Staying Fit
Age increases your chances of developing serious eye issues such as a retinal detachment, age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma – all conditions that could put your eyesight at risk.
Catching and treating some problems early can prevent vision loss. That’s why it’s important to have an eye exam at least once a year, and to see a medical provider right away if you develop concerning symptoms. They may not derive from anything serious, but it’s worth finding out for sure.
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Here are six eye symptoms that could indicate a serious condition or problem.
1. A sudden increase in flashes and floaters
Floaters are black dots or squiggly lines that appear in front of your eye when you look at a white wall or blue sky, and they are common among older adults. Most of the time, they’re harmless, says Laura Di Meglio, O.D., an instructor of ophthalmology at the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins Medicine.
However, a sudden increase in floaters can be the first sign of a retinal detachment, an emergency situation in which a thin layer of tissue (the retina) pulls away from its normal position at the back of the eye.
“If all of a sudden, you get salt and pepper in your vision, a whole bunch of little black dots, flashes of light, or a veil or curtain coming down or coming up in front of your eye, go to the ER,” Di Meglio advises. “Don’t take a nap, don’t have a snack. Get in here, because if we can catch it early, we can save your vision.”
Another eye condition, called posterior vitreous detachment (PVD), can also cause floaters and flashes, Di Meglio says. But because a retinal detachment is so serious, it’s best to see a doctor right away to rule it out.
2. Sudden blurry or fuzzy vision (especially in one eye)
Blurry or distorted vision that comes on quickly is a classic sign of age-related macular degeneration, an eye disease that is the leading cause of vision loss for older adults. Macular degeneration happens when aging causes damage to the macula — the part of the eye that controls straight-ahead vision.
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