Ravi Optician

It is vital that your eye examination is part of your overall health care. It will not only indicate the health of your eyes, but can also allow your Optometrist to detect early symptoms of general health problems, such as diabetes or high blood pressure.

What are these harmful yet easily diagnosed eye problems?
Cataracts
A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens inside the eye. It is part of the natural aging process and blurs the light entering the eye and scatters it - reducing vision and making it seem misty. Similar the effect of light hitting a dirty car windscreen. A cataract is easily diagnosed by your optometrist. At Athenry Opticians, we can either refer patients directly to a specialist or to their GP who will arrange an appointment in the eye clinic.

Conjunctivitus
Conjunctivitus is an inflammation of the Conjunctiva. The Conjunctiva is the thin layer that covers the white of the eye and the inside of the eyelids. It can affect one or both eyes, but is extremely contageous. We advise patients who are displaying symptoms of conjunctivitus (itchy and sore eyes) to seek medical advise from their Doctor as soon as possible - before contacting us. Contact lens wearers should remove their lenses and wear glasses instead - if you are wearing disposable lenses, we also advise you to throw the pair of lenses away to avoid re-infection. For patients wearing gas permeable lenses - please contact your practice for advice immediately.

Diabetes
Diabetes can lead to a condition called diabetic retinopathy and other eye problems which can eventually can lead to blindness if not diagnosed or treated early.

Dry Eye
Dry Eye is a condition caused by the eyes not producing enough tears or producing tears of poor quality - leading to itchy, uncomfortable eyes. Some eyes produce too many tears to compensate and become watery. At Athenry Opticians we have a range of treatments available from both practices to help alleviate the symptoms of dry eyes.

elderly-ladyGlaucoma
Glaucoma is a disease where the pressure of the fluid inside the eye (intra-ocular pressure) is too high to withstand without damage to its structure. This causes loss of vision and eventually tunnel vision if left untreated. All of our optometrists look for signs of Glaucoma during your eye examination and can refer patients to specialists if necessary. Patients who suffer from glaucoma or those who are aged 40 or over and have a direct relative (brother, sister, mother, father) who has/had glaucoma should have their eye examined regularly.

Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration causes loss of central vision and is the leading cause of registered vision impairment for people over 50 in the western world.

What happens?
The eye is like a camera. The front part is clear and contains the lens that focuses light onto the retina at the back, which is like the film in the camera. In the centre of the retina lies the macula, an area the size of a grain of rice which contains the cells that process the fine detail and colour of what you see. The rest of the retina lying outside the macula processes your peripheral vision.

Macular Degeneration (MD) causes the macula to deteriorate. If it occurs later in life, it is called Age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This leads to varying degrees of visual impairment and will impede daily activities such as reading, driving, recognising faces and working with fine detail. It does not lead to total blindness since peripheral vision is not lost.

There are two main types of MD - Dry and Wet

Dry MD: This is the steady deterioration of the cells of the macula. Onset and progression is normally gradual. Unfortunately there is currently no treatment for Dry MD but those with the condition can be considerably helped by the use of low vision aids. Giving up smoking, maintaining a healthy diet, and/or the use of nutritional supplements may stabilist or slow down development of both types of MD.

Wet MD: This results from the growth of abnormal blood vessels lying behind the macula. These vessels leak fluid causing damage and scarring to the macula itself leading to loss of central vision. Wet MD often starts suddenly and can progress very quickly. Speed is ESSENTIAL.

If you have noticed a sudden change in your vision, ring us straight away to book an appointment and explain your symptoms. We can then refer you directly to a retinal specialist at the most suitable clinic. For suspected Wet MD the patient should be seen urgently and within a week if possible. For Dry MD change will be more gradual and a patient should receive an opthalmic assessment within 3 months. Your condition may be referred to as wet or dry MD.