GoodRx Guide
Healthy Vision: Eye Care and Treatment
Definition
Healthy eyes and healthy vision go hand in hand. Routine eye care is important for everyone and at every age. You can help keep your eyes healthy and your vision safe by regularly scheduling eye exams and practicing routine eye care.
You can also support your eye health by:
Eating a healthy diet: Diet and vitamins can’t restore your vision. But a healthy diet can keep your eyes and vision healthy over time.
Doing eye exercises: Screen time can lead to eye strain, so it’s important to give your eyes regular breaks by doing eye exercises.
Not smoking: Smoking increases the risk of developing eye conditions that lead to vision loss. If you quit smoking, it will help keep your eyes healthy
Keeping your eyes safe from injury: Eye injuries can happen at home or in the workplace. Always wear eye protection during activities that can cause eye injury.
Practicing eye hygiene: If you wear contact lenses, always wash your hands before putting in or taking out your lenses. Make sure to follow directions on how to store, clean, and remove your lenses. Always remove your contacts before sleeping.
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Parts of the eye
The different parts of the eye work together so you can see. Some of these include:
Cornea: The cornea is a clear covering over the front of the eye that focuses light.
Pupil: The pupil is the black opening where light enters the middle of the eye.
Lens: The lens is a clear structure in the middle of the eye that focuses light on the retina.
Retina: The retina is in the back of the eye. It receives light signals and translates them into electric signals.
Optic nerve: The optic nerve carries electrical signals from the retina to the brain. The brain gets this information and interprets it, which is what allows you to see.
You can see some of the front parts of your eye when you look in a mirror. But you can’t see the middle or back of your eye. Eye doctors have tools that let them look at these parts of the eye to make sure they’re healthy.
Vision
Your central and peripheral vision let you process the world through sight:
Central vision: When you focus on an object, you use your central vision. Central vision is the sharp, defined part of your vision. It includes near and far vision. Visual acuity measures central vision. People with “20/20 vision” have normal visual acuity.
Peripheral vision: Objects that aren’t directly in your line of sight, but rather off to the side, are in your peripheral vision. Peripheral vision isn’t as clear as central vision, but it plays an important role when you’re moving or driving. It gives you awareness of things in your immediate surroundings.
If a part of your eye becomes damaged from illness or injury, you can get changes in your central or peripheral vision. These changes can be temporary or permanent.
Some children are born with eye conditions that affect their vision, like congenital cataracts. If these conditions aren’t treated, children can develop vision loss.
Common eye conditions
Some common eye conditions are:
Refractive errors: Refractive errors develop when the cornea changes shape, causing blurred vision. Examples are myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness).
Glaucoma: Glaucoma affects the optic nerve and is a common cause of vision loss.
Cataracts: Cataracts develop when the lens becomes cloudy. This leads to blurry vision.
Presbyopia: Presbyopia develops as you get older. It affects the ability to see close up and do things like reading, writing, and typing.
Eye infections: Viruses and bacteria can cause eye infections. Some are less serious, like styes or pink eye. Others, like keratitis or herpes, are very serious.
This list doesn’t include every eye condition or eye conditions caused by medical conditions. Diabetes, for example, can lead to many different kinds of eye conditions, including diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.
There are treatments for many eye conditions, which allow you to restore your vision back to baseline. Without treatment, many eye conditions can cause permanent vision loss.
Treatments
If you’re at risk for an eye condition or have vision changes, it’s important to see an eye doctor right away. There are treatments for eye conditions that can keep your vision from getting worse. And you can treat many eye conditions so that your vision goes back to normal. Some treatments can even cure some eye conditions.
Depending on your eye condition, you may have many treatment options. Eye treatments range from eye drops to oral or injectable medications. There are also many types of eye surgeries that treat eye conditions, like cataract surgery.
If you have a refractive condition, like myopia, there are many treatment options that can help. Glasses, contact lenses, and even eye surgery can restore your central vision.
Each year, new treatments become available to treat eye conditions. There are also clinical trials for people with eye conditions.
Eye care
Routine eye care, like regular dental and medical care, is an important part of your overall health. Most people need a full eye exam every 1 to 2 years.
Medical conditions — like diabetes, high blood pressure, and autoimmune conditions — can affect eye health and vision. If you have one of these medical conditions, you may need more frequent eye exams.
The first step to healthy eyes is to find an eye doctor.
Optometrists and ophthalmologists are two types of eye doctors. Optometrists are often the first eye doctor someone sees. They can help with things like prescribing glasses and contact lenses. They can also monitor and diagnose certain eye conditions. If you need more specialized treatment or surgery, you’ll need to see an ophthalmologist. Many times optometrists can help you decide when to visit an ophthalmologist.
Common concerns
Sudden vision changes are a medical emergency. See an eye doctor immediately if you notice:
Flashes or sparkles in your vision (even if only at the edges of your vision)
New floaters, especially if they’re large or you have several
Gray or black spots that look like specks or cobwebs
Shadows in your peripheral vision
Dimming of your vision, like a veil has been pulled across your eyes
These can all be signs of a vision-threatening condition, like a retinal detachment. If you don’t have an eye doctor, go to an emergency room. They can connect you to an eye doctor.
Ways you can improve your eye health include:
Eating a healthy diet
Finding an eye doctor and getting routine eye exams
Seeing an eye doctor regularly if you have a medical condition that affects your eyes
Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes against UV light
Vitamins that promote eye health include:
The best way to get these vitamins is to eat a variety of foods — especially leafy greens. You don’t need to take a multivitamin unless your healthcare provider recommends it. People who smoke should not take extra beta-carotene.
References
American Academy of Ophthalmology. (n.d.). Find an ophthalmologist.
American Optometric Association. (n.d.). Comprehensive eye exams.
National Eye Institute. (2021). Finding an eye doctor.
National Eye Institute. (2021). Rare diseases.
National Eye Institute. (2022). How the eyes work.
New York State Department of Health. (2009). Smoking can lead to vision loss or blindness.
Tanvetyanon, T., et al. (2008). Beta-carotene in multivitamins and the possible risk of lung cancer among smokers versus former smokers. Cancer.
Turbert, D. (2021). Vision loss, central. American Academy of Ophthalmology.
Turbert, D. (2021). Vision loss, peripheral (side). American Academy of Ophthalmology.
UK National Health Service. (2019). Herpes simplex eye infections.
