Common Eye Conditions
Myopia & Myopia Control
What is Myopia?
Myopia is also known as short sightedness, meaning that your eyes can see things up close but not far away. This happens when the eye grows and becomes elongated. Light entering the eye is then focussed in front of the retina and causes blurry vision. The amount of myopia in the population is growing. In the last 6 years, the prevalence of myopia in 12 year old children has doubled.
What causes Myopia?
Genetics and environmental factors are responsible for the growing prevalence of myopia. For example, doing a lot of close up work such as using electronic devices, reading and playing computer games and spending less time outdoors causes the eye to grow faster, become more elongated and increase the level of myopia.
Myopia is more than just glasses. It can be sight threatening.
The impacts of myopia on the eye are life-long. The higher the amount of myopia, the higher the risk of sight threatening complications later in life. The results are alarming: for every extra one dioptre of myopia, the increased risk of myopic maculopathy, glaucoma, cataract and retinal detachment is 58%, 20%, 21% and 30% respectively.
What are my options for reducing myopia?
Fortunately, there are treatment options for myopia. Treatment is based around the technology of defocus in the peripheral retina, therefore reducing the stimulus for the eye to elongate and become more myopic. Whilst this technology does not cure myopia, it helps slow it down, so that the overall myopia after treatment is less compared to eyes that did not undergo treatment. Less myopia means less life-long risk of sight threatening complications. This is great news for long term eye health.
JOYCE Optometrists offers the following treatment options for myopia
Ortho K
Ortho K are hard contact lenses which are worn overnight and removed in the morning. Read more about Ortho K lenses here.
Soft contact lens
Similar to regular contact lenses, myopia soft contact lenses are worn in the day but have the myopia technology inbuilt to help reduce the progression of myopia.
Eyedrops
The eyedrop Atropine works on the focussing muscles of the eye and dilates the pupil. Note that:
- Glasses or contact lenses are still required
- A prescription is required. JOYCE Optometrists have therapeutically endorsed Optometrists qualified to issue prescriptions
- There are side effects, such as sensitivity to light and blurred near vision, which can be managed effectively.
Glasses
The technology of peripheral defocus has recently become available in glasses which is a fantastic non-invasive option for children who are not ready for contact lenses and do not want the side effects of eyedrops.
Book your assessment today
JOYCE Optometrists offers comprehensive assessments with an eyecare professional who will assess your vision and risk of myopia and recommend a tailored treatment plan for you.
Please telephone (03) 9836 8211 for an appointment or book online.
Cataracts
What are Cataracts ?
Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye which is a common condition in the aging process usually seen in the 65 years + age group but the condition can develop in younger persons. Cataracts lead to a significant reduction in your vision. Most people with cataracts are otherwise healthy and have no other eye problems.
What are the symptoms ?
The following symptoms may occur as a cataract develops:
- Your far or near vision may be affected adversely.
- Hazy vision
- Reduced vision at night
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Your glasses even with the correct script become less effective.
If you notice any of the above symptoms occurring contact us to have a full eye assessment.
What are the risk factors ?
Increased risk of cataracts will occur with prolonged exposure to sunlight. It is very important to protect your eyes from ultraviolet light by wearing quality sunglasses and or UV coated lenses in your everyday glasses as effective preventative measures. Ask us about our ranges of quality sunglasses and UV coated lenses for your everyday glasses.
Other risk factors include; family history/hereditary factors, smoking and diabetes.
How are Cataracts diagnosed and treated ?
If after your comprehensive eye examination our optometrist determines that the cataract is significant you will be referred to a specialist ophthalmologist for surgical removal, a day surgery procedure.
Dry Eye Syndrome
What is Dry Eye Syndrome ?
Dry Eye Syndrome affects most people at some stage and more frequently as we age. It occurs as a result of a decrease in tear production or excessive tear evaporation.
What are the symptoms ?
The following symptoms can range from mild to severe, eyes that are:
- Sore
- Gritty
- Irritated
- Watering
- Burning
What are the risk factors ?
There are many potential contributing factors including the environment in which we live and work and lifestyle factors. Heating and cooling exacerbate symptoms. Using screens such as computers, tablets and smart phones reduces blinking and will also exacerbate symptoms.
