Common Eye Health Conditions
Not sure what's causing a symptom? Here's a guide to the conditions we see most often - if anything here sounds familiar, book an eye examination and we'll take a proper look.
Eyelid Lumps
A range of causes including chalazion (a blockage of the oil glands in the eyelid, leading to localised swelling), styes, cysts, dermatochalasis, tumours and allergic reactions. Treatment ranges from warm compresses to surgical removal.
Glaucoma
Known as the "silent thief of sight" - increased intraocular pressure causes gradual optic nerve damage, and patients will often have lost 80% of their vision before they notice anything. We recommend annual exams from age 30 for those at higher risk.
Vision Disturbances
Blurred vision, double vision, floaters, flashing lights, temporary vision loss and visual field loss can all have a range of causes, from simple refractive error to systemic conditions that need investigating.
Diabetic Eye Disease
Primarily diabetic retinopathy, caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina from prolonged high blood sugar, plus an increased risk of cataracts and glaucoma. NICE recommends a comprehensive exam within a year of diagnosis, then annually.
Cataracts
Occurs when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision and difficulty seeing at night. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and effective surgical procedures performed worldwide.
Blepharitis
Eyelid inflammation in two main forms - seborrheic and staphylococcal - plus Demodex mite involvement. Managed with eyelid hygiene routines and topical medications.
Sore Eyes
A wide range of irritants and conditions can cause discomfort, from environmental factors through to contact lens wear.
Red Eye
Can be caused by allergies, infection, injury, dry eye, a subconjunctival haemorrhage, or glaucoma - an accurate diagnosis matters since the right treatment varies a lot by cause.
Dry Eye
Caused by insufficient tear production or excessive evaporation. Omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids have been shown to improve tear production, alongside other management options we can talk you through.
Watery Eyes
Perhaps counterintuitively, dry eyes can trigger excessive tearing. Treatment options include tear duct syringing and, for structural issues, eyelid surgery.
Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)
Affects central vision, in dry and wet forms. Advanced imaging like optical coherence tomography (OCT) lets us assess the retina in detail and catch changes early.
Eyelid Dermachalasis
Sagging eyelid skin from ageing and other factors - blepharoplasty is the most effective solution for significant cases.