Common Vision Problems

Diagnosing The Causes Of Vision Problems

This article focuses strictly on common vision problems and the causes of vision problems. We have other articles that concentrate on common eye diseases and conditions.  

Whenever you notice a change in your eyesight, or you begin to have vision problems, it's important to find out what the causes of your vision problems are. That means getting your eyes examined by a qualified eye and vision specialist.

Be aware that there are a number of different professions that help individuals manage eye and vision problems. You've no doubt heard the terms optician, optometrist, and ophthalmologist. But you may not know the differences in what each of these professionals does. Here's a quick description.

Optician vs optometrist Opticians provide eye glasses. They're not trained to do eye examinations or treat eye diseases and vision problems. They help you choose frames and adjust them.

Optometrists perform eye exams and can certainly diagnose many vision problems like glaucoma, cataracts, and retinal diseases. They can also diagnose and treat visual conditions such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism and presbyopia.

Optometrists are not doctors, but they can prescribe glasses and contact lenses. Some states allow optometrists to prescribe eye drops to treat certain eye problems and diseases.

Optometrist vs opthalmologist Ophthalmologists are medical doctors specializing in eye and vision care. They're qualified and licensed to perform all services related to eye and vision problems, including eye exams and prescribing glasses. Ophthalmologists go to medical school for 4 years, followed by an internship, and at least 3 years of hospital-based training in ophthalmology.

Keep these definitions in mind when you're looking for someone to do an eye exam.

Common vision problems Few people get through life with 20-20 vision. Even those who start out that way often experience some type of vision distortion that requires correction eventually.

Astigmatism - When you have astigmatism, everything at all distances looks blurred to varying degrees. It occurs when cornea and lens do not focus light onto the retina clearly.

Astigmatism is a very common condition, usually resulting from a defect in the shape of the cornea or the lens. Astigmatism can be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or refractive surgery.

Double vision or diplopia - There are a number of possible causes for double vision, and not all of them are related to the eyes. Circulatory problems like high blood pressure can cause double vision, as can strokes. Cataracts are another possible cause.

Higher-order aberrations - These are vision errors that especially cause difficulty seeing at night. Double images are also possible with higher-order-aberrations (also often abbreviated to HOA)

Hyperopia - This eye problem is more commonly known as farsightedness. Things you see that are close to you look blurry, but objects in the distance look sharp and clear. Sometimes, however, there are cases in which hyperopia makes all objects look blurry at any distance. It is also known as longsightedness or hypermetropia.

Myopia This is an extremely common eye problem that most people call nearsightedness. You have no problem keeping nearby objects in focus. But objects in the distance seem blurry or out of focus. Myopia often occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is curved too much.

Tunnel vision - When you have this eye problem, you can't see properly around the edges of your normal field of vision. You central vision can be okay. Tunnel vision is often caused by glaucoma, a detached retina, eye strokes or occlusions, or a blow to the head that causes a concussion.

Presbyopia - People who have reached the age of 40 are often familiar with this one. It means you have a problem reading things up close, even if your distance vision is good. Presbyopia is the reason many people need "reading glasses" in middle age and beyond.

Conclusion Sometimes causes of vision problems is not related as much to the eyes themselves as to some other general health disorder or disease. So don't hesitate to talk to your doctor - not just your optometrist - about eye and vision problems.

It's important to pay attention to changes in your eyes and vision. Don't tell yourself, "I'm just getting older." Get professional help and you'll keep eye and vision problems to a minimum.