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What is blepharitis? It is a common inflammatory disorder of the eyelid edges. What causes it? It may be associated with some scalp conditions, such as very dry or oily skin and dandruff. What does it look like?
Continue the treatment twice a day at first, then less as it starts to get better. Treatment of this condition is a long-term matter. You may not see any improvement for several weeks.
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What is a cataract? It is where the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, so it is difficult to see through. You may find:
The lens is inside the eye directly behind the coloured part, which is called the iris. Little muscles are attached to the lens. These move, and by slightly altering its shape they help you focus on what you want to see. What causes cataracts? The most common cause is ageing, but occasionally they happen because of injury, or as a complication of other conditions. Some symptoms:
In the early stages of cataract, spectacles may help you see clearly enough. Will I need an operation? When your vision has become so poor that it seriously affects everyday life - such as driving, watching TV, or reading - then your optometrist will refer you to an eye specialist, called an ophthalmologist, in the hospital. The ophthalmologist will assess your eyes and help you decide about an operation. What does the operation involve? It is often carried out under local anesthetic, and usually as a day-case procedure (no overnight stay). The cloudy lens inside your eye is removed and replaced with a new, clear lens made of special plastic. Afterwards, your vision is usually much better, unless there are other reasons for your poor sight besides the cataract
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Baby’s eyes A baby’s eyes are not fully developed at birth, even though they are already three-quarters of the size of an adult’s eyes. It is quite normal for a new baby’s eyes to seem uncoordinated - as if they aren’t working together. But in the first few weeks of life their coordination develops. If a baby is developing normally and is shown different shapes, sizes and colours, by six months old he or she will be able to focus on fine detail. What is a strabismus (squint)? This happens when the eyes are not co-ordinating. There can be more than one reason for this, but the most common is that it runs in the family or the baby had a difficult birth. Sometimes, what looks like a squint turns out to be a skin fold, because the baby’s nose is not fully developed. A full eye examination by the optometrist will show if a squint is present. What is the treatment? The optometrist will refer your child to hospital. The child may have to do eye exercises at home or when attending the Orthoptic Clinic at the Outpatients’ Department. Sometimes, surgery is needed to correct the squint. Early detection and treatment will give the best results. Uncorrected squints lead to permanent eyesight problems. What about sight tests? As well as squints, many eye defects can run in families, such as long or short- sightedness and astigmatism. (Astigmatism is when objects look distorted.) Taking children for an eye examination is the best way to make sure that any defects are picked up and treated. What about glasses? A wide variety of comfortable and practical spectacle frames are available for children. Many are well designed: they look stylish and they also include spring hinges to make them last longer, and adjustable nose pads or saddle bridges to suit the smallest of noses. What about contact lenses? Older children can wear contact lenses. They must look after them very carefully, to keep them clean and safe. Also, they must have frequent eye check-ups to make sure their eyes stay healthy. Younger children are only prescribed contact lenses for special eye conditions.
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Diabetes and your eyes Diabetic retinopathy can affect anyone who has diabetes, whether they are being treated with insulin, tablets or diet only. Generally, retinopathy has no obvious symptoms until it is well advanced. This is why annual eye examinations are so important for everyone with diabetes. Early detection is the key to successful treatment. What is retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy affects the blood vessels supplying the retina - the ‘seeing’ part of the eye. Blood vessels can become blocked, leak or grow haphazardly. This affects the way the retina receives the things you see and, if left untreated, can damage vision. Why is my vision blurred? Blurred vision is not usually a sign of retinopathy, but is common at the time you are diagnosed with diabetes or just afterwards. Blurred vision is usually caused by the high level of glucose (sugar) in your blood at this time. Your blood glucose levels may take some weeks to settle down, but once they are under control your vision will return to normal. If this does not happen, see your doctor. How can I protect my eyes? Your best defence against retinopathy is to have on eye examination when your diabetes is diagnosed and once a year after that, as part of your annual diabetes review. Don’t wait until you notice a change in your vision. Retinopathy often has no symptoms until it is welt advanced, and by this time treatment is more difficult.What does an eye examination involve? A proper eye examination involves more than reading letters off a wall chart. People with diabetes need to have both retinas examined. This can be done by a diabetologist, an optometrist, an ophthalmologist, or a family doctor with a special interest and knowledge of diabetes. In this eye examination, the person checking your eyes uses an ophthalmoscope to view the retina. They will first dilate (widen) your pupils using special eye drops. This allows them a clear view of the retina. They may also use a larger instrument with a bright light, together with a small hand-held lens. The drops used to dilate your pupils can sting a little. If you find your vision is affected, you should avoid driving for a few hours afterwards. Your eyes will also be sensitive to bright light for a while, so wearing sunglasses may help. Remember, people with diabetes can have free eye examinations by their optometrist. What is the treatment for retinopathy? A laser is used to stabilise the retina and the leaking blood vessels.
