In most cases, vision loss can be prevented because situations that lead to progressive vision loss are easily controlled by changing eating habits, wearing sunglasses, and performing routine eye exams.that can identify any eye problems that are still in its early stages that can be treated and preserve vision.
Diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, for example, can be easily prevented by controlling blood sugar and wearing sunglasses, respectively.In addition, it is recommended that the eye doctor be consulted periodically, especially if there is a history of vision loss in the family, especially when there is a history of glaucoma and cataracts.
The main causes of vision loss are
Cataracts are characterized by aging of the lens of the eye, resulting in blurred vision, increased sensitivity to light and progressive loss of vision and can occur throughout life or shortly after birth. Cataracts can occur due to various situations, such as the use of corticosteroids., eye or head blows, eye infections and aging.
Although it can lead to vision loss, cataracts are completely reversible by surgery, in which the lens of the eye is replaced with a lens. The performance of the surgery does not depend on the age of the person, but the degree of vision.Find out what cataract surgery is like and what postoperative surgery is like.
How to avoid: Cataracts are a difficult disease to avoid, among other things because the child can already be born with changes in the lens, however, it is important to go to the ophthalmologist for tests to identify any vision problems, especially when there are symptoms. of eye infection or if the person has diabetes, myopia, hypothyroidism or excessive use of medications, for example.
Macular degeneration, also known as retinal degeneration, is a disease characterized by damage and wear of the retina, resulting in a gradual loss of the ability to see objects clearly and the appearance of a dark area in the center of vision.age-related, being more common from the age of 50, but can also occur in people who have a family history, have nutritional deficiencies, are frequently exposed to ultraviolet rays, or suffer from high blood pressure, for example.
How to Avoid: To prevent retinal degeneration, it is important to have healthy eating habits, avoid smoking and wear sunglasses to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays, in addition to visiting the ophthalmologist regularly if you have any symptoms or family history.
In some cases, depending on the degree of progression of the disease, your doctor may recommend laser treatment, oral or intraocular medications, such as Ranibizumab or Aflibercept, for example.Learn more about treating macular degeneration.
Glaucoma is a chronic disease that can lead to progressive vision loss due to the death of optic nerve cells.Glaucoma is a silent disease, so it is important to pay attention to the onset of certain symptoms, especially if there is a family history of glaucoma, such as decreased field of vision, eye pain, blurred or blurred vision, severe headache, nausea and vomiting.
How to avoid it: Although there is no cure, loss of vision from glaucoma can be avoided by measuring eye pressure during routine eye exams.Usually, when the pressure in the eye is found to be high, a series of eye exams are needed to diagnose the disease to prevent progression.See which tests identify glaucoma.
The ophthalmologist should recommend the treatment of glaucoma depending on the degree of eye damage, the use of eye drops, medications, laser treatment or surgery may be recommended, which is not indicated until other treatment options have the desired effect.
Diabetic retinopathy is a consequence of high blood sugar levels, being more common in people with type 1 diabetes who do not have adequate control over diabetes. Excess blood sugar can cause progressive damage to the retina and blood vessels that supply the eyes, resulting in blurred vision, dark spots in vision, and progressive vision loss.
Diabetic retinopathy can be classified according to the extent of the eye injury, the most severe form being the so-called proliferative diabetic retinopathy, which is characterized by the appearance and rupture of more fragile vessels in the eyes, with bleeding, retinal detachment and blindness.
How to avoid: Diabetic retinopathy can be prevented by controlling the blood sugar level that diabetic patients should practice according to the advice of the endocrinologist.In addition, it is important that people with diabetes undergo annual eye exams so that any eye changes can be identified early and can be reversed.
In the case of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, the ophthalmologist may recommend surgery to remove new vessels formed in the eye or stop bleeding, for example, however, the person needs to follow the endocrinologist’s instructions for diabetes control.
Retinal detachment, which is characterized when the retina is not in its correct position, is a situation that must be treated immediately to avoid total vision loss, this can occur by a very strong blow to the eye or head, or by inflammatory diseases or processes, which result in insufficient supply of blood and oxygen to part of the retina , which can lead to the death of the eye tissue and, consequently, blindness.
Retinal detachment is more common in people over the age of 50 or who have been hit with a very strong head and can be noticed by the appearance of small dark spots in the field of view, flashes of light that appear suddenly, discomfort in the eyes and very blurred vision, for example.
How to avoid it: To prevent retinal detachment, it is recommended that people over the age of 50 or who have suffered an accident or diabetes, for example, undergo regular eye exams so that the doctor can check if the retina is in the correct position.
If a change of position is perceived, surgery is needed to solve this problem and avoid blindness, surgery is the only way to treat retinal detachment and the type of surgery depends on the severity of the situation, which can be performed by laser, cryopexia or injection of air or gas into the eye.Know the indication of each type of surgery.