Heidelberg VIC

What Are the Symptoms?

Ocular symptoms can include:

• soreness
• stinging, burning, watery eyes
• tired eyes
• fluctuating vision
• lids stuck together on waking and
• occasional transient sharp pains in eyes.

Often these symptoms can be exacerbated by air conditioning, windy days, ceiling fans, airplane travel and computer use.

What Are the Types of Dry Eye?

The two main forms of dry eye disease are Aqueous Deficient Dry Eye (ADDE) whereby the aqueous tear volume produced is reduced and Evaporative Dry Eye (EDE) whereby there is a normal aqueous tear volume however an increased evaporation of the tear film occurs. Patients can have any form or sometimes combinations of both forms causing their symptoms.

What Causes Dry Eye?

Whilst many factors can cause dry eye disease, the most common is Meibomian Gland Disease, which causes Evaporative Dry Eye. The Meibomian Glands are the oil glands within our superior and inferior lids that make the meibum (oil) for our eyes. This stops our tear film from evaporating at an accelerated rate. Left untreated this condition will continue to worsen to the point where the meibomian glands will suffer chronic changes affecting the quantity and quality of the oil they produce and eventually Meibomian Gland dropout.

What Treatment Options are Available?

Until relatively recently the standard treatment has only brought about an improvement for some patients with the condition. Recent developments, many of which are available at Eyecare Plus Heidelberg, have seen excellent results for a wider spectrum of affected patients.

More Information and Help

For more information on Dry Eye or any other disorder of the eye, contact your local Eyecare Plus Heidelberg on (03) 9459 5775 or click here to request an appointment online.

Symptoms

• Reduced or hazy vision
• Increased glare sensitivity
• Reduced contrast (need for bright lights to read)
• Double vision
• Problems distinguishing colours

Causes

• Age is the most common cause
• UV exposure (over many years)
• Blunt trauma, Ionizing radiation (X-rays), Laser, Electric and heat injuries
• Cigarette smoking (2-3 x higher risk)
• Steroid use

Prevention and Treatment

• UV protection
• Don't smoke
• Healthy diet (antioxidants may help reduce risk)
• Regular eye examinations (can help with symptoms)
• Referral to ophthalmologist (for cataract extraction)

More information

For more information on cataract or any other disorder of the eye, contact your local Eyecare Plus Optometrist Heidelberg on (03) 9459 5775 or click here to request an appointment online.

You can also download a useful FAQ Sheet here.

MD may progress so slowly that people don't notice changes until their vision has already been significantly compromised. For others it may progress rapidly and lead to a permanent loss of central vision.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

• Distortion of vision (where straight lines appear wavy or bent)
• Difficulty reading (letters or words missing or patchy)
• Difficulty distinguishing faces
• Sensitivity to glare
• Decreased night vision
• Reduced colour sensitivity

Risks for developing MD:

• Age (prevalence trebles with each decade over 40 years)
• Family history (There is a 50% chance of developing MD if there is a family history)
• Smoking (3-4 times greater risk)
• UV Exposure to the macula

Defense against MD:

• Regular eye examinations and early detection of MD
• Eye protection against UV damage
• Don't smoke
• Eat a healthy diet and get regular exercise
• Consider taking a zinc and anti-oxidant supplement

Diet and MD

Eat a healthy well-balanced diet. Include fish at least two times a week and include dark green leafy vegetables. Eat fresh fruit every day, a handful of nuts each week and avoid fatty foods.

MD has been proven to responds to anti-oxidants and other nutrients found in vegetables, fruit and fish. The most important anti-oxidants are:

• Lutein leafy dark green vegetables (eg spinach)
• Vitamin C citrus fruits or vegetables like capsicum, peas and broccoli
• Vitamin E nuts, whole grains, leafy green vegetables, broccoli and carrots
• Zinc - meat, seafood , nuts, whole grains
• Omega 3 fatty acids fish like Salmon

More information

For more information on macular degeneration, talk to your optometrist at Eyecare Plus Optometrists Heidelberg by calling to make an appointment on (03) 9459 5775 or by clicking here to request an appointment online.

You can also visit the website of the Australian Macular Degeneration Foundation here or download a useful FAQ Sheet here.

Over 300,000 Australians have glaucoma. It is more common as we age but it can occur at any age. As our population becomes older, the proportion of glaucoma patients is increasing.

Glaucoma is known as the "sneak thief of sight" as the symptoms are often not noticeable until damage to the eye has already occurred. In fact 50% of Australians with glaucoma are undiagnosed. Therefore it is important to have regular eye examinations which include a pressure measurement. This is especially so if a family member has glaucoma as this increases ones risk.

More information

For more information on glaucoma or any other disorder of the eye, contact Eyecare Plus Optometrist Heidelberg on (03) 9459 5775 or click here to request an appointment online.

You can also visit the website of Glaucoma Australia here.