Kind of a weird title … but hey, ya never know! Some people with pets might be searching for eye conditions in dogs or cats. Might as well be transparent so we don’t waste anyone’s time!
To many people, the eyes are everything. They let us experience the world and help us make our way through everyday life.
When something goes wrong with our eyes, it can be scary. It’s good to know some common eye conditions and be aware of the symptoms, so here they are!
1) Lazy Eye
The scary-sounding medical word for this condition is amblyopia and it’s a loss (or lack of development) of vision.
This degenerative process usually starts with an inherited condition and shows up during infancy or early childhood.
Brains “choose” their visual pathway between birth and early school ages. Because of this, lazy eye needs to be diagnosed during this age range to avoid a permanently weakened eye.
Even if your kid isn’t showing symptoms, it’s a good idea to get them an eye exam to make sure.
2) Blepharitis
That’s a mouthful! It’s the general term for an inflammation of eyelids and eyelashes. This condition is usually the result of:
- Poor eyelid hygiene
- A low-grade bacterial infection (usually staphylococcal)
- An allergic reaction and/or abnormalities in oil gland function
3) Cataracts
This happens when an eye’s lens becomes clouded, which leads to a growing blurring or dimming of vision.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and it’s related to aging. Starting at age 65, people have a 50% chance of developing a cataract.
People who are 75 and older have a 70% chance.
4) Computer Vision Syndrome
A lot of people can relate to this one, especially after working long hours at the office.
Some symptoms of computer vision syndrome include:
- Neck pain
- Blurry vision
- Stiff shoulders
- Headache
- Watery eyes
These symptoms are normally due to posture, dry eyes, eye muscle coordination and poorly corrected vision.
It’s possible that your glasses aren’t doing a good enough job and you need glasses with specialty lenses.
5) Dry Eyes
Blinking creates tears that wash away dust and microorganisms, which protects the surface of the eye. If this protective coating dries up, the eyes may feel “gritty” or burn.
Dry eye syndrome refers to a breakdown in the quantity or quality of tears. Most of the time, simple over-the-counter eye drops are enough to fix this problem.
However, you should definitely visit your eye doctor if dry eyes become a consistent issue.
6) Strabismus
4% of children have this condition. It happens when the muscles that control eye movement don’t properly work together. As a result, the eyes become misaligned, or cross-eyed.
If your child is having symptoms of being cross-eyed, let your eye doctor know. Strabismus can’t be prevented, but complications can be avoided with early intervention.
Book an Exam With Your Friendly Eye Doctor in Whiteville NC
East Carolina Optometric Care has the experience and equipment necessary to diagnose and often treat the eye conditions detailed above at our office in Whiteville.
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