Eye Conditions

We are invested in looking after the health of your eyes, here are some of the more common conditions we see.

Cataract  

A cataract occurs when the lens within the eye, which is usually clear, becomes opaque. There are various causes for a cataract, the most common being age as well as ultraviolet radiation and diabetes.  

It can cause your vision to be misty, foggy or blurred and glare can be excessively uncomfortable due to it. Our optometrists will be able to assess any development of cataract and advise you accordingly should treatment be required.

For more information on cataracts visit the RNIB information page: 

https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/cataracts/

Dry eye is a condition of eyes where you do not make enough tears or your tears are evaporating too fast. As much as it may not be a serious condition it can cause a lot of discomfort and debilitate many people. Dry eye is not something that only contact lens wearers suffer from.
Here are some signs to show that you may be suffering from dry eyes:  

• Itchy
• Sore
• Blurry
• Watery
• Gritty
• Red  

There are many causes for dryness, the most common ones:  

• Age – Over 50’s tend to suffer more as your body reduces the quality of tears produced
• Contact lens wear – Contact lenses dry out the eyes
• Blepheritis – A chronic condition of the debris on the eyelash glands
• Atmosphere – heating/air conditioning
• Long periods of computer usage – this reduces your blink rate and therefore in turn affects the tears

The blephex dry eye treatment may be the answer for you if you are suffering, give us a call and have a chat about your dry eyes and we can discuss with you further how we may be able to help by providing this treatment.

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye conditions where the optic nerve at the back of your eye is damaged. It is often associated with the internal pressure within your eye building up.  

When the nerve is damaged, it can start to cause peripheral vision (side vision) problems and if untreated can cause permanent damage.

Risk factors include:

• Age
• Family history of glaucoma
• Ethnic origin

Unfortunately in the early stages of glaucoma the eyesight can seem perfectly normal and there may be no symptoms even though peripheral vision may be damaged. This is why it is very important to have regular eye health checks to rule out any early onset of glaucoma.

Age related macula degeneration (ARMD) is a condition that affects the macula region of your eye (the central part of your vision). There are two types of ARMD – wet and dry.  

Wet ARMD occurs when new blood vessels grow behind the macula , which are unstable and leak therefore causing damage to the retinal cells. Unfortunately this type of ARMD can develop suddenly.

Dry ARMD usually develops slows and is a build-up of waste materials in the retinal cells which stop them reacting properly to light.

The thin layer of cells at the back of your eye is known as the Retina. When the retina pulls away from the eye it is known as a retinal detachment. Retinal detachments are an ocular emergency and need to be seen and treated urgently. Unfortunately a retinal detachment can be sight threatening, so the faster it is treated the less impact it will have on your vision.  

Signs/ symptoms to look out for:
 

• Flashing lights
• Floaters
• Dark shadows in your vision
• Blurred Vision  

Changes to the vitreous gel within your eye can pull on the retinal layer and cause it to detach; most changes to the vitreous gel are harmless and are called a vitreous detachment (PVD), but it is important to get the eyes checked as soon as any of the signs or symptoms are noticed as this can lead to retinal tears and holes which can in turn lead to a detachment.  

Read more about the importance of acting on signs of a retinal detachment and the treatments available at:


https://www.rnib.org.uk/your-eyes/eye-conditions-az/retinal-detachment/

Diabetic retinopathy is a term used for the secondary damage that can be caused by diabetes to the retina. If it is left undiagnosed and untreated then it can lead to blindness.

The Retina is the layer of cells in the back of your eye which need a constant supply of blood. If the blood sugar levels are high the vessels can leak hence causing bleeds in the retina, leading to visual disturbance and long term damage.

Diabetic retinopathy can take years to show any signs of visual problems. The NHS provide diabetic screening annually for anyone who suffers from diabetes, but it is very important to also keep up with regular eye examinations where the Optometrist can help identify any signs of early retinopathy.