It’s easy to neglect your eyes because they often do not hurt when there’s a problem. An optician can spot many general health problems and early signs of eye conditions before you’re aware of any symptoms, many of which can be treated if found early enough. Below we have listed a few common eye conditions which we often come across here, at Eyecare Blackburn.
Cataracts
Cataracts is a condition where the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches. Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness. Cataract surgery is the only way to treat this which is done by replacing the lens in your eye. The surgery has little to no discomfort and you will undergo the procedure as an outpatient so you can expect to be in and out within two hours.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve, the health of which is vital for good vision. This damage is often caused by an abnormally high pressure in your eye. The effects of this condition is normally so gradual you may not notice anything wrong with your eyes until you read an advanced stage. The most common type of glaucoma is known to be hereditary and you are at a much higher risk if other members of your immediate family have the condition. There is no cure for glaucoma however early treatment can prevent any significant damage. It is important for people who have immediate family member with glaucoma to have regular tests at their opticians.
Age Related Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can blur your central vision. This can happen in one or both eyes and is caused by damage to the macula (the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision). There is no certain cure however treatment can significantly slow down the disease and in some cases slightly reverse the adverse effects on your vision.
Astigmatism
Astigmatisms are very common and are not a disease. Is is often present at birth and occurs when either the front surface of your eye (cornea) or the lens, inside your eye, has mismatched curves. Instead of having one curve like a football, the surface is more like a rugby ball. This causes blurred vision at all distances.
Myopia
Myopia more commonly known as Shortsightedness is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. It’s thought to affect up to 1 in 3 people in the UK and is becoming more common.
Hyperopia
Hyperopia more commonly known as longsightedness is a common eye condition that causes nearby objects to appear blurred, while distant objects can be seen clearly.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia more commonly known as “a lazy eye” is a condition where the vision does not develop properly. It’s known medically as amblyopia. It happens because one or both eyes are unable to build a strong link to the brain.The best way to treat this is during childhood, forcing the brain to pay attention to the images of the amblyopic or weaker eye so vision in that eye gets stronger. This can be done with glasses, eye patches, eye drops, surgery, or a combination of these.
Strabismus
Strabismus more commonly known as a squint is when the eyes point in different directions. It’s particularly common in young children, but can occur at any age. One of the eyes may turn in, out, up or down while the other eye looks ahead. Treatment may include glasses, patching, eye exercises, medication or surgery. If detected and treated early, strabismus can often be corrected with excellent results.
