Most People have eye problems at one time or another. Some are minor and will go away on their own. Or are easy to treat at home. Others need a specialist’s care.
Whether your vision isn’t what it used to be, or never was that great, there are things you can do to get your eye health back on track.
See if any of these common problems sound familiar. And always check with a doctor if your symptoms are really bad or don’t clear up within a few days.
1. Eyestrain
Anyone who reads for hours. works at a computer, or drives long distances knows about this one. It happens when you overuse your eyes. They get tires and need to rest, just like any other part of your body.
If your eyes feel strained, give them some time off. If they’re still weary after a few days, check with your doctor to make sure it isn’t another problem.
2. Lazy Eye
Lazy eye, or amblyopia, happens when one eye doesn’t develop properly. Vision is weaker in that eye, and it tends to move “lazily” around while the other eye stays put. It’s found in infants, Children, and adults, and rarely affects both eyes. Treatment needs to be sought immediately for infants and children.
Lifelong vision problems can be avoided if a lazy eye is detected and treated during early childhood. treatment includes corrective glasses or contact lenses and using a patch or other strategies to make a child use the lazy eye.
3. Presbyopia
This happens when you lose the ability, despite good distance vision, to clearly see close objects and small print.
After age 40 or so, you may have to hold a book or other reading material farther away from your eyes to make it easier to read. Sort of like your arms are too short.
Reading glasses, contact lenses, and other procedures can be used to restore good reading vision.
4. Eyelid Problems
Your eyelids do a lot for you. They protect your eye, spread tears over its surface, and limit the amount of light that can get in.
Pain, itching, tearing, and sensitivity to light are common symptoms of eyelid problems. You might also have blinking spasms or inflamed outer edges near your eyelashes.
Treatment could include proper cleaning, medication, or surgery.
5. Problems With Contact Lenses
They work well for many people, but you need to take care of them. Wash your hands before you touch them. Follow the care guidelines that came with your prescription. And follow these rules:
- Never wet them by putting them in your. That can make an infection more likely.
- Make sure your lenses fit properly, so they don’t scratch your eyes.
- Use eye drops that say they’re safe for
- Never use homemade saline solutions. Even though some lenses are FDA-approved for sleeping in them, doing so raises the risk of a serious infection.
If you do everything right and still have problems with your contacts, see your eye doctor. You might have dry eyes, or just be better off with glasses. Once you know what the problem is, you can decide what’s best for you.
