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You are here : Healthopedia.com > Medical Encyclopedia > Diseases and Conditions > Vision Changes
      Category : Health Centers > Eyes and Vision

Vision Changes

Alternate Names : Changes in Vision

Overview, Causes, & Risk Factors | Symptoms & Signs | Diagnosis & Tests | Prevention & Expectations | Treatment & Monitoring | Pictures and Images | Attribution


Changes in vision can range from mild to severe, and may be lasting or only temporary. For example, a person may become completely blind or may have poor vision only under certain conditions.

What is going on in the body?

Common vision changes can include - but are not limited to:

  • blurry vision
  • double vision
  • cloudy vision
  • Vision changes can be caused by anything from normal aging to life-threatening conditions. The exact changes in the body will depend on the specific cause and type of vision change.

    What are the causes and risks of the condition?

    The possible causes of vision changes include:

  • refractive errors, such as being nearsighted, farsighted or having presbyopia. Presbyopia is when a person has a hard time seeing things up close, due to age-related changes in the eye. This condition affects most people over age 50. It's the reason older people often need bifocals or reading glasses.
  • infections of the eye, such as conjunctivitis or keratitis
  • cataracts, a common condition in older adults caused by changes in the lens of the eye
  • glaucoma, a condition caused by increased pressure within the eye
  • damage or inflammation of the nerves of the eye
  • damage to the vision areas of the brain, due to a stroke or brain tumor
  • damage to the retina, the part of the eye that is similar to the film inside a camera. The retina can be damaged in diabetes, macular degeneration, or retinal detachment.
  • trauma, or injury, to the eye
  • strabismus, sometimes known as lazy eye, in which the eyes don't line up properly
  • temporal arteritis, an inflammation of the arteries that supply blood to the eye
  • vitamin A deficiency
  • medicines, such as the heart medicine digitalis, or the antibiotic ethambutol
  • Other causes of vision changes are possible. Sometimes, no cause can be found.


       

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    Vision Changes: Symptoms & Signs

    Author: Adam Brochert, MD
    Reviewer: Kathleen A. MacNaughton, RN, BSN
    Date Reviewed: 09/29/02









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    Page Last Updated: 30th May, 2006