Ophthalmology

Occurring in one or both eyes, AMD is a common condition involving damage to the macula (located at the centre of the retina), which affects central vision and the ability to see finer details. Macula degeneration will make certain activities, such as reading and driving, more difficult for the sufferer.

Symptoms include:

• Distorted and blurred vision
• An inability to see objects in the centre of your vision
• An inability to see fine details close-up and at a distance
• Straight lines appearing wavy
• Colours appear less bright
• Objects appearing smaller than they are
• Peripheral vision tends to remain normal

The risk of developing macular degeneration is increased for people who smoke, are overweight, have high blood pressure or have a family history of the disorder.

The BPH consultant specialists offer intravitreal injections and photodynamic therapy to compact the effects of AMD. The injections use anti-VEGF medications, which are regularly injected into the eye to prevent the growth of abnormal cells, bleeding and leaking under the retina. Vision aids, such as magnifying glasses, brighter lighting and digital technology, can also be used to minimise the effects of AMD in your day-to-day.

Amblyopia (also known as Lazy Eye) is a type of poor vision which typically affects one eye but can also affect both in rarer cases. Usually starting in childhood, vision loss develops due to a breakdown in communication between the brain and the eye. Over time, the brain will rely more on the ‘stronger’ eye while the other weakens.

Symptoms include:

• Squinting
• Tilting of the head to see
• Shutting one eye to aid vision
• Poor depth perception

Certain eye conditions can lead to amblyopia if left unaddressed, such as refractive errors (near/far sightedness and astigmatism), strabismus, and cataracts. Amblyopia treatment is most successful in children, so starting treatment for lazy eyes as young as possible is important. BPHC ophthalmic specialists can treat amblyopia by addressing any underlying condition through glasses or surgery and re-training the brain to use the weaker eye. This is usually achieved by wearing an eye patch or putting special eye drops in the stronger eye over a few weeks.

Astigmatism is a common cause of blurry vision due to abnormally shaped eyes. Typically, eyes are football-shaped, but those who suffer from astigmatism have more of a rugby-ball-shaped eye, which causes inbound light to focus on more than one place within the eye. This condition normally occurs alongside short- or long-sightedness and can cause lazy eye if not treated.

Symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Headaches
• Eye strain
• Tired eyes

Astigmatism correction is a straightforward process using prescription glasses or contacts to support your vision. LASIK eye surgery and ICL implantation are good options for those looking for a more permanent solution to their astigmatism.

Blepharitis is a condition that causes the rim of the eyelids to become red, swollen and itchy. This condition is not typically serious but can be chronic and recurring. If left untreated, blepharitis can lead to conjunctivitis, dry eyes and other conditions.

Symptoms include:

• Sore and itchy eyelids
• Red eyes and eyelids
• A gritty, burning, or stinging sensation in the eyes
• Flaking and crusting around the roots of the eyelashes
• Eyelids that are stuck together upon waking
• Sensitivity to light and increased frequency of blinking
• Development of chalazion (bump or cysts around the base of the eyelashes)

Whilst the causes of blepharitis aren’t always clear, some triggers include a reaction to bacteria naturally living on the skin, atopic dermatitis, rosacea, seborrheic dermatitis, acne and clogged oil glands.

Unfortunately, there is no cure for blepharitis, but there are options for at-home treatment to alleviate and prevent the condition. A regular routine to clean your eyelids will help prevent recurring blepharitis. Soak a clean flannel or cotton wool in warm water and leave it on your eyelid for approximately 10 mins. Subsequently, massage your eyelids gently for 20 seconds before using cotton wool to clean them.

Artificial teardrops can also be applied if your eyes feel dry and blepharitis wipes may be brought from a local pharmacist if your condition is severe. Should your condition not improve, special antibiotic ointments, tablets and steroid eye drops can be prescribed.

As we age, the lens, which sits behind the iris and focuses light on the back of your eye, can form cloudy patches called cataracts. These patches prevent light from reaching the back of your eye and blur your vision. This condition worsens over time, so your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery to remove them and improve your vision.

