Ideally, your vision should be crystal clear with nothing coming between your eyes and the world before you. Over time, and with the introduction of some underlying conditions, you may develop problems with your eyesight and this includes seeing shadows or dark spots. You can compare this to some televisions, where some pixels become damaged and you get a black spot or group of black spots on the TV screen. No amount of wiping the screen will remove the spots, and no amount of blinking will get rid of the shadow in your vision. Here are some possible reasons for that weird shadow in your vision:

Eye Floaters

The simplest explanation is “floaters.” Floaters look like tiny floaty things across your vision, and they should be mostly very low-profile. If it looks like there are lots more or they’re really disruptive of your vision, you should see your optometrist in New Albany, MS to get it checked out.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is when chronically-high blood sugar levels cause damage to the blood vessels in the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye, where the retina is. It often causes leaks inside your eye of blood and other fluids, and this is what often causes shadowy spots in your vision. As the condition progresses, it can lead to worsening vision loss and potentially blindness if not managed properly, so you should get a diabetic eye exam in New Albany, MS as soon as possible if you have diabetes.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a degeneration of the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. If you’re over 50 and you have an ever-widening dark spot in the middle of your vision, chances are that you may have macular degeneration, but only your optometrist would be able to accurately diagnose it. Just don’t ignore it, because macular degeneration only gets worse. It never gets better. But treatment can slow the progression, so early detection is key.

If you start to notice shadows in your vision, it’s essential not to ignore them, especially if the changes are sudden or severe. Contact us today to learn more.