What are the symptoms of eyelid infection?

Blepharitis is a term describing inflammation of the eyelids and is very common. It is often a chronic condition a bit like having dandruff, which is difficult to cure but can easily be managed with care.

It can have many causes, and is classified according to the location of the inflammation. Anterior blepharitis is inflammation of the part of the eyelid nearest to the lashes and outer edge of the lid margin, and the most common type of posterior blepharitis (in the part of the eyelid closest to the eye) is Meibomian Gland Dysfunction or MGD.

What are the symptoms of blepharitis?

The most common cause of dry eyes is blepharitis so many symptoms are similar. 

They can include:

• Eyes can look red-rimmed and sore, like you have been crying
• Swollen eyelids
• Lashes may be missing or misdirected
• Crusty debris around base of the lashes in anterior blepharitis 
• Irritation
• Itchy sensation
• Dry eyes

How do you manage blepharitis?

A regular regime of eyelid care and eyelid hygiene is essential. Your optometrist or doctor may also recommend the addition of regular eyelid warming if you have MGD.

Our senior optometrist recommends Blepharitis treatment by:



Until now treatment for blepharitis has revolved around cleaning and massaging the eyelids with at home treatments. Unfortunately, these treatments can take months to work and have to be repeated very frequently to see any significant improvement. But a new treatment for blepharitis is set to change that.

Blephex is a painless deep clean treatment to the eyelids and meibomian glands that we perform for you in the practice that gives instant and lasting improvement to blepharitis symptoms. Repeated every 6-12 months, Blephex cleans debris, opens and unblocks the meibomian glands and can considerably improve blepharitis symptoms.  Blephex is ideal for persistent cases or where time is an issue and cleaning's hard to comply with.








The only proven treatment for a cataract is surgery. If the cataract gets to the stage where it affects your sight, your optometrist will refer you to a hospital to have this done. The surgery is carried out under a local anaesthetic and has a very high success rate.


Why do cataracts occur?

The main cause is age and most people will eventually develop a cataract in both eyes, although one eye may be affected before the other. However, smoking and exposure to sunlight have been linked to the formation of cataracts. Cataracts affect men and women equally.



Will cataracts affect my vision?

Many people with a cataract notice that they need to change the prescription for their glasses. If you are long-sighted, you may even notice that you need your glasses less than you did before you had the cataract! You may notice that your vision is less clear and distinct. Car headlights and streetlights can become dazzling, and you may experience difficulties moving from shade to sunlit areas. Colours may look different too, and become faded or yellowed.

If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see you optometrist.


Can I prevent cataracts?

There are various supplements on the market which claim to help slow the progression of cataracts and some eye drops have been marketed as a treatment for them. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that any of these can prevent or treat cataracts. Stopping smoking and wearing good quality sunglasses may provide some protection in relation to cataracts, as well as other eye conditions. You cannot make cataracts worse by using your eyes too much.


Can I drive if I have cataracts?

If you have cataracts, you may continue to drive providing you still meet the vision standards for driving. Your optometrist will be able to advise you about this. If you are a car driver, you do not need to tell the DVLA about your cataract unless you cannot meet the vision standards for driving.


Treating cataracts

If your cataract is affecting your day-to-day life (for example; driving, reading or cooking), and your optometrist cannot improve this enough by changing your glasses, you can ask them to refer you to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) for surgery. This involved removing the cloudy lens (the cataract) and replacing it with a clear plastic one. If you have cataracts in both eyes, surgery will normally be carried out on one eye at a time.


What does surgery involve?

You will have an initial appointment where the ophthalmologist will ask you about your general health to help make sure that the operation is suitable for you. In some parts of the country the NHS arranges for optometrists to discuss the operation with you rather than having all this done at hospital.

The ophthalmologist may also be able to correct short- or long-sightedness so that you may not need to wear your glasses as much after the operation as you did before. The ophthalmologist will assess and measure your eyes to decide what strength lens to put in your eye during the cataract operation.

Contact lenses may affect the accuracy of these measurements so if you wear contact lenses you must leave them out for a week before you have these measurements taken.

