Eye Health

A cataract is an opaque clouding of the lens of your eye, which is normally clear. Cataracts develop when the normally highly-organized proteins that make up the lens begin to clump together. For many people who have cataracts, it can appear like they are looking through foggy or frosted glass. The most common symptoms of cataracts are cloudy vision, glare, poor night vision, reduced colour vision, double vision/ multiple images and frequent changes in glasses.

It is worth noting that many people who have cataracts don’t experience visual disturbances right away because they develop slowly, and gradually increase in size. Furthermore, the degree to which a cataract can disrupt vision depends on the size and location of the cataract within the lens. Significant cataracts will interfere with regular activities such as driving, reading and watching TV.

 An optometrist is able to diagnose cataracts during a routine eye exam using a slit lamp, and also through testing visual acuity. There are a variety of treatment options for cataracts. The symptoms of early cataracts can be improved with new glasses, magnifying lenses, anti-glare lenses and brighter lighting. Once the cataract starts producing significant reductions in vision, the best treatment option is to have surgery. Cataract surgery involves removing the cataract-containing lens and replacing it with a new, clear lens. This procedure is extremely safe and effective. 

Dry macular degeneration is a common eye disorder among people especially with light coloured eyes over 50. It causes blurred or reduced central vision, due to thinning of the macula (MAK-u-luh). The macula is the part of the retina responsible for clear vision in your direct line of sight or center of your vision.

Dry macular degeneration may first develop in one or both eyes and then affect both eyes. Over time, your vision may worsen and affect your ability to do things, such as read, drive and recognize faces. But this doesn't mean you'll lose all of your sight. Vision loss is typically central and people retain their peripheral vision. 

Some people have only mild central vision loss, while in others it can be more severe.

Early detection and self-care measures may delay vision loss due to dry macular degeneration 

Optical coherence Tomography OCT is one of the tools that Optometrists use to detect early changes caused by Macular Degeneration, You can ask for this test to be done on a routine basis to pick up Macular degeneration as early as possible

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