Eye Conditions
Advice on managing and treating various types of eye conditions
Eye conditions
Minor eye conditions such as short-sightedness and dry eyes are common. However, some conditions can indicate deeper, underlying health problems. Inter Eyecare Opticians offers eye tests for various types of eye conditions and also offers advice and suggestions on how to manage and treat the conditions effectively. Contact us today.
Amblyopia
Amblyopia, also known as lazy eye, is a condition where the vision of an eye has not advanced sufficiently during its visual development in early childhood. It usually affects one eye, but it can also affect both eyes in rare cases.
It usually occurs in children under the age of 8, and if left untreated, it can lead to permanently impaired vision. A regular eye test can diagnose this condition in its early stage, and further damage to the vision can be prevented.
Astigmatism
The visual distortion caused by cornea or the lens inside an eye is known as astigmatism. If you have astigmatism, you will have a rugby ball-shaped vision rather than the normal, spherical shaped one. Astigmatism occurs very early in life and can lead to amblyopia if left untreated.
Symptoms of astigmatism include eye strain, headache, glare and visual distortion that often increase at night. With regular eye tests, astigmatism can be detected, and further damage to the vision can be prevented. Contact us for more details.
Blepharitis
The inflammation of eyelids is called blepharitis. Dandruff-like crusts can appear on your eyelashes, and make your eyes red and itchy. Blepharitis can occur from a bacterial infection or a complicated skin condition known as seborrhoeic dermatitis. It can be a chronic condition, which means once it develops, it may reoccur in the future. Daily eye-cleaning routine can help you to get rid of this condition. Contact us today to book an appointment with our experts. We can advise you on how to manage or treat blepharitis.
Cataract
A cataract is a condition in which your eye lens progressively turns opaque resulting in blurred vision. If left untreated, it may slowly result in complete blindness. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes and get bigger over time until the whole lens is covered.
Most of the times, patients do not even realise they have a cataract until it is quite big. However, with regular sight tests, a cataract can be identified in its early stage. At Inter Eyecare Opticians, our optometrists can carry out sight tests and advise you on this eye condition. If necessary, we can even refer you for surgery.
Colour Blindness
The cells that interpret colour are known as ‘cones’. They can identify three primary colours: red, green and blue, using these colours, they can interpret hundreds of colours, shades and hues. Someone who is colour blind will struggle to see and identify colours in the same way. If you think you may be colour blind, contact Inter Eyecare Opticians and our optometrists can test your colour perception and provide advice.
Conjunctivitis
The white part of your eye and the inner surfaces of your eyelids are covered by a transparent membrane called conjunctiva. The inflammation of conjunctiva is called conjunctivitis. There are three types of conjunctivitis: allergic, irritant and infective. Each type of conjunctivitis is caused by different factors.
Infective conjunctivitis:
Infective conjunctivitis can be caused by a virus, bacteria or by a sexually transmitted infection, such as gonorrhoea or chlamydia. The symptoms include reddening and watering of the eyes. There may be a sticky coating on your eyelashes too, particularly when you wake up in the morning. It rarely requires any medical treatment because the infection often heals by itself, usually within one or two weeks.
Irritant conjunctivitis:
When an irritant such as chlorine or an eyelash enters into your eyes, irritant conjunctivitis occurs. Your eyes can sore and become itchy. Try not to rub them, as rubbing can aggravate the condition. However, if your eyes are very red and painful, you should immediately seek medical help.
Allergic conjunctivitis:
Allergic conjunctivitis occurs when an allergen comes in contact with your eyes. An allergen is a particular substance that disrupts your body’s immune system and makes it react abnormally. Allergic conjunctivitis can cause severe irritation and itchiness in your eyes.
Contact Inter Eyecare Opticians to find out more about conjunctivitis. We can advise you on conjunctivitis management and treatment.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is a condition of diabetes in which the small blood vessels in the retina are damaged over time. The condition is usually imperceptible and can be detected by a regular retinal examination, which should be undertaken at least once a year.