There are no early symptoms of cataracts; however, as the condition progresses, sufferers will experience:

• Blurry vision
• Sensitivity to light
• Double vision
• Inability to distinguish colours
• Trouble seeing at night

Cataracts are generally an age-related disorder, but other factors can increase your risk of developing cataracts, including specific health issues such as diabetes, an extensive family history of cataracts, smoking and trauma to your eye. Your Buckinghamshire ophthalmologist will conduct a dilated eye exam to determine if you have cataracts and recommend the appropriate treatment to remove and alleviate the problem.

Cataract surgery is a common and very successful treatment that replaces the cloudy lens in your eye with a clear, artificial lens. After recovery, you should be able to see in focus, experience reduced glare from lights, and distinguish finer details and colours. Many people will still need to wear glasses after cataract surgery; however, patients can resume everyday activities, such as reading and driving, with significant improvements to their eyesight.

Book a consultation with our specialists today if you’re looking for cataract removal surgery in Buckinghamshire.

A chalazion is a hard, red bump that forms on the upper or lower eyelid due to blocked oil glands. Sometimes referred to as eyelid or meibomian cysts, these bumps may be painful when they first form but don’t typically hurt. Chalazia usually develop in adults from 30-50 years of age, and though they are less common in children, they still can appear.

Chalazia are not styes but can form because of a stye, which is an uncomfortable bacterial infection that can cause the oil gland to swell. Other conditions may also prompt the formation of chalazia, including rosacea, chronic blepharitis, viral infections, tuberculosis and seborrheic dermatitis.

Symptoms of chalazia include:

• A painless bump typically on the upper eyelid
• Blurred vision due to larger chalazion pushing on the eyeball
• Mild irritation that causes the eye to water

In most cases, a chalazion can be treated at home, and most tend to disappear within a month. Some home treatments include:

• Warm compresses held to the affected eye for 15 minutes at least three times daily to help open the blocked gland and encourage fluid drainage.
• Gentle massages using light to medium pressure with clean hands.
• Practising good hygiene, including avoiding eye makeup while you have a chalazion, keeping the area clean and avoiding touching your eyes.

However, if the bump doesn’t go away on its own, an ophthalmologist may need to drain the fluid through a small incision and may prescribe steroids to reduce swelling and inflammation.

If you suspect you have a chalazion that hasn’t disappeared after home treatment, we recommend visiting an eye specialist who will thoroughly examine your vision, the base of your eyelashes and the oil gland openings. Book a consultation with one of our Buckinghamshire ophthalmology specialists today.

Charles Bonnet Syndrome is a disorder associated with degenerating eyesight that causes the sufferer to experience visual hallucinations, i.e., seeing things that aren’t there. This disorder can affect people of any age.

The visual hallucinations caused by Chares Bonnet Syndrome vary from person to person and range from simple shapes and geometric patterns to more complex images involving people, faces, objects and distorted scenes. The hallucinations can last from a few minutes to several hours, multiple times a day and will appear without warning. Patients with Charles Bonnet Syndrome are aware that their experienced hallucinations are not real. The hallucinations will also be exclusively visual, so if other senses such as hearing, smell or taste are involved, this would not be considered Charles Bonnet Syndrome.

The causes of this disorder are unknown, but it is associated with degenerative and reduced signals from the eye to the brain resulting in hyperactive signalling, which produces visual hallucinations. This condition is unrelated to mental health conditions and not caused by dementia.

No specific tests exist to diagnose Charles Bonnet Syndrome. An experienced ophthalmologist will consider the suffered medical history and rule out other possible causes before diagnosing. There is also no cure for Charles Bonnet Syndrome, but there are methods to alleviate symptoms and anxiety associated with visual hallucinations.

Numerous eye conditions can affect children and infants, including:

• Squints (Strabismus)
• Lazy eye (Amblyopia)
• Watery eye (Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction)

Frequent eye tests for children are important to ensure early detection of possible eye conditions and, thus, successful treatment. If you suspect your child is suffering from any of the mentioned conditions, click on the links above to read more about potential diagnosis and treatment options. Or you can contact the children’s ophthalmologist specialists at Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare by enquiring online.