Most cataract operations are done using a local anaesthetic. You will be awake, but the ophthalmologist will make sure you do not feel the area around your eye. You will hear the ophthalmologist explaining what they are doing, and you may see some vague movements around your eye. The ophthalmologist will make a tiny cut in your eye to remove the cataract, and will normally insert a plastic replacement lens so that you can see clearly. This will usually take around 15-45 minutes.

You will not normally need stitches, but your eye will be covered to protect it from knocks after the operation. You will be allowed to go home the same day, but should have someone to go with you and to look after you for 24 hours after surgery. Do not drive.


What are the risks of cataract surgery?

Most people find that cataract surgery is successful and are happy with the results. However, as with all surgery, there are risks involved and you should not have the operation unless you feel it is right for you. Before you have surgery the risks will be discussed with you, and how they apply to you individual case. The time to have surgery may vary from person to person.


Can I choose not to have the surgery?

If it is not interfering with your daily life it is safe to leave a cataract in your eye. It does not become more difficult to remove if you wait before having surgery, although you will not be able to see as well as the cataract worsens. The cataract does not have to become 'ripe' for you to have the operation. Surgery can be done as soon as the cataract is interfering with your daily life.


After the operation

You will be given eye drops to use for the first few weeks after your operation. You should avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise immediately after the operation, but you can carry on with most activities around the home as normal. Nearly all of your vision will return within two days of surgery and many people are able to return to their usual daily routine 24 hours after the operation. You should avoid eye make-up, swimming, and getting soapy water in your eyes when you wash your hair for two weeks after the operation. If you go out on a windy day, you may feel safer with sunglasses to prevent grit getting in your eye. Ask you ophthalmologist about when you can go back to work.

If you have any concerns, give the eye clinic a call for advice.


Will I need new spectacles after my cataract operation?

Your eyesight will settle down in a few days of weeks. After cataract surgery most people need to wear glasses for either distance, near vision or both. If you wore glasses before the operation you will probably find that they will need changing after the operation, so you will need to see you optometrist again for an eye examination a few weeks after the surgery.

Your ophthalmologist or optometrist will be able to advise you as to when you can start driving again. You may find that it takes a few weeks to adapt to your vision with new glasses after cataract surgery. This is normal, and is due to your brain adapting to a different prescription.


Will the cataract come back?

After some months or years, some people notice that their vision becomes cloudy or misty again in the eye where the cataract has been removed. This is not the cataract returning, but is due to the sac which contains the replacement lens clouding up. This cloudiness can be removed by painless laser treatment in a matter of minutes. Contact your optometrist if you are worried that this is happening to you.


Do cataracts only occur in one eye?

If you have had a cataract removed from one eye, it is likely that you need the same treatment for the other eye at some point in the future.



NHS Choices website

Children's Eye Health

Children's Eye Health





Some children may have vision screening done and school (between the ages of four and five). However, the earlier any problems are picked up the better the outcome. If there are problems and they are not picked up at an early age, the child may have permanently reduced vision in one or both eyes. If you have concerns about your child's eyes, or if there is a history of squint or lazy eye in the family, do not wait for the vision screening at school. Take your child to a local optometrist for a sight test. This is free under the NHS for children under 16.




Babies can see when they are born, but their eyes don't always focus accurately. A baby's eyes may squint sometimes (they may not always line up with each other), but if their eyes always seem to squint, this should be investigated. Their eyes develop gradually, and after about six weeks they should be able to follow something colourful or interesting with their eyes.

An easy test you can do at home when a baby is over six weeks old is to see if your baby's eyes follow you around a room. If they don't seem to be able to focus on you properly - for example, if they can't follow you and recognise your facial gestures, or if their eyes wander when they are looking at you - it could suggest a problem. You can also try covering each of the baby's eyes in turn. If they object to having one eye covered more than the other, they may have problems seeing out of one eye. As they get older, you can start to point out objects both close up and far away. If they struggle to see the objects, contact an optometrist for advice.


