Looking after your eyes

Pre-Test

If you’re over 40 years of age and notice that it’s becoming difficult to read the menu in a low-lit restaurant, or if you have to extend your arms when reading a book or sending a text, you’re probably suffering from presbyopia. This is a natural part of growing older and occurs when your eyes lose their ability to bring close objects into clear focus.

What symptoms will I have?

• Difficulty seeing objects up-close
• Blurred vision at normal reading distance
• Eye strain or fatigue when reading
• Headaches

Can Presbyopia be treated?

When we’re younger the lens of the eye is soft and flexible, which means it can easily change shape and focus on objects up-close and far away. But as we get older the lens loses elasticity and becomes harder and less flexible.

It makes it harder for the eyes to focus on things close to us.

It happens to all of us with age, but medical conditions like diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or heart disease, may increase your chances of presbyopia at an earlier age (before 40).

What causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia can’t be reversed or cured, but there are plenty of options to help correct your vision. Your optometrist can talk you through these after a routine eye test. If you don’t have any other vision problems, reading glasses might be all you need. However, if you have myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism you might benefit from wearing multifocal lenses.

What causes Presbyopia?

Presbyopia can’t be reversed or cured, but there are plenty of options to help correct your vision. Your optometrist can talk you through these after a routine eye test. If you don’t have any other vision problems, reading glasses might be all you need. However, if you have myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism you might benefit from wearing multifocal lenses.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about presbyopia, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Myopia (short sightedness)

Presbyopia can’t be reversed or cured, but there are plenty of options to help correct your vision. Your optometrist can talk you through these after a routine eye test. If you don’t have any other vision problems, reading glasses might be all you need. However, if you have myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatism you might benefit from wearing multifocal lenses.

If you can see close objects clearly but have trouble focusing on objects in the distance, you’re probably short sighted or have myopia. You may find it difficult to read signs, watch television or recognise people walking down the street towards you.

Ask our optometrists about new treatment options available to slow down the progression of myopia.

It may be struggling to read something far off or you might notice kids sitting too close to the TV. Either way, myopia can also cause:

• Headache
• Eye strain
• Eye fatigue
• Squinting

Myopia / short-sightedness is a structural problem in the eye where there’s too much of a curve in the cornea or crystalline lens - or the eyeball is too long. This means light focuses in front of the retina in the back of the eye, instead of directly onto it, making objects in the distance appear blurry.

It’s not totally clear what the underlying cause is, but research suggests short-sightedness runs in the family. It’s also interesting to note that spending too much time inside or focused on objects up close (like books, screens, etc) can be a contributing factor.

How is myopia diagnosed?

It’s actually a pretty straightforward eye test that lets your optometrist know if you’ve got myopia symptoms. Using an eye chart, your visual acuity will be checked – and other instruments can pick up if someone’s short or long-sighted.

It’s often picked up in childhood, but if it’s not treated it tends to get worse until after the teenage years – that’s why early detection is really important. The good news is that there are strategies that can significantly reduce the rate and degree of deterioration.

Treating myopia

There’s no cure for myopia, but glasses or contact lenses can correct your vision. It’s important to get in as early as possible. A tailored management plan (taking into account your age, prescriptions and lifestyle needs) with your optometrist can really help reduce the speed or severity of vision problems.

Keep having regular eye tests - it’s also important to ensure you don’t develop complications like glaucoma, cataracts or other eye conditions.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about myopia, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Hyperopia (long sightedness)

Your distance vision is good, but you have trouble with closer objects, which appear blurred. Other symptoms include eye fatigue, headaches and aching eyes, especially after reading or working on a computer. Finding it difficult to see characters when texting may also be a sign of hyperopia.

Hyperopia is caused by the shape of the eye - the eyeball is slightly too short. It is corrected by spectacles or contact lenses with lenses which are 'plus' or convex in shape. If you are long sighted, your prescription will have a plus lens power eg +2.50D.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about hyperopia, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Astigmatism (irregular shaped eye)

Your distance vision is good, but you have trouble with closer objects, which appear blurred. Other symptoms include eye fatigue, headaches and aching eyes, especially after reading or working on a computer. Finding it difficult to see characters when texting may also be a sign of hyperopia.

