YOUR EYE EXAMINATION

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions that damage the optic nerve. Key features include raised eye pressure, optic disc cupping, and loss of peripheral vision. Left untreated, it’s a leading cause of blindness; our optometrists perform straightforward tests to detect it, discuss treatment options, and refer when needed.

People with diabetes should have their retinal health checked annually with pupil dilation and retinal photography. Diabetes can cause exudates, haemorrhages, and cotton-wool spots and, in severe cases, retinal detachment. Good diabetic control and regular assessments at Heath Opticians help prevent sight-threatening complications.

Dry eye occurs when you produce too few tears or they are of poor quality—often from blocked or inflamed lid oil glands—so tears evaporate quickly and the surface dries. Symptoms include grittiness, blurred vision, burning, watering, redness, and pain. There’s no absolute cure, but most people get significant relief with tailored treatments that our optometrists can advise.

Blepharitis is a long-term inflammation of the eyelids caused by an overgrowth of bacteria along the lash line. With BlephEx™ treatment, we can safely exfoliate the lids to relieve symptoms and remove biofilm, helping prevent tear-gland damage and chronic dry eye.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens; many types exist, and some cause no symptoms. They usually develop slowly, so changes go unnoticed until vision is affected. We detect cataracts, we’ll refer you; surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the most effective treatment.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of vision loss in over-50s, caused by damage to the macula—the part of the retina responsible for fine detail. It makes tasks like reading and recognising faces difficult and is most common in people in their 60s and 70s; risk factors include family history, smoking, and being of white Caucasian descent.