 Glaucoma is a disease where the pressure within the eye is increased, and can damage parts of the eye and if left untreated can cause blindness. There are not always symptoms for glaucoma, so it is advisable to have your eyes checked at least every 24 months. Your optometrist will measure the pressure of your eye during your regular eye examination. Treatment usually consists of special drops to control pressure; however in advanced cases laser surgery may be necessary.
A Cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye giving you misty vision (try looking through white tissue-paper to give you an idea) Symptoms are a gradual painless decrease in vision/vision clarity and increased sensitivity to glare and sometimes double vision. Treatment is removal of the lens and insertion of an artificial lens (also known as - an intra-ocular lens)
Macular Degeneration is a disease which causes permanent damage to the macula (the central part of the retina). Regular eye exams will allow early detection and treatment. Macular degeneration can be age or toxin related. Treatment is vitamin supplements. Good sunglasses (ultra-violet protection) can help slow / prevent this condition.
Pterygium is a growth of degenerative tissue on the sclera (white of the eye) sometimes it can grow onto the cornea, it is usually on the nasal side of the eyeball. It is caused by irritation and long term exposure to UV light, wind glare or dust. Treatment is removal by surgery - eye drops - protective eye wear (sunglasses)
Floaters are semi-transparent specks of natural materials which float in your visual field. They can look like you have worms or spiders floating in your eye (best seen when looking at a bright plain background) They can be caused by remnants of an artery (the hyaloid) which is present in your eye before birth, injury or eye disease. A sudden onset of floaters can indicate a serious retinal condition. Your optometrist will determine what steps if any need to be taken.
Blepharitis is an inflammation around the edges of the eyelids. Symptoms are sore, red irritated eye lids, crusted eye lashes and foreign body discomfort. Treatment is improved lid hygiene. Lid Care is used to clean the lids and lashes and ocular lubricants for dryness and sometimes antibiotic eye-drops. This infection is associated with conjunctivitis which is an inflammation of the conjunctiva also known as 'pink eye'
Diabetic Retinopathy is a condition of the retina which occurs when diabetes damages retinal blood vessels causing haemorrhages on the retina. 30% of all diabetics already have retinal damage. Treatment is laser coagulation of the damaged blood vessels and works well if detected early. Again, have your eyes examined at least every 2 years.
Amblyopia (Lazy eye) is a reduced vision, generally in only one eye. The condition usually results from poor eye co-ordination, from having a turned eye, or after having one eye which requires a far greater lens power.
The reduced vision occurs as one eye is being used less than the other. When detected early enough, patching, vision training and contact lenses may help to reverse or prevent permanent damage to the vision.
Pink eye (conjunctivitis) is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane (conjunctiva) that lines your eyelid and part of your eyeball. The cause of pink eye is commonly a bacterial or viral infection, an allergic reaction or - in newborns - an incompletely opened tear duct.
Pink eye may make you feel as if you've got something in one or both of your eyes that you just can't remove. When you wake up in the morning, your eyes may seem to be pasted shut from the discharge coming from your eyes. The whites of your eyes may begin to have a pink discoloration, and you may not see as clearly as you did before.
Inflammation causes small blood vessels in the conjunctiva to become more prominent, resulting in a pink or red cast to the whites of your eyes. Pink eye and red eye are terms commonly used to refer to all types of conjunctivitis.
Though the inflammation of pink eye makes it an irritating condition, it rarely affects your sight. If you suspect pink eye, you can take steps to ease your discomfort. But because pink eye can be contagious, it should be diagnosed and treated early. This is especially important for preschool-age children, who commonly develop both viral and bacterial conjunctivitis.
Nothing is more precious than your sight and you should never put it at risk.
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