Hyperopia is caused by the shape of the eye - the eyeball is slightly too short. It is corrected by spectacles or contact lenses with lenses which are 'plus' or convex in shape. If you are long sighted, your prescription will have a plus lens power eg +2.50D.

Most people don’t have a perfectly shaped cornea. However, an irregularly curved cornea can sometimes cause blurred vision and this is known as astigmatism. This is very common and is not a disease.

What symptoms will I have?

• Blurred, distorted or ‘double vision'
• Fatigue and eye strain
• Headaches
• Short-sightedness (myopia) or long-sightedness (hyperopia).

How can you treat it?

The good news is astigmatism is easy to diagnose during a routine eye test and rest assured, it’s also easy to correct with glasses or contact lenses and in some cases laser surgery. Your optometrist will recommend the best option for you.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about astigmatism, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Cataracts

For most people, cataracts occur naturally through the process of ageing. A cataract clouds the lens of your eye, making it look milky, and the condition becomes worse over time. Symptoms include hazy vision causing blurred or distorted images, colours that appear more yellow and needing more light to see clearly.

When do cataracts usually develop?

Most cataracts develop just with age. They tend to affect people over 65, but it can vary – with some affected earlier and some with no issues until their 70s. Most of us will have some form of cataract development by around 80.

It’s worth noting that aside from age, other risk factors include long-term exposure to sunlight, smoking, diabetes and family history.

What will I notice if I’m developing cataracts?

You might not notice much at all early on, but as they progress they can cause cloudy, blurred or dim vision. Some people say it’s like looking through a dirty window.

It’s also quite common for people to feel sensitive to glare - especially on a bright sunny day or when driving at night on artificially lit roads. If you need to change glasses or contact lens prescriptions more frequently, that can be a sign too.

What can I do about it?

Short term, you can often get some relief with a new glasses prescription. But the most effective way to get relief is to have them surgically removed. The good news is it’s pretty straightforward and is usually performed under a local anaesthetic. If you don’t have any other eye conditions, your vision should significantly improve after surgery.

While you can’t do much to prevent cataracts, wearing good sunglasses can help. Smoking’s a risk factor too, so quitting is the best way to take that risk out of the equation.

Having a regular eye test with your optometrist, especially if you’re over the age of 65, can help with early detection and treatment of any eye conditions.

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about cataracts, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects your peripheral vision slowly and may not be noticeable until it’s advanced. The disease affects the nerve fibres at the back of your eye. Once the fibres die, you experience loss of vision and, potentially, blindness so it’s really important for us to diagnose this condition early.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma affects your peripheral vision slowly and may not be noticeable until it’s advanced. The disease affects the nerve fibres at the back of your eye. Once the fibres die, you experience loss of vision and, potentially, blindness so it’s really important for us to diagnose this condition early.

What symptoms will I have?

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms, get in to see your optometrist as soon as you can:

• Blurred vision
• Seeing rainbows, or halos around lights
• Vision loss

How is glaucoma treated??

Treatment for glaucoma includes eye drops, medication, laser surgery and other procedures to lower the pressure inside the eye. It’s really important to get in as early as you can to prevent further loss of vision.

Any loss of eyesight is irreversible – but early detection through regular eye tests and treatment can make all the difference in slowing the progression of the disease.

Am I at risk?

Glaucoma doesn’t discriminate – you can start developing it at any age. The risk is higher if you’re older, and if someone in your family has it your risk is ten times higher too. All the more reason to stay ahead of it and have regular eye tests.

What symptoms will I have?

• age
• a family history
• diabetes
• migraine
• short-sightedness (myopia)
• a history of eye injuries
• elevated blood pressure
• use of steroid drugs
• ethnicity (Asian or African background are at increased risk)

We’re here to help. If you have any questions about glaucoma, speak to your optometrist or book an eye test today.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes occur when your eyes aren’t lubricated enough, the chemical composition of your tears is not balanced or you don’t produce enough tears. It can lead to uncomfortable sensations such as scratchy, itchy or tired eyes. You may also experience burning or red eyes and blurred vision. Strangely enough, dry eyes may sometimes be watery too.

