Eye Problems That May be More Serious Than They Seem

We hear things like "take care of your heart" and "take care of your lungs" every day. But when was the last time you were told to focus on eye health? Despite the fact that good vision is needed to do everything from driving to work to picking out clothes in the morning, eyes are often left out of the health conversation.

In addition to yearly eye exams, you should contact your doctor right away if you experience any of the following:

Floating Spots of Light

Have you ever had your picture taken with a bright flash and suddenly you see spots of light the next time you blink? Because it just came from a camera flash, that’s totally normal. If, however, you’re seeing these lights all day, every day, it could be a sign that the back chamber of your eye has changed from a gel-like consistency to a liquid.

Your Eyes Burn

Unlike dryness, which is normal to experience occasionally, your eyes should never feel like they burn. If your eyes burn once in a while or all the time, you may have a condition known as blepharitis. Blepharitis can be caused by bacteria or — wait for it — microscopic mites living on your eyeball. But take a deep breath! While you should still see a doctor right away, you can temporarily get rid of the burning sensation by washing your face with baby shampoo and warm water.

You Have a Freckle on Your Eye

Think of a freckle on your eye the same way you would a freckle on your skin — if it’s been there since you were born, you have nothing to worry about. If it just appeared overnight or is getting larger, you should speak with your ophthalmologist right away, as this could be melanoma.

You’re Seeing Double

This is probably one of the more obvious ones, but you have to see a doctor if you’re seeing double. Double vision could be a sign that your eye muscles aren’t properly aligned.