Differential Diagnosis for a Teenager with Single Eye Vision Changes
Single Most Likely Diagnosis
- Refractive Error: The most common cause of vision changes in teenagers is a refractive error, such as myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), or astigmatism. This is often due to the natural growth and development of the eye during adolescence.
Other Likely Diagnoses
- Amblyopia: Also known as lazy eye, amblyopia is a condition where the brain favors one eye over the other, leading to vision changes in the affected eye.
- Conjunctivitis: Inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane covering the white part of the eye, can cause vision changes, redness, and discomfort.
- Dry Eye Syndrome: Insufficient tear production or poor tear quality can lead to vision changes, eye irritation, and discomfort.
Do Not Miss Diagnoses
- Retinal Detachment: A medical emergency where the retina separates from the back of the eye, causing sudden vision changes, floaters, and flashes of light.
- Optic Neuritis: Inflammation of the optic nerve, which can cause vision changes, pain, and sensitivity to light.
- Glaucoma: A group of eye conditions that can damage the optic nerve, leading to vision changes, eye pain, and nausea.
Rare Diagnoses
- Uveitis: Inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the eye, which can cause vision changes, eye pain, and sensitivity to light.
- Retinoblastoma: A rare type of eye cancer that can cause vision changes, eye swelling, and leukocoria (a white reflex in the pupil).
- Marfan Syndrome: A genetic disorder that can affect the eyes, causing vision changes, lens dislocation, and retinal detachment.