Unseen vision problems: would you know if you had one?

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare over 13 million Australians recorded having one or more long-term vision disorders in 2017–18. This means more than half of our population suffers from vision problems.

Some of these eyesight issues are treatable, like long and short-sightedness. But they also encompass the more serious conditions like cataracts, macular degeneration and blindness. With such alarming statistics, it’s worth asking: would you know if you are suffering from vision problems?

Signs and symptoms

Our eyes are very complex organs. There’s a lot of different elements, with a range of roles. Unfortunately, this means there’s a greater number of parts that could become affected in some way. Since there’s so many different conditions, the signs and symptoms vary. It can be difficult to know if you’re experiencing vision problems or another health condition. Here’s just a few indicators that something might not be quite right:

• Eye pain (often sudden and/or severe)
• Blurry or foggy eyesight
• Double vision
• Itching or burning feelings in/around the eye
• Changes to the colour of the eye (white spots appearing in the pupil, different colours in the iris)
• Seeing flashes or halos of light, and/or floating spots
• Headaches/inability to focus

It’s important to note that not all symptoms are directly linked to vision problems, and each person may experience different signs. For example, headaches could be a side effect of dehydration, or eye pain could be the result of strain from too much screen time.

How do you know?

While there are some signs and symptoms, vision problems can be hard to detect if you don’t know what to look for. If you do experience any of the above symptoms, it’s best to give us a call to check. The Eye Place team has the right tools and techniques to test your vision, and our experience in the industry makes us a reliable source.

In fact, according to that same Australian Government report mentioned above “optometrists also play an important role in the primary care of eye health. Optometrists have access to specialist equipment and education to assist with the testing of visual acuity and diagnosis of visual impairment.”

Treatment for vision problems

Studies have shown that about 90 per cent of vision impairment is preventable or treatable. That means nine out of ten people suffering from vision problems, that may result in blindness, could be treated! As is the case with a lot of preventable and/or treatable diseases, early detection is vital. We suggest booking in regular check-ups, as you would with a GP or other medical professional.

When was your last eye exam? If it’s been a while, get in touch with our team to book in your next test. It’s best to be on the safe side, since you might not always know if you’re suffering from vision problems.