Long- and short-sightedness

The light coming into the eye needs to be focused on the back of the eye (the retina) for you to see clearly. Some people have eyes that are too short, which means the light focuses behind the retina (they are long-sighted). This means that they have to focus more than they should do, particularly on things that are close up. Other people have eyes which are too long, so the light focuses in front of the retina (they are short-sighted). This means that they cannot see things clearly if they are far away from them (such as the TV or board at school). Both conditions can run in families and both are easily treated with glasses.



If your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football, light rays are focused on more than one place in the eye, so you don't have one clear image. This may make it hard to tell 'N' from 'H', for instance. Glasses which correct this may make a child feel strange at first, although their vision with the glasses will be clear. Astigmatism often occurs together with either long- or short-sight and glasses are used to make the focus clear.

Don't expect your child to tell you if there is a problem.


Lazy eye and squint

About 2-3% of all children have a lazy eye, clinically known as 'amblyopia'. This may be because they have one eye that is much more short- or long-sighted than the other, or they may have a squint (where the eyes are not looking in the same direction). If you notice your child appears to have a squint after they are six weeks old, you should have their eyes tested by an optometrist as soon as possible,

The sooner the child is treated, the more likely they are to have good vision. It is more difficult to treat a lazy eye if the eyesight has finished developing (usually around the age of seven), although it may still be possible to significantly improve the vision in the weaker eye.

The NHS recommends that all children should have vision screening during their first year at school. This is not a full eye examination but is an important way to identify reduced vision at an early age. The screening test is done in school, usually by a school nurse, and is important because many children will not realise they have a lazy eye, and parents may not be able to see it. If your child misses the school screening for any reason, you should take them to your local optometrist for a sight test (paid by the NHS).

Don't expect your child to tell you there is a problem. Children assume that the way they see is normal - they will not have known anything different.

The treatment will depend on what is causing the lazy eye.

  • If it is simply because the child needs glasses, the optometrist will prescribe these to correct sight problems
  • If the child has a squint, this may be fully or partially corrected with glasses. However, some children may need an operation to straighten the eyes, which can take place as early as a few months of age
  • If the child has a lazy eye, eye drops or patching the other eye can help to encourage them to use the lazy eye to make it see better

Whether a child needs glasses or not is because of the shape and size of their eyes. Wearing glasses will not change their eye shape, and will not make your child's eyes worse. If your child has a lazy eye, wearing glasses may make their sight permanently improve. Your optometrist will tell you how often and when your child should wear their glasses.


Which children should be tested?

You should make sure your child has a full eye examination if:

  • your child has special needs - children with special needs often have eye problems
  • there is a history of a squint or lazy eye in your child's family
  • people in the family needed to wear glasses when they were young children

Signs to look out for

  • one eye turns in or out - this may be easier to spot when the child is tired
  • they rub their eyes a lot (except when they are tired, which is normal)
  • they have watery eyes
  • they are clumsy or have poor hand and eye co-ordination
  • your child avoids reading, writing or drawing
  • they screw up their eyes or frown when they read or watch TV
  • they sit very close to the TV, or hold books or objects close to their face
  • they have behaviour or concentration problems at school
  • they don't do as well as they should at school
  • they complain about blurred or double vision, or they have unexplained headaches

Simple treatments like wearing glasses or wearing a patch for a while could be all that you child needs. The earlier that eye problems are picked up, the better the outcome will be.

If flash photographs of your child show a white colour in their pupil, or red eye in only one eye, not both, when they are looking straight at the camera, you should ask your optometrist for more information. These could be signs of a very rare but serious condition.


Colour blindness

Around one in 12 men and one in 200 women has some sort of problem with their colour vision. If you suspect that your child has colour-vision problems, or if there is a family history of colour-vision problems, ask your optometrist about it. There is no cure, but you can tell you child's teachers, so that they use colours appropriately.


Protect your child's eyes from the sun

Some studies suggest that exposure to high levels of sunlight throughout you life may increase your risk of developing cataracts and AMD (age-related macular degeneration), although this has not been proven for AMD. Because children tend to spend a lot of time outside, it's important to protect your child's eyes in the sun. Make sure your child's sunglasses have UV protection and carry the British Standard (BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013) or CE mark. You can also protect your child's eyes by making sure they wear a hat with a brim or a sun visor in bright sunlight.

