Eye Conditions

Cataracts
• An eye condition where clouding develops in the crystalline lens of the eye
• More common in people over 65
• Cataracts typically progress slowly but are potentially blinding if untreated

Diabetes
• Can lead to a condition called Diabetic Retinopathy as well as other eye problems
• When diabetes affects small blood vessels in the part of your eye known as the retina, it is known as diabetic retinopathy
• Regular eye tests can help to spot the early signs of this condition and enable you to take action to control diabetes before it damages your body and your eyes

Glaucoma
• Causes damage to the optic nerve
• The optic nerve carries the images we see to the brain. The optic nerve is like an electric cable containing about 1.2 million wires
• In some cases this can be caused by a rise in the pressure of the eye
• Pressure builds up in the eye when the clear liquid (the aqueous humour), which normally flows in and out of the eye, is prevented from draining properly

Macular Degeneration
• A medical condition usually found in older adults which results in a loss of vision in the centre of the visual field because of damage to the central retina (the macula)
• It occurs in "dry" and "wet" forms and is a major cause of blindness in the elderly

Conjunctivitis
• Inflammation of the conjunctiva
• The thin layer that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids
• Causes of conjunctivitis can be bacterial, viral, allergic or from another source

Myopia
• Short sightedness
• A short sighted person will generally see better for closer objects and have blurred vision for objects far away
• Light from a distant object forms an image before it reaches the retina

Hypermetropia
• Long Sighted
• Occurs where the image of a nearby object is formed behind the retina
• A hypermetropic person may have blurred vision when looking at objects close to them, and clearer vision when looking at objects in the distance

Presbyopia
• The technical name for reading problems associated with age
• A condition where the eye loses its ability to focus near objects
• A natural condition that eventually affects everyone
• As the condition progresses, you may find yourself struggling to read small print or books unless they are held at arm's length
• It can be corrected by an optical prescription specifically designed for close work or with options such as: varifocals, bi-focals, or two separate pairs of glasses

Astigmatism
• Astigmatism just means there is a slightly unusual shape to the eye
• The eye is more egg or rugby ball shaped in astigmatism rather than being round shaped like a football, as in a ‘normal’ eye
• Astigmatism produces blurred vision at all distances but this blur may be very slight or quite obvious depending on the amount of astigmatism present

Bill Dawson Opticians

Unit 17, Rathfarnham S.C.

Rathfarnham

Dublin 14

Tel: 01 493 9081

Email:

info@billdawsonopticians.ie