- Blepharitis >
- Cataracts >
- Diabetic Retinopathy >
- Dry Eye >
- Dry Macular Degeneration >
- Epiretinal Membrane >
- Facial Movement Disorders >
- Glaucoma >
- Macular Hole >
- Pterygia >
- Retinal Detachment >
- Strabismus >
- Vitreous Opacity >
- Wet Macular Degeneration >
Blepharitis
Blepharitis is an inflammation of the margins of the eyelids. It can take two forms: anterior blepharitis, which affects the outer eyelid where the eyelashes attach, and posterior blepharitis, which affects the inner eyelid just behind the eyelashes.
Symptoms of either form include a sensation of something in the eye, itching, excessive blinking, sensitivity to light, sore eyelids, red or swollen eyelids, excessive or frothy tears, crusting of the eyelashes on waking and loss of eyelashes.
Blepharitis is a chronic condition, most effectively managed by regular eyelid hygiene using a solution of water and a mild cleanser, such as baby shampoo. People with posterior blepharitis will also benefit from gently massaging their eyelids. People with scalp dandruff or rosacea should manage these conditions in conjunction with their blepharitis.
In severe cases an eye specialist may need to prescribe antibiotic or cortisone eye drops. You should see an eye specialist if you are suffering from severe blepharitis.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of blepharitis.
Cataracts
A cataract is a progressive clouding of the lens of the eye, which is situated behind the iris and through which light passes to the retina. As the clouding progresses, vision gradually diminishes and is eventually lost.
Cataracts are usually associated with ageing, but can also be hereditary or related to trauma or other eye conditions. Smoking and exposure to ultraviolet light also increase the risk of cataracts.
Most cataracts can be corrected by surgery to remove the cloudy lens from the lens capsule and replace it with a permanent artificial lens. As long as the eye is otherwise healthy, cataract surgery has a high success rate and recovery is usually rapid.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in cataract surgery.
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, caused by the complications of diabetes. This damage occurs when the effects of diabetes on blood glucose levels cause the retinal blood vessels to weaken and haemorrhage.
It is estimated that close to one million people in Australia now have diabetes, and all of these people are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. This risk increases the longer a person has diabetes, with further risk factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking.
It is important for people with diabetes to have their eyes examined regularly, as early treatment of abnormal blood vessels can prevent loss of vision.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of diabetic retinopathy.
Dry Eye
Dry eye occurs when the eyes do not produce enough tears, or when the tears produced evaporate too readily. There are several possible causes of dry eye, including medications, medical conditions, eye surgery, frequent exposure to low humidity, infrequent blinking and long-term contact lens wear.
Symptoms of dry eye can include a sensation of something in the eye, excessive tears, excessive dryness, blurred vision, decreased tolerance of activities requiring sustained visual attention and discomfort while wearing contact lenses.
Dry eye is a chronic condition most effectively managed with artificial tears and lubricating eye ointment. People with dry eye will also benefit from wearing wrap-around sunglasses, avoiding environments of low humidity and resting frequently when performing tasks requiring sustained visual attention.
In rare cases, dry eye can irritate the surface of the eye or cause visual impairment. If these cases, a minor surgical procedure may be recommended. You should see an eye specialist if you are suffering from severe symptoms of dry eye.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of dry eye.
Dry Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration, or MD, refers to a group of conditions that cause damage to the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. MD is usually associated with ageing, and is the leading cause of blindness in Australia, affecting one in three people over the age of 75.
There are two types of MD: wet and dry. Dry MD occurs when cells in the retina degenerate, leaving collections of deposits in the macula located at the centre of the retina. Dry MD usually causes gradual loss of vision, typically over many years, but if left undetected or untreated can lead to wet MD.
Smoking is a major risk factor in the development of macular degeneration. It is also more common in people with a family history of MD. Early detection and treatment is important, as it can have a significant impact on prognosis.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the detection and treatment of macular degeneration.
Epiretinal Membrane
Epiretinal membrane is the formation of scar tissue on the macula, which is located at centre of the retina and is responsible for clarity of vision. Epiretinal membrane is usually associated with ageing, but can also be caused by diabetic retinopathy.
Epiretinal membrane occurs when the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills most of the eye, shrinks and withdraws from the retinal surface. This is a normal part of ageing, but sometimes when the vitreous pulls away it causes microscopic damage to the surface of the retina, leading to the formation of scar tissue which causes blurring and distortion of central vision.
In many cases, epiretinal membrane requires no treatment, but in cases where it impairs vision vitrectomy surgery may be necessary. Vitrectomy surgery for epiretinal membrane involves removing the scar tissue, together with the vitreous to prevent it from pulling on the retina, and replacing the vitreous with an artificial solution. Postoperative posturing is not required following vitrectomy for epiretinal membrane.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of epiretinal membrane.
Facial Movement Disorders
Facial movement disorders are conditions that cause involuntary spasm of the facial muscles. Depending on which muscles are affected, these conditions can cause serious impairment to vision.
Facial movement disorders that impair vision include blepharospasm, an involuntary blinking or spasm of the eyelids, and hemifacial spasm, an involuntary contraction of the muscles on one side of the face.
