{"id":7046,"date":"2019-05-30T21:05:04","date_gmt":"2019-05-30T21:05:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=7046"},"modified":"2021-04-08T20:15:46","modified_gmt":"2021-04-08T20:15:46","slug":"14-early-warning-signs-of-blindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/14-early-warning-signs-of-blindness\/","title":{"rendered":"14 Early Warning Signs of Blindness"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Blindness is a condition that affects thousands of people all over the world, and while many cases of blindness can be present from birth, there are just as many cases of blindness that were developed later on in life due to an eye injury, or an eye or health condition. You should know that there is a range of different health conditions which can be the cause of eventual blindness \u2013 especially if you have a family history of partial-sightedness, eye conditions or blindness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This becomes more true with certain other risk factors that can include high blood pressure, cholesterol and a compromised immune system. Most of these health conditions could have been treated with a diagnosis ahead of time. Regular appointments with a range of doctors, including an ophthalmologist and cardiologist, are crucial to keeping your health in good condition.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are 8 early warning signs of blindness that you should know about.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Blurred Vision<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Blurred vision<\/a> can be one of the first early signs that there\u2019s something wrong with your health that you should have checked out, and it\u2019s a symptom that can be associated with a wide range of different health conditions depending on how and when you experience it. Sometimes blurred vision happens suddenly and lasts only for a little while \u2013 in this case, temporary eye injury and high or low blood pressure can be the cause of this; blood sugar levels can also be the cause of blurred vision, and it\u2019s up to tests to find out the cause.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many of these conditions can have eventual blindness as a consequence, with higher risks if the condition is left untreated (or treated with the wrong course of action). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sometimes blurred vision occurs permanently, and can be due to a variety of different conditions affecting the eye including glaucoma and cataracts, many of which are treatable in the early stages.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Repeated Eye Infections<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Eye infections<\/a> are common and affect thousands of people every year due to a variety of reasons. Many times an eye infection is caused by exposure to pathogens that are transferred to the eye by cross-contamination \u2013 for example, inserting contacts that aren\u2019t cleaned properly, or touching a banister or railing that was touched by a few thousand people before you and then rubbing your eyes before your hands have been washed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s obvious that any kind of eye infection should be treated as soon as possible to avoid any damage to the eye, which can include blindness with long-term or repeated eye infections.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Symptoms and signs of an eye infection include red or swollen eyes, pain, and discomfort in the eyes and occasionally tears or discharge that emerges from the eyes or tear ducts.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Eye infections are usually easy to treat with antibiotics but can damage your sight if not treated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Eye Pain or Discomfort<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any kind of pain experienced in the body is generally a sign that there\u2019s something deeper wrong with your health that needs to be checked out \u2013 and it\u2019s always your body trying to tell you something. If you experience eye pain or discomfort <\/a>as a short-term symptom that goes away after a while, it\u2019s likely that something like a sinus infection or allergies might have been the cause.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if eye pain and discomfort lasts for an unusually long time, then it\u2019s likely that it could be a deeper cause \u2013 and you should make an appointment with your doctor to find out what\u2019s behind the cause. The majority of eye conditions that can cause eye discomfort can eventually lead to blindness if they\u2019re left untreated and most of these health conditions could have been treated early on if they had been spotted with an early appointment and a few tests.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Night Blindness<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Night blindness <\/a>can be a potential symptom of many health conditions that can eventually lead to blindness if they\u2019re left untreated for so long that they cause damage to the eye. If you experience night blindness, it can come with a range of other complications such as being more prone to injury at night, and being entirely unable to drive as soon as the sun sets \u2013 and it\u2019s never worth it to take the risk.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Most cases of night blindness are simply symptoms of another eye condition, and the majority of these are considered easy to treat as long as they\u2019re diagnosed early on \u2013 cataracts can, for example, be controlled with just a simple surgery, where they could have caused a patient to go blind if they were left alone for years.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience night blindness, see your doctor sooner rather than later to establish the cause \u2013 and make sure you don\u2019t put yourself at risk by driving or commuting in the dark.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Floaters in the Eye<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you start to experience floaters in the eye as a recurring symptom, it can indicate a range of health conditions that can eventually lead to blindness \u2013 and it can even serve as a precursor to other serious health conditions such as retinal detachment. The only way to find out what\u2019s causing the appearance of floaters in the eye is to make an appointment with your doctor \u2013 usually an ophthalmologist <\/a>\u2013 for the necessary tests. It usually takes just a simple and non-invasive eye examination to establish why the floaters are there, and most of the health conditions that are known for causing them can be fixed easily.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember to take down the symptoms that you experience in order to relay these to your doctor as accurately as possible, and keep simple details in mind: How often the floaters occur, whether they take a specific shape, whether you feel any pain or discomfort in your eyes and exactly <\/span>when<\/span><\/i> you seem to experience them.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Blind Spots in the Eye<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you experience any kind of repetitive or lasting blind spots in either or both eyes, make an appointment with your doctor and ophthalmologist immediately: It\u2019s considered one of the most serious health symptoms, and it can help you to catch a serious health condition early before it causes any lasting damage to your body or eyes. While not all of the health conditions causing blind spots in the eyes (especially temporary ones) risk blindness, some of them do \u2013 and it\u2019s better to know if you are at risk of eventual blindness.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Temporary blind spots can signal an impending migraine, or indicate conditions such as high or low blood pressure<\/a>. Permanent blind spots might point towards an eye condition affecting the eye, many of which put you at a higher risk of damage to the eye if they\u2019re left untreated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It usually takes just a few simple tests to avoid the risk of losing your sight.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Near- or Far-Sightedness<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Near- and far-sightedness are common health conditions that likely affect millions of people all over the world. If you have ever strained to read or see something up close, then it\u2019s likely that you might have either of these health conditions that affect your eye \u2013 and if you haven\u2019t been to a doctor, make an appointment with an ophthalmologist as soon as possible in order to get the condition treated.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

While they are very common health conditions, they are also ones that put a lot of strain <\/a>on the eyes. This is truer if they aren\u2019t treated, and if your eyes are subjected to even more strain due to your career (like ones that involve a lot of reading).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Both these conditions are manageable, and can usually be treated with minor laser surgery. If they can\u2019t be corrected with surgery, then corrective glasses are often a possible long-term treatment option.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Other Risk Factors for Blindness<\/b><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There are a few other conditions that put you at a higher risk for eventually developing blindness or reduced sight. Some of these conditions, like glaucoma<\/a>, are directly related to the eyes and eye health, but you\u2019d be surprised at just how many health conditions can affect your sight that isn\u2019t related to the eyes at all. We\u2019ve already mentioned that high and low blood pressure are conditions that can affect the eyesight, but this also happens to be true for conditions like cholesterol and especially diabetes.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you experience a sudden loss of sight, make an appointment with your doctor as soon as possible, especially if you have a family history of health conditions like these, or can remember that someone in your family had sight reduction or blindness in their history.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Genetic factors always mean that you should be tested for conditions that you\u2019ve seen in your family history: Health adjustments can be made early once you know what your health risks might be. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\r\n

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