Growing older comes with its ups and downs and one of those downs is deterioration in vision. Some are just minor complications, while other risks that increase could even lead to blindness. Regular eye exams are the best way to make sure you catch any issues as soon as you can.
There a few signs that indicate possible eye emergencies which mean you should see a doctor as soon as possible. One of them is an increase of floaters or spots in your vision. Floaters are usually caused by vitreous detachment. They can be a sign of something more serious. It could be from a tear of the retina which may threaten all of your sight.
Something that could be caused by retinal detachment is a dark shade across your vision. If the retina is not reattached to the choroid very quickly then there could be the consequence of permanent loss of vision.
Signs such as sudden eye pain, redness, nausea, and vomiting can be used to indicate narrow-angle glaucoma. This is something that can cause permanent damage to the optic nerve. Once again, without immediate attention, there could be permanent loss of vision.
Double vision is something that can be caused by a few different things. While it is not always a sign of an emergency, it can be a sign of a stroke which is why this should always be checked on immediately. Another symptom that should be checked out as soon as possible is if you have sudden blurry vision in one eye. Over the age of 60, macular holes in the retina are more common. These can become more and more problematic and even cause permanent loss of vision in the end if not treated properly and quickly.
The following symptoms are ones that may not always be medical emergencies but should still be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible, on the same day would be the best.
Reductions of your peripheral vision or a narrowing of your field of vision could lead to more and more loss of vision ending with tunnel vision or in some cases blindness. Macular degeneration can cause loss of central vision which can be stopped or limited by proper treatment. If your eyesight gets blurry you may have cataracts. Cataracts surgery can help this and restore your vision.
It is important to seek medical help if you see any of these symptoms so they do not worsen.