However, scientific studies have shown that children who spend time outdoors are less likely to be short-sighted, so don't stop your child exercising outdoors - just make sure their eyes are properly protected.



If you are diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or 2), you may be aware that the condition can lead to changes in your eyes.

How does looking inside the eye help see diabetic changes?

The retina inside the eye is the only part of your body where we can see your blood vessels without peeling back skin to have a look. By checking the health of these vessels, it gives us a good idea of the health of the vessels elsewhere in the body that we can’t see so easily. Diabetes can cause changes to the blood vessel walls which makes them weaker and more likely to leak. These changes are called diabetic retinopathy and are graded depending on the severity of the condition. 

What happens if I get diabetic retinopathy?

Detecting diabetic changes in your eyes early on means that any problems can be treated sooner. Improving diabetic control and blood pressure can often make a significant improvement to diabetic retinopathy. In some cases, you may require laser treatment to your retina to seal the leaking blood vessels and prevent further damage. Occasionally injections into the eye are needed to help stop leaking blood vessels. Without treatment diabetic retinopathy can lead to sight loss. Therefore, if you notice any changes in your vision, you must book an appointment immediately. Even if you are not due for a check up or have been seen recently, it doesn’t mean that problems can’t develop quickly so always book an examination if you are concerned.

How common is diabetic retinopathy?

Only between 5 and 10 percent of all people with diabetes develop proliferative retinopathy; much more develop earlier stages of retinopathy. It is more common in people with type 1 diabetes than type 2. Sixty Percent of type 1 diabetics show some signs of proliferative disease after having diabetes for 30 years.

How can I prevent diabetic retinopathy?

Direct links between diabetic control, smoking, blood pressure and diabetic retinopathy are well known. If you are diabetic you should:

  • Maintain a healthy diet and weight
  • Keep a healthy blood sugar level. Poor diabetic control increases the risk of diabetic retinopathy as well as other systemic problems.
  • Keep up with you regular GP and diabetic nurse tests to keep a check on your diabetic control and blood pressure.
  • Take any medications as prescribed
  • Give up smoking


What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

During the early stages, diabetic retinopathy does not cause any noticeable symptoms until the later stages, when your vision becomes affected.

In later-stage retinopathy you may notice:

  • Floaters (debris floating around in your vision)
  • Blurred vision 
  • Sudden loss of vision

If you notice any of these symptoms, you must see your optometrist or GP immediately.

Does diabetes put me at greater risk of other eye conditions?

Yes, being diabetic increases your risk of other conditions such as glaucoma, and cataracts. Earlier detection leads to earlier treatment, a better prognosis and in some cases prevention of conditions developing at all.

Detailed examination of retinal blood vessels can often show up the signs of other systemic diseases.  High blood pressure can cause the blood vessels to become more tortuous over time – a little like a hose pipe that wiggles when you increase the pressure of the water. We can also identify hardening of the blood vessels by changes in their structure and colour. Sometimes we can also see blockages or thrombosis forming which can be an important sign of potential health problems such as stroke in the future. 

Dry Eye

Dry Eye




Dry eye is a common condition that may be caused because your eyes do not produce enough tears, or because the tears that you have evaporate too quickly or do not spread evenly across the front of your eye. The symptoms are usually in both eyes.

Dry eye can make your eye feel scratchy or irritated. In severe cases it may temporarily make your vision blurry. It can be uncomfortable, but rarely causes serious eye damage.

This page aims to help you understand the causes of dry eye and what you can do to help yourself.


What is dry eye?

Dry eye is a chronic (long-term) condition. This means that once you've had it, it can come back even after it has cleared up. If often affects both eyes, but one may be worse than the other. There are several treatments for dry eye, and you can do some of these at home.

Dry eye does not normally cause permanent problems with your sight, but in severe cases it can become very painful and cause permanent damage to the front of your eye.


Who is at risk of dry eye?

