5 eye conditions you don’t know about
If you keep up to date with your eye tests, you’ll likely have heard of some of the common eye conditions that your optician screens for. Problems such as glaucoma, astigmatism and cataracts are often discussed, but there are other conditions that you may not be aware of. Some are harmless, while others - if severe or left untreated - may cause more serious issues. Here, we explore five eye conditions it’s worth knowing about.
1. Posterior vitreous detachment
Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) occurs when the vitreous gel at the back of your eye comes away from the retina. It’s caused by changes in the vitreous gel, and is typically accompanied by floaters (such as dark spots or shapes obscuring your vision) and flashing lights. It doesn’t cause sight loss, and the symptoms will abate once your brain learns to ignore them. In time, your sight should return to normal.
2. Retinal detachment
If you experience the symptoms described above, it’s important to urgently book an eye test or visit an ophthalmologist - preferably within 24 hours of noticing them. That’s because they can indicate a more serious problem - retinal detachment. Other symptoms of this include a dark shadow in your vision or unusually blurred vision. A retinal detachment is an emergency and can cause blindness if untreated. It can be repaired with surgery.
3. Diabetic retinopathy
Diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects many areas of the body, including the eyes. In order to function correctly, the retina at the back of the eye requires a constant blood supply. However, diabetes causes regular high levels of blood sugar, and this in turn can impact the tiny blood vessels supplying the retina. They can bulge, bleed and form scar tissue, which if left untreated can have serious effects on your vision and even cause loss of sight.
Symptoms include blurred or double vision, floaters, flashing lights or halos, and difficulty seeing in the dark. Again, the best course of action if you notice these symptoms is to book an urgent eye exam. If you can’t get an appointment at your regular optician, search “independent opticians near me” to be seen by a reputable eye health professional. Diabetic retinopathy can be treated with laser.
4. Age related macular degeneration (AMD)
The macular is a small part of the retina which is responsible for our central and high-definition colour vision. With age, the macula can become less effective, causing colours to seem faded, or creating difficulties in the central vision. Reading might become difficult or straight lines might begin to look wavy. There’s no direct treatment for AMD, but it’s thought a balanced diet and plenty of vitamins A, C and E can help.
5. Macular oedema
A macula oedema occurs when there’s a build-up of fluid from leaking blood vessels, which causes swelling in the macular. Symptoms are similar to age-related macular degeneration: straight lines may look wavy and colours can look faded. If severe or left untreated it can cause sight loss, so it’s important to book an eye exam as soon as you notice symptoms.
If you’re looking for the best place for an eye test in London, visit The Eye Establishment in Kensington. Our specialists will check your sight and eye health, identifying any potential issues and helping you to remedy them.