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Dry eyes can affect anyone, but it becomes more common with increasing age. Dry eyes affects about 7 in 100 people in their 50s, and about 15 in 100 people in their 70s. Women are affected more often than men. The causes of dry eyes The eyes normally make a small amount of tears all the time to lubricate the front of the eye. Tears are made by the tiny lacrimal glands (tear glands) above each eye. The tears then drain down the tear duct into the nose. Anything that reduces the normal amount of tears that are made may result in dry eyes. The causes include:
Both eyes are usually affected. The eyes may not actually feel 'dry'. Symptoms include:
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What are floaters? Often, people who have healthy eyes see floaters. They appear as spots, lines or cobweb effects, usually when you look at a plain surface such as a white wall or a clear blue sky. They often appear when the clear jelly in the main part of your eye gets older. When should I be concerned about floaters and flashes? If you suddenly notice a shower of new floaters, or floaters together with flashing lights or a dark ‘curtain’ in your vision, then you should seek further advice urgently. These symptoms can mean that the retina is tearing. Go to an Accident and Emergency department if necessary. Look out for:
The retina is at the back of the eye. It receives the images and sends them to the brain. This is part of the process that is involved in ‘seeing’. If the retina tears, it may strip away from the back wall of the eye. This is called retinal detachment. It can result in partial or complete loss of vision. What is the treatment for retinal detachment? A tear may be treated by using a laser. If treated quickly you may have a better chance of full recovery. However, if your retina has become detached, you will need surgery. The operation may restore most of your vision but may come too late for a full recovery.
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What is glaucoma? This is the name for a group of eye conditions in which the optic nerve (at the back of the eye) is damaged. How does the damage usually happen? By increased pressure from fluid in the eye. The amount of damage depends on the amount of pressure and how long it has lasted. Chronic glaucoma The danger with chronic glaucoma (slow onset) is that your eyesight may seem perfectly normal. There is no pain, but your peripheral vision (side vision) is being damaged. Eventually your central vision is affected. At this stage we describe it as ‘tunnel’ vision (like looking down a long tube). How is chronic glaucoma detected? The tests are very straightforward. Most optometrists (opticians) do them by:
Treatment aims to reduce the pressure in the eye. It will be done in hospital and usually starts with eye drops. You will need regular checks afterwards. You may need an operation if the eye drops do not work. Acute glaucoma In acute glaucoma (sudden onset), the pressure in your eye rises rapidly and can be very painful. The affected eye may become red and you may suffer nausea and vomiting. In the early stages, you may see rainbow-coloured rings around white lights. What is the treatment? Your family doctor or optometrist should send you to hospital immediately so that the pain and pressure in your eye can be relieved. An acute attack, if treated early, can usually be brought under control in a few hours. Delay may cause permanent damage to your vision.
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What causes it? As you get older, the circulation in your eyes can become poor and lead to a build-up of waste products in the macular region of the retina. The result of this build-up is that your eyes will not work as well as they once did. What is the macular region of the retina? The retina is at the back of the eye. Pictures of things it sees are sent to the brain. The macular is a special part of the retina which picks up the fine detail. How does macular degeneration affect sight? Things you see may be blurred, especially in the centre. This might make it difficult to read bus numbers or recognise people’s faces. Straight lines may look curved. You may notice blank areas when looking at the TV or reading. Is this the start of blindness? The macular is the part of the eye that sees detail, so fine vision will be affected. However, the rest of your vision will be unaffected. Is there a cure? For most people who get this condition, the answer is no. However, some people have the same symptoms of macular degeneration but for a different reason. They have leaking or swelling blood vessels in the macular. Different forms of laser treatment may help them. Can I be helped to see better? Your GP or optometrist can refer you to the Low Vision Clinic at the hospital, which offers a choice of magnifying aids.
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