The environment in front of the eyes of a person blurred so much that he perceives much only foggy, one speaks of the so-called veil vision. As a symptom of various eye diseases, it can appear in the affected person thereby both gradually and abruptly. At the first sign of veil vision, a doctor should be contacted immediately to diagnose the cause of veil vision and prevent further impairment.
What is veil vision?
Schematic diagram showing the anatomy of the eye and the difference between healthy eye and macular degeneration. Click to enlarge. Veil vision is an impairment of vision that can manifest primarily as a blurring of contrasts as well as extreme blurriness and results from a variety of causes. The term veil vision is derived from the fact that the person sees his environment only as if through a veil. In addition to this, the affected person can perceive rings, shadows, stripes or even the so-called “black gnats”. The appearance of the veil vision can develop both in a slow disease process, but also be formed quite abruptly in humans. Especially a sudden occurrence of veil vision is usually associated with serious symptoms such as severe headaches and eye pain, so a doctor should be consulted here immediately.
Causes
Veil vision can be due to many different causes. However, it is primarily caused by certain diseases of the eye. These can include cataracts, in addition to vitreous as well as retinal detachments, macular degeneration and vitreous hemorrhage. This eye disease, also known as cataract, describes a slowly progressing clouding of the lens in old age, the cause of which has not yet been precisely clarified. In addition to cataract, however, glaucoma can also be considered a cause of veil vision. In addition to extreme eye, head and abdominal pain, the patient may suddenly experience rainbow-like patterns around light sources. These suddenly appearing symptoms are summarized in medicine as glaucoma attack and should be treated immediately. However, in addition to eye diseases, other conditions not immediately associated with the eye may be considered a possible cause of veil vision. For example, diabetes mellitus, among other conditions, can also cause veil vision.
Diseases associated with this symptom
- Retinal detachment
- Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)
- Age-related macular degeneration
- Diabetes mellitus
- Cataract
- Drug allergy
Diagnosis and course
In the case of both a sudden and a slow onset of veil vision, an ophthalmologist should be contacted immediately to diagnose possible causes of veil vision and correct them as soon as possible. Typical diagnostic procedures may include vision tests with a measurement of intraocular pressure, as well as diagnostic imaging procedures to evaluate the optic nerve in the back of the eye. In the diagnosis of macludegeneration, the so-called Amsler grating test is used, in which the patient is asked to assess a special retinal grating while simultaneously covering one eye. In the case of special diseases of the eye, which are systemically caused, however, the basic disease must first be searched for and then treated. Within the diagnostic process, however, other causes such as diabetes mellitus, which initially do not directly affect the eyes, should always be considered.
Complications
Veil vision should be treated by a doctor in any case, because it can be a serious disease of the eyes. Even if veil vision occurs only for a short time, it should definitely be examined closely by a doctor. As a rule, veil vision is caused by different diseases of the eyes, which is why there is no universal prediction about the complications of this symptom. In most cases, these diseases are cataracts or glaucoma. These diseases occur at an older age, which is why veil vision also occurs at an older age. As a rule, there is no surgical intervention.With veil vision, there is rarely any pain, but the patient’s visual acuity decreases, which is why a visual aid must be worn. In most cases, veil vision can be remedied relatively easily, and treatment with medication is provided. To prevent the symptom in general, especially older people should have their eyes examined regularly. If detected early, treatment of veil vision is very simple and does not lead to other consequential damages. Consolidations with treatment do not occur.
When should people go to the doctor?
If the patient’s veil vision occurs frequently and persists for a long period of time or even permanently, it is necessary to see a doctor urgently. This may be a serious disease that definitely needs to be examined and treated. In many cases, veil vision also occurs with migraine. If the symptom disappears on its own after a short period of time and does not lead to further complaints, a visit to the doctor is usually not necessary. If the patient suffers from other eye complaints in addition to veil vision, a medical examination is also necessary. This may be a cataract or detachment of the retina of the eye. These complaints must be treated as soon as possible so that no consequential damage or complications occur. If the veil vision develops as a result of stress, the patient can reduce the stress in the first place and thus limit the symptom. Psychological causes are treated by a psychologist. If the veil vision is associated with other eye complaints, an ophthalmologist can be consulted directly. However, if the patient is not sure about the cause of the symptom, it is also possible to go to the family doctor first.
Treatment and therapy
Typical diagnostic procedures may include vision tests with measurement of intraocular pressure and diagnostic imaging. Depending on the cause of the veil vision, different therapeutic approaches can be used in the affected person. First of all, there are the surgical procedures, which are used, for example, in the treatment of cataracts. During the operation, the clouded lens is initially removed before an artificial lens is inserted by the ophthalmologist. Alternatively, the impaired lens can also be removed by a laser. The inserted artificial lens should subsequently enable the patient to regain largely complete vision. While cataracts are usually easy to remove surgically due to their characteristic symptoms, glaucoma often goes unnoticed for a long time and can therefore be diagnosed too late. If glaucoma has already manifested itself, it is necessary to reduce the intraocular pressure immediately in order to prevent possible blindness. The reduction can be done surgically, but also with medication. Chronic open-angle glaucoma, for example, responds positively to drug treatment. However, it is important that this be done throughout the patient’s life to prevent increased accumulation of aqueous humor. If the veil vision is due to systemic causes, the other underlying disorders must be treated in addition to the eye disease.
Outlook and prognosis
In the case of veil vision, the patient should definitely see a doctor and have the symptom treated. As a rule, it is a serious cause that must be treated in any case and will not disappear on its own. Most of the time, veil vision reduces the visual acuity. The affected person can no longer see outlines and shapes clearly and therefore needs a visual aid to be able to cope with everyday life alone. In most cases, veil vision also occurs at an older age, whereby it is a progressive process. If veil vision appears suddenly and at a young age, a doctor must be consulted in any case. The visit to the doctor is also necessary if the veil vision occurs after an accident or after a blow to the head. If the veil vision is caused by a disease in the eye, it can be treated relatively easily in most cases. In this case, surgical intervention may be necessary. Early treatment is important to prevent vision loss and further complications. Without treatment, veil vision will not disappear on its own and will have a negative effect on visual acuity.
Prevention
To prevent veil vision, it is important to visit an ophthalmologist at regular intervals for special preventive examinations. Here, vision tests and other examinations of the eyes and vision take place, which can diagnose a possible occurrence of veil vision and the associated disease at an early stage. In addition to visits to the doctor, however, a healthy lifestyle in everyday life can also help to counteract veil vision. For example, arteriosclerotic changes can be prevented. However, eye diseases that cause veil vision cannot be completely prevented by this.
What you can do yourself
There is no specific self-help treatment for veil vision. If the cause is a [[cataract|glaucoma or glaucoma or other disease of the eye, it is mandatory to be examined and treated by an ophthalmologist. In general, a healthy lifestyle has a positive effect on the healing process in veil vision. This includes a healthy diet and sports activities that are performed regularly. Excess weight should also be avoided if possible. The eye itself must also be protected. Prolonged work on the computer or smartphone should be avoided. Stress and unnecessary exertion should also be avoided. A high intake of fluids and abstinence from alcohol, cigarettes and other drugs helps against veil vision. Diabetics in particular should pay attention to a healthy lifestyle. To prevent veil vision, patients should attend regular checkups. This is especially true for people of advanced age and for those who have diabetes. In these cases, the cause can be identified and treated at an early stage so that veil vision does not occur in the first place. In general, visual aids should always be worn when vision is impaired. This prevents the muscles from overexerting themselves and further increasing the visual impairment.
