Clear eyesight is something that most of us take for granted. It is only when we start to experience discomfort or problems with our vision that many of us will seek medical care, but often this is too late. How often you need to visit your optician for an eye test will vary depending on your age, family medical history and individual eye health, but regular checks (every one to three years) can prevent new issues from arising and allow you to receive treatment before permanent damage is done.
Conditions to Look Out For
There are a number of conditions that can be identified by an eye test, and early diagnosis is often the key to saving your eyesight.
Glaucoma: One of the most common eye diseases, glaucoma causes high fluid pressure in the eyes, damaging the optic nerve and leading to irreversible visual impairment if left untreated. Early treatment with eye drops, laser treatment or surgery will control the condition and minimise any further sight loss.
Diabetic Retinopathy: It is particularly important to be on the look out for vision problems if you suffer from diabetes. Due to the damage caused to blood vessels by the condition, in some cases the retina does not receive the constant supply of healthy blood it needs, eventually leading to permanent sight loss. However, symptoms usually don’t occur for some time, so annual eye screenings are a must if you are diabetic so you can access treatment early and minimise permanent damage.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): This painless condition is the primary cause of visual impairment in the UK and occurs when the part of the eye responsible for central vision deteriorates over time. If you have started to experience blurry vision or difficulty reading and recognising people’s faces, you should visit your GP or optometrist as soon as possible who may refer you for treatment. Although there is currently no cure for AMD, early treatment with medication and laser surgery can help to slow down the deterioration taking place. Cataracts If you are experiencing blurred or misty vision, you could be suffering from cataracts. Cataracts are the cloudy patches that appear in the lens and prevent some of the light from reaching the back of the eye, resulting in blurred vision. Double vision, difficulty looking at bright light and faded colours could all be early signs that you have cataracts. Eventually, many people with cataracts will need surgery to replace the lens that has been affected.
Laser Cataract Surgery
A pioneering laser treatment for cataracts recently introduced in the UK has made this common surgical procedure safer and more reliable than ever before. The first Victus Femtosecond Laser was installed by The Centre for Sight in 2012, allowing cataract operations to be performed more accurately and more quickly, reducing the risk of damage to the eye and allowing for a faster healing process. While this treatment is likely to become increasingly common over the coming years, at the moment the procedure has limited availability due to the small number of femtosecond lasers in the UK. Speak to your GP or optician to find out whether laser cataract surgery is available near you.
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