Philip Walsh - What Symptoms Should I Never Ignore?

If you notice any changes in your eyes, you should always visit for local optometrist for an eye exam. Here are a few symptoms to take note of, as they can lead to serious long-term issues if left untreated.

Floaters
Floaters (hundreds of small dots that float along your field of vision) might be a sign of retinal detachment, if you have some onset of these symptoms it is important to get your eyes tested promptly as treatment is more likely to be successful if treated early.

Moles
A mole on the eye’s inner eye layer could potentially mean melanoma, and should be regularly monitored.

Leaky blood vessels
Any leaky blood vessels can be a sign of diabetes or higher blood pressure, which can cause damage to retinal blood vessels.

Distorted vision
Distorted vision is when something that should be straight, appears curved and wavy, this could indicate macular degeneration. The earlier the detection, the more chance you have of saving your sight. Treatments exist that can stop any deterioration so it is very important to get it diagnosed as soon as possible.

Sudden reduction in vision
While vision is something that unfortunately slowly deteriorates as we age, any sudden changes in vision should be assessed immediately. A number of eye diseases can cause this, however, as with most other symptoms, the earlier they are detected, the higher the chance of preventing permanent damage.

If you suffer from any of these symptoms or have any concerns about your eye health, talk to your local Specsavers optometrist or visit www.specsavers.co.nz.