Conjunctivitis, often called ‘pink eye’, is the inflammation of the transparent membrane (the conjunctiva) lining the eyelid and eyeball. When the blood vessels in the conjunctiva become irritated and swollen, they become more visible, which causes the whites of the eyes to appear pink or red. Viral infection often causes conjunctivitis, but it can also be caused by an allergic reaction, bacterial infection, foreign objects in the eye and blocked tear ducts in babies. 

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include: 

• Redness in one or both eyes
• Itchiness or a gritty feeling in the eye
• Discharge that dries during the night, preventing the eye from opening in the morning 
• Watery eyes
• Sensitivity to light 

This condition rarely affects vision but can irritate and make the patient uncomfortable. It can also be contagious, so we recommend getting an early diagnosis from an eye care specialist to help treat the patient’s discomfort and prevent its spread. After diagnosis, your Buckinghamshire ophthalmologist may prescribe a topical antibiotic and artificial tears to help ease discomfort and instruct at-home treatments such as compresses and hygiene routines to clear and ease symptoms.

Corneal abrasions are small scratches to the clear, protective ‘window’ at the front of the eye (the cornea) resulting from trauma or injury to the eye. The cornea can be easily scratched from dust and grit getting in the eye, contact lens insertion or removal, a fingernail scratching the eye’s surface or even walking into something.

Abrasions are painful but should alleviate within 24-48 hours as the eye heals. Your vision can be temporarily affected if the abrasion forms in the central part of the cornea, and your eye might water and become red and sensitive to light.

Treatment involves a comprehensive examination of the eye and eyelids to check for trapped foreign material and to rule out serious injury. Your ophthalmologist may prescribe drops, ointments, or an eye pad to alleviate symptoms and encourage healing. Over-the-counter painkillers, such as paracetamol, can be used to alleviate pain and contact lenses should not be worn until the eye has fully healed.

Sometimes your cornea (the window at the front of the eye) can become damaged through irregularity, trauma, scarring or waterlogging. This can affect your sight, causing a blurry, distorted image and even pain. If treatments, such as eye drops and contact lenses, don’t improve your condition, your ophthalmologist may recommend a corneal graft.

Corneal grafts:

• Improve vision
• Repair perforations
• Alleviate pain

A corneal graft is an operation that removes and replaces your cornea from a donor’s eye. The Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare eye specialists are trained in the latest corneal graft techniques, such as femtolaser and posterior lamellar grafting. The type of graft your ophthalmologist chooses to use will depend on the type of condition affecting your cornea, which will be discussed and explained to you during your consultation.

Patients undergoing a corneal graft will be admitted to the day ward and discharged home on the same day as the operation. The procedure will be performed under general or local anaesthetic and will take approximately one hour for the surgeon to remove the affected cornea and replace it with the donor cornea using small stitches.

The macula is the central section of the retina and is responsible for our central vision, our colour vision and our ability to see finer detail. This area is dense with photoreceptor cells that send signals to the brain to interpret them as images. When the macula is damaged, this causes blurred central vision.

Diabetic macular oedema is retina swelling at the back of the eye due to fluid build-up from leakage caused by damaged or abnormal blood vessels. All people with type 1 or 2 diabetes are at risk of developing this condition. It is also the leading cause of blind registration among working-age adults in the UK.

Diabetics can reduce the risk of developing diabetic macula oedema by controlling their blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. We also encourage all diabetic individuals to regularly visit the diabetes specialist nurse here at the Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare ophthalmology clinic. Digital retina photographs will be examined during annual eye screening visits for any changes to the macula.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the vessels of the retina – the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye – which causes vision loss. This condition can develop in anyone with type 1 or 2 diabetes and is particularly prevalent in diabetics with prolonged uncontrolled blood sugar levels.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy include:

• Dark spots or floating stings in your vision
• Blurred or fluctuating vision
• Dark or empty sections in your vision
• Vision loss

Careful management of diabetes is the best prevention of vision loss from this condition. We encourage diabetic patients to attend annual eye screening appointments with the diabetes specialist nurse at the Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare clinic so we can carefully monitor the health of their eyes.

