Eye Disease Warning Signs
Low vision can be caused by injuries or trauma to the eyes, but may also develop gradually over a period of time. Aging eyes are prone to develop vision impairments, and heredity can also play a part. If you believe that you or a family member may be developing low vision, be aware of these common warning signs.
- Trouble cooking and doing up-close tasks
- Difficulty recognizing familiar faces
- Feeling that lights are too dim indoors
- Problems reading signs or crossing the street
- Areas of blurred or distorted vision or spots and blotches in your vision
- Shadowed or darkened field of view
- Recurring sudden eye pain
- A narrowing field of vision, or loss of peripheral vision
- A gradual loss of central vision
- Cloudy and blurred vision or exaggerated “halos” around bright lights
- Blind spots in your field of view
- Double vision
- Complete loss of vision for any length of time
Noting any vision changes and monitoring your vision will alert you to any issues that may indicate a problem with or a worsening of an eye condition. One common test is known as the Amsler Grid. The Amsler Grid looks like graph paper, with dark lines forming a square grid. It is most commonly used by people with macular degeneration to monitor vision changes.
One of the first signs of macular degeneration can be wavy, broken or distorted lines OR a blurred or missing area of vision. The Amsler Grid can help you spot these vision changes early. Please note, however, that the Amsler grid should not be used in place of a visit to an eye care professional or to self-diagnose any low vision conditions.
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