Diabetic retinopathy is one of the common causes of blindness in the UK, affecting people between 30 and 65 years of age. At Inter Eyecare Opticians, we provide retinal photography which can detect this condition easily.
Dry Eyes or Watery Eyes
Dry eye syndrome is a condition in which your eyes do not produce enough tears. The tear film that keeps your eyes moist get affected and doesn't function properly. The dry eye syndrome can be diagnosed by an examination of the front part of your eyes. It affects more than 5% of the population in the UK every year, and can be treated with ocular lubricants, including artificial tears, drops ointments and gels. Contact us for more details.
Emmetropia & Ametropia
Emmetropia
Emmetropia is the optimal state of vision, wherein a faraway object stays in focus on the retina with a completely relaxed lens.
An emmetropic eye has the perfect vision that doesn’t need any corrective lens.
Ametropia
Ametropia refers to the condition of the eye in which images are not on focus on the retina, for example, myopia, astigmatism and hypermetropia.
Floaters
Floaters are shapes that people can see floating or drifting across their vision. When the jelly-like substance in your eyes called vitreous ages, the strands of collagen can become visible and move gently with the movement of your eyes, appearing as small dots or irregularly shaped strands. It is quite normal to see one or two, however if the number of floaters increases, you may have to see an optician. If you’re unsure, visit our clinic and we can test your eyes and advise you on the best course of action.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma, otherwise known as the "silent thief of sight" is a group of eye disorders that damages the optic nerves that carries information from the eye to the brain. It usually affects people over the age of 40 and 2 in every 100 people are diagnosed with glaucoma every year. It affects both the eyes in varying degrees, and if left untreated, it can cause permanent blindness. Inter Eyecare Opticians offers glaucoma screening that can identify the condition at its early stage and can prevent your vision from further damage.
Hypermetropia
Hypermetropia, also called hyperopia or long-sightedness, causes problems with near vision. However, it can also affect distance vision. Long-sighted people become tired from focusing on close objects. They suffer headache, eye strain and/or blurred vision, especially when using a computer. For an eye test to diagnose hypermetropia, contact Inter Eyecare Opticians today.
Keratoconus
Keratoconus is a degenerative eye condition wherein the cornea becomes cone-shaped and causes visual distortion. The condition typically affects adolescents. It can be diagnosed by mapping the front surface of your eyes with a corneal topographer.
At Inter Eyecare Opticians in Rothley, Leicester, our optometrists specialise in treating keratoconus with special contact lenses. Contact us to find out more.
Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration is a painless eye condition that gradually damages your central vision (the ability to see things in front of you). The condition occurs when the macula, the part of your eye that is responsible for central vision, doesn’t function properly. It doesn’t affect your peripheral vision, and therefore, the condition won’t make you completely blind. We conduct tests for macular degeneration. Contact Inter Eyecare Opticians today.
Myopia
Myopia, also known as short-sightedness, is a progressive eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred; close objects can be seen clearly. It continues to grow if left untreated and can range from a mild condition, where the correction may not be required, to a severe condition, where vision is significantly affected. We can test your sight for myopia and recommend glasses or contact lenses to correct your vision. Call us to book an appointment now.
Presbyopia
Presbyopia is the loss of flexibility of your natural lens that occurs gradually as you age. The lens usually changes the focus from far to near and from near to far by changing its shape. However, with age, the lens loses its flexibility and the ability to focus on close objects and to read small print deteriorates. People with presbyopia will hold items further away to identify them and struggle to read in dim light. Other signs may include tired eyes, headaches and eye strain.
As this condition is progressive, so regular eye tests are recommended to correct the vision and maintain good eye health. Contact Inter Eyecare Opticians for more details.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment is the condition in which separation occurs between the retina and the wall of the eye. The part that is detached won’t work properly and all the images that the brain receives become patchy or lost completely. Urgent surgery may be required to replace the detached retina and restore the vision.