Question and Answer
Many people believe that visual acuity equates to eye health, but normal visual acuity alone does not rule out the presence of hidden diseases. According to doctors, at least three eye conditions can develop without obvious symptoms in their early stages: glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy. In other words, a visual acuity test alone cannot detect these serious diseases. The common belief, “I can read the last line, so my eyes are healthy,” is based on a misconception. A person may be able to read the letters on an eye chart clearly while simultaneously suffering from pathological changes that cannot be detected through visual acuity testing alone.
Doctors explain that this test determines the clarity of vision at a given moment, whereas an ophthalmologist’s role is to assess the overall health of the eye and compare the results of a range of examinations, rather than waiting for a problem that affects daily life to appear.
Glaucoma may not show symptoms in its early stages, but without timely diagnosis and treatment, it can lead to complete vision loss.
Therefore, measuring intraocular pressure, testing the visual field, and evaluating the optic nerve are no less important than reading the eye chart. Age-related macular degeneration may also be asymptomatic in its early stages, but as the disease progresses, a person may notice distortion of straight lines, loss of some letters while reading, or a decline in visual ability.
Doctors also point out that diabetic retinopathy can develop without obvious symptoms, despite ongoing changes in the retina. Therefore, medical guidelines recommend that people with diabetes undergo regular eye examinations at least once a year, and those with type 1 diabetes should begin annual screenings five years after diagnosis, even in the absence of symptoms.
It is worth noting that routine examinations do not replace the need to see an ophthalmologist urgently if certain signs appear, such as seeing flashes of light or “lightning” in front of the eyes, a sudden or sharp increase in floaters, the sensation of a “curtain” or “shutter” covering part of the visual field, distorted images, or a sudden drop in visual acuity.
Source: gazeta.ru
