Eye Health

Eye Health

Good vision helps you perform well. That’s why it’s important to take a few simple steps to ensure the health of your eyes. A regular eye exam is an easy precaution to take to protect the health of your eyes.

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Environment and your Eyes

Our eyes are very susceptible to the elements and our surroundings. Knowing that our eyes are vulnerable to environmental factors can allow you to take steps to reduce or eliminate them.

Driving

If you drive any type of vehicle it’s important you can see clearly, read road signs accurately and properly assess driving conditions. So, if you’re a driver, make sure your eyes are checked regularly.

DIY and working environments

If you spend time in a workshop, eye protection is an important safety consideration. Foreign bodies can very easily damage the eye’s soft tissue, which can lead to long-term sight problems. If you work in a hazardous environment, make sure your employer provides adequate eye protection.

VDU screens

We spend an average of eight hours a day staring at screens, with prolonged use often causing eye strain. Make sure you take regular breaks from computer screens. To prevent screen fatigue, follow the 20-20-20 rule. Just make sure that every 20 minutes you look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds and blink 20 times.

Sunlight

As well as skin, did you know the sun can also damage your eyesight? On bright days your eyes can be easily damaged by the sun’s glare. Make sure you protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing good quality sunglasses with 100% UV protection.

Eye Conditions

Have an eye or vision problem? Find out what conditions and diseases could be causing your symptom with this handy reference

Myopia

There are several symptoms of myopia (nearsightedness), all of which are fairly easy to recognize.

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Nearsighted or shortsighted people see nearby objects quite clearly. Further away objects appear blurry to them and it is a strain for them to see far away objects. In addition to blurry distance vision, signs and symptoms of myopia include squinting, excessive blinking, eye rubbing, headaches and eye strain.

Hyperopia

This vision problem occurs when light rays entering the eye focus behind the retina, rather than directly on it.

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Farsightedness or longsightedness can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses to change the way light rays bend into the eyes. You may need to wear your glasses or contacts all the time or only when reading, working on a computer or doing other close-up work.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a common and generally treatable imperfection in the curvature of your eye that causes blurred distance and near vision.

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Instead of having one curve like a round ball, the surface is egg shaped therefore the light focuses at two different points at the back of the eye. This caused the light rays to bend and fall at different points behind the eye. This causes blurred vision at all distances.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a condition associated with the ageing of the eye which makes it harder to focus clearly on close objects.

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With age, the capsule that surrounds the lens inside your eyes, is not as flexible as it used to be. Usually, by mid-forties, even people who have never needed spectacles start to need reading glasses.Presbyopia can be corrected by single vision glasses, bifocals, progressives, multifocal or monovision contact lenses and removing glasses in shortsighted individuals.

Blepharitis

Blepharitis is a common condition that causes inflammation of the eyelids.

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It is a chronic external eye disorder resulting in red, burning, and irritated eyes. Symptoms of blepharitis include: Itchy and sore eyelids. Eyelids that stick together and are difficult to open, particularly when you wake up. Eyelashes that become crusty or greasy. It’s not serious although it can lead to further problems. For example, many people with blepharitis also develop dry eye syndrome, which can cause eyes to feel dry, gritty and sore. Since blepharitis is a chronic condition, there is no cure. There are several ways to treat blepharitis and patients can manage it themselves quite well.

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to ageing.

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Cataracts are very common in older people. A cataract can occur in either one or both eyes.The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye’s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. But as we age, some of the proteins inside the lens may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. Cataracts develop over many years and problems may at first be unnoticeable. They often develop in both eyes, although each eye may be affected differently. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. During your eye exam, your optometrist will look for cataracts and inform you if cataracts are developing.

Chalazion and Hordeolum

Chalazion and Hordeolum are sudden-onset localized swellings of the eyelid.

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A chalazion is caused by non-infectious meibomian gland occlusion, whereas a hordeolum usually is caused by infection. A chalazion is a slow developing lump that forms due to blockage and swelling of an oil gland in the eyelid. It often starts out as a very small red, tender, swollen area of the eyelid. In a few days, it may change to a painless slow-growing lump the size of a pea. A chalazion is often confused with a stye (or hordeolum), which is an infection of an oil gland in the eyelid. A stye produces a red, swollen, painful lump on the edge or the inside of the eyelid and usually occurs closer to the surface of the eyelid than chalazia.

