Vision Changes 101: Symptoms, Causes and Detection

Vision changes have many different forms. Generally, vision changes develop due to refractive errors such as farsightedness, nearsightedness and astigmatism. They can occur in one or both eyes, and they can affect both adults and children.

To give you a comprehensive view about vision changes, trusted eye specialist Downtown Eyes shares more information below.

What Are Vision Changes?

Vision changes are basically any alterations in your ability to see well. They may include cloudy vision, blurry vision, double vision, loss of vision or seeing spots in your vision. Vision changes may occur due to a condition in the eyes, or they may be caused by other conditions affecting the whole body.

Typically, vision changes result from refractive errors such as presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) or myopia (nearsightedness). Fortunately, for vision changes caused by these conditions, you can simply wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct your vision.

While many vision changes are generally not serious, they could affect your ability to focus on objects placed at a specific distance and ultimately have an impact on your work or day-to-day activities. Furthermore, some cases of vision changes may be caused by vision- or life-threatening conditions. That said, it’s important to visit an eye clinic as soon as you can for proper diagnosis and treatment.

What Symptoms May Occur Along With Vision Changes?

Vision changes may develop along with other symptoms, which vary depending on the underlying condition, cause or disease. Below are some of the eye symptoms that are usually observed with vision changes:

• Double vision
• Dry eyes
• Reduced vision in low-light or dimly lit environments
• Itchy eyes
• Red, sore eyes
• Increased sensitivity to light
• Increased tear production
• Droopy eyelids

Sometimes vision changes may also develop along with symptoms that are related to other body parts or systems. These symptoms include:

• Headache
• Nausea and vomiting
• Tremor
• Abnormal gait
• Difficulty speaking

Meanwhile, in other cases wherein vision changes could possibly indicate a life-threatening condition, the following symptoms may also be present:

• Severe headache
• Abnormal pupil size or nonreactivity to light
• Sudden change in vision, eye pain or loss of vision
• Change in level of alertness or consciousness (passing out or unresponsiveness)
• Sudden weakness or numbness on one side of the body
• Slurred speech
• Change in mental status or behavior (confusion, lethargy, hallucinations, delusions and delirium)

What Are the Common Causes of Vision Changes?

Vision changes may occur as a result of various underlying conditions or diseases. Some cases may be due to conditions affecting the brain, central nervous system or other body parts, while others originate in the eye itself.

To give you an idea of how vision changes could develop, below are some of their common causes:

• Dry eyes
• Eye infections
• Eye injuries
• Retinal detachment
• Migraine
• Uveitis or iritis (inflammation of the structures of the eye)
• Macular edema (fluid buildup within the layers of the retina)
• Corneal edema (swelling and clouding of the cornea)
• Cataracts (clouding or loss of transparency in the lens of the eye)
• Diabetic retinopathy and blindness (vision complications of diabetes)
• Age-related macular degeneration (loss of vision in the macula, the part of the retina that allows you to see detail in the central vision)
• Need for corrective lenses or need for updating eyewear prescription

Vision changes may also present as a symptom of a serious or life-threatening condition. If you suspect that you’re in this kind of situation, it’s best to have yourself immediately evaluated in an emergency setting. Below are some serious or life-threatening causes of vision changes:

• Brain tumor
• Orbital tumor
• Head trauma
• Malnutrition
• Glaucoma
• Ocular and orbital trauma
• Retinal detachment
• Stroke
• Vitamin deficiency
• Endophthalmitis (infection inside the eyeball)

To determine the specific cause of your vision changes, make sure to contact your eye doctor immediately. In many of the conditions mentioned above, vision changes are usually not serious and they can be easily corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. But in order to be sure your vision changes are not caused by vision- or life-threatening conditions, it’s best to have your eyes examined by a healthcare professional.

What Factors Do Health Practitioners Consider When Diagnosing Vision Changes?

During your consultation, eye care specialists or other licensed health practitioners will likely ask you several questions regarding your vision changes. For instance, they would want to know how long since you’ve noticed your vision changes and if you have previously undergone eye surgery. They may also ask if the vision changes are persistent or if they come and go. To further assess your condition, they may also need to know if you are currently taking any medications or if you have other known medical conditions. They would also likely ask if you are experiencing other symptoms along with your vision changes.

All these factors could help them determine the cause of your vision changes, so try to answer as honestly and as best as you could. This way, your doctor will be able to give a proper diagnosis and treatment. Furthermore, they may require some tests to validate or identify underlying conditions. It’s best to communicate openly with your doctor, so don’t hesitate to ask questions or voice any concerns that you may have.

What Complications May Potentially Arise From Vision Changes?

In rare cases, vision changes may be associated with a systemic condition or disease, which could lead to vision-threatening or life-threatening conditions if left untreated. That’s why you should contact your eye doctor and have your eyes examined. They should be able to determine the underlying cause of your vision changes and provide treatment if needed. Failure to see a healthcare professional or follow the treatment plan prescribed to you could increase your risk of potential complications such as:

• Loss of vision or blindness
• Spread of infection
• Chronic eye pain or discomfort
• Brain damage
• Unconsciousness and coma
• Adverse effects of treatment
• Involvement of the other eye

How to Prevent Vision Problems

Here are some tips that will help you prevent some common vision problems:

• See your doctor for regular eye exams (every two to three years if you’re under 50 or yearly if you are over 50 or you have known health risk factors).
• Practice a healthy lifestyle, and eat a nutritious diet that’s good for your eyesight.
• Find out if your family has a history of any eye problems. Offer this information to your doctor so that they can advise you with regards to your risk factors for certain eye conditions.
• Wear eye protection when doing activities that could injure your eyes (sports, drilling, sawing, hammering, cleaning with harsh chemicals, playing paintball).
• Avoid hazards like fireworks.

Schedule Your Appointment Today!

For excellent eye care services and quality eyewear, you can trust Downtown Eyes to meet all your needs. Our eye doctors have expertise in various optical services including contact eye exam and lens fittings, eye exams (for adults, children and infants), LASIK surgery co-management and eye disease treatment (dry eye, glaucoma, diabetic eye disease, cataracts). We use the latest technology and instrumentation when performing eye examinations, so you can be sure that your eye checkup will be done thoroughly and your prescriptions will be accurate. Call us at(612) 333-3937 (Minneapolis) or (612) 869-1333 (Richfield). You can also fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.