Can early detection prevent vision impairment?

Question

Hello doctor,

I am a 55-year-old female writing to seek information and guidance regarding vision impairment and maintaining optimal eye health. Could you provide insights into the common causes of vision impairment, both temporary and permanent? What are the different types of vision impairments? What steps can individuals take to maintain good eye health and prevent vision problems? How crucial is early detection in managing and preventing vision impairment? How do factors like smoking, screen time, and exposure to UV (ultraviolet) radiation affect eye health?

Please help.

Thank you.

Answer 1

Hello,

Welcome to icliniq.com.

I understand your concern.

Three questions in the initial evaluation can help narrow down the diagnostic possibilities and referral plan:

Recent ocular surgery in the affected eye: These patients should see an ophthalmologist immediately for evaluation.
Contact lens users: If there is a red, painful eye, the first consideration is a corneal abrasion, keratitis, or a corneal ulcer.
History of trauma: This may limit the differential diagnosis to likely considerations.

Medications associated with acute visual loss include:

Anticholinergics: Resulting in loss of accommodation and angle-closure glaucoma.
Bisphosphonates: Associated with uveitis.
Digoxin: May cause yellow vision.
Rifabutin: Linked to uveitis.
Sildenafil: Known to cause blue vision and ischemic optic neuropathy.
Sulfonamides: Associated with myopia.
Topiramate: Can lead to angle-closure glaucoma.
Oral Contraceptives: Linked to ischemic, retinal, or optic nerve events.
Fingolimod: May result in macular edema.
Various cancer therapy drugs (biologics, small molecule inhibitors, chemotherapies): Associated with retinopathy, uveitis, and acute dry eye.

During general inspection, it is important to note erythema, tearing, light sensitivity, proptosis, ptosis, and temporal artery tenderness or nodularity. Visual acuity must be formally tested in every patient with a visual complaint, one eye at a time, using glasses. If glasses are unavailable and the patient has a refractive error, a pinhole occluder can be used to correct visual acuity. If unavailable, simply punching a tiny hole in an index card or other piece of stiff cardboard or paper will suffice. Patients with macular disease will show no improvement in vision.

For better vision, eat lots of vegetables and fruits. Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach, kale, mustard greens, and collard greens contain high levels of lutein, a critical antioxidant. Antioxidants are also present in fruits and vegetables with bright colors, including red grapes, peppers, corn, oranges, cantaloupe, and mango. The risk of eye disease and vision loss can be lowered by avoiding trans fats, quitting smoking, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, exercising regularly, and visiting an eye care professional regularly.

I hope this information helps you.

Thank you.