Vision loss does not have to mean that you’re legally blind. The medical definition of vision loss is a person who is no longer able to see as they once did. There are different reasons that the vision can fade, and while some would accredit it to age, that is not the main cause or factor. There are people that are very young with no vision and those that are old with perfect vision.

Maintaining proper eye care is the first and most important step to assuring that you can keep your eyesight as long as possible. This includes eating right, letting your eyes rest, wearing protective gear when necessary, and of course going to the eye doctor for an exam at least every two years. Below are the four most common causes of vision loss in the US.

Age Related Macular Degeneration

Typically in Caucasians over the age of 50, this is one of the leading causes of irreversible yet several vision loss. AMD is a condition that can increase in severity with age. It is caused by damage to the macula which is located in the center part of the retina. The macula is responsible for people being able to see details. While the damage to the central vision is significant and can be severe, this condition very rarely causes complete blindness in adults. Continue reading →

A temporary loss of vision is also known as Amaurosis fugax. It typically occurs in only one eye and can last anywhere from a few short seconds to a few minutes. Some patients refer to it as episodic blindness. It is a rare condition for most, however, it if does happen to you treatment is imperative to prevent permanent loss of vision. When episodic blindness occurs, it is commonly a sign that something else is on the horizon including a stroke which is why you should view this as an emergency.

What Causes It?

In most patients who have experienced temporary vision loss found that it was because of loss of blood flow to the eye. There are blood vessels present on either side of the neck which allows blood to travel from your heart to your eyes and brain. As fatty deposits of plaque buildup in the blood vessels they become narrower.

Smaller pieces of the plaque begin to break off from the vessel causing a blockage which keeps blood from flowing to the eye. This is what essentially causes the temporary blindness. Some of the main factors in this condition are diabetes, smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol which can all put you at risk for temporary vision loss. Continue reading →