Understanding Vision Problems - Symptoms

What Are the Symptoms of Various Vision Problems?

Below are common symptoms associated with each eye problem.

Nearsightedness: Blurred vision that's worse when you are looking at distant objects suggests that you may be nearsighted, or myopic.  People with myopia often have very good near vision.

Farsightedness: Blurred vision that's present when you are looking at objects near or far indicates that you may be farsighted, or hyperopic.

Astigmatism: Blurry vision usually coincides with discovery of other vision problems.

Retinal detachment: An abrupt onset of flashing lights, possibly combined with the sensation of a dark curtain or veil blocking a portion of your vision suggests retinal detachment.  Cover each eye seperately and compare the site in each eye.

Color blindness: Difficulty distinguishing different shades or intensity of color may suggest a color perception problem.

Night blindness: Difficulty distinguishing objects in dim light is a sign of possible night blindness.

Cataracts: Because cataract development is usually a gradual process, your first symptom may be having trouble passing the vision test when renewing your driver's license or during a routine eye exam.  Common symptoms include:

• Hazy vision that might be worse in bright light
• Weaker vision at night; difficulty in discerning movements, details or objects
• Blinding or uncomfortable glare from automobile headlights or bright sunlight
• The need for brighter light for reading
• Colors appearing faded or yellowed
• Unexpected improvement in near vision (cataracts alter the focusing power of the lens)
• Double or triple vision (overlap images) in one eye only
• A milky white or opaque appearance to the normally dark pupil (advanced case)
• Painful inflammation and pressure within the eye (very advanced case)
• Crossed eyes or wall eye (strabismus) and lazy eye (amblyopia)
• Eyes that are crossed or turned outward
• Eyes that don't move together in a coordinated pattern

Strabismus or amblyopia: Young children with vision problems such as strabismus or amblyopia may rub one or both eyes frequently and may squint, tilt their heads, or close one eye in order to see things better.

Glaucoma: Symptoms may depend on the type of glaucoma:

• Chronic open angle glaucoma typically shows no symptoms until significant damage has occurred.
• Acute glaucoma signs incude sudden onset of severe throbbing eye pain, headaches, blurred vision, rainbow halos around lights, redness in the eye, and nausea and vomiting. Acute glaucoma is a medical emergency.
• Secondary glaucoma symptoms are highly variable and correspond with the underlying primary problem.  
• In infants, teary or cloudy eyes, unusual sensitivity to light and enlarged corneas are signs of congenital glaucoma.  One or both eyes can be affected.

Macular degeneration: Symptoms include the following:

• Dim or distorted vision, especially while reading.  Straight lines appear crooked. 
• Gradual, painless loss of precise central vision.
• Blank spots in your central field of vision.

Call Your Doctor If:

• You experience symptoms of retinal detachment, such as floaters or flashes of light in your vision or the feeling that a curtain is being lowered into part of your vision.  You need immediate treatment to preserve vision in the eye.
• You become unusually sensitive to bright light.  You may have an inflammation inside the eye (iritis/uveitis).
• You have a foreign object in your eye that will not flush out with water; you risk scarring or infecting the eye.
• Your contact lenses become uncomfortable; you may have an abrasion, corneal inflammation (keratitis) or a corneal ulcer.
• You have any injury to your eye that affects your vision; you may have internal bleeding or a fracture of the bone around your eye.