1. Sudden changes in vision

Blurry vision, double vision, or other unexpected changes in how you see could indicate an underlying issue. If they happen out of the blue, that’s a clear sign to get your eyes checked.

So, what do these symptoms indicate? Among other things, they could be signs of refractive errors like myopia, hyperopia, or astigmatism.

That said, it’s also possible that these sudden changes indicate even more serious conditions like cataracts or retinal problems. Double vision could also indicate problems with eye alignment.

2. Persistent discomfort in eye

Persistent eye pain, irritation, burning, redness, or itching could be due to a number of things.

Common causes are infections, dry eye syndrome or problems with the tear glands, or even more serious conditions like glaucoma or corneal issues.

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3. Vision-related headaches

Frequent headaches, especially after reading or using digital devices, could indicate that you are suffering from eye strain.

The most common treatment for this is to get a new prescription for your vision correction (like glasses or contact lens) after checking the refractive error in your eyes.

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4. Sensitivity to light

Increased sensitivity to light is also known as photophobia. Yes, the term means fear of light, but in reality, it simply indicates a painful or uncomfortable reaction to light as a stimulus.

If you find that bright indoor lights or exposure to the sun cause eye pain for you, it’s worth seeing an eye doctor. It can often be a symptom of an eye problem, such as a cataract.

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5. Seeing halos

Seeing halos around lights, especially if accompanied by other symptoms like eye pain or decreased vision, is another alarming eye symptom. The presence of halos could be related to conditions like glaucoma or cataracts.

6. Changes in colour vision

When you have difficulty distinguishing between colours, or notice a shift in colour perception, this might indicate colour vision deficiency or other problems.

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7. Difficulty focusing

If you find it challenging to shift your focus between near and distant objects or if your vision blurs when focusing, it’s time for an eye exam. This is often caused by refractive errors like farsightedness or nearsightedness.

8. Floaters and flashes

Floaters are tiny specks, spots, or cobweb-like shapes that appear to float in your field of vision, while flashes of light are brief bursts of light that appear in your vision.

While they are often harmless and are a natural part of the aging process, it’s important to pay attention to sudden or significant changes, such as them becoming aggressively common.

This could be a sign of retinal tear or detachment, which requires immediate attention.

9. Night blindness

This means that you have more difficulty seeing or driving in darkness, and indicates an inability to adapt when switching from well-illuminated areas to poorly lit ones.

There are many potential causes of night blindness, from cataracts to retinal problems. It’s worth noting that some forms of it are treatable but others are not, which means you will need a doctor to determine that for you.

10. Loss of peripheral vision

The loss of peripheral vision refers to a phenomenon where you struggle to see what’s at your side. You can still see items directly in front of you, but items to your side – your peripheral vision – are blurry or missing.

Because of this, peripheral vision loss is also often called tunnel vision (because you see only directly in front of you, as in a tunnel). The possible causes of the phenomenon include glaucoma and retinal detachment, but a doctor can confirm this for you.