As a local Punta Gorda optometrist, it is our main goal to simply protect your vision and make sure that you continue to see clearly for as long as possible. While we certainly do everything we can to ensure this is what happens, you also can be a part of this process. Knowing what sorts of health conditions can lead to vision loss will allow for you to look for the initial signs that your eyesight is beginning to fail. This awareness could even potentially save your eyesight in some cases. Continue reading below to uncover these conditions and what they could mean for your vision in the future.
Diabetes
There is a known link between diabetes and vision loss. When diabetes is left unregulated, several issues can come about where your eyes are concerned. Serious vision problems such as cataracts are fairly common, and require laser surgery in order for the damage to be corrected. Some of our patients who have diabetes also experience diabetic retinopathy, another condition that can lead to eventual loss of eyesight.
High Blood Pressure
You are probably well aware of the dangers that come with having high blood pressure. However, you may not be aware that high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause issues that will eventually lead to problems with your vision. In fact, hypertension is the leading risk factor for cataracts and is also known to lead to a good number of retinal problems.
Obesity
Obesity causes a number of health problems. One of these is problems is the loss of vision. Not only is obesity linked to cataracts, but it is also associated with other vision issues. This is often attributed to how much obesity leads to things like diabetes and high blood pressure. It is important that you remember that your eyes are full of blood vessels and that obesity can degrade these vessels, leading to issues with your eyesight.
Autoimmune Disorders
If you are not familiar with what an autoimmune disorder is, let us explain. This is an umbrella term for a disease that exists in your body’s immune system. Your eyes are absolutely not immune to these types of attacks. There are plenty of these diseases that you should consider. They range from multiple sclerosis to Behcet disease to rheumatoid arthritis. All of these diseases are known to have a serious effect on a person’s vision.
Sarcoidosis
While you may not have heard of it before, sarcoidosis is a disease that leads to tiny inflammatory cells growing in different areas of your body. Most often this occurs in the lungs, eyes, and lymph nodes. Sarcoidosis is also known to inflame the optic nerve, which can also have an extremely negative effect on your eyesight.
Lyme Disease
If you are someone who enjoys hiking or doing other activities outside, you may not know when you are suffering a tick bite. When you are bitten by a tick, there is a possibility that you may be infected with Lyme disease. You may not be aware, but there are three different stages of this disease, and all three of them affect your eyesight. If you think you may have Lyme disease, it’s important that you consult a medical professional immediately.
Contact Your Punta Gorda Optometrist Today
As you probably know now, taking care of your body as a whole plays a major role when it comes to the health of your eyes. Ensuring that you are being vigilant and that you are taking preventative measures is essential if you are interested in protecting your eyesight. Visit your optometrist often and make sure that you report any changes that you may have noticed when it comes to your vision. At Bayside Eye Center, we will do everything we can to ensure that your eyes are in the best shape possible for as long as possible.
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