Dining at an upscale restaurant by candlelight is no longer romantic for me. It has become comical. “Oh shoot, I can barely make out the menu.” Those were the words I uttered as I struggled to read the selections. This part of the fine dining experience had once been exciting for me, as I would compose a symphony for my palate. Suddenly, I was tone deaf. Allow me to appropriately rephrase that. I needed my prescription glasses.
I have glasses, but do not always need them. I keep them next to the computer. When I am tired or have been working on the computer for an extended period of time, I need to wear them for my eyes to focus properly. But as we head into the new year, it seems that I am being reminded that I need to start carrying a pair of glasses when I leave the house.
If, like me, you have noticed a change in vision, there are many possibilities as to the reason.
Are you having difficulty reading? Your eye lens naturally thickens and loses its ability to change shape around age 40. This affects your ability to see things close up. See an optometrist or ophthalmologist to get corrective lenses in the form of glasses or contacts. You will be back to enjoying novels by your favorite author or simply able to read directions on a label, which will make everyday living easier.
Vision Vision. Did you just see that in double? Perfect. It appeared twice. But seriously, if you are experiencing double vision, the cause may be as minor as dry eyes, as simple as astigmatism, or as serious as nerve damage from a stroke or aneurysm.
Cover one eye and if you still see double, then you may just need to close your eyes or add artificial tears. The American Academy of Ophthalmology advises: “Humans normally blink about 15 times in one minute. However, studies show that we only blink about five to seven times in a minute while using computers and other digital screen devices. Blinking is the eye’s way of getting the moisture it needs on its surface. Make a conscious effort to blink as often as possible. This keeps the surface of your eyes from drying out. You might even want to put a sticky note on your computer screen reminding you to blink often!”
Cover one eye and your double vision is gone? Your eyes may be misaligned due to various reasons that can be best diagnosed by an ophthalmologist. If the source of the issue is your lens, it could be cataracts, which is a clouding of the lens. Diabetes or high blood pressure might affect the retina. If nerve damage is the culprit, a stroke may be the reason. Do not attempt to self-diagnose—ask your doctor.
Soapbox moment: “Do not attempt to self-diagnose” also means do not rely on the internet for your definitive answer. You may find a lot of useful information, but there’s also a lot of misinformation. For instance, once this article is published, the following statement by me will be available on the internet, but it is not based on scientific fact:
“My speculation on moms having eyes in the back of their heads is, the reality is that ‘we’ have heightened peripheral vision when our offspring are trying to pull one over on us.”
Is your peripheral vision lessening? Mention this to your doctor as it may be an indication of Glaucoma, a slow-to-progress disease affecting the Optic Nerve, and the leading cause of irreversible blindness. According to the National Eye Institute, “…half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.”
A sudden loss of peripheral vision, especially to only one side, warrants seeing your doctor right away.
Seeing spots? Moving spots, called floaters, may come with age and are mostly harmless. However, if you experience a sudden increase in floaters or flashes of light, get it checked to rule out a tear in your retina. If you see a blurry or blind spot in your field of vision when you are still, such as when you’re reading a book or watching television, you may have macular degeneration, also known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). But even the more severe form, Wet AMD, can be treated with early detection.
As I have advised throughout this article, seek out medical professionals if you notice changes to your vision. I hope we see eye to eye, that you should not take your sight for granted. Besides, if I have been medically advised to wear glasses, I have an excuse to shop for fun frames. Practical can be fashionable. Do we agree? The “eyes” have it!
Contributing writer Denise Lum is a Health and Fitness Coach raising her family in Alameda. Contact her via [email protected] or FitnessByDsign.com. Her writing is collected at AlamedaPost.com/Denise-Lum.