Dry eyes occur when tears can’t provide adequate lubrication for the eyes. This common condition can feel uncomfortable and irritating for the sufferer. Symptoms of dry eyes include:

• A stinging or burning sensation in the eyes.
• A sensation of having something in your eye.
• Eye redness
• Watery eyes – this is the body’s response to dry irritation.
• Blurred and/or fatigued vision.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Difficulty driving at night or wearing contact lenses.

If you are experiencing prolonged signs of dry eyes, we recommend booking a consultation with our experienced ophthalmologist, who will take the necessary steps to determine the cause of your symptoms and provide treatment options to alleviate your condition.

Endophthalmitis is an inflammation of the internal eye tissues commonly caused by infection. The main danger of this condition is the risk of vision loss if treatment is not started as soon as possible.

If you have recently had an eye operation or had a traumatic injury to your eye and are experiencing any of the following symptoms, please visit the Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare emergency eye clinic:

• Eye Redness
• Sensitivity to light
• Vision reduction or loss
• Eye pain

If our ophthalmologist specialists suspect you have endophthalmitis, they will take a sample of the fluid from the eye, which will be sent to a laboratory for testing. They will instil antibiotics into your eye to treat the infection and prescribe further antibiotic drops and tablets.

Epiretinal membrane is a thin fibrous tissue that develops on the macula surface, causing problems with central vision. The macula is situated at the retina’s centre and is responsible for our central vision, colour vision and ability to see finer detail. When scar tissue grows across the macula, which causes distortion of the retinal tissue and affects the vision but does not cause total blindness.

Epiretinal membranes commonly happen to people over 50. They can occur due to the vitreous (the jelly substance in the eye) pulling away from the retina or following eye surgery or inflammation in the eye.

The only treatment for epiretinal membrane is surgery; however, as the main reason to proceed with this operation is to correct visual distortion, if you are unaware of any visual problems, your doctor may not recommend surgery in the first instance.

The episclera is the layer of tissue between the conjunctiva (the surface membrane of the eye) and the sclera (the firm white part of the eye). Episcleritis is a common condition affecting the episclera, which becomes red and inflamed. This condition can cause soreness, a gritty sensation and irritation.

Symptoms of episcleritis include:

• Discomfort or a gritty sensation in the eye
• Mild soreness
• Light sensitivity
• Redness
• Watery eyes and tearing

The cause of episcleritis isn’t clear, but it commonly flares up due to tiredness, dry or dusty environments and working for long periods on a computer. Sometimes, episcleritis can be triggered by underlying inflammation in the body, i.e., rosacea or arthritis. This is diagnosed through blood tests if the patient’s episcleritis is recurrent and severe.

Usually, episcleritis recovers on its own without the need for treatment. However, if symptoms persist, your ophthalmologist can provide a short course of steroid drops to help clear the condition.

Eye floaters are spots in your vision that may look like black specks, cobwebs or strings that drift about when you move your eyes. Floaters will disappear or move away suddenly when you try to look directly at them.

Eye floaters are commonly caused by age-related changes occurring in the liquefying and contracting of jelly-like substances inside your eye. Clumps of collagen fibres that form within this jelly substance can form scattered clumps that cast small shadows in your retina that you see as floating objects in your vision.

Symptoms of eye floaters include:

• Small shapes of floating material in your vision
• Spots that move out of your line of vision when you try to look at them
• Spots that are most noticeable when looking at plain, bright backgrounds, such as a white wall
• Small shapes that eventually settle and drift out of your line of vision

Though they can be frustrating and take time to adjust to, most eye floaters will not require treatment. However, suppose the eye floaters are caused by medical conditions such as diabetes or inflammation. In that case, they can be treated with surgery that removes the vitreous or by disrupting the floaters using a laser.

