Every family has a different health-related history that, according to a LASIK surgeon in Orange County, can determine the eye conditions they’re more likely to develop. Families share genetics, lifestyle habits, and environmental impacts that often correlate with their state of being. So, in order to promote a certain mindfulness, patients at LASIK clinics in Orange County such as Excel Laser Vision Institute are encouraged to keep track of their family members’ eye health. In this article, we will delve into the most common eye conditions that families experience and share, plus how they can be treated.
Lazy Eye
One of the most common eye conditions that can develop in early childhood is amblyopia (or lazy eye). It happens as a result of a child’s vision favoring one eye over the other. It must be treated in order to prevent serious vision problems. The condition can be treated by blurring the stronger eye with drops. This will force the weaker eye to adjust. Lazy eye can be detected in most children during a normal checkup. However, Dr. Ferzaad Moosa, an Orange County LASIK surgeon, recommends taking your child in for an eye exam specifically between the ages of 3 and 5.
Nearsightedness & Farsightedness
Myopia, or nearsightedness, will develop in most people between the periods of childhood and early adulthood. People with nearsightedness have a hard time perceiving far-away images. This condition has the ability to shift throughout this time, eventually stabilizing at a certain age in young adulthood. Much of the research on nearsightedness has shown that it can be linked to heredity as well as the eye strain of excessive reading and computer work.
Hyperopia, or farsightedness, is something that usually affects people between middle to late adulthood. People with farsightedness have a hard time focusing on close-up images. Some people that experience nearsightedness early in life can also experience farsightedness later in life.
Both myopia and hyperopia can be treated by LASIK eye surgery. In order to determine a patient’s candidacy, LASIK specialists will do a thorough eye exam that can evaluate their general health, eye prescription, and other features of the patient’s eyes that might affect the procedure.
Cataracts
Finally, the most common eye condition that can develop in a person’s late adulthood is cataracts. These cloudy obstructions on the lens of the eye prevent someone from seeing clearly. Cataracts may form as a result of age-related deterioration. However, they may also follow an eye injury or underlying health condition. Fortunately, cataract surgery is a common elective surgery that can help many people who suffer from this condition.
These are just some of the conditions that can run in a family. A few other eye conditions that you may have heard of are glaucoma, conjunctivitis, retinal detachment, and astigmatism. It is a good idea to speak to your family members about their eye health and see if there are any patterns in what they are experiencing. This will help you get an idea of what to expect in certain periods of your life and take preventative measures to ensure you have the healthiest eyes possible.