Dry eye is more common in women and in people aged over 65. It is often just a symptom of getting older. This is because as you get older, your eyelids are not as effective at spreading your tears across your eyes when you blink. Also, the glands in your eyelids that produce the oily part of your tears become less effective as you get older. In some people these glands, which are called meibomian glands, can become blocked and the lids may become red and uncomfortable. This is a condition called blepharitis.

Some drugs or health problems may affect your tear film. In women, changes in hormone levels, for example during the menopause, pregnancy or while using the contraceptive pill, can increase the risk of dry eye. Your doctor or optometrist will be able to give you advice on this.


Why do my eyes feel dry, but they still water?

The tear film is made of three layers. The layer closest to your eye is called the mucin layer, and helps to stick the other tear layers to your eye. The middle layer is the watery layer, which provides moisture to the eye and helps to wash away anything that gets into the eye. It is the watery layer that increases when you cry. The outer layer of your tears is an oily layer which stops the tears from evaporating too quickly. This is produced by the maibomian glands in your eyelids.

The normal time for your tear film to last between blinks is over 12 seconds. If the tear film breaks up too soon, the sensitive corneal nerves on the surface of your eye may be exposed and then you will cry. This is common in the cold, the wind or if you forget to blink when you are concentrating on the computer, TV or when driving. Crying will dilute the oily layer that reduces evaporation of the tears and make your eyes feel dry again. If your eyes water a lot you may find it helps to use a product that increases the oily layer of your tears to reduce this evaporation. Your optometrist will be able to advise you on this.


What can I do about dry eye?

Once your optometrist knows what is causing your dry eye, they can give you advice on how to manage it. There are four main ways to help you dry eye.

1. Avoid using make-up and keep your eyelids clean

Eyeliner, particularly when put on the rim of your eyelid, may block the maibomian glands that produce the oily part of your tear film. This may cause the area around your eyes to be inflamed. It is also important to make sure you keep your eyelids clean, particularly if you have blepharitis.

2. Be aware of your environment

There are some environments that may make your eyes feel more dry. High temperatures and central heating may increase the evaporation of your tears and make your eyes feel more dry, as can draughts and air conditioning.

You may find it helpful to reduce the temperature of your central heating at home and try to avoid draughts near your face, for example by directing car air vents away from your face. Some people find that using a humidifier to put more water into the air may help to slow down the evaporation of their tears.

If you are out on a windy day you may find it useful to wear glasses or sunglasses (ideally the wraparound type) to protect your eyes from the wind. Try to avoid smoky atmospheres as these may irritate your eyes.

3. Use eye lubricants

There are several types of eye lubricants available. Most of these aim to lubricate your eyes by giving you extra moisture. They are available as drops, gels or ointment, and most are available without a prescription. If you find the drops wash out of your eye too quickly you may find the gel-type better as they are thicker and so stay in your eye for longer.

Ointment is generally used for people whose eyes dry out at night because they do not fully close their eyes. Ointments are usually used only at night because they are sticky and cause blurry vision.

Eye lubricants do not contain any drugs and so you can use them as often as you like. However, some contain preservatives which may make your eyes sore. If you are using them more than six times a day you should use preservative-free drops.

If your dry eye is caused by your tears evaporating to quickly, you may find it helpful to use a spray rather than artificial tear drops. These sprays aim to replenish the oily layer of your tears and stop them evaporating as quickly. There are available without prescription and are sprayed onto the edges of your eyelids when your eyes are closed. When you open your eyes the solution spreads across the surface of your eye, creating a new oily film.

4. Have treatment to stop the tears from draining away

Your tears drain away into your nose through four small drainage channels in your eyelids (one in each of the upper and lower lids). Small plugs, called punctum plugs, can be put into the holes in your lower eyelids to stop the tears from draining away and help the tears to stay in your eye for longer. Your optometrist will be able to give you advice on this. The plugs can easily be removed if necessary.


