San José, Costa Rica. February, 2016.

Many times we are aware that something has changed, or that something is not right with our eyes. Don´t procrastinate – the longer you wait, the less possibilities for fixing the problem.

According to Dr. Lucía Sibaja Collado, optometrist at the Clínica Bíblica Hospital, “in adults, after forty years-old, the most common visual deficiency is presbyopia or tired vision. This requires optic correction, whether with glasses with only one vision or progressive lenses (multi-focus)”.

The most common visual problems that optometry covers have to do with the different refraction deficiencies, such as myopia, astigmatism, hypermetropia and presbyopia.

In the case of sportspeople, they require even more acute vision than a regular patient, since they need a greater degree of visual attention, a quick response, precise and effective in accordance with stimuli.

“The sportsman requires an excellent peripheral vision, and a good static and dynamic visual acuteness. Therefore, if a sportsman does not have good vision, his performance will be diminished and his response capacity to the stimulus also. This makes him less apt to perform in the sport of his choice,” commented Dr. Sibaja.

If the patient notices the following symptoms, it is very important that he/she has a visual test performed.

• Problems to see objects on any side.
• Difficulty to see at night or to read.
• Gradual loss of visual acuteness.
• Difficulty to differentiate colors.
• Blurry vision when trying to see objects, whether near or far.
• Diabetes or family history of this affection.
• Runny eyes or eye pruritus.
• Visual changes that seem to be related with medications (DO NOT suspend or change medications without consulting with your physician).

The ideal vision test is at least once a year, but all cases are different. There are cases where it is best to have an assessment every six months. This indication will be given by the specialist in visual health.

“Seek assistance when you have any symptom such as red eyes, weeping, headache, irritation, difficult seeing far, difficulty seeing near, pain or secretions,” concluded the expert in optometry.

In order to obtain further information or request an appointment in any of the medical specialties with the best doctors of Costa Rica, please contact the private hospital Clínica Bíblica at telephone number 2522-1000, at email citas@clinicabiblica.com or vía chat on the website www.clinicabiblica.com