Symptoms and Diseases Of The Eyes
Your eyes are constantly at work—helping you start your day, get through work, and navigate everything in between. But when something seems off, it’s easy to downplay the signs. Whether it’s blurry vision, dryness, or visual distortions, your eyes may be trying to tell you something important.
At Dau Family Eye Care, we believe in educating patients about the most common eye conditions and symptoms in Saint Johns FL and Fruit Cove FL. Understanding what’s happening behind your discomfort can lead to faster diagnoses and better outcomes. Here’s a practical guide to the most frequent eye concerns we address—without the complicated medical jargon.
Eye Allergies: More Than Just Itching
If your eyes get itchy, red, and watery during allergy season, you may be dealing with allergic conjunctivitis. Common triggers include pollen, dust, mold, and pet dander. These allergens irritate the eye’s surface, leading to inflammation, tearing, and the urge to rub—which only makes things worse.
What can help: Antihistamine eye drops, artificial tears, and avoiding known allergens. Schedule an appointment for tailored allergy management strategies.
Binocular Vision Dysfunction: When Your Eyes Don’t Work as a Team
Struggling with headaches after reading or feeling disoriented in busy stores? It might be more than just fatigue—it could be Binocular Vision Dysfunction (BVD). This condition occurs when your eyes are slightly misaligned, forcing your brain to work overtime to merge the images.
Symptoms include:
- Dizziness
- Double vision
- Motion sensitivity
- Anxiety in crowded spaces
Our teams can perform specialized testing and recommend solutions like prism lenses or vision therapy to help correct eye-teaming issues.
Cataracts: What’s Dimming Your Vision?
Cataracts are a natural clouding of the eye’s lens and are one of the most common causes of blurry vision as we age. If you’re noticing glare at night, difficulty seeing in dim lighting, or a general loss of visual clarity, it could be cataracts.
The good news: Cataract surgery is safe, effective, and restores clear vision in most cases. Early detection makes treatment easier and more successful.
Conjunctivitis: Not Just a Childhood Condition
Often known as pink eye, conjunctivitis is an inflammation of the membrane covering the white part of the eye. It may be caused by viruses, bacteria, or allergens and is highly contagious when infectious.
Symptoms to watch for:
- Red or irritated eyes
- Gritty sensation
- Eye discharge or crusting
An accurate diagnosis is key—our eye doctors will determine the cause and provide the correct treatment to relieve symptoms and prevent the spread.
Diabetes and Your Eyes: Silent Vision Threats
If you live with diabetes, your eyes require extra attention. Diabetic eye disease, including diabetic retinopathy, can develop without warning and lead to permanent vision loss.
Prevention starts with: Annual dilated eye exams. These exams help detect subtle changes in the retina before symptoms appear and before damage becomes irreversible.
Dry Eye Syndrome: More Than Just Irritation
Constant burning, stinging, or watery eyes may be signs of Dry Eye Syndrome, also known as Ocular Surface Disease. It’s a chronic condition that occurs when your eyes don’t produce enough quality tears to stay properly lubricated.
Common causes include:
- Extended screen use
- Contact lens wear
- Hormonal changes
- Environmental irritants
We offer a range of solutions, from artificial tears and omega-3 supplements to in-office therapies and prescription medications to restore comfort and clarity.
Glaucoma: Protecting Your Vision from the “Silent Thief”
Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness, often progressing with no obvious symptoms until significant vision has been lost. It damages the optic nerve, typically due to increased eye pressure.
How it’s detected: Regular eye pressure tests and optic nerve evaluations. Early diagnosis allows us to manage the disease with medications, laser treatments, or surgery—often before vision loss occurs.
Low Vision: When Standard Glasses Aren’t Enough
If everyday activities like reading, cooking, or identifying faces have become difficult even with corrective lenses, you may be experiencing low vision. This condition is typically caused by underlying diseases such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.
Our low vision services include:
- Specialized optical aids
- Visual training
- Rehabilitation programs to help maintain independence
Macular Degeneration: Central Vision’s #1 Threat
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a progressive condition that damages the part of your retina responsible for seeing fine details. It’s one of the most common causes of vision loss in older adults.
Two main types:
- Dry AMD: Slow and gradual central vision loss
- Wet AMD: Faster progression due to leaking blood vessels
Regular retinal imaging and monitoring are crucial. For wet AMD, injections can slow or halt progression when caught early.
Myopia (Nearsightedness): A Growing Concern in Children
Myopia, or nearsightedness, causes distant objects to appear blurry. It often begins in childhood and tends to worsen as the eyes grow. Beyond just needing stronger glasses, increasing myopia raises the risk of retinal detachment, glaucoma, and other serious issues later in life.
Myopia control treatments include:
- Orthokeratology (Ortho-K)
- Multifocal contact lenses
- Low-dose atropine eye drops
These interventions can slow progression and help protect your child’s long-term eye health.
Don’t Ignore What Your Eyes Are Telling You
Eye conditions don’t always come with loud warning signs. They often begin with subtle changes—changes that can be easy to dismiss. But taking early action can make all the difference.
At Dau Family Eye Care, we’re committed to helping you see clearly, comfortably, and confidently. Whether you’re dealing with a chronic eye disease or just need a checkup to stay ahead of vision changes, our team is here to guide you every step of the way.
Take the first step. Schedule a comprehensive eye exam in Saint Johns FL and Fruit Cove FL today and give your eyes the care they deserve.