If you notice a sudden increase in eye floaters, a sudden onset of new shapes, flashes of light in the affected eye or darkness on the sides of your vision (peripheral vision loss), you must contact an eye specialist immediately. These painless symptoms could indicate a retinal tear that requires prompt attention.

Strabismus, commonly known as an eye squint, is where the eyes point in different directions. This condition is particularly common in young children but can occur at any age and may occur all the time or it may come and go. Squints are unlikely to resolve on their own, so treatment is usually recommended to correct the condition so as not to cause further problems as the eyes age.

Treatment for eye squints includes:

• Glasses – relevant for those whose squint is caused by a problem with vision, such as long-sightedness.
• Eye exercises – includes exercising the muscles to control eye movement better, ultimately helping the eyes work together.
• Surgery involves moving the muscles that control eye movement so that the eyes line up correctly.
• Injections – injections into the eye muscles weaken them, which can help the eyes to line up; however, the effects usually last up to 3 months.

Fuch’s (fewks) dystrophy is an inherited condition affecting the front part of the eye wall called the ‘cornea’. The pump layer of cells pumps fluid back through the eye and lines the inner section of the cornea. If the pump layer cells no longer function properly, this can cause the cornea to become waterlogged and cloudy. This condition commonly affects individuals who are middle-aged and onwards.

The initial typical symptom of Fuch’s dystrophy is ‘morning misting’. This is where the patient finds their vision is cloudy upon waking but usually clears during the day. Other symptoms may include:

• Blurred, cloudy eyesight– often described as a general lack of clear vision.
• Fluctuation in vision with worse symptoms in the morning. As the condition progresses, blurred vision will either take longer to improve throughout the day or won’t improve at all.
• Glare or seeing halos around lights.
• A gritty sensation or pain from small blisters on the cornea surface.

Treatment for Fuch’s dystrophy includes ‘keyhole’ corneal transplant surgery. Similar to modern cataract surgery, this type of operation replaces the damaged layer of tissue in the eye with healthy tissue via a small incision. Good vision can be restored to patients who undergo corneal transplantation.

Glaucoma is a common eye disease that attacks and damages the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain. Usually, glaucoma is caused by fluid build-up in the front of the eye, increasing pressure inside the eye. Most people will not experience symptoms in the early stages of this condition, and the only way to check if you have glaucoma is with an eye test.

If you do notice symptoms, they might include:

• Blurred vision
• Seeing rainbow-coloured halos around bright lights
• Eye pain
• Headache
• Tenderness around the eyes

As there are different types of glaucoma (i.e. congenital glaucoma, glaucoma caused by underlying eye conditions), treatment will vary for each patient. Your eye care specialists may prescribe:

• Eye drops to reduce the pressure in your eyes.
• Laser treatment to open blocked drainage tubes and reduce the production of fluid in your eyes.
• Surgery to improve fluid drainage.

Untreated glaucoma will lead to irreversible vision loss and blindness. We recommend attending regular eye tests – even if you are not experiencing any symptoms – so that we can monitor your eye health. Early diagnosis and treatment can help stop any vision loss from worsening.

Keratoconus is a non-inflammatory eye condition affecting the cornea of the eye. Normally, the clear window of the eye (the cornea) is dome-shaped. Keratoconus progressively thins this window causing a bulging cone-like shape to form. Eventually, this impairs the eyes’ ability to focus properly and can potentially cause poor vision.

The cause of keratoconus is unknown, and although environment and genetics may play a role, it is not generally considered an inherited disease. Keratoconus is usually diagnosed in young people from puberty to early twenties.

Symptoms of keratoconus include:

• Distorted or blurred vision.
• Sensitivity to bright light and glare can cause issues driving at night.
• Necessary frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.
• Sudden clouding or worsening of eyesight.

In the early stages of keratoconus, glasses or soft contact lenses can be used to correct the patient’s vision. As the condition progresses and the cornea becomes thinner, soft or rigid gas permeable (RGP) contact lenses may be required to correct worsening vision adequately. Contact lenses may fail to improve vision in advanced cases. In this case, a corneal transplant may be required. This 30-minute outpatient procedure is effective in over 94% of patients.

