EYE HEALTH

what you need to know

Warning! If you have not had an sight test in the last two years - you are overdue a test! Get in touch now to book an appointment!

Eye Health

SHORT SIGHT

If you can see close objects clearly but have trouble focusing on objects in the distance, you are probably short sighted or have myopia. You may find it difficult to read signs, watch television or recognise people walking down the street towards you.

LONG SIGHT

When long sighted, your distance vision is good, but you have trouble with closer objects, which appear blurred. Other symptoms include eye fatigue, headaches and aching eyes, especially after reading or working on a computer. Experiencing difficulty seeing characters when texting may also be a sign of hyperopia or long sight.

IRREGULAR SHAPED EYE

Most people don’t have a perfectly shaped cornea. However, when the curve is pronounced, your vision may be blurred and this is known as astigmatism. This is very common and is not a disease.

AGE RELATED LONG SIGHT

If you’re over 40 years of age and notice that it’s becoming difficult to read the menu in a low lit restaurant, or if you have to extend your arms when reading a book or sending a text, you’re probably suffering from presbyopia. This is a natural part of growing older and occurs when your eyes lose their ability to bring close objects into clear focus.

AGE RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Once you’re aged over 40, the chances of developing age related macular degeneration increases. It is the leading cause of partial sight and can lead to loss of vision if not treated early. There are two types of this condition, dry macular degeneration and wet macular degeneration. Both affect your central vision, however the wet version is more serious as it may create scar tissue which blocks your central vision. Any distortion of central vision needs urgent investigation.

CATARACTS

For most people, cataracts occur naturally as a sign of ageing. A cataract clouds the lens of your eye, making it look milky, and the condition becomes worse over time. Symptoms include hazy vision causing blurred or distorted images, colours that appear more yellow, dark spots or shadows that move when your eye moves and needing more light to see clearly.

DRY EYES

Dry eyes occurs when your eyes aren’t lubricated enough, the chemical composition of your tears is not balanced or you don’t produce enough tears. It can lead to uncomfortable sensations such as scratchy, itchy or dry eyes. You may also experience burning or red eyes and blurred vision. Dry eyes may sometimes feel watery too.

GLAUCOMA

Glaucoma affects your peripheral vision slowly and may not be noticeable until it’s advanced. The disease affects the nerve fibres at the back of your eye. Once the fibres die, you’ll experience loss of vision and potentially blindness so it’s really important for us to diagnose this condition early. Chronic Glaucoma can be hereditary and has no symptoms in the early stages. Acute Glaucoma is less common but causes sudden pain and very blurred vision associated with a dramatic raise in the pressure of the eye. This requires immediate hospital treatment.

PTERYGIUM

Pterygium is a triangular shaped piece of tissue that grows on the white part of the eye, usually close to your nose. It’s not dangerous, but wearing sunglasses and lenses with UV protection will often slow down any further growth.

SPOTS OR FLOATERS

Almost everyone will notice a few spots in their vision, especially as we grow older. These floating specks are in the fluid of the eye and are harmless, unless they suddenly increase in number or size. In that case, please call your optometrist immediately and book an eye test.

SUNBURN

If you’ve been outdoors all day, even if it was cloudy, and your eyes feel red and painful, you may have sunburn. If you experience changes in your vision after time outside or have sore red eyes. It’s important to note that not all sunglasses provide the same level of UV protection, with many fashion spectacles offering only some protection from UV rays.

FLASHES

If you experience flashing lights that go away after 15-20 minutes it is usually just a migraine attack. If the flashes do NOT go away or happen on a regular basis a urgent eye examination is needed as this may indicate a vitreous detachment or even more seriously a retinal detachment.

RED EYES

There are numerous causes of red eyes. Consult your Optometrist if you have any concerns.