An approved treatment of facial movement disorders is the injection of botulinum toxin, commonly known as Botox, which paralyses the affected muscles, causing the spasm to cease. The paralysing effect of Botox is temporary, so treatment is required approximately every six months.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of facial movement disorders.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma refers to a group of conditions that cause permanent damage to the optic nerve through the pressure of fluid within the eye. The prevalence of glaucoma increases with age, and it is more common in people over 40. Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness in Australia.
The optic nerve attaches to the back of the eye, and relays visual information from the retina to the brain. Damage to the optic nerve causes progressive visual loss, which is often missed by people suffering from glaucoma because it begins at the periphery of the visual field.
There is currently no cure for glaucoma, but if detected and treated early its progression can be slowed and loss of vision limited. Glaucoma is a lifelong condition requiring regular monitoring and management.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the monitoring and management of glaucoma.
Macular Hole
A macular hole is a small tear in the macula, which is located at centre of the retina and is responsible for central vision. Macular hole is usually associated with ageing, but can also be caused by other eye disorders, trauma, epiretinal membrane and retinal detachment.
Macular hole occurs when the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills most of the eye, shrinks and withdraws from the retinal surface. This is a normal part of ageing, but sometimes when the vitreous pulls away it can tear a small hole in the retina through which fluid then enters, causing blurring and distortion of central vision.
Early treatment of macular hole is important, and in most cases vitrectomy surgery will be necessary. Vitrectomy surgery for macular hole involves removing the vitreous to prevent it from pulling on the retina, and replacing it with an artificial bubble that holds the edge of the macular hole in place, enabling it to heal. Postoperative posturing is usually required following vitrectomy for macular hole.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of macular hole.
Pterygia
A pterygium is a pink, wedge-shaped growth extending from the inside corner of the eye towards the cornea, the clear dome covering the iris and pupil. The exact causes of pterygia are unknown, but frequent exposure to ultraviolet light, wind and irritants is common among people who develop them.
Pterygia are benign, but if left to develop can extend over the cornea, leading to obstruction of vision or astigmatism (corneal distortion). A pterygium can also cause chronic irritation or discomfort, a bloodshot appearance to the eye, and difficulty wearing contact lenses. In such cases, pterygium surgery is recommended.
Pterygium surgery involves making an incision in the membrane covering the white of the eye, through which the pterygium is lifted clear of the cornea and then excised. Pterygium surgery has a high success rate, with the likelihood of recurrence less than ten per cent.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in pterygium surgery.
Retinal Detachment
Retinal detachment occurs when the retina, a thin layer of light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye, peels away from its underlying support tissue. It is often caused by trauma to the eye or head, but is more common in people with a history or family history of retinal detachment, or who have had cataract surgery or other eye disorders.
Retinal detachment can range from a small tear to a completely detached retina. Its impact on vision will depend on the location and severity of the detachment, but complete retinal detachment can result in permanent loss of vision.
Any suspected retinal detachment should be assessed as soon as possible. Symptoms include a sudden increase in floaters and flashes, and areas of shadow in the visual field. Surgery to correct retinal detachment has a high success rate if it is detected early.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of retinal detachment.
Strabismus
Strabismus is a condition in which the eyes are not correctly aligned, with the result that each eye focuses on a different point in space. People with strabismus often appear ‘cross-eyed’, with one eye appearing turned in, or ‘wall-eyed’, with one eye appearing turned out.
Strabismus can impair vision in several ways, including amblyopia (lazy eye), diplopia (double vision) and difficulty with depth perception. The cosmetic effects of strabismus can also have a negative effect on self-image.
Strabismus is typically caused by a lack of coordination between the extraocular muscles that control eye movement. Some forms of strabismus can be effectively treated with surgery to realign the eyes, by shortening, lengthening, or changing the position of one or more of the extraocular muscles.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of strabismus.
Vitreous Opacity
Vitreous opacity occurs when the vitreous, a gel-like substance that fills most of the eye, shrinks and forms strands that cast shadows on the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. These shadows manifest in the visual field as ‘floaters’.
Floaters are small spots, thread-like strands or squiggly lines that appear to ‘float’ in the visual field. They follow eye movements but not precisely, appearing to drift when the eyes stop moving and dart away when looked at directly. They may be accompanied by ‘flashes’, small flashes of light that can appear with or without the presence of floaters.
Floaters and flashes should be investigated, as vitreous degeneration can lead to retinal detachment. Most are simply a result of ageing, and while they may be distracting at first, people can learn to ignore them. In cases where floaters interfere significantly with vision, vitrectomy surgery may be required.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the treatment of vitreous opacity.
Wet Macular Degeneration
Macular degeneration, or MD, refers to a group of conditions that cause damage to the retina, the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. MD is usually associated with ageing, and is the leading cause of blindness in Australia, affecting one in three people over the age of 75.
There are two types of MD: wet and dry. Wet MD occurs when the blood vessels responsible for collecting waste products grow into the retina, leaking fluid and blood, which cause progressive scarring. Left undetected or untreated, wet MD usually causes rapid and severe loss of vision.
Treatment is now available for wet MD that may stabilise and even improve vision. Early detection and treatment is important, as it can have a significant impact on prognosis.
Coastal Eye Centre offers the highest standard of expertise in the detection and treatment of macular degeneration.