The macula sits at the centre of the eye’s retina. We use this part of the eye to read and recognise complex shapes. Sometimes, a hole will form in the macula, affecting the eyesight but not causing total blindness. Macular holes form mostly due to changes in the eye that happen as we age.

Symptoms of macular hole formation include:

• Blurred and distorted vision.
• Wavy or bowed lines that should be straight.
• Having trouble reading small print.
• Small, black, or missing ‘patches’ in your vision, mostly seen in advanced cases.

Some people with macular holes may experience mild symptoms that may not need treatment immediately. However, your ophthalmologist may recommend surgery to protect your vision should the macular hole become bigger and your symptoms worsen.  The operation to repair a macular hole is called a vitrectomy and typically takes an hour to complete.

Myopia typically referred to as short or near-sightedness, is a refractive error in the eye. Short-sighted people’s vision will be blurred when looking at objects in the distance. This common condition normally occurs when there is a mismatch between the power (or curvature) of the eye and the length of the eye. This results in light rays focusing behind the retina instead of focusing on the retina. Myopia usually develops in childhood or adolescence.

Symptoms of myopia include:

• Blurred distance vision with good near vision.
• Increasing difficulty with night vision.
• Headaches from prolonged attempts to focus vision.

Myopia is diagnosed through a simple examination to assess the refractive status of the eye. Your eye doctor may prescribe prescriptive glasses or contact lenses to sharpen the vision caused by near-sightedness. Refractive surgery is also an option, which uses a laser to reshape the cornea, resulting in a decreased need for prescription lenses.

A neuro-ophthalmologist is a specialist who focuses on treating conditions that merge the disciplines of ophthalmology (eyes) and neurology (the nervous system). As nearly half of the brain is used for moving our eyes and processing visual images, neuro-ophthalmologists carry out diagnoses and treatments for conditions that affect the nerve pathway connecting the eyes to the brain.

Some neuro-ophthalmologic conditions include:

• Optic nerve problems.
• Abnormal eye movements.
• Unexplained vision loss.
• Unequal pupil sizes.
• Vision problems relating to the brain.

Our highly specialised ocular oncology service diagnoses and treats tumours of the eye. In most cases, eye tumours, such as cysts or moles (naevus), are benign. However, in rare cases, as with conjunctival lymphoma or melanoma, the condition is considered malignant and requires specialised treatment. If you have any concerns regarding lumps or surface changes in or around your eyes, we recommend contacting our specialists and booking a consultation.

The medical and surgical management of disorders relating to the eyes and their surrounding tissues is known as oculoplastics. An oculoplastic surgeon is a specialist who operates on the muscles and skin around the eyes, including the eyelids, eyebrows and tear ducts.

There are two main reasons a patient visits an oculoplastic surgeon. The first is due to the signs of ageing, where the muscles and skin around the eyes droop. The second reason is because of a medical condition or disease, such as a tumour, infection, or any other deformity of the eyelid.

The Oculoplastic surgeons at Buckinghamshire Private Healthcare perform a wide range of eyelid and facial surgeries, from straightforward correction of eyelid positioning to intricate reconstructions concerning the entire orbital region.

Among the services we offer are:

• Eyelid disorders, including malposition (abnormal positioning of the eyelids), eyelid trauma and eyelid cancer.
• Tear duct (lacrimal) problems, including injuries, watery eyes and congenital or acquired obstructions.
• Orbital disorders, including Thyroid Eye Disease, orbital tumours and trauma.
• Anophthalmic socket work, including eye removal and orbital implants.
• Tests for dry eyes treatment and Blepharitis treatment

Eyelid drooping, or ptosis, is an excess sagging of the upper eyelid, or the upper eyelid is situated lower than it should be. Drooping of the eyelid may result from:

• Weakness of the eyelid muscles.
• Damage to the nerve that controls the eyelid muscles.
• Looseness of the upper eyelid skin.