Using a computer

Some people find that their eyes feel dry while they are looking at a computer screen (or afterwards). There is no evidence that looking at a computer screen does your eyes any harm, but it may make you blink less often. We recommend that when you use a computer you make sure you blink often and try to look away from the screen regularly, just for a few seconds, to give your eyes a rest.


What if I wear contact lenses?

Some people find that if they wear contact lenses their eyes may feel dry. This may be worse with some types of lenses than others. If you notice this, you may find that changing to a different type of contact lens or reducing the amount of time you wear your lenses will help you. Make sure you mention this when you go for your contact lens check-up so that your optometrist can suggest what to do about it.



NHS National Health Foundation

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Eye Examination

Eye Examination







Zeiss Humphrey Threshold Visual Field Analysis




Slit Lamp Biomicroscopy


Colour Vision



Binocular vision


  • Print jumping as you read
  • Difficulty focusing on individual words or letters.
  • Diplopia (double vision)
  • Tired eyes when performing visual tasks
  • Strabismus (squint)



Flashes and Floaters

Flashes and Floaters




Floaters look like small, dark spots or strands that appear to float in front of your eyes. Floaters are very common and are normally harmless. They are more common if you are short-sighted or as you get older. Some people notice they see flashes of light. These can be due to movement of the gel inside the eye. Very occasionally, flashes or an increase in floaters can be a sign of retinal detachment, which needs treating as soon as possible. This is more common as you get older, or in people who are short-sighted or have had eye surgery.

If you get any of the following symptoms and you cannot contact your optometrist, you should seek urgent attention ideally from an eye casualty department at the hospital. It is important that you seek advice promptly if you have:

  • a new, large, floater
  • a shadow spreading across the vision of one of your eyes


What are floaters?

Floaters appear as black spots or something that looks like a hair or small pieces of cobweb. These can be semi-transparent or dark and appear to float in front of your vision. If you have had these for years, your eye and your brain learn to ignore them. Sometimes the number of floaters increases as you get older. Occasionally an increase in floaters can be a sign of problems inside the eye.

Because they 'float' in the jelly of your eye, you will find that if you move your eye to look at a floater it will move away in the direction you moved your eye. You might only see the floater if you are staring at a light coloured surface or at the sky during the day.

Some people find that floaters can be a nuisance, but most people become used to them. They rarely cause problems with your vision.


Why do floaters occur?

Some people are born with floaters. Other floaters occur as you get older when the gel in your eye, the vitreous humour, naturally shrinks. The gel separates into a watery fluid and wavy collagen fibrils. The fibrils are seen as line-shaped floaters. Sometime the gel shrinks enough to collapse away from the light sensitive lining at the back of your eye, which is called the retina. One the gel has collapsed, some people see a large ring-shaped floater.

The collapse of the vitreous gel can pull on your retina. If this happens you would see flashes of light - see 'flashes'.

Floaters can also be caused by some eye diseases that cause inflammation. This is not very common.


Who is at risk of floaters?

Floaters are more common in people who are short-sighted. They may increase if you have had an eye operation such as cataract surgery, or laser treatment after cataract surgery.


What might happen if I have floaters?


Occasionally a sudden increase in floaters - either one or more large ones or a shower of tiny ones - may be a sign of a more serious eye disease such as a retinal detachment. This is when your retina pulls away from the back of your eye: it may lead to a sudden increase in floaters and possibly a blank spot or shadow in your vision which does not go away. This needs immediate attention.

If you notice these symptoms you should contact your optometrist straight away. If you cannot do this you should seek urgent attention from an eye casualty department nearby, you can go to your usual hospital casualty department, but it is best to go to an eye casualty department if you can. An ophthalmologist, a specialist eye doctor, will need to use eye drops and a special light to look inside your eyes to check if your retina is damaged.


What are flashes?

Some people may see flashes of light in front of one of their eyes, like small sparkles, lightning or fireworks. These tend to be in extreme corners of your vision, come and go, and don't obscure any part of your vision. The flashes don't last for a defined length of time, and you may notice them more if you go from a light to a dark environment. They may continue for several months. These are different to the shimmering or zig-zag lines that may be part of a migraine. Migraine shimmers are a flickering of light, often on only one side of your vision, which then expands to the outside of your vision with a sort of jagged pattern. This will often obscure at least part of your vision (the left or right side). The shimmers usually go away after 10-20 minutes and may be followed by a headache, although some people may get migraine shimmers even if they do not have a headache afterwards.