What are the symptoms?

Dry eyes occur when your eyes aren’t lubricated enough, the chemical composition of your tears is not balanced or you don’t produce enough tears. It can lead to uncomfortable sensations such as scratchy, itchy or tired eyes. You may also experience burning or red eyes and blurred vision. Strangely enough, dry eyes may sometimes be watery too.

The damage caused by UV rays is often irreversible and your most delicate skin is around the eyes making it the most susceptible to sun damage. Whilst the eyelid is designed to protect the eye, its skin is exceedingly thin and contains many fragile tissues that may be injured by UV light.

A sensitivity to light can be a trigger for migraine headaches. To combat this problem, you can try wearing tinted lenses to lessen the effect of the UV rays hitting your face. Dark sunglasses can be helpful for wearing outdoors to protect your eyes from the direct effects of the sunlight, while lighter tinted glasses can be useful for indoors. You can also ask your optometrist about photochromic lenses, which are designed to change the level of tint according to the intensity of light. This can save you the hassle of having to swap out a particular pair of tinted lenses for another as you move throughout the day.

Macular degeneration is an age-related condition that causes a gradual loss of the central vision in your eyes. Unfortunately, it can also be exacerbated by exposure to UV rays. The ultraviolet radiation can damage cells in the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. If you have macular degeneration, it's essential to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes while outside. Certain types of coloured lenses (such as yellow, orange and brown) can help improve your contrast vision. Always look for lenses that that offer 100 per cent UV protection and are polarised to protect against the glare of reflected sunlight.

If you're looking to trial contact lenses, you will still need to wear sunglasses and a hat to protect your eyes from the UV rays. There are many different types of contact lenses you can try, including Bailey Nelson’s own brand contact lenses and Acuvue Moist. You'll need to test out the brand and fit that feel the most comfortable for you. Water content isn't the ultimate indicator of comfort as some of the most oxygen permeable lenses today still have a low water content. Ask your optometrist about doing a trial.

Give your eyes a break

Spending long periods looking at computer, phone, or tablet screens can strain the eyes. Using the 20-20-20 rule can help to prevent this problem. For every 20 minutes spent looking at a screen, a person should look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds. This is a great way to reduce eye strain caused by looking at digital screens for too long.

Eat a healthy diet

Make sure you’re eating a wide range of healthy foods like vegies and fruit, grains / cereals, lean meats and dairy. This is good for your whole body – and that includes your eyes. Nutrients like zinc, copper, vitamin C and E, beta carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin are found in foods like fruit and veg, oily fish, beef and eggs – and all help to keep eyes healthy.

Exercise regularly

We know regular exercise keeps our body healthy, but did you know it’s also a great way to look after your eyes? Studies show exercise can reduce the risk of age related macular degeneration. Maintaining a healthy weight through regular exercise can also help prevent or manage type two diabetes, high cholesterol or blood pressure.

Quit smoking for good

Smoking can lead to vision loss and blindness – another reason to get rid of that habit for good. If you smoke, you’ll be at greater risk of conditions like age related macular degeneration, cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

Manage diabetes, high blood pressure and cholesterol

It’s important to stay on top of diabetes, high blood pressure or high cholesterol diagnosis, because if they’re not managed they can cause sight threatening eye diseases. Diabetes is the leading cause of preventable blindness in the country.

Get a good pair of sunglasses

It’s no surprise that our eyes are as affected by sun exposure as our skin is. UV exposure can cause eye problems like cataracts and pterygium and can damage the cornea and retina. Larger frames and wrap around glasses offer the best sun protection.

Wear eye protection

Your eyes are sensitive so it’s important to protect them from dust, airborne objects, bright lights and chemicals. Safety glasses are standard personal protective equipment for most people working in construction or on mine sites, but it’s also recommended people wear safety glasses while mowing the lawn, whipper-snipping or using power tools at home.

Have regular eye tests

Just like seeing a doctor for a check-up, an eye test is an important part of looking after ourselves. As well as measuring and correcting any vision problems an optometrist will also look at the overall health of your eyes..