Vision Archive

The most common questions people ask eye doctors focus on common eye symptoms such as burning and redness; choosing reading glasses; using tinted glasses for night driving; and ways to preserve eye health.

A study pooling data from more than 180,000 adults found that consuming more omega-3 fats (as found in fatty fish) was linked to 18% lower odds of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Regularly eating omega-3-rich seafood may be a reasonable strategy for reducing the risk of AMD.

In middle and older age, dry eyes and poor close-up vision can make it harder to wear contact lenses. Multifocal or monovision lenses, eye drops, and certain lens materials can help keep contacts comfortable and reduce the need for reading glasses.

For many eye emergencies, it’s best to call an ophthalmologist for an initial assessment and instructions about next steps. It is better to go to an emergency department for significant eye injuries or sudden vision loss.

Dry eye disease is broken down into two types: In aqueous-deficient dry eye, the eyes don't produce enough tears. In evaporative dry eye (sometimes called meibomian gland dysfunction) there are enough tears, but they're unstable and evaporate too quickly. Dry eye symptoms include eyes that feel gritty, sandy, stinging, burning, scratchy, tired, or sensitive to light. People with symptoms often forgo seeing a doctor. Artificial tears are an effective starting point for many cases of dry eye.

Poor night vision could be caused by an outdated eyeglass prescription or an eye condition, such as dry eye, cataracts, or age-related macular degeneration. People should see an eye care specialist for a complete eye exam to check for these issues.