Ptosis is often caused by the normal ageing process but can present before birth or appear as the result of injury or disease. Symptoms of ptosis depend on the cause and the severity of the condition. The lid may cover only the upper eye or cover the entire pupil, which will block the patient’s vision. Children with ptosis may tip their heads back to help them see under the eyelid. Sufferers may experience tiredness around the eye and increased tearing despite a feeling of dry eyes.

If a disease is found to be the cause of a patient’s ptosis, this will be treated. However, if the condition is age-related, eyelid surgery (blepharoplasty) will be recommended to repair the sagging or drooping upper eyelid.

The Buckinghamshire Ophthalmologist clinic offers rapid access and emergency care appointments for patients who require fast access to specialist ophthalmic care. There is no need for a referral to access this service. If you are experiencing worrying, unexplained symptoms or a sudden change in your eyesight, please contact XXX. Our team will aim to get you seen by an expert as soon as possible.

Retinal detachment is an emergency situation in which the thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye (the retina) pulls away from its normal position. This separation is usually painless but reduces the oxygen supply from blood vessels to the retina, increasing the risk of permanent vision loss in the affected eye. This is why it’s vital to see an ophthalmologist if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• Sudden appearance of numerous eye floaters or specks that drift across your field of vision
• Flashes of light in one or both eyes
• Blurred, shadowy vision and reduced peripheral vision

A retinal vein occlusion occurs when a blockage forms in the retinal vein and is a common cause of sudden painless vision reduction in older patients. The retina is the thin membrane that lines the back of your eye. Blockages to the retinal veins that normally drain blood from the eye will cause a leak of blood and other fluids into the retina, which causes bruising and swelling that reduces vision.

Retinal vein occlusions occur usually due to blood clots and, although the exact cause is unknown, there are a few conditions that are associated with an increased risk of developing a retinal blockage. These include:

• High cholesterol and blood pressure
• Glaucoma
• Diabetes
• Some rare blood disorders
• Smoking

A stye is a painful, red lump that appears near the edge of your eyelid. They are often filled with pus and can look like a pimple or boil. Styes usually form on the outside of the eyelid but can sometimes form on the inner part of the eyelid. In most cases, a stye will disappear without treatment after a few days of at-home treatment, i.e., keeping the area clean and applying a warm washcloth to relieve pain or discomfort.

 Symptoms of styes include:

• A red lump on the eyelid
• Eyelid pain and swelling
• Excessive eye watering

A chalazion can also cause the same inflammation of the eyelid. This condition occurs when there is a blockage in a small oil gland near the eyelash. Unlike styes, however, chalazia are not painful.

Most styes are harmless to your eye and should not affect your vision. If the stye does not start to improve after 48 eyes, or if the redness and swelling spread to the entire eyelid or even parts of the cheek, contact our specialist ophthalmologist team to book an appointment.

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea or the middle layer of the eye. This condition has multiple causes and can affect anyone, though it is commonly seen in those aged between 20-59. Although most causes of uveitis recover well with treatment, if the underlying cause is not addressed, the condition can lead to further complications, including glaucoma or cataracts.

Uveitis symptoms include:

• An aching or painful red eye
• Cloudy, blurred vision or decreased vision
• Small or distorted pupils
• Sensitivity or light and headaches
• Eye floaters

Should you experience any symptoms of uveitis, you should immediately contact our team of ophthalmologists and book an appointment for further investigation. Treatment will vary from patient to patient depending on the severity and type of uveitis they have. Rest assured, our eye care professionals are experts in treatment that exist for uveitis and will be able to discuss your options with you at your appointment.

Watering eyes are common and will often resolve without treatment. However, if you’re experiencing prolonged watering eyes that affect your daily activities, you should book an appointment with an eye care specialist for further investigation and to discuss treatment options.

Common causes of watering eyes include:

• Allergies
• Infections such as conjunctivitis
• Blocked tear ducts
• Drooping eyelids
• Dry eye syndrome
• Bell’s Palsy
• Certain medicines and cancer treatments