaches can feel different depending on their cause. For example, you might experience a dull ache around the head from stress/tension or pain or pressure in the face from inflamed sinuses when you have a cold.
Headaches can come and go quickly and, if there’s no underlying issue, will often go away with over-the-counter medications. However, if the pain doesn’t go away or becomes regular, it could be a sign of eyestrain, an underlying eye condition, or another health condition altogether, and warrants a check-up with your optician and/or GP.
4. Light sensitivity
Our eyes are naturally designed to handle varying degrees of light. But light sensitivity, also known as photophobia, can make everyday light conditions seem too bright, causing discomfort or even affecting how well we see.
Experiencing mild photophobia is normal – for example, when you walk outside after watching a film at the cinema or when first waking up to sunlight in the morning. However, lingering photophobia may be a sign of a more serious eye condition.
Eye conditions that can cause light sensitivity include cataracts, uveitis, glaucoma, keratoconus, and corneal abrasions (a scratch on the eye).
5. Eye pain
Many eye conditions are painless, but some can cause eye pain. For example, a rare and particularly serious form of glaucoma, called angle-closure glaucoma, can cause severe eye pain due to a build-up of fluid within the eye.
Eye pain can also be caused by keratitis, a scratched cornea, dry eye syndrome, and eye injuries. Being able to explain where your eye hurts or what the pain feels like – aching, throbbing, etc – can often help your optician determine the cause.
Eye pain differs from the irritation you may feel from getting a piece of dirt or an eyelash stuck in your eye, or strain caused by staring at a computer screen. In these cases, your eye(s) will usually feel better once the dirt or lash is out, or after you’ve taken a substantial screen break.
6. Dry eyes
Dry eyes can feel itchy, sore, gritty, red, blurry, sensitive to light, or more watery than usual. It may also be uncomfortable to wear contact lenses.
Dry eye syndrome is a condition in itself, but can also be caused by other eye conditions, such as blepharitis, or by laser eye surgery, contact lens wear for extended periods, or too much screen time.
Eyes get dry when they aren’t producing enough tears, or tears dry up too quickly. For this reason, it’s more common in later life, when the eyes naturally produce fewer tears due to hormonal changes.
According to Boots Opticians, dry eyes affect around 15-33% of people over 65. This is particularly true for women because menopause causes oestrogen and androgen levels to drop. In fact, dry eye syndrome is one of the most common eye conditions caused by menopause.
Experiencing occasional eye dryness is usually nothing to worry about, particularly if symptoms respond to over-the-counter eye lubricants. Yet, if you’re experiencing chronic eye dryness that causes discomfort or affects daily life, it’s best to see an optician.
7. Changes in colour perception
Colour vision deficiency, also called colour blindness, is when you see colours differently from most people or have difficulty telling colours apart.
Some people are born with colour vision deficiency, but it can also develop at any age. Colour blindness can occur on its own or be caused by other eye conditions, including glaucoma, cataracts, and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
For example, difficulty distinguishing between blue and yellow colours is often linked with early glaucoma. And many people with AMD find that colours appear duller, darker, and less vivid.
8. Night blindness
To allow us to see in low-light conditions, the pupil expands to take in as much light as possible.
However, some eye conditions can impact the eye’s ability to absorb or process light, making it difficult to see at night or in dimly lit places.
Examples of eye conditions that have been linked with night vision problems include glaucoma, cataracts, nystagmus, and retinitis pigmentosa (gradual degeneration of the retina).
9. Peripheral vision loss
Peripheral vision loss, also known as tunnel vision, makes it difficult or impossible to see objects that aren’t directly in front of you. Peripheral vision loss can affect one or both eyes simultaneously and can cause dizziness or unsteadiness when walking or standing.
Temporary peripheral vision loss can be caused by migraines. However, eye conditions that damage the eye(s) can lead to permanent peripheral vision loss if left untreated. Some of the most common eye conditions linked with peripheral vision loss include glaucoma, retinal detachment, diabetic retinopathy, and optic neuritis.
Peripheral vision loss can also vary in severity. For example, beginning in your vision’s outermost angles and creeping inward over time.
10. Red eyes
When our eyes become inflamed or irritated, the blood vessels expand, causing the white parts of our eyes to appear red or pink. Redness in one or both eyes can have various causes, including allergies, smoke, or air pollution.
However, if you suddenly develop red eyes or it’s causing you discomfort, it could be a sign of an eye condition. According to Boots Opticians, if your eye is red and painful, it could be caused by conditions including uveitis, glaucoma, corneal ulcer or a scratch to the cornea.
Final thoughts…
Our eyes naturally change with age. However, while some changes are harmless, others can signal more serious eye conditions. If left untreated, these conditions can increase the risk of vision loss, so it’s important to know what signs to look out for and to speak to an optician if you notice any changes.
For more information on eye conditions and signs to look out for, head over to the Boots Opticians website. If you’re experiencing any of the eye changes mentioned here, it’s important to book an eye test.
Alternatively, check out our eye health and vision section. Here, you’ll find information on everything from important nutrients for eye health to age-related eye conditions you should know about.
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