Inala QLD

An eye with no astigmatism is spherical in shape, like a marble. On the other hand an eye with astigmatism has a distorted shape, slightly like a grape.

In lesser degrees this can cause strain and discomfort after visual concentration; while in higher degrees astigmatism causes images at all distances to be distorted or blurred.

For more information on astigmatism or any other disorder of the eye, contact your local Eyecare Plus Optometrist Inala on (07) 3879 9641 or click here to request an appointment online.

The abnormality is sex linked, recessive, and carried on the X chromosomes. This means that males need only have their one X chromosome affected to be colour blind while females must carry the condition on both their X chromosomes to be colour blind. If females have it only on one X chromosome they will carry the condition but still have normal colour vision themselves.

As a result, about 8% of males and 0.5% of females have colour vision deficiencies. Almost all colour deficient people do see most colours but they will have difficulty identifying particular ones, confusing certain shades of red and green for example.

As children, few of these people will be aware that they have a colour vision deficiency but the detection of these problems is important, especially when career choices are affected.

At Eyecare Plus Optometrists colour vision testing is a routine part of the eye examinations of every new patient and child.

For more information on colour vision, talk to your optometrist at Eyecare Plus Optometrists Inala by calling to make an appointment on (07) 3879 9641 or by clicking 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 Inala on (07) 3879 9641 or click here to request an appointment online.

You can also download a useful FAQ Sheet here.

Dry eye disease is fairly common affecting about 20 per cent of the population and is more prevalent in an older population and in particular with females.

Meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) is the leading cause of dry eye disease where the glands are not secreting enough oil or when the oil they secrete is of poor quality. Meibomian glands are located inside the bottom eyelids and are responsible for the creation of a tear film that keeps eyes moisturised.

Your optometrist can detect dry eye and provide a range of effective treatments.

What are the Symptoms and Causes of Dry Eye Disease?

Some of the symptoms of dry eye disease include some or all of the following:

• Scratchy sensation or a feeling that something is in the eye
• Stinging or burning
• Episodes of excess tearing that follow periods of dryness, discharge, pain and redness in the eye
• Itchiness
• Dryness
• Eye fatigue
• Feeling that the eyelids are heavy
• Experiencing blurred vision.

Dry eye can occur when basal tear production decreases, tear evaporation increases, or tear composition is imbalanced.

Factors that can contribute to dry eye include:

• A range of medications including antihistamines, decongestants, antidepressants, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy to relieve symptoms of menopause, medications for anxiety, Parkinson's disease, and high blood pressure have been associated with dry eye disease.
• Ageing is a risk factor for the decline in tear production. Dry eye is more common in people aged 50 years or older.
• Rosacea (an inflammatory skin disease) and blepharitis (an inflammatory eyelid disease) can disrupt the function of the meibomian glands.
• Autoimmune disorders such as Sjögren's Disease, lupus, scleroderma, and rheumatoid arthritis and other disorders such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, and Vitamin A deficiency are associated with dry eye.
• Hormonal changes during pregnancy and after menopause have been linked with dry eye. Women also have an increased risk for autoimmune disorders.
• Windy, smoky or dry environments increase tear evaporation.
• Seasonal allergies can contribute to dry eyes.
• Prolonged periods of digital screen time encourage insufficient blinking which can be a contributing factor.
• Laser eye surgery may cause temporary dry eye symptoms.

Eyes that have poor lubrication are more susceptible to scratches or infection. Tears keep the eye surface smooth and protected. A lack of lubrication can lead to excessive rubbing of the eyes when they are itchy which can exacerbate the irritation.

Your vision can be affected as tears on the eye’s surface can play an important role in focusing light. In some cases, deeper injuries to the surface of the eye can lead to corneal scarring, resulting in a hazy cornea and impaired vision.

Dry Eye Treatment

A range of dry eye treatments are available including:

• Artificial eye drops often provide short-term relief along with the application of a warm compress to help loosen any blockages in the oil glands.
• Blephasteam is an eyelid warming device using moisture and heat to treat Meibomian gland dysfunction. The treatment sessions are short and work well for most people with Meibomian gland dysfunction.
• Intense Pulsed Light (IPL) can provide long-term relief. It is a non-invasive treatment utilising pulsed loght to stimulate the secretion and the contraction of the Meibomian glands. It is quick, gentle and can offer long-lasting relief.

For more information on Dry Eye or any other disorder of the eye, contact your local Eyecare Plus Inala on (07) 3879 9641 or click here to request an appointment online.

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 Inala on (07) 3879 9641 or click here to request an appointment online.

You can also visit the website of Glaucoma Australia here.

Before this procedure is carried out a dry eye assessment is performed that measures your tear layer, checks how quickly your tears evaporate and checks the glands that produce oil to make sure they are still functioning. If a dry eye problem is detected and you have function of the oil glands then the IPL procedure is recommended.

The IPL is usually carried out over 4 treatments and studies have shown that patients with dry eye have a 90% satisfaction rate with relief from dry eye symptoms.

Over three years 62% of patients who have this procedure have no experience of any dry eye symptom recurrence. The average period without needing another treatment is 29.3 months.

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 Inala by calling to make an appointment on (07) 3879 9641 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.

How does Ortho-K work?

The corneal reshaping that occurs from Ortho-K is completely reversible. This is because these corneal moulds do not physically change the corneal shape by pushing down on the surface of your eye. Instead, the corneal moulds sit gently on the surface of your natural tear layer, and produce forces that are responsible for the altered curvature.

These forces act only on the corneal epithelium, the cells of which, under normal circumstances, are entirely replaced with new ones roughly every 10 days. It is the same layer of the eye that regenerates as new within 24 hours if scratched (by a fingernail for example). Because every other (deeper) layer of the cornea is untouched, treatment with Ortho-K is 100% reversible once treatment is ceased. A corneal topographer, a highly specialised piece of equipment, is used to measure and map out the exact curvature of your eye. These measurements will allow your optometrist to select the most appropriate corneal moulding contact lens for you.

Why choose Ortho-K treatment?

Ortho-K offers a great lifestyle alternative if you don’t want to wear glasses or contacts during the day.

Do you:

• play any kind of sport, especially water sports such as swimming or surfing
• work in dusty environments, for example coal mines or building and construction
• enjoy going to the beach
• experience dry eyes in air-conditioned office environments
• are concerned about the risks of laser surgery (LASIK, PRK etc)
• are concerned that your myopia (short-sightedness) is progressing
• or simply dislike wearing glasses

If so, you should certainly consider Ortho-K.

Because they are worn while you sleep, Ortho-K lenses are less prone to dryness and other environmental discomfort than regular contact lenses.

Ortho-K is especially attractive for children, teenagers and young adults with worsening vision due to myopia (short-sightedness). Ortho-K has been shown to be one of the very few successful methods for significantly slowing down the progression of myopia.

For more information on Orthokeratology, contact your local Eyecare Plus Inala on (07) 3879 9641 or click here to request an appointment online.