Frequently Asked Questions

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The following is a partial list of symptoms in children and adults which indicate the need for a complete vision analysis:

• headaches, nausea or dizziness after visual concentration
• blurred or double vision at any time
• crossed or turned eyes
• blinking or eye rubbing after visual concentration
• dislike or avoidance of close work
• short attention span
• placing head close to book when reading or writing
• frowning while looking at the TV or blackboard
• difficulty reading small print
• difficulty adjusting focus between near and far objects.
   

Astigmatism is an out-of-roundness of one or more surfaces in the eye's optical system.

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.
 

Presbyopia is a gradual loss in the focussing ability (accommodation) of the eye and is part of the normal vision changes we all experience.

This is caused by a natural hardening of the eye lens, so that by the early 40's it does not respond as well to the muscles intended to change the focus of the eye. As a result, people in this age group start to have difficulty with near tasks like reading small print, threading a needle, etc.. This is especially true at the end of the day when lighting levels are poorer and the individual is more likely to be tired. Correction consists of reading spectacles, bifocals or the newer progressive lenses.
 

Amblyopia is a reduced vision, generally in only one eye. The condition usually results from poor eye co-ordination, from having a turned eye, or after having one eye which requires a far greater lens power.

The reduced vision occurs because, for one or more of the above reasons, one eye is being used less than the other. When detected early enough, patching, vision training and lenses may help to reverse or prevent permanent damage to the vision.
 

Macular Degeneration (MD) is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys central vision. Central vision occurs at the macula on the retina, at the back of the eye. Because it is the central part of vision, it is needed for seeing objects clearly and for common everyday tasks such as reading and driving.

In some cases, MD advances so slowly that people fail to notice the gradual deterioration of their vision. In others, the disease progresses faster and may lead to a permanent loss of central vision.

While there is presently no cure for Macular Degeneration, there are steps that you can take to prevent or slow the progress of the disease.

MD is present in 15% of people between the ages of 70-75 and is now the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia.

Symptoms of Macular Degeneration

• The first signs of MD involve distortion of vision where straight lines appear wavy or bent, rather than loss of sight.
• Difficulty reading.
• Difficulty distinguishing faces.
• Need for increased illumination.
• Sensitivity to glare.
• Decreased night vision.
• Reduced colour sensitivity.
• In many cases, MD progresses so slowly that people don’t notice changes until their vision has already been significantly compromised.

Risks for developing MD:

• Ageing is the greatest risk factor. The prevalence trebles with each decade over 40 years.
• Smokers have a 3 times greater risk of developing MD. They also develop the disease approximately 10 years earlier than non-smokers.
• Women have slightly higher risk than men.
• Family history is a risk factor. Genes have been identified and linked with MD. There is a 50% chance of developing MD if there is a family history of the disease.

Defense against MD:

• Early detection of MD is crucial as some forms of the disease may be arrested with early treatment.
• Regular eye examinations are the key to early detection before vision loss occurs.
• Eat a healthy diet. (See more details below).
• Consider taking a zinc and anti-oxidant supplement.
• Eye protection against UV damage. This is especially important before MD develops.
• Maintain a healthy weight and get some regular exercise (minimum of a 30 minute walk, three times a week).
• Don’t smoke.

Diet and MD

Diet can help with good eye health and there is a recommended eating program that can lower the risk of Macular Degeneration. Scientific studies have shown that MD responds to anti-oxidants and other nutrients. This is not an unpleasant diet, but simply emphasizes the benefits of vegetables, fruit and fish.

Anti-oxidants benefit our health by neutralisng “free radicals” in the body. The most important anti-oxidants are:

• Lutein – Found in especially high levels in leafy dark green vegetables (eg spinach)
• Vitamin C – Found in citrus fruits, papaya and rockmelon. Or vegetables like capsicum, peas and broccoli.
• Vitamin E – Found in nuts (almonds, pine nuts, brazil nuts), whole grains, leafy green vegetables, broccoli and carrots.
• Zinc – Found in meat, seafood (especially oysters), nuts (cashews, pine nuts, brazil nuts, pecans, almonds) and whole grains.

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.

More information:

Talk to your optometrist about having regular eye tests to help detect MD as early as possible to prevent vision loss. Or visit the website of the Macular Degeneration Foundation at www.mdfoundation.com.au
 

Eye muscle inco-ordinations occur when the eyes do not align or focus together as a team. This improper control of the eye muscles can result in crossed-eyes, poor focussing ability, or simply discomfort and headache from the extra effort required.

Common remedies are vision training, prisms, therapeutic spectacles, bifocal or progressive lenses.
 

Glaucoma is a disease where the pressure within the eye is typically increased (although not always). This can damage parts of the eye, and if left untreated may result in blindness.

Many times the symptoms are not noticeable until damage to the eye has already occurred. Diagnosis consists of having regular eye examinations which include a pressure measurement (usually every 2 years for patients over 40), to enable early detection of possible problems.

Cataract is an opacity or clouding of the lens inside the eye, then distorting the light as it enters. Cataract is often confused with pterygium but cataract cannot be seen on the surface of the eye.

Symptoms of cataract may include a gradual painless decrease in clear vision, hazy vision, increased sensitivity to glare, and even double vision.

Special tints or filters can often improve vision and UV protection can help to slow development of this condition.

The eventual "cure" is surgical removal of the lens with cataract and replacement with an artificial lens (intra-ocular lens implant).
 

Pterygium is a triangular growth of degenerative tissue on the white of the eye (sclera), usually on the nasal side, that may extend onto the clear window of the eye called the cornea.

A pterygium results from irritation due to long term exposure to ultra-violet light (UV), wind, glare or dust. Treatment is by eliminating the irritation with protective eyewear, eye-drops or surgery.
 

Spots and floaters are semi-transparent specks of natural materials inside the eye, which sometimes can be seen floating in the field of vision.

Some patients comment that they look like cobwebs or threads, and most usually notice floaters when looking at a bright clear background like a ceiling or plain coloured wall.

They can be caused by debris left over from before birth, injury or eye disease. A full eye examination will determine the cause and whether any follow-up is needed.
 

It is normal for most eyes to be long-sighted at birth. This usually reduces as the eye grows to full adult size during adolescence. It is then in the teens that short-sightedness tends to develop, if at all.

After a relatively stable time in the 20's and 30's another significant time for change begins in the 40's. This involves a gradual loss in the ability to finely focus the lens inside the eye. The result is a totally normal and expected change called "presbyopia", which continues into the 60's.

After 60, the eye will tend toward less long-sightedness or more short-sightedness as the inner part of the eye lens hardens. Sensitive vision drops and the retina's fine discrimination of colours is dulled. By 70 most eyes show signs of cataract and the older, harder, clouded eye lens scatters light so that glare often becomes more of a problem.
 

Your optometrist will advise you of the interval between your full eye & vision examinations which is appropriate for your vision and eye health needs. This time interval does vary for different situations, so we contact our patients when their next routine check is due. Changes in vision and eye health are often quite slow and subtle, and can easily go unnoticed if not checked regularly.

Of course if a problem arises sooner, please make an appointment so that we can assess the situation for you.