As we grow older our natural lenses become cloudy. This blocks the light from reaching the retina, resulting in blurred vision. Cataracts are completely treatable. The cloudy lenses are removed and replaced with an artificial lens that is implanted into the eye.

Cataracts can occur in adults and children due to numerous causes. The most common cause is age related changes. Other causes include diabetes, systemic diseases, and trauma.

Symptoms

Early symptoms include a decrease in vision. This can be either blurring of vision or loss of clarity. Other symptoms include hazy vision with glare and haloes at night.

Treatment

Cataract operations are the most common operations performed in medicine. It is usually done under local anaesthetic. The opacified lens is removed and an artificial lens is implanted. It has a extremely high success rate.

Diabetes is caused by high blood sugar levels and can affect many parts of the body. If the eyes are affected then it is called diabetic retinopathy. This is a potentially blinding condition. Therefore, patients with diabetes require regular eye examinations by an ophthalmologist.

The earlier diabetic eye disease is picked up the easier it is to treat. All patients with diabetes need to be screened at least on a yearly basis. The disease severity can vary from mild to profound, resulting in complete blindness. Diabetic eye disease can be divided into diabetic retinopathy (involving the retina) and diabetic maculopathy (swelling of the macula).

Treatment

There are different treatment options for the different stages of the disease. This varies from laser treatments of the retina, intravitreal injections, and surgery. Regular screening and early treatment plays an important role in the treatment of diabetic eye disease.

Glaucoma is caused by raised pressure inside the eye. This pressure causes damage to the optic nerve that exits the back of the eye. The diagnosis is made by examining the optic nerve and measuring the pressure in the eye.

Glaucoma is usually silent and only picked up when measuring the pressure or by examining the optic disc.

Treatment

It is treated with eye drops to decrease the pressure in the eye. If these drops do not work then laser treatment or surgery can be utilised.

This is when the retinal pigment epithelial cells in the eye stop functioning optimally. There are two types of AMD: dry and wet. AMD is usually associated with old age and smoking.

Dry AMD is the most common form and involves degeneration of the nerve cells in the retina. It is usually a slow process with a permanent impact. Wet AMD occurs when the blood vessels in the retina leak fluid into the retina. This may cause a faster loss of vision.

Treatment

There is currently no cure for AMD. Dry AMD can be slowed down with vitamin supplementation. Wet AMD requires laser of the retina or intravitreal injections to prevent leakage from the blood vessels.

This is when the retinal tissue pulls away from the underlying supporting tissue. It usually starts due to a small hole or tear in the retina. This causes a localised detachment but can progress rapidly to a complete retinal detachment.

Symptoms

Symptoms usually include flashes of light with new floaters developing in the vision. This is followed by partial loss of vision and may progress to total loss of vision in the affected eye. It is more likely to develop in near-sighted individuals or if there is a history of trauma.

Treatment

Surgery is usually needed for retinal detachments. The outcome of the surgery will depend if the macula was involved in the detachment. Time is of the essence when treating retinal detachments as it can cause total loss of vision if left untreated.

This is a common condition occurring in hot, dry areas. It is usually associated with sunlight exposure. It results in a small lump of tissue next to the cornea.

If left, this small lump of tissue can progress to form an unsightly mass that can eventually cause loss of vision. It may cause irritability and readiness of the eye.

Treatment

Pterygium is usually treated with surgical removal.