Blepharitis
Blephartis is the inflammation of the eyelids. It usually affects the edges of the eyelids. Symptoms include greasy lid margins and tiny scales on the eyelids. Sticky discharge or flakes may also be present and in particular, the eyelids may stuck together in the morning.
The condition is not usually serious and daily eyelid hygiene can usually keep the symptoms away.
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Cataract
Cataract is a clouding of the Lens which is inside the eye. This causes the vision to go misty or blurred, like looking through a dirty window. This is often an age related change, but can be related to general health, trauma, or secondary to other eye problems. It is a very simple 20 min operation to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial plastic implant.
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Conjunctivitis
This is the most common eye problem. Symptoms include red, itchy or swollen eyes, a discharge from the eyes, pain, puffy eye lids and the eyes becoming crusty overnight. To overcome conjunctivitis, you should seek medical help, but there are other steps that you can take to ease the condition. Applying a facecloth soaked in warm water can help relieve the discomfort and can be used to wipe away any discharge, Make sure no one else uses the face cloth after you though. You should also avoid wearing contact lenses whilst you have the infection. Once the condition has cleared up, you should not use the same contact lenses but should see your optician. Eye make-up should also be thrown away as it will be contaminated.
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Dry Eye
Is a condition caused by the tears that lubricate the eye being of poor quality, or not being produced in enough quantity. Producing symptoms of gritty eyes, especially on waking or towards the end of the day. This can be related to some general health conditions. It is often relieved by the use of lubricating eye drops. Again diet and some supplement tablets may have an influence.
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Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in the UK. Glaucoma is a condition where the optic nerve at the back of the eye is damaged either by poor blood flow or by raised pressure in the eye.
If initially destroys the peripheral vision but if not treated can lead to blindness. In the early stages glaucoma is asymptomatic thus detection of the condition through regular eye examination is vital.
We now have an instrument that will tell us if any of the nerve fibres on the back of the eye are damaged or not. Therefore making earlier detection possible.
he risk of glaucoma increases as you get older, but it can affect people of all ages. If you are over 60 you are entitled to an eye examination carried out free of charge. People whose close blood relatives have suffered, or those of Afro-Caribbean origin have a slightly increased risk, as do smokers, diabetics and those who are very short sighted.
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Refractive Conditions
Short Sight
It is caused by the image the eye is trying to see, focusing in front of the retina making objects in the distance blurred.
Long Sight
It is caused by the image the eye is trying to see, focusing behind the retina making objects close-up blurred.
Astigmatism
Is a word that describes the fact that the front surface of the eye is irregular in shape, rather like an egg or a rugby ball. Therefore distorting vision. It is corrected with a lens with a different power in two directions producing a point focus on the back of the eye.
Presbyopia
A condition where the focusing power of the lens in the eye is reduced, normally associated with getting older. People in this group need a reading lens to compensate for their lack of focusing power, these become more necessary as time goes on.
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