My BasketWe have a team of highly qualified eye care practitioners that are experienced in diagnosing and treating a range of different eye conditions, much of this work involves accurately discerning between various conditions that may appear to have similar symptoms at first glance.
Whether you need a regular eye exam, or have a specific concern that is interfering with your vision or daily life, we’re here to help. While many eye conditions are not serious, others may indicate a more serious underlying issue, and our optometrists can give you peace of mind using advanced technology to detect changes early, and begin appropriate treatment to preserve your sight and maintain your overall eye health.
Some of the most common eye conditions that our optometrists see include:
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis, often referred to as pink eye, can be triggered by allergens such as animals or pollen, bacteria, or viruses. It can cause swelling and redness in the inside of your eyelid and the white part of your eye, and your eye may also feel itchy and painful, or have a sticky discharge that may clump your eyelashes together.
Pink eye is very common, and some types are very contagious. You can prevent spreading it to other people by washing your hands often and not sharing items like sunglasses, towels, or makeup. The good news is that many types of pink eye will resolve on their own, but other types may need treatment from an optometrist.
Flashes and Floaters
Floaters are small dark shapes that float across your vision, and they can look like spots, threads, squiggly lines, or even little cobwebs. Flashes are bright lights in your vision that can appear similar to light streaks, camera flashes, or shooting stars. Many people have flashes and floaters that come and go especially as they age, and they often don’t need treatment. But sometimes,they can be a sign of a more serious eye condition. If you notice new floaters or flashes that appear suddenly, or that don’t go away, it’s important to contact your optometrist.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness over time by damaging the cells in the nerve in the back of your eye called the optic nerve, which sends visual information from your eye to your brain. Glaucoma is more common in people aged over 60 year, and at first, it doesn’t tend to have any symptoms, so half of people with glaucoma don’t even know they have it.
Over time, you may slowly lose vision, and as the disease gets worse, you may start to notice that you can’t see things off to the side anymore. Without treatment, glaucoma can eventually cause blindness. There’s currently no complete cure for glaucoma, but early treatment can often prevent the damage and protect your vision, with eye drops, medication, and surgery. The only way to find out if you have glaucoma is to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam with an experienced optometrist.
Cataract
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of your eye, and they’re one of the most common causes of vision loss, particularly in those who are aged over 80 years, or those who have been exposed to harmful UV rays, smoking, or diabetes. At first, you may not notice any symptoms, but over time, your vision may become blurry, hazy, or less colourful, and you may have trouble reading or doing other everyday activities. Fortunately, surgery can often effectively remove cataracts and correct vision, this may even include implanting an artificial lens. Optometrists can pick up on early signs of cataracts through a comprehensive eye examination.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can blur your central vision. It happens when ageing causes damage to the macula — the central part of your retina (the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) that is responsible for your central vision. AMD is a common cause of vision loss for those over 65, and although it doesn’t cause complete blindness, it can cause damage to your central vision which can make it harder to see faces, read or drive. AMD may progress slowly over time, which is why it’s important to get regular eye exams to detect it as early as possible, and begin treatment which may include supplements which are proven to help.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects the blood vessels in your retina, which is the light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of your eye. If you have diabetes, it’s important to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year, as diabetic retinopathy may not have any noticeable symptoms early on, but early intervention can help you to prevent damage and improve your vision. Managing your diabetes by staying physically active, eating healthily, and taking diabetic medicine can help to prevent or delay vision loss, and advanced cases may require laser treatment or surgery.
Colour Impairment
Those with colour impairment (also known as colour blindness), see colours differently than most other people, though they may not know it. The most common type of colour impairment can make it hard to tell the difference between red and green, other types may make it hard to tell the difference between blue and yellow, and in rare cases those who are completely colour impaired don’t see colour at all. It tends to run in families and there’s no complete cure, but most people who are colour impaired are able to adjust and don’t have problems with everyday activities. If needed, optometrists can prescribe custom glasses and contact lenses which can help to improve vision.
Pterygium (Fleshy Growth)
A pterygium pronounced “te-ridge-e-um” is a vascular, fleshy growth of tissue in the corner of the eye that is often triangular in shape. It can develop when you’re exposed to excessive amounts of ultraviolet (UV) light, and it’s most common in people who live in sunny areas or who spend a lot of time outdoors such as farmers, skiers and fishermen. It can grow very slowly, but eventually cover a large part of the eye, affecting vision and causing symptoms of dry eye such as burning, itching or watery eyes. In some cases, the pterygium may need to be surgically removed.
Dry Eyes
Dry eyes happen when your eyes don’t make enough tears to stay wet, or when your tears don’t work correctly. This can make your eyes feel uncomfortable, and in some cases it can also cause vision problems. The good news is that if you have dry eyes, there are lots of things you can do to keep your eyes healthy and stay comfortable. To read more about dry eyes, visit our Dry Eyes page here.
Refractive Errors
A refractive error is a type of vision problem that occurs when the eye’s shape prevents light from focusing directly on the back of the eye, resulting in blurry vision and other problems. This can make it hard to see clearly, including near-sightedness, long-sightedness, and lazy eye.
To read more about the different types of refractive errors and how they can be diagnosed and managed by your optometrist, visit our Refractive Errors page here.
Retinal Detachment
A retinal detachment happens when your retina, the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye, is pulled away from its normal position at the back of your eye. You may not notice any symptoms, but in some cases, you may not be able to see as clearly as normal, and you may notice other sudden symptoms, including:
- A lot of new floaters (small dark spots or squiggly lines that float across your vision)
- Flashes of light in one eye or both eyes
- A dark shadow or “curtain” on the sides or in the middle of your field of vision
Retinal detachment is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of a detached retina, it’s important to contact your optometrist or the emergency room right away.
