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Eye conditions

Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye, which lies behind the iris and pupil. Our natural lens functions similar to the lens in a camera. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens is also able to adjust the eye's focus allowing us to see things clearly both near and far. When we are young this lens is clear. Over the years the lens can lose its clarity and the light that is transmitted through it is reduced and starts to scatter. The result is that images are not focused properly onto the retina at the back of the eye and vision may start to become poor. A lens which has lost its ability to clearly transmit light is called a cataract. Full article

Diabetic Retinopathy

Complications of diabetes in the eye remain the leading cause of legal blindness in people in the age group of the working population. Most of this vision loss is preventable if vision-threatening changes at the back of the eye are detected early enough and treated ,where appropriate, with laser treatment.

In the average group of people with diabetes at least one third of them will have some retinopathy. In the majority of people it is at an early stage with no immediate risk of sight loss. The longer one has diabetes the more likely retinopathy becomes and the poorer the control of blood sugar levels the more likely the chance of developing retinopathy and the greater the likelihood it will deteriorate. Full article

Macular Degeneration

Macular Degeneration is the name given to the group of degenerative retinal eye diseases that cause progressive loss of central vision.

Macular Degeneration affects the macula ,the central part of the retina responsible for clear, central vision needed for daily activities like reading or driving.

Although, many people are not aware of it Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD or ARMD ), the most common type of macular degeneration, is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. Full article