Vision Health Library
Eye Symptoms Not To Ignore
Some eye symptoms are temporary and harmless, while others can be early warning signs of conditions that threaten vision. Sudden changes, significant pain or symptoms that persist should not be ignored.
Regular eye examinations are important for detecting problems before symptoms develop, but it is equally important to recognize when an unexpected change in your eyes or vision deserves prompt attention.
Sudden Increase in Floaters or Flashes
Floaters are small spots, strands or shadows that appear to move through your field of vision. They are often most noticeable when looking at a bright, plain background such as a blue sky or white wall.
Occasional floaters are common, especially as people get older. However, a sudden increase in floaters can be more concerning, particularly when accompanied by flashes of light or loss of peripheral vision.
Flashes may appear as sparks, streaks, arcs or brief bursts of light. Sudden flashes and new floaters can be associated with a retinal tear or retinal detachment and should be evaluated promptly.
A dark curtain, shadow or missing area of peripheral vision is especially important and requires urgent evaluation.
Persistent Redness or Irritation
Mild redness can occur with allergies, fatigue, dryness or prolonged contact lens wear. In many cases, the redness improves once the cause is removed.
Redness that persists or is accompanied by pain, swelling, discharge, significant itching or changes in vision may have another cause.
Possibilities can include conjunctivitis, corneal injury, inflammation inside the eye or certain forms of glaucoma.
Excessive Watery Eyes
Tearing is one of the eye's natural protective responses. The eyes may water when exposed to wind, allergens, smoke or a small foreign particle.
Constant or excessive tearing, however, may be a sign that something is interfering with the normal eye surface or tear-drainage system.
Persistent watering can sometimes occur with dry eye disease, tear duct problems or corneal irritation.
If excessive tearing is frequent, disruptive or accompanied by pain or vision changes, an examination can help determine the cause.
A Foreign Body in the Eye
Dust, sand, metal particles and other foreign material can become trapped on the surface of the eye.
If something enters the eye, avoid rubbing it because rubbing can cause additional injury to the cornea.
Gently flushing the eye may remove a loose particle. If the object does not come out, appears embedded or symptoms continue after the object seems to have been removed, the eye should be examined.
Persistent pain, redness or blurred vision after a foreign-body exposure may indicate a corneal abrasion or another injury.
Sudden Drooping of an Eyelid
Drooping of the upper eyelid is called ptosis. It may affect one eye or both eyes.
Ptosis can develop gradually with aging, but sudden eyelid drooping deserves particular attention because it may sometimes be associated with nerve or muscle problems.
It can also occur after an injury or eye surgery.
A newly drooping eyelid, especially when accompanied by double vision, weakness or other neurological symptoms, should be evaluated promptly.
Blood on the White Part of the Eye
A bright red patch on the white part of the eye may be a subconjunctival hemorrhage. This occurs when a small blood vessel breaks beneath the clear tissue covering the eye.
These hemorrhages can sometimes occur after coughing, sneezing or straining and often resolve on their own.
However, redness that develops after an eye or head injury deserves closer evaluation because trauma may have affected other structures of the eye.
Moderate to Severe Eye Pain
Significant eye pain should not be ignored.
Pain can have many causes, including corneal abrasions, corneal ulcers, inflammation, infection or acute angle-closure glaucoma.
Eye pain accompanied by blurred vision, halos around lights, severe redness, nausea, vomiting or headache may require urgent medical attention.
Sudden Changes in Vision
Any sudden change in vision deserves attention, even when there is little or no discomfort.
Sudden blurred vision, double vision, loss of part of the visual field or a noticeable decrease in vision may have several possible causes.
The cause cannot always be determined from symptoms alone, so prompt evaluation is important.
When Symptoms Are Different From Your Usual Pattern
People who experience recurring eye symptoms sometimes become accustomed to them. A person with migraines, dry eye or allergies, for example, may recognize a familiar pattern.
A symptom that suddenly becomes much stronger, lasts significantly longer or feels distinctly different from previous episodes should not automatically be assumed to have the same cause.
When to Seek Prompt Eye Care
Seek prompt evaluation for:
- Sudden loss or significant change in vision
- A sudden increase in floaters
- New flashes of light
- A curtain or shadow across the vision
- Moderate or severe eye pain
- Persistent redness with pain or vision changes
- An eye injury
- A foreign body that cannot be removed easily
- Sudden eyelid drooping
Protecting Your Vision
Many eye conditions respond best when they are identified early. Even when a symptom ultimately turns out to be minor, an examination can help rule out more serious causes.
At Choice Vision Care & Wellness in Wellington, Florida, Dr. Salvatore DeCanio can evaluate sudden or persistent eye symptoms and determine whether additional treatment or urgent specialty care is needed.