There are many types of changes that can affect your vision, and you should always seek medical attention if changes in your vision occur. Vision changes can include blurriness, halos, blind spots, floaters, the inability to see at certain distances, and even blindness. If any of these symptoms are occurring, it could be a sign of an eye disease, aging, an eye injury, or another condition. Vision changes should never be ignored, as they can get worse, and sometimes lead to irreversible blindness.

Vision changes affect your ability to focus on objects, see fine detail, and live life as you see fit. Of the five senses, vision is the most crucial to our overall health and well-being. Although vision changes can occur at any age, most people begin to experience significant vision changes after the age of 60.

Common Vision Changes

Vision changes may involve loss or distortion of vision. Here are common vision changes experienced by people worldwide:

• Loss of central or peripheral vision; partial or complete blindness
• Distortion (straight lines looking bent, wavy, or broken; letters conjoining or missing)
• Double vision or blurry vision
• Inability to see up close or far away
• Appearance of floaters, halos, auras, or flashes of light
• Loss of depth perception

When to Contact Your Doctor

Changes in your vision should be taken seriously. Taking preventive measures when and having regular medical and eye exams could enable you to catch a problem early. Knowing your family’s history can also help you determine what type of lifestyle would be beneficial to you and aid in future diagnoses. Most importantly, if you are experiencing any type of vision change, go see your eye doctor. Otherwise something minor could turn into something major.

Contact your doctor immediately if:

• You experience sudden vision changes
• You have eye pain