Foreign Body
Many eye injuries can be prevented. Something in the eye (a foreign body) is most often the result of improper or no eye protection while working in an environment that exposes one to small flying debris. Symptoms include: sharp pain in the eye followed by burning, irritation, tearing, and redness; feeling that something is in the eye when moving the eye around while it is closed; scratching sensation over the eye when blinking; blurred vision or vision loss in the affected eye.
Flashes and Floaters
Eye floaters and flashes are both caused by the natural shrinking of the gel-like fluid in your eye (vitreous) that happens as you age. Floaters appear in your field of vision as small shapes, while flashes can look like lightning or camera flashes. Floaters are very common and typically don’t require treatment. If you have many eye floaters and flashes, it could be a sign of a serious eye condition like retinal detachment.
This can cause serious vision problems. Retinal tears are another condition that can be caused by the shrinking of the vitreous. It’s important to remember that as the vitreous shrinks over time, it can create floaters. If you suddenly have more floaters than normal or are experiencing flashes (bursts of light across your field of vision), you should reach out to your eye care provider right away.
Double Vision
Double vision (diplopia), or seeing double, is defined as seeing two images of a single object when you’re looking at it. Double vision is usually a temporary issue, but it can also be a sign of more serious health conditions. Some conditions include: cataracts, astigmatism, dry eye syndrome, cranial nerve issues, brain aneurysms, strokes, myasthenia gravis and diabetes.
Even if it’s caused by something as simple as needing new glasses, it’s important to get your eyes examined by your healthcare provider right away if you start seeing double.