There are many different conditions that can affect the eye. Some are not alarming, but conditions such as glaucoma can lead to severe vision impairment or even blindness.

Vision loss or impairment can be sudden or gradual, and some serious eye problems can lead to vision loss. Decreased vision is often one of the first symptoms and should always be investigated. Blindness can be the result of serious eye problems that remain untreated. In fact, 80% of blindness is preventable, which is why early diagnosis and treatment of eye problems are so important.

Problems affecting the eye may be the result of eye or eyelid infections, genetically inherited eye problems, eye injuries or objects in the eye, and conditions affecting multiple organs (e.g., diabetes or hypertension). Many eye diseases have no early symptoms, and vision changes only appear as the disease progresses, making treatment difficult. Many people experience age-related deterioration in their vision. Blurred vision, some loss of peripheral vision, and decreased visual acuity may be some of the symptoms that appear later in life.

One of the most common symptoms is redness of the eyeball, a result of swollen or dilated blood vessels. This makes the eye appear bloodshot and can be caused by allergies (allergic conjunctivitis) or eye strain. Painful red eye is a concerning issue and should always be investigated.

Genetic inheritance may increase your risk of certain eye problems (for example, glaucoma and color blindness). Eye doctors can examine your eyes to find out if you need glasses or medical treatment, while an ophthalmologist specializes in medical and surgical eye problems.