When you make an appointment with an eye doctor, you can consult with an ophthalmologist, an optician, or an optometrist. An ophthalmologist is a licensed medical doctor specialist who performs eye surgeries. An optician is not a doctor but is a skilled craftsperson trained to design and fit visual aids like eyeglass or contact lenses. An optometrist is not a medical doctor. Instead, optometrists have a focused doctoral degree in eye-related medicine. They offer primary vision care like eye testing, diagnosis, and management of vision problems. If you live in Nevada, see your Las Vegas eye doctor if you have the following eye-related symptoms.
Eye Pain
Eye pain arises from a problem in a specific part of your eyes like the sclera, cornea, conjunctiva, iris, and nerves. Common eye problems that affect these parts include corneal scratches, corneal infections (keratitis), conjunctivitis, iritis, optical neuritis, and foreign bodies.
Eye pain may also be an early warning sign of a more serious health concern. For instance, acute angle-closure glaucoma is a common cause of severe and worsening eye pain. Glaucoma may also present with nausea, vomiting, and headache. Failure to address these warning signs early may result in loss of vision.
You should be on high alert if you have mild and infrequent eye pain and even more so if it becomes persistent and intense eye pain. Your Las Vegas eye doctor recommends an immediate eye checkup to rule out the different causes of eye pain. Our skilled ophthalmologist at Brimhall Eye encourages early diagnosis and treatment of conditions like glaucoma to prevent future complications.
Eye Fatigue or Eye Discomfort
Eye fatigue arises from activities that involve intense eye use. A few common causes include excessive use of a screened device, driving, and writing. Eye fatigue is linked to the use of digital devices because you tend to blink less than the usual 15 times a minute. Blinking helps to keep the eye lubricated. A decrease in lubrication can result in dry, itchy, tired, and burning eyes.
Regular breaks from your device and greater distance from your screen may help prevent eye fatigue. You can also change the lighting to lower harsh reflection and glare. If eye fatigue persists, visit our Las Vegas eye doctor for a proper eye exam.
Blurry Vision
Blurry vision often is experienced as trouble focusing on an object. Blurry vision may occur occasionally or often and may worsen over time. It may also be limited to one eye or occur in both. There are many reasons why you may present with sudden visual change, such as cataract formation and eye strain.
Your Las Vegas eye doctor recommends you set an appointment to find the cause. We can then prescribe treatments ranging from eye drops to corrective surgery, depending on the severity of the problem.
Itchy or Dry Eyes
If your eyes feel like they’re full of sand and they sting or are scratchy, you may be experiencing dry eye syndrome. In this condition, your eyes don’t get enough lubrication due to the production of inadequate tears. This results in damage and inflammation of the eye’s surface. Dry eyes from decreased tear production may be caused by:
- Aging effects in people above 50 years
- Medical conditions like lupus, Sjogren’s syndrome, and scleroderma
- Medications, including birth control pills, antidepressants, and drugs for high blood pressure
- Decreased sensitivity of the corneal nerve due to contact lens use and nerve damage
Dry eyes may also occur despite normal tear production when there is extensive evaporation. This problem is common when you blink at a lower rate than normal and have eyelid problems. Living in a windy, dry, and smoky environment also increases your chances of developing a dry eye. Your Las Vegas eye doctor recommends regular appointments if you have dry eyes often.
Light Sensitivity
Sensitivity to light may indicate more serious health problems. Light sensitivity or photophobia commonly occurs in diseases and disorders like iritis, uveitis, and keratitis.
Photophobia may also arise in conditions completely unrelated to the eye, including meningitis, migraine headaches, and viral infection. An ophthalmologist can help you determine the underlying cause and recommend the proper treatment.
Chronic Conditions That Affect the Eye
There are a variety of chronic conditions that can affect your eyes. Diabetes, for instance, occurs when there is too much sugar in the blood. This condition can damage the delicate blood vessels supplying your retina, causing diabetic retinopathy. Severe damage may happen before you experience vision loss, so regular eye checkups are vital for early detection.
Lupus is another chronic condition that affects multiple body parts. In this condition, your body’s immune cells can’t differentiate between foreign cells and normal cells. Your immune cells attack your normal cells, such as those in your eye. You may start to experience eye pain and light sensitivity. Visit your ophthalmologist for recommendations to prevent vision complications from these chronic conditions.
Floaters, Spots, or Flashes
Eye floaters or spots are solid parts of a gel-like substance occupying the middle of your eye called the vitreous humor. It occurs when the vitreous humor begins to shrink within your eye as you age. These floaters or spots don’t usually need treatment.
However, seeing them may sometimes be a sign of a severe eye disorder called retinal detachment. The condition occurs when the vitreous humor shrinks and begins pulling on its posterior attachment to the retina, causing it to detach. Reasons to see an eye doctor, in this case, include more floaters than normal and bursts of light called flashes. Get regular eye checks to ensure that floaters aren’t part of a severe eye problem.
Choose Brimhall Eye
Situated in Las Vegas, Nevada, Brimhall Eye is renowned for the diagnosis and treatment of eye diseases as well as the performance of eye surgeries. Led by Dr. Brett Brimhall, our team of ophthalmologists offers a safe and comfortable space for optimizing your eye health. Contact us now for an exceptional experience in eye care.