How is Dry Eye Syndrome diagnosed and treated ?
Our optometrist can diagnose dry eye syndrome by careful evaluation of the frontal eye under our slit lamp. We can help with strategies to relieve and manage Dry Eye.
Glaucoma
What is Glaucoma ?
Glaucoma is a pressure issue affecting the optic nerve. The visual consequence is gradual loss of peripheral vision often unnoticed by patients in the common form open angle glaucoma.
What are the symptoms ?
Usually none for most. A less common glaucoma, closed angle glaucoma, may be characterised by sudden pain, red eye, headache and nausea.
What are the risk factors ?
People in the following groups have a higher risk of glaucoma:
- a family history of glaucoma
- age
- diabetes
- migraine
- short sightedness (myopia)
- long sightedness (hyperopia)
- eye injuries
- blood pressure
- past or present use of cortisone drugs (steroids)
- thin cornea
How is Glaucoma diagnosed and treated ?
Glaucoma is a very complex condition. If after your careful evaluation of the optic nerve, measurement of pressure ,field testing and corneal thickness our optometrist determines that the patient is suspected of having glaucoma, a referral to a specialist ophthalmologist will be arranged. Glaucoma is usually managed with the use of eye drops or to a lesser degree laser or even surgery.
Macular Degeneration
What is Macular Degeneration ?
Macular Degeneration, as the name suggests, is the deterioration of the macula, the central part of the retina. It is an age related condition. It can be the wet or dry form.
When the macula is in decline, the result is partial to total loss of central vision. Central vision facilitates vision detailing such as reading, facial recognition and colour differentiation.
What are the symptoms ?
Difficulty with central vision tasks such as reading and facial recognition.
What are the risk factors ?
Age, family history, smoking.
How is Macular Degeneration diagnosed and treated ?
Early detection is very important. Examination of the macula, by our optometrist, using the most up-to-date optical technology allows us to determine treatment strategies.
There has been considerable success in minimizing the visual loss in wet macular degeneration, the most damaging form. Referral to an ophthalmologist is required.
Significant research continues to be carried out to improve outcomes in both wet and dry macular degeneration.
Red Eye
What is Red Eye ?
Red eye is a common term referring to the redness or inflammation of the frontal eye.
What are the symptoms ?
A red eye !
The following symptoms can range from mild to severe, eyes that are:
- Red
- Inflamed
- Sore
- Gritty
- Irritated
- Watering
- Burning
- Light sensitive
Not all these symptoms may be present.
What are the risk factors ?
There are innumerable causes of red eye from ulceration, infection, dry eye, allergy to foreign body and many more.
How is Red Eye diagnosed and treated ?
All inflamed eyes need to be examined because there are some serious eye conditions such as a corneal ulcer that require immediate attention.
Our optometrist will examine the affected eye or eyes under a slit lamp. Medication may be prescribed. Referral to a specialist ophthalmologist in serious cases.
Vitreous Detachment
What is Vitreous Detachment ?
Vitreous gel forms the ‘body’ of the eye between the lens and the retina. It has small attachments to the retina. Vitreous detachment occurs when the gel shrinks away from the retinal tissue. This is a very common age related condition.
What are the symptoms ?
Vitreous detachment occurs in some patients without any symptoms or problems. However, some patients will experience sudden floater like spots in their vision and / or flashing lights. These symptoms occur as the retina is being ‘pulled’ at the attachments.
What are the risk factors ?
Age.
How is Vitreous Detachment diagnosed and treated ?
Dilation of the pupil is essential for these patients in order to detect any tear, hole or detachment of the retina itself, a rare event but very important to detect.
If a hole, tear or detachment has been detected , our optometrist will arrange an immediate referral to a specialist ophthalmologist.
Condition Management Plans
All of these common eye conditions are treatable to a very large degree.
The critical factor is early detection.
At JOYCE Optometrists we carry out comprehensive eye examinations in our fully equipped clinic to detect these and other common eye conditions at an early stage.
We can help with strategies to resolve, relieve and manage these conditions,
implement care management plans and /or refer to a specialist ophthalmologist as the circumstances dictate.
Early detection saves sight!
