Monitoring Healthy Eyes
Your eyes should be tested
every 12 months

Eye Problems
A simple guide to common eye problems. Our Optician will routinely check for these and others at your Sight Examination.

Glaucoma
This is where the pressure of the fluids inside the eye become raised causing damage to the delicate nerve fibres at the back of the eye. These nerve fibres send the messages to your brain which allows vision and if they are damaged the result is vision loss.
We test for Glaucoma in many ways and if caught early the nerves are not damaged. It is important for regular testing as there are often no symptoms of glaucoma until damage has occurred.
Treatment is often drops to the eye which lowers the pressure to normal.

Retinal Detachment
This is where the Retina comes unattached from its surface. The retina is the layer at the back of the eye which collects the visual messages. As the retina detaches there can be a progressive loss of visual field, appearing like a shadow or a net curtain. This can cause permanent loss of vision so urgent treatment is needed.

Dry Eye
The front surface of the eye needs a thin film of tears smoothly coating it in order for vision to be clear and the eye to be comfortable. Sitting in air-conditioned offices staring at a computer screen or smoky atmospheres will often dry the eye. Often we don't blink properly and the tears don't spread over the surface leaving dry patches which cause a burning or stinging sensation.
Treatment is often simple with drops which spread over the surface of the eye and/or lid cleaning which releases the natural oils that prevent the tears evaporating.
We can photograph the surface of the eye and show you if you have a dry eye and how it improves with treatment.

Cataract
The lens inside your eye focuses the light to enable you to see. A cataract is where this lens looses its clarity and becomes cloudy. The vision gradually reduces and glare often becomes a problem. When the vision is significantly affected we refer you to have the cloudy lens removed and an artificial lens inserted. Cataract never then reoccurs.

Floaters
Floaters are the name given to debris floating around in the fluid in the eye. It is very common and normally of no consequence. However a sudden onset of floaters should always be investigated by the Optician.

Please don't hesitate to phone us for further information on any of these eye problems.