Dr. Le Thanh Huyen of the High-Tech Eye Center at Tam Anh General Hospital outlines the main causes of vision decline, emphasizing the importance of prompt detection and treatment to limit complications.

Refractive errors are vision disorders that occur when light doesn't focus properly on the retina, causing blurred vision. These errors include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism, and they affect people of all ages, especially students, office workers, and those who frequently use electronic screens.

Cataracts develop when proteins in the eye's lens change abnormally, due to internal factors or environmental influences. This cloudiness can be congenital due to genetics, metabolic disorders, or complications from systemic diseases. It can also be age-related or result from trauma, eye surgery, medication side effects, or systemic conditions like diabetes.

Keratoconus causes the cornea to thin and bulge outward, taking on a cone-like shape. Characteristic symptoms include rapidly worsening vision, needing frequent eyeglass prescription changes, and light sensitivity. Without early intervention, it can lead to permanent vision loss.

Medical staff guide a patient with keratoconus on how to use contact lenses. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Medical staff guide a patient with keratoconus on how to use contact lenses. Photo illustration: Tam Anh General Hospital

Diabetic retinopathy is a direct complication of diabetes affecting the eyes. Early stages may have no noticeable symptoms or only mild vision impairment. However, if the condition progresses, it can cause complete vision loss.

Glaucoma occurs when the eye's fluid drainage system is blocked, increasing internal eye pressure. This pressure can damage the optic nerve, leading to irreversible vision loss or blindness if not detected and treated early.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for detailed vision, reading, facial recognition, and driving. AMD causes blurred vision, distorted images (straight lines appearing wavy), and dark spots in the central field of vision.

Night blindness, or reduced vision in low light or at night, is often linked to dysfunction of the rods in the retina. Causes include genetics, vitamin A deficiency, retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, diabetic retinopathy, medication side effects, and optic nerve damage.

Eye trauma, such as blunt force or ruptured eyeballs, can cause internal bleeding, increased eye pressure, infection, corneal tears, and retinal detachment, potentially leading to vision loss. Indirect trauma affecting the brain's visual center or the optic nerve can also impair vision.

In children, retinoblastoma often presents as crossed eyes or a white pupil. In adults, uveal melanoma can cause blurred vision and dark spots, while pituitary tumors can compress the optic nerve, leading to double vision or vision loss.

Cancers like lung, breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer can metastasize to the eyes, causing vision loss in one or both eyes. Brain tumors can also affect the optic nerve, resulting in drooping eyelids, optic disc swelling, and progressive blindness.

Postpartum hormonal changes can cause temporary vision decline in some women, affecting eye structures like the cornea and retina. This can lead to dry eyes, slight refractive changes, or increased intraocular pressure.

Women with a history of pregnancy-induced hypertension or gestational diabetes may experience macular edema or retinal hemorrhage, impacting their vision. These symptoms usually improve within a few weeks or months after delivery. If they persist or are accompanied by other unusual symptoms, an eye exam is recommended.

Khue Lam