Flashes occur when there is a pull on your retina. This might happen as the vitreous get inside your eye becomes more liquid and collapses. You may experience flashes occasionally, on and off over weeks or months. Flashes can also occur if you are hit in your eye.

Flashes related to a collapse of the gel inside your eye are more likely to happen as you get older.

Sometimes flashes just indicate a tug on your retina and nothing more. However constant flashes may be a sign of retinal detachment.

A retinal tear or retinal detachment may lead to a sudden increase in floaters as well as flashes. You might notice a shadow at the edge of your vision too. This needs immediate attention. If you notice these symptoms you should contact your optometrist straight away. If you cannot do this you should seek urgent attention from an eye casualty department at the hospital. If there is no eye casualty department nearby you can go to your usual casualty department, but it is best to go to an eye casualty department if you can. An ophthalmologist, a specialist eye doctor, will need to use eye drops and a special light to look inside your eyes to check if your retina is damaged.


Who is at risk of retinal detachment?

Some people are more at risk of a retinal detachment. These are people who:

  • have had eye surgery, such as a cataract operation or laser surgery after a cataract operation
  • are moderately short-sighted (over -3.00D)
  • had had a previous eye injury
  • have a family history of retinal detachment
  • are over the age of 50
  • have certain retinal diseases such as lattice or other retinal degeneration
  • have certain systemic diseases such as Marfan syndrome









Who is at risk of chronic glaucoma?


  • are aged over 40
  • are very short sighted
  • are of African or Caribbean origin
  • are closely related to someone with chronic glaucoma



How is chronic glaucoma detected?










What will happen if I have chronic glaucoma?



  • go to your follow-up appointments; and




I have glaucoma. Can I drive?



Acute glaucoma






People who are more likely to get acute glaucoma are:

  • people over the age of 40
  • women
  • people of East Asian or South Asian origin
  • people with a family history of close-angle glaucoma
  • people who are long sighted




International Glaucoma Association website

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration




The macula is an area at the back of your eye that you use for seeing fine detail such as reading a book.

Macular degeneration (MD) covers a number of conditions which affect the macula. The conditions affect you ability to do certain tasks such as reading and watching television, but does not affect your ability to walk around as your side vision is not affected.

One of the most common symptoms of MD is noticing that straight lines appear wavy or that there are patches missing from your vision. You may not notice this if it happens in one eye as your other eye will compensate, so it is important to regularly check your vision in each eye separately. You can do this by looking with each eye separately at the straight lines on a door frame or Venetian blind. If you notice the lines are distorted or there are missing patches, you should see your optometrist straight away.


What is macular degeneration?

Macular degeneration (MD) happens when the macula at the back of your eye becomes damaged. This can make it harder to see fine detail, such as recognising faces, or to read or watch television. However, this does not normally affect your ability to walk around as the edge of your vision should not be affected.


Does it cause blindness?

MD is the leading cause of blindness in the UK. However, most people with MD still have their peripheral (side) vision and so can see well enough to get around. However, they may not be able to see well enough to read without strong magnification.


Does it happen more as you get older?

The most common forms of MD happen more as you get older and are known as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Around one in 10 people aged 65 or over show some signs of AMD. Some younger people may have MD caused by a genetic condition but this is less common than AMD.


What are the symptoms of AMD?

Some people simply notice that things appear blurry or they have difficulty reading, even with their normal reading glasses. Other people may notice that they have a smudge in their central vision which does not go away, or they may notice that straight lines are distorted or wavy.

Some people with AMD may notice that they become sensitive to bright light, or that they find it difficult to adapt when going from a dark to a light environment. Some people notice that colours can fade.

These symptoms are more noticeable if you look for them with each eye separately, because if you have both eyes open then the better eye may compensate for the other one. We recommend you check your vision on a regular basis by looking at some detail, such as a book or magazine and covering each eye in turn. This will help you notice any changes in your vision early.


