EYE
HEALTH
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HEALTHY LIFE FOR HEALTHY EYES
Your eyes are an important part of your health. Knowing your family's eye health history will help to determine if you are at higher risk of developing an eye disease or condition. Eating healthily, taking part in regular exercise, protecting your eyes from the sun and having a regular eye examination are easy ways to keep your eyes healthy and make sure you are seeing your best
DIABETIC EYE SCREENING
Diabetic eye screening is a key part of diabetes care and management.
People with diabetes are at risk of damage to the back of the eye caused by diabetic retinopathy. Our optometrist can carry out the necessary regular reviews required. If your diabetes requires closer monitoring or your eyes are being affected, then closer monitoring by our optometrist or at the hospital eye department may be required.
You may find our optometrist uses terminology, words or phrases, that you may be unfamiliar with to describe your eyesight and your eye health. However, we will always endeavour to explain the results of your eye examination as clearly as we can and you will have every opportunity to ask questions before, during and after your eye test.
FLOATERS
&
FLASHING
LIGHTS
WHAT ARE EYE FLOATERS?
A common eye occurrence, more prevalent in people over the age of sixty
Flashes and floaters are thought to occur because of the natural shrinkage of the jelly like substance “vitreous” that fills the space behind the lens and the retina in the eye. This shrinkage as you get older causes the jelly to pull away from the inside surface of the eye. Usually this shrinkage causes no damage and is known as a posterior vitreous detachment. Flashes are thought to be as a result of the pulling or rubbing on the retina. The shrinkage causes clumps to form in the jelly which appear as the floaters.
GLAUCOMA
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that can cause vision loss and blindness due to damage to the optic nerve. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness for people over the age of 60. It can occur at any age but is more common in older adults. Glaucoma tends to damage the peripheral field of view first so is not noticed by most, which is why a regular eye examination is so vital to spot early detection of the disease.
CATARACTS
Cataracts are extremely common. In fact, the majority of those over 65 have some cataract development. A cataract refers to the opacity of the lens inside the eye. Cataracts usually appear in both eyes. They may not necessarily develop at the same time or be the same in each eye. Cataracts are not usually painful and do not make your eyes red or irritated, but they can be painful if they're in an advanced stage or if you've got another eye condition.
HYPEROPIA
The definition of Hypermetropia (long-sightedness) is when the eye is shorter than normal or the cornea is too flat, meaning that light rays focus behind the retina. Light rays from close objects, such as pages of a book, cannot be focused on clearly by the retina. Someone with hypermetropic eyes may find their vision is blurred when looking at objects near to them, and for vision to be clearer when looking at far away objects.