Common Eye Disorders
Many patients with common eye disorders that may or may not be serious. Also, people often will call or e-mail with questions regarding whether a certain symptom such as eye redness or swollen eyes warrants a visit to an eye care practitioner.
This guide was created to help you learn the type of eye disorder you may have and what should be done about it. But these guidelines are only an overview and definitely should not replace a consultation with your own eye doctor.
Typically, common eye disorders can be broken down into major eye symptoms, making it easier to sort them out and come up with specific guidelines. Major categories include:
Almost all eye itching is caused by some sort of allergy. Very often, mild itching can be helped with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops. I'd avoid the ones that take away redness (decongestants), as they can be addictive. You can also use cold compresses or ice packs to help with itchy eyes.
More severe itching may need extra help, such as oral antihistamines or prescription eye drops. Although itchy eyes are not an emergency, you still may need to consult your eye doctor for advice or a prescription.
If your eyelids are red and inflamed, you could have blepharitis. Make sure you visit your eye doctor to determine the cause and appropriate treatment.
Quick Tip: Try to avoid rubbing your eyes! Rubbing releases chemicals called histamines that actually make the itching worse.
If you have blurred vision that happens suddenly and persists, consider this an emergency. See your eye doctor, or visit an emergency room/urgent care center.
If one eye becomes blurry or goes dark suddenly, like a curtain coming down, this is an emergency and should be checked out by your eye doctor or an emergency room/urgent care center. This could indicate a retinal problem, like a detachment, or even a stroke.
If you have some minor blurring that comes and goes, this could mean tiredness, dryness or eye strain. Keep in mind that many eye conditions can cause some blurred vision, including pink eye, allergies, dry eyes and even a lot of near vision work. Most of these are not emergency situations.
Quick Tip: For mild blurry vision, try resting your eyes. If the blurry vision persists, make an appointment for an eye exam.
Unusual puffiness around the eyes often is a sign of an allergy. Of course, trauma such as getting hit in the eye also can cause eyes to swell.
Quick Tip: If puffy eyes are caused by an allergy, you may have to take an over-the-counter decongestant orally to alleviate symptoms.
Eye burning can be caused by allergy, dryness, tiredness, vision stress (like computer work) or a combination of the above. See your eye doctor if the burning persists, but this symptom is not usually an emergency.
Quick Tip: Usually, burning can be helped with over-the-counter lubricating eye drops and rest. You can also use cool, moist compresses.
Eye pain can be sharp or dull, internal or external, constant or intermittent, stabbing or throbbing. As a general rule, if you have eye pain along with redness, you should consider this an emergency and either see your eye doctor or go to an emergency room or urgent care center right away.
Constant eye pain, especially when moving your eyes or gently pushing on your eyes, can sometimes indicate an inflammation of some of the inner eye parts. This means you should try and see your eye doctor as soon as possible for diagnosis and treatment.
I often help people with rheumatoid arthritis or fibromyalgia (chronic pain throughout the body) who are having related eye pain. Eye pain sometimes is caused by dry eyes, which needs to be treated with over-the-counter or prescription medication. Occasionally, eye pain is caused by something serious, like uveitis. This is an inflammation of the inner eye tissues, like the iris. Again, this type of condition should be treated as soon as possible.
Eye pain with blurred vision should be considered an emergency and should be investigated as soon as possible by your eye doctor or by the emergency room/urgent care center.
Quick Tip: If your eye pain is dull like a headache in your eye, but there is no redness or blurred vision, this could be caused by overuse, eye strain or even sinus problems. I suggest seeing your doctor only if it doesn't clear up with rest or perhaps some Tylenol or Advil.
Most spots and floaters are normal. They are caused by bits of protein and other tissue embedded in the clear, gel-like material (vitreous) that fills the inside of the eye.
As we age, the vitreous becomes more fluid and these thread-like strands and shapes move ("float") more easily within the vitreous, which makes them more noticeable. Also, the vitreous can separate or detach from its connection to the retina, causing additional floaters.
But some floaters, especially when accompanied by flashes of light, can indicate something serious is happening inside your eye that could cause a detached retina.
As a general rule, if you have a few little dots, threads or "bugs" that come and go depending on how tired you are or what kind of lighting you're in, these are normal floaters. But if you suddenly see flashes of light, clouds of floaters, swirly mists or a curtain over part of your vision, it's best to see your eye doctor or an emergency room/urgent care center. They'll dilate your pupils to see what's going on inside your eyes and make sure it gets treated if need be.
Most retinal detachments can be helped if treated soon. If retinal detachments are ignored, however, they can lead to a loss of vision or even blindness.
Quick Tip: Most vitreous detachments creating spots and floaters just need to be watched. But you have no way of knowing whether you have a vitreous detachment or a far more serious retinal detachment. So in either case, make sure you see a doctor.
Getting something in your eye seems like it should be an emergency, and it often is. Whether your eye is invaded by a piece of metal, a thorn or sticker or a sharp object, it's critical that you see an eye doctor or an emergency room/urgent care center right away.
Don't rub your eye or attempt to remove whatever is in there. You could cause more damage. Loosely tape a paper cup (or eye shield if you have one) over your eye and seek help.
Quick Tip: Let's also be practical. Not everything that gets in your eye is serious. We all have little bits of something in our eyes at times. If you know it's just a piece of dust that's irritating your eye, you can try rinsing it with saline solution or using lubricating eye drops. If you are able, try turning your eyelid inside out to see if you can dislodge the particle. If none of these home remedies works, then it's off to the doctor.
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