Corneal ulcers

A corneal ulcer looks like a grey or white spot or patch on the clear cornea at the front of the eye.

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Common causes of corneal ulcers include: bacterial infections, viral infections, eye injuries or small scratches on the eye and dry eye syndrome. Contact lens wearers are at a higher risk of developing corneal ulcers, especially if they don’t follow hygiene advice, or over-wear their contact lenses. In these cases, bacterial infections from the contact lens or their case are the most common cause of corneal ulcers.

Conjunctivitis

Pink eye is an inflammation or infection of the transparent membrane that lines your eyelid and covers the white part of your eyeball.

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This is what causes the whites of your eyes to appear reddish or pink. Pink eye is commonly caused by a bacterial or viral infection or an allergy. Though, pink eye can be irritating, it rarely affects your vision. Treatments can help ease the discomfort of pink eye. Because pink eye can be contagious, early diagnosis and treatment can help limit its spread.

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a major cause of blindness, particularly among working-age adults.

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The degree of retinopathy is correlated with duration and control of diabetes. Blood glucose levels, BP levels, pregnancy can impair blood glucose control and thus worsen retinopathy. Diabetic retinal screening is important for early detection of diabetic retinopathy. Because early detection is important, all patients with diabetes should have an annual examination.

Dry Eyes

Tears are an important part of your eye health. 

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They help to keep your eyes lubricated, protect against infections, and clear away debris from the surface of your eyes. Dry eye syndrome develops when there is a disruption in the production of tears – either that they evaporate too quickly, an issue with drainage, poor quality of tears, or that not enough tears are produced. Feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness that gets worse during the day. Red eyes and eyelids that stick together when you wake up are some of the symptoms of dry eyes.

Flashes and Floaters

Floaters are little black specs or spots that seem to float around within your visual field.

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Floaters are an extremely common and harmless occurrence, observed particularly against a bright background, as little black specs or spots that seem to float around within your visual field. Flashes refer to the occasional flashes of light observed in the far periphery or corner of your vision, most often on extreme gaze. Neither are of any great significance unless they occur in very large and increased numbers.

As we age, the gel-like vitreous inside the eye begins to liquefy and pull away from the retina, causing “spots and floaters” and (sometimes) flashes of light. This condition, called vitreous detachment, is usually harmless. Sometimes this pulling process can cause the retina to rip or tear. This is what causes the vast increase in floaters and sometimes flashes and can be the start of a retinal detachment and needs urgent attention. Flashes and floaters can sometimes be caused by other eye diseases

Glaucoma

Chronic glaucoma – this is the most common type of glaucoma and develops very slowly.

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If you have chronic glaucoma, it can take a long time before you realise you have a problem with your eyesight. This is because chronic glaucoma is painless and usually damages the outer edge of the vision and works slowly inwards. Without regular checks you may not notice a problem until the glaucoma is near the centre of your vision.

Acute glaucoma – this is rare and may develop rapidly with a sudden, painful build-up of pressure in the eye. Other symptoms may include blurred vision and haloes around lights

Macular Degeneration

You may not even notice you have macular degeneration until you experience a loss of vision.

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AMD affects activities requiring detail, such as reading and writing.

The more common of the two conditions is dry AMD which affects your ability to see fine detail. You may find it difficult to read, use your computer, watch the television, drive, etc. Some people may not realise the change in vision, as the deterioration is so slow. Wet AMD involves a sudden and sometimes dramatic decline in your central vision, usually in one eye. Typically, wet AMD develops in people who have already had dry AMD. It is very important that anyone who has unusual symptoms, such as straight lines appearing to be wavy or blurring of the central vision, contacts an eye doctor as soon as possible.

Watery Eyes

There are several possible causes for watering eyes.

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Usually, glands in your eyelids secrete an oily substance that slows the evaporation of tears between blinks. When these glands don’t function properly, you may get dry patches on your eyes – known as dry eye syndrome. The patches become sore, and extra tears are produced as a reflex. This is the most likely cause of watery eyes.

Other possible causes include:

Inflammation of the eyes or eyelids, meibomian gland dysfunction, blocked or narrowed tear ducts, eye irritation (for example, from makeup, chemical fumes or grit), an allergy, lower eyelid sagging away from the eye and eyelids that roll inwards are just some of the reasons.