When Do Eye Floaters Need Treatment?
Eye floaters aren’t always cause for concern, but their size, number, and frequency can be an indication of eye disease or injury. Here’s when to seek treatment for floaters.
5 Signs It's Time to See an Eye Specialist
Two out of three Americans think it’s inevitable that they’ll lose vision as they age. This isn’t necessarily the case. Most eye diseases can be spotted early with proper eye care and vigilance. Treatment may be able to reverse symptoms or at least stop the progression of the disease.
Our eye health specialists at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, are here to help you with vision issues. We provide comprehensive eye exams to promptly catch common vision issues for fast, effective treatment and preservation of sight. With every exam, we’ll have a better understanding of your needs.
Aging and your eyes
Most eye diseases connected with growing older don’t become a concern until you surpass forty, as aging and sun damage take their toll on your vision. Any sign of deterioration of sight at any point should be taken seriously, as some eye diseases don’t show symptoms until significant damage has already occurred.
To establish a record with your ophthalmologist, it’s important that you attend routine eye exams and mention any symptoms to your doctor, including:
- Floaters (dark spots in your vision)
- Blurred or hazy vision
- Difficulty seeing in low light
- Loss of peripheral vision
Be sure to visit a doctor immediately if you experience eye pain or double vision. Don’t depend on a lack of symptoms to tell you your eyes are healthy, though. In many cases, early stages of eye disease can be symptomless, and progression is rapid.
5 signs you need to see an eye specialist
Taking care of your eye health is critical to keeping your vision throughout your life. Here are five signs you need to book an appointment with a specialist for comprehensive eye care.
1. It’s been over a year since you saw your eye doctor
Your vision can change rapidly. You need to schedule yearly eye exams to keep track of these changes and build a reliable record your doctor can draw upon. Even if little has changed since your last visit, your results create a patient history that makes it easier to diagnose future issues.
2. Your vision seems blurry or clouded
Vision that appears blurry, cloudy, or disrupted can be a symptom of cataracts. A common side effect of aging is that the lens of your eye begins to degrade, creating an effect similar to a sepia filter. Fortunately, cataracts are easily diagnosed and treated with surgery.
3. You see spots (also called floaters)
Floaters appear as microscopic debris floating across your vision. These “floaters” are often small clumps of protein, but can also be a sign of increased pressure and bleeding. If you notice increased floaters, it could indicate eye disease.
4. You’re losing peripheral vision
Peripheral vision can slowly degrade with age, but you shouldn’t feel like you’re looking through a scope. If your vision narrows at all, get your eyes checked. By the time you begin developing severe tunnel vision, glaucoma can already have taken its toll on your eyesight.
5. You are over 50 with declining vision
People over fifty should feel even more protective of their vision, as it can be threatened any time. All of the above conditions can affect your eyesight, as well as macular degeneration (caused by thinning of the center of your retina, or even leaking of blood and fluid inside your eye.
Any decline in your vision should be met with a comprehensive eye exam. Even small changes can have a huge impact. Call 805-388-1211 or visit the contact page for more options to schedule an appointment at Ventura Eye Institute.
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