Eye Conditions
Eye Conditions
Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome, or dry eye disease, is a common condition that occurs when the eyes do not make enough tears or the tears evaporate too quickly. This leads to the eyes drying out and becoming red and irritated. Dry eye syndrome is also known as ‘keratoconjunctivitis sicca’ or simply ‘dry eyes’.
Symptoms of Dry Eyes
The symptoms of dry eye syndrome usually affect both eyes and often include:
• feelings of dryness, grittiness or soreness that get worse throughout the day
• red eyes
• eyelids that stick together when you wake up temporarily blurred vision, which usually improves when you blink
Causes of Dry Eyes
Common causes include:
• being in a hot or windy climate
• wearing contact lenses
• side effects of certain medications
Although the condition can affect people of any age, your chances of developing dry eye syndrome increase as you get older. It’s estimated that up to one in every three people over the age of 65 experiences problems with dry eyes.
Treating Dry Eyes
Dry eye syndrome is not usually a serious condition. Treatments are available to help relieve the symptoms, which include eye drops to lubricate the eyes and (if necessary) surgery to prevent tears from draining away easily.
Macular Degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a painless eye condition that causes you to lose central vision, usually in both eyes. Central vision is what you see when you focus straight ahead. In AMD, vision becomes increasingly blurred, which means:
• reading becomes difficult
• colours appear less vibrant
• people’s faces are difficult to recognise
This sight loss usually happens gradually over time, although it can sometimes be rapid.
What is Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration develops when the part of the eye responsible for central vision (the macula) is unable to function as effectively as it used to. There are two main types – dry AMD and wet AMD.
Dry AMD
Dry AMD develops when the cells of the macula become damaged by a build-up of deposits called drusen. It’s the most common and least serious type of AMD, accounting for around 9 out of 10 cases.Vision loss is gradual, occurring over many years. However, an estimated 1 in 10 people with dry AMD go on to develop wet AMD.
Wet AMD
Wet AMD – sometimes called neovascular AMD – develops when abnormal blood vessels form underneath the macula and damage its cells.
Wet AMD is more serious than dry AMD. Without treatment, vision can deteriorate within days.
Treating macular degeneration
There’s currently no cure for either type of AMD. With dry AMD, treatment aims to help a person make the most of their remaining vision – for example, magnifying lenses can be used to make reading easier.
There’s some evidence to suggest a diet rich in leafy green vegetables may slow the progression of dry AMD.
Wet AMD can be treated with anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) medication. This aims to stop your vision getting worse by preventing further blood vessels developing.
In some cases, laser surgery can also be used to destroy abnormal blood vessels. The early diagnosis and treatment of wet AMD is essential for reducing the risk of severe vision loss.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a condition which can affect sight, usually due to build up of pressure within the eye.
Glaucoma often affects both eyes, usually to varying degrees. One eye may develop glaucoma quicker than the other. The eyeball contains a fluid called aqueous humour which is constantly produced by the eye, with any excess drained though tubes. Glaucoma develops when the fluid cannot drain properly and pressure builds up, known as the intraocular pressure. This can damage the optic nerve (which connects the eye to the brain) and the nerve fibres from the retina (the light-sensitive nerve tissue that lines the back of the eye).
Types of Glaucoma
There are two sorts of Glaucoma – chronic and acute Glaucoma.
Chronic Glaucoma is the more common type and people suffering from it often do not realise they have a problem, making it important that you have regular eye checks, especially as you get older. Some people, however, find that their vision worsens in one eye eventually leading to tunnel vision, as the centre of vision is the last part to be affected.
Acute Glaucoma is much less common and can occur suddenly when there is a complete blockage of the fluid. As it happens very quickly it can be painful and may induce nausea and vomiting.
Treating Glaucoma
Glaucoma can be treated with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery. But early diagnosis is important because any damage to the eyes cannot be reversed. Treatment aims to control the condition and minimise future damage. If left untreated, glaucoma can cause visual impairment. But if it’s diagnosed and treated early enough, further damage to vision can be prevented.
Cataracts
Cataracts is very common, especially amongst over 65’s, however it is nothing to be alarmed about. In some people, cataracts develop in the lens as they get older, causing reduced vision or blindness and usually develop in both eyes at the same time.
Some people are more likely to suffer from cataracts than others:
• Older people – it is estimated that one in three people over the age of 65 suffer from cataracts
• People with a family history of the condition
• A blow to the eye can occasionally cause a traumatic cataract
Certain diseases and medications can result in a cataract forming, and smoking may speed up the progression of certain types of cataract.
Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts can develop over a number of years and it may be unnoticeable to begin with, often sufferers will have blurred, misty or clouded vision or may have spots or patches of reduced vision.
Cataracts can also affect your sight in the following ways:
• you may find it more difficult to see in dim or very bright light
• the glare from bright lights may be dazzling or uncomfortable to look at
• colours may look faded or less clear
• everything may have a yellow or brown tinge
• you may have double vision
• you may see a halo (a circle of light) around bright lights, such as car headlights or street lights
• if you wear glasses, you may find that they become less effective over time
Cataracts are not painful and don’t make your eyes red or irritated.
Treating Cataracts
If your cataracts are mild, stronger glasses and brighter reading lights may be helpful for some time. However, cataracts get worse over time so it’s likely you will eventually need surgery.
Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens through a small cut in your eye and replacing it with a clear plastic one. In most cases, this will be carried out under local anaesthetic.
After the operation, your plastic lens will be set up for a certain level of vision, so you may need to wear glasses in order to see objects that are either far away or close to you. If you wore glasses previously, your prescription will probably change. However, your optometrist will need to wait until your vision has settled before they can give you a new prescription.