Can I do anything to protect myself from getting AMD?

Smoking is known as a major risk factor for developing AMD so if you smoke, try to stop. It is also believed that having a diet that is rich in coloured fruit and vegetables (for example, kale, spinach, celery and broccoli) may reduce your risk of developing AMD. A link has been found between obesity and AMD so you should try to maintain a healthy weight.

Other factors that increase your risk of developing AMD include having a family history of the condition. It is slightly more common in women than men. It is possible that exposure to ultraviolet light may be linked to AMD so we recommend you wear UV-absorbing glasses when you are going to be outside for long periods.

There are lots of dietary supplements on the market which claim to be beneficial for eye health. They may be helpful for some people. Discuss whether or not that may be helpful for you with your optometrist.

You should note that if you smoke or have been exposed to asbestos you should not take beta carotene.


I have heard that AMD can be 'wet' or 'dry' - is this right?

AMD can be classified as early or late. Early AMD is always dray AMD. This is when yellow deposits, known as drusen, build up behind the macula. Most people with early AMD have near normal vision. There is no treatment for early AMD.

A minority of people with early AMD can progress to late AMD. Late AMD may be 'wet' or 'dry'.

The commonest form of late AMD is the wet form. This happens when abnormal blood vessels begin to grow behind the macula and leak fluid. This pushes the macula away from its blood supply at the back of your eye and causes a rapid loss of vision (straight lines become wavy, or you have a blank spot or smudge in the centre of your vision).

You can check this yourself by looking at straight lines such as door and window frames or Venetian blinds. Or, you can look at a grid of squares printed on paper, called an Amsler grid.

Your optometrist will be able to advise you on this. It is important to do this with each eye separately and while wearing your glasses, if you need them. Wet AMD can be treated, so if you notice these symptoms, you need to see your optometrist straight away.

Late dry AMD is called geographic atrophy and is rarer than late wet AMD. This is where you loose vision because the retina at your macula thins but there are no leaking blood vessels. There is no treatment for geographic atrophy.


The Amsler test

  • Wear the glasses you usually wear to read
  • Hold the chart about 30cm (12 inches) away from your face
  • Cover each eye in turn. With the other eye look at the black dot in the middle of the chart. Are all the lines straight? Do you see any distortion, or any broken or wavy lines? Do you see any missing patches?
  • If you see anything unusual, you should contact your local optometrist straight away.

 Please click this link for more information and a larger, printable version of this grid


Is there any treatment for AMD?

There is currently no treatment for dry AMD. Lighting is very important and you may find it easier to read if you have good light at home, or sit near a window to read. If the dry AMD is interfering with you ability to see fine details, your optometrist can advise you on special magnifiers which can help you. Organisations link the RNIB or local services can provide you with equipment that can help you manage your day-to-day tasks. Your optometrist or GP will give you advice on contacting these services.

Wet AMD can often be treated if it is caught early enough and this is normally done by injecting a drug into the gel inside your eye. This shrinks the new blood vessels that are pushing the macula away from the back of your eye. You may need to have this repeated every four weeks for a few months. This will be provided on the NHS. It is important to spot any changes early by checking the vision in each eye separately and contacting your optometrist immediately if your vision suddenly becomes distorted or you have a blank spot in your vision.

If you have wet AMD, your optometrist will refer you to a specialist eye doctor, known as an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will decide if you need treatment by taking some scans of the back of your eye to show the thickness of the retina. They may also inject you in your arm with some special dye to see how this travels through the back of your eye, while taking a series of flash photographs of the inside of your eye.


After treatment

If you find you are struggling to see things because of poor vision, ask your doctor or optometrist for details of your local low vision service. RNIB can also give you advice on the help that is available. Contact the RNIB on 0303 123 9999.

Email: helpline@rnib.org.uk

Website: www.rnib.org.uk

For support in your local area, and more information about AMD contact the Macular Society.

Website: www.macularsociety.org

Tel: 0300 3030 111



Macular Society

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