EYE HEALTH
It's important to find out about common eye conditions in order to keep your eyes healthy by looking out for symptoms and familiarising yourself.
Make sure to have regular eye tests and know your history.
GLAUCOMA MONITORING & REFERRAL
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions which damage the optic nerve. All glaucomas have certain key features in common. These are increased pressure inside the eye, 'cupping' of the optic disc, and loss of the peripheral visual field.
Left untreated, it is one of the commonest reasons for blindness in the Western world. Our Optometrists carry out a series of straightforward tests to detect glaucoma in the practice and will discuss treatment options and refer you if necessary.
DIABETES & DIABETIC MONITORING
Any diabetic should have their internal eye health checked annually using pupil dilation in conjunction with retinal camera photography. Diabetes can damage the retina, causing different types of “exudates”, “haemorrhages”, “cotton wool spots” and ultimately end-stage retinal detachment, which can be sight-threatening.
The best means of prevention is accomplished through good diabetic management and frequent eye assessment that can be carried out at Heath Optometric.
DRY EYES & DRY EYE SYDROME
Dry eyes occur when the eyes either don’t make enough tears, or the quality of the tears produced is reduced, which means the tears can evaporate rapidly from the surface of the eye, allowing the eye to dry. Often, the reduced tear quality is a result of blockage or inflammation of the oil glands within the lid margin.
Symptoms include: eyes feeling 'gritty', blurred vision, burning sensation, excessive watering, red, painful eyes.
There is no absolute ‘cure’ for dry eye syndrome. However, most people can get significant relief from symptoms using a variety of treatments and measures, which our Optometrists will be able to advise.
EMERGENCY EYECARE
Our Optometrists are extremely well placed within the community to deal with eye emergencies quickly and effectively. We have the training, equipment and access to wider referral pathways to enable us to make quick decisions that can often prove to be sight saving.
An eyecare emergency can often be something such as an ocular foreign body - such as grit, dust, sand or other particles within the eye.
Other symptoms to look out for include flashes or floaters in your vision or a feeling of a ‘veil’ or ‘curtain’ in the visual field.
If you are experiencing any pain, discomfort or symptoms that are concerning you, do not hesitate to contact our practice for an appointment.
BLEPHARITIS
Blepharitis is a chronic, long term, inflammatory disease of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of normal bacteria living along the lid and the base of the eyelashes.
Now, thanks to the BlephEx™ treatment, we can precisely and safely, clean and exfoliate your eyelids and lashes, which will almost immediately improve your symptoms. More importantly, by completely removing the exotoxin-laden biofilm along the lid margin, Heath Optomentric can help you avoid the long-term inflammatory damage to your tear glands, preventing chronic dry eye syndrome.
CATARACTS
A cataract refers to 'opacity of the lens' inside the eye. There are many different types of cataract. Not all cataracts cause symptoms.
Because cataracts normally develop very slowly, over many years, most people don't notice the gradual deterioration in their vision until it starts to interfere with their daily activity or indeed, it is spotted by their optometrist. If we find that you have cataracts then we will refer you for treatment. The most effective treatment for cataracts is an operation to remove the cataract and replace the cloudy lens with a clear artificial lens implant.
MACULAR DEGENERATION
Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the commonest cause of vision loss in people aged over 50 years old. It is caused by degeneration of the macula, the central and most sensitive part of the retina at the back of the eye.
The macula is the central part of the retina which is responsible for enabling fine detail to be discerned. Without the use of the macula, tasks like reading small print and recognising faces become difficult or impossible.
The disease becomes increasingly more common amongst people in their 60s and 70s. Other risk factors are a family history of the condition, cigarette smoking, and being white Caucasian.
