Healthy eyes provide good, clear vision. Some people with good vision, however, assume they do not need regular eye exams until their vision blurs. Some common conditions of the eye do not have significant warning signs and these ailments often damage the eye slowly, altering vision at such a gradual pace the person may not realize a change has occurred. Understanding some of the common ailments of the eye may encourage routine check ups.
Glaucoma
A healthy eye continuously makes and drains aqueous humor, the fluid that fills the front area of the eye. If the fluid does not drain well, the fluid may build up, causing an increased pressure inside the eye. Over time, the pressure build up will damage the optic nerve, a condition called glaucoma, says the National Eye Institute. The damage to the nerve happens slowly over a period of many years and the damage will slowly eat away the side vision if left untreated. Routine eye exams will help an eye doctor monitor the pressure and the eyes over time, often allowing the eye doctor to diagnose the condition early before a person loses noticeable amounts of vision. Some people have acute angle closure glaucoma which occurs when the drainage angle closes. This causes intense pain, nausea and vomiting, and a person with such symptoms should seek medical attention immediately to prevent permanent vision loss.
Cataracts
Most older adults have some amount of cataract since this occurs as a natural aging process of the eye. The lens inside the eye helps focus light, and, as the lens ages, the lens clouds and turns hard. Doctors call this hardening of the lens a cataract. Early cataracts do not typically cause noticeable symptoms, though over time, people with cataracts will experience blurry vision and glare problems, says the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Unless removed, cataracts will continue to cloud vision and cause significant vision loss. A person should not have cataracts removed, however, unless she cannot perform daily activities such as reading.
Macular Degeneration
The inner backside of the eye has a sensitive lining called the retina. The retina passes information to the optic nerve, which then passes the visual signs to the brain. An area of the retina called the macula has supports functioning for clear straight-ahead vision as needed for driving, reading and recognizing faces. Macular degeneration results from damaged cells in the macula that ultimately causes a gradual decrease in central vision, says the National Eye Institute.
Some people also have bleeding under the macula which will cause a sudden loss of vision. In some cases, treatment may slightly improve vision from a bleed, though most people who lose vision to macular degeneration, whether from bleeding or damaged cells, do not recover lost vision. Routine eye exams will help monitor the condition of the macula and allow the eye doctor to recommend treatment if necessary.
