Suddenly blurred vision might be a symptom of eye stroke caused by restricted blood flow, or vasoconstriction, from low temperatures during cold weather, a doctor warned as he called on people with chronic disease or nearsightedness to be careful.
Eye stroke, or retinal artery occlusion, has symptoms such as sudden vision loss or blurring and dark spots in the vision field, said Vision Eye Center ophthalmologist Chang Hsin-yu (張芯瑜), adding it is an acute condition that requires prompt medical care.
Winter is a high-risk period for eye stroke, especially for older people and people with “three highs” — high levels of blood lipids, blood sugar or blood pressure — as cold weather can aggravate vasoconstriction, she said.
Photo: Lin Huei-chin, Taipei Times
People with severe nearsightedness should be careful as they are more prone to detached retinas, which could be complicated by eye stroke, Chang said.
Separately, many people recently sought medical attention for dry eyes or foreign body sensation in eyes, she said.
Dry eyes are not necessarily the symptom of dry eye syndrome but can be caused by allergens, poor air quality, dust or weather changes, Chang said.
Dry eyes and allergic conjunctivitis can worsen within a short period of time when temperatures drop or when transboundary dust or air pollution worsens, she said.
People should see a doctor for medical examinations promptly if their eye problems do not improve with regular hot compresses or artificial tears, Chang said.
Medical personnel would conduct examinations of the patient’s eye surface and determine whether patients need certain treatment such as artificial gels or eye ointments that require a doctor’s prescription, she said.
Extended screen time on digital devices has become a lifestyle disease, a major problem for older segments of the population, Huang said.
People regardless of age are advised to follow the “20-20-20” principle when using electronics, she said.
The “20-20-20” principle refers to taking a 20-second break every 20 minutes to look at an object 20 feet (6m) away.
Huang recommended that people use phones or tablets in a well-lit environment with the screen brightness kept moderately low and refrain from scrolling in the dark to minimize eye irritation, she said.
Although evidence-based medical research has yet to confirm that blue light from electronic devices has direct harmful effects on the human eye, prolonged exposure to a brightly lit screen is known to cause strain on eyes and ciliary muscles, Huang said.
Eye problems are intertwined with weather, environments and lifestyle, she said, calling on people to stay aware of changes in vision and continued discomfort in eyes during cold seasons.
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