SPECIALISTS
COMMON EYE CONDITIONS
HYPEROPIA (Long sightedness)
Characterised by vision which is blurred close up but clear at a distance. Fatigue and headaches can occur after a lot of visual work. Adjusting focus when looking from near to far may be difficult. Your eyes are "too short" which means the picture of the object comes from behind the retina. Can be corrected with spectacles or contact lenses to help you see more clearly.
MYOPIA (Short sightedness)
Often a person will not realise that they cannot see clearly but an eye examination by an optometrist will reveal the problem. Characterised by difficulty seeing distant objects clearly. Your eyes are "too long" which means the picture of the object forms in front of the retina. As you move the object closer, it becomes more focussed. Can be corrected with spectacles or contact lenses to help you see more clearly.
PRESBYOPIA
A common condition that makes vision difficult at a normal reading distance. Onset is usually noticed between the ages of 40 and 60, and is noticed more in times of bad lighting, stress, fatigue or illness. The crystalline lens in your eye grows larger and loses its elasticity so that it can’t alter its shape to increase focus. Characterised by difficulty in reading at normal distances and corrected by reading glasses.
ASTIGMATISM
A focussing error which causes an asymmetric blur. Images are blurred at distance and near with some directions more out of focus than others. Astigmatism can occur in conjunction with myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia. Is corrected with a lens curved in two directions at right angles to each other.
GLAUCOMA
Often caused by a build up of pressure in the eye which damages nerve fibres in the retina. Once vision is lost it is irreparable. Usually there are no symptoms until permanent damage has occurred. Indicators include field of view defects and loss of peripheral vision. Treatments include eye drops, pills, laser surgery and surgery. Glaucoma is hereditary and we advise regular checks if there is any history of glaucoma in the family.
MACULAR DEGENERATION
Breakdown of the macula – a very small part of the retina, the light sensitive tissue of the eye, which is responsible for optical vision. Can initially manifest itself through a person experiencing trouble reading or watching television and may find they need brighter lights to see clearly. Is a result of the ageing process in the eye. Layers of the retina thicken and waste material which is usually removed from the retina forms deposits, distorting the retina. The risk of developing Macular Degeneration increases with age and 1 in 3 people over the age of 80 are afflicted with the disease.
CATARACTS
A cloudiness that forms in the crystalline lens of the eye. It interferes with light before entering the eye and affecting vision. Most cataracts are a result of ageing and long term exposure to ultraviolet light. In most cases, the development of cataracts is gradual with a painless worsening of sight. Symptoms include blurred or hazy vision, spots before the eyes, double vision and a marked increase in sensitivity to glare. 95% of people over the age of 65 are affected by cataracts.
PTERYGIUM
A condition of the conjunctiva, the membrane that covers the white part of the eye. It is very common in Australia. It is a growth on the surface of the eye, which usually grows from the nasal side of the conjunctiva onto the cornea. It is caused by exposure to UV light, wind and airborne dirt and is usually only removed it if begins to affect vision.