Are You Susceptible To Vision Loss?

Vision loss is more common than you may think! In fact, it's among the most prevalent disabilities in adults and children. Knowing what puts you at risk of developing vision loss is important and can help you to be proactive about caring for your eyes.

Spreading awareness and education about visual health is just one way that our eye doctors can help. To schedule your comprehensive eye exam, call us today.

Common Causes of Vision Loss

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases caused by a buildup of pressure within the eye. Too much inner-eye pressure can damage the optic nerve and lead to vision loss. Since symptoms don't usually manifest in the early stages, getting regular eye exams is crucial. Risk factors include being 60 years or older, family history of glaucoma, African, Asian, or Hispanic descent, high myopia or hyperopia, previous eye injury, certain medications like corticosteroids, thin corneas, and certain medical conditions like diabetes or hypertension.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the eye's lens becomes cloudy. Common symptoms include cloudy or blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, light sensitivity, double vision, and seeing colors as faded or yellowish. Risk factors include aging, diabetes, hypertension, smoking, previous eye surgery or injury, alcoholism, and extended use of corticosteroids.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD is the leading cause of severe vision loss in adults over the age of 60. It occurs when the macula begins to wear down. Risk factors include smoking, obesity, aging, long-term sun exposure, hypertension, heart disease, family history of AMD, light-colored eyes, and farsightedness.

Diabetic Retinopathy (DR)

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that affects the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. Risk factors include length of time from diabetes diagnosis, uncontrolled blood sugar, obesity, high cholesterol or blood pressure, pregnancy, smoking, and family history of DR.

What's the Bottom Line?

Multiple factors contribute to eye disease and vision loss. If you think you may be at risk, speak with your eye doctor at Eyecare Professionals of Gahanna as soon as possible. We recommend having your eyes thoroughly examined every 1-2 years, or as often as your eye doctor recommends.

FAQ

Can blindness be prevented? When caught early, many eye diseases can be treated to halt or slow the progression and potentially prevent vision loss. Regular eye exams every 1-2 years are key.

Which eye diseases are genetically inherited? More than 350 ocular diseases have some sort of genetic component. Certain diseases like retinitis pigmentosa and albinism are directly inherited. In other cases, a predisposition to the disease is inherited rather than the disease itself.