Did you know over 250 million people are visually impaired across the globe? The figure by the World Health Organization (WHO) may come as a shock to you but it is true. Sadly, over 80% of these may have been easily cured or avoided.

This is where the importance of regular eye exams comes in. You simply need a checkup which is very helpful in spotting progressive eye conditions at a very early stage. Some individuals tend to experience warning symptoms such as a change in vision. Sometimes, eye pain disturbs daily routine. These symptoms demand instance medical attention. Listed below are some major warning signs you should take seriously:

  • Loss of Eye Vision in One Eye

Sudden loss of vision may be a sign of several eye conditions/diseases. One of the common conditions is macular degeneration. Also referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), this is a leading cause of loss of vision among people at the age of 65 and older. AMD-related vision loss may be gradual. However, it may even be sudden in some cases, where blood vessels in the eye tend to leak fluid or blood right under the retina. Glaucoma is yet another cause of the same.

  • Floaters, Flashing Lights, or a Gray Shadow

Most people complain of the sudden onset of flashing lights. These increase and turn into floaters, a kind of gray curtain across the field of vision or a shadow in peripheral vision. These may be a sign of retinal detachment. Some of the major causes of this detachment include eye conditions such as glaucoma, nearsightedness, or any physical injury. It is crucial to get immediate treatment for retinal detachment to avoid blindness.

  • Eye Pain

Most of the eye conditions are painless. However, there are some injuries and conditions that may lead to eye pain. Some of the common conditions that cause eye pain include eye injury, glaucoma, scratched cornea, eye cancer, and dry eye.

  • Stubborn Discomfort

Do you experience any kind of discomfort in the eye especially after an activity involving a small particle entering your eye? Some of these activities include car repair, hammering, etc. If yes, do not ignore the situation. You need to get your eyes checked by a doctor as soon as possible. The check-up will let you know about any foreign particle that had entered into the eye, which may lead to an infection.

  • Discomfort on Wearing Contact Lenses

Do you use contact lenses for eye sight or cosmetic purposes? When hygiene and proper handling of contact lenses are taken care of, most people do not experience discomfort. As per articles and instructions are given in women’s health magazine, proper rules must be followed related to care of the contact lenses. In case, you still experience serious issues such as redness in the eye, eye pain, or any kind of discomfort, visit an eye doctor immediately.

  • Eye Injury

Rush to an eye specialist the most you experience a blow or injury to the eye. No amount of pain or redness in the eye should last for over 15-20 minutes.

  • Complications with Eye Surgery

Did you recently go through eye surgery? If yes, and you experience some amount of eye pain, redness, blurring of vision, etc. call your doctor immediately. Professional evaluation is crucial at this stage. Sometimes, the symptom appears to fade away. Despite experiencing a little relief, you must visit an ophthalmologist to understand the reasons behind the symptoms and get timely treatment.

      8. Red Eye

This is also a serious problem. You would be surprised to know that doctors are of opinion that two red eyes are not as serious an issue as one red eye. Redness in two eyes at the same time can be a sign of pink eye (also referred to as conjunctivitis). These are minor infections and most of the time, self-healing. However, a single red eye may be an indicator of something more serious such as a deeper inflammation like uveitis/scleritis. When there is swelling and inflammation on the eyeball’s middle coating, the condition is referred to as Uveitis. Scleritis is a condition that is characterized by inflammation of the tougher, outer protective barrier encircling the eye.

  • Blurred Vision

Blurred vision might occur rarely or at a lesser frequency. It may clear up in some time giving you relief. However, even if the discomfort clears up, the occurrence of blurred vision may be a sign of several eye-related conditions such as a torn retina, glaucoma, AMD, or uveitis. Loss of vision in one eye can be an early symptom of stroke. It may even indicate a blockage in the carotid artery, the primary blood supplier to the eyes. Make sure you visit an eye specialist as soon as possible.