Archives for Eye Conditions

Life not clear? You might have astigmatism: what is that?

Astigmatism is a common vision problem that causes blurred vision. It happens when the eye does not focus light evenly on the retina, the part of the eye that receives and processes images. Astigmatism is very common. In fact, most people have a small amount of astigmatism and don’t even know it. But if you have a lot, it can cause headaches and eye strain and cause problems with both near and far vision. Astigmatism can occur in children and adults and often runs in families. A type of refractive error that occurs when the eye is unable to focus
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Prescription Glasses.

Worried about being long-sighted?

Are you having trouble seeing close-up objects, and suspect you might be long-sighted or have hyperopia? Do you strain your eyes when trying to read smaller print on items like books or screens? Don’t worry. If you’re long-sighted, our optometrist can prescribe great-looking glasses or contact lenses to help see clearly. What are the symptoms of farsightedness or hyperopia?  The most common symptom of farsightedness or hyperopia is not being able to things clearly up close. Your eyes feel tired or sore because it takes more effort than what should be normal to focus on an object. Your eye doesn’t let
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Prescription Glasses.

Keratoconus and itchy eyes

Spring and summer means allergy season for many of us: seasonal allergic rhinitis or hayfever affects about 20 per cent of the population and common symptoms include itchy, red, dry, or watery eyes. What causes eyes to react? We have receptor cells called mast cells on the mucous membrane covering the white surface of our eye and the inner lining of the eyelids. When we come in contact with an allergen, it binds to the mast cells which releases a chemical called histamine that stimulates the nerves in the eye to make it itchy and watery. This is our body’s
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions.

Treatment for dry eye

Do you suffer from dry eye syndrome? Horrible, isn’t it? Treatment for dry eye includes cleansing, massage and heat and our team can help improve your outlook on life. Dry eye syndrome is a debilitating, common condition. Although it can develop at any age, it is more common amongst older people. The good news is that it can be easily treated. Help for dry eyes Our Auckland optometrists specialise in treatment for dry eye. Between our Henderson Optometry practice and our optometrists in Newmarket our staff has dedicated over 35 years’ helping dry eye sufferers. We offer an effective in-house
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Blephasteam for dry eye relief

Computer vision syndrome, MGD and Blephasteam After staring at a monitor for hours on end, have your eyes ever felt dry, itchy or just plain annoyed? Has your vision become blurry, or have you even seen double? Do you get headaches from all the squinting and straining? The amount of time you spend staring at a computer screen can affect your eyes. Computer vision syndrome, or digital eyestrain is incredibly common. In fact, over half of people who work in front of a computer screen have some symptoms of eye trouble, studies show. People usually blink around 18 times per
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Retinal Detachment

What is retinal detachment? Retinal detachment occurs when the vitreous jelly pulls away from the retina and the retina moves. This can be a medical emergency so early detection is crucial. What does the retina do and where is it? Very simply, the retina is a light-sensitive area at the back of the eye. It senses light and sends signals to the brain so you can see. The vitreous is the clear gel that fills the space between the lens and the retina. There is a place where that vitreous is tightly stuck to the retina and as we age,
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Keeping An Eye On Age-related Macular Degeneration

What is ARMD? Age-related macular degeneration is a leading cause of vision loss for people over 50, making it an extremely common eye condition. Basically, the macula is tiny and the most sensitive part of the retina and its job is to keep our central vision sharp and accurate. The retina is a thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the inside of the eye, near the optic nerve. The optic nerve connects the eye to the brain. The retina turns light into electrical signals and then sends these electrical signals through the optic nerve, where the brain
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Myopia control for children – Hoya MiyoSmart lenses

MiyoSmart® is a new non-invasive myopia management solution for children of all ages. Now available in New Zealand from John O’Connor Optometrists, MiyoSmart lenses can potentially curb your child’s myopia progression by an average of 60%. What is myopia? Myopia, or shortsightedness happens when the eye grows too long. Very simply put, if the eye is too long, the lens of the eye focuses the image in front of the retina instead of on top of it. People with myopia see things that are up close clearly, whereas far objects are blurry. Myopia causes eyestrain, which can lead to headaches and
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions and Prescription Glasses.

What Is A Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye that, sadly, is an inevitable consequence of getting older. Cataracts usually occur when normal proteins in the lens of the eye break down and clump together, clouding the lens. Because the lens is no longer as clear as it should be, rather than following a usual path, incoming light is scattered. The cataract or cloudy lens blocks the passage of light to the retina in the back of the eye, causing distorted or blurred vision, issues with glare and difficulty handling bright light . Basically, a cataract is a
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions.

Myopia in children

What is myopia? Myopia is blurry long-distance vision, often called short-sightedness or near-sightedness. A person with myopia can see clearly up close – when reading a book or looking at a phone – but words and objects look fuzzy on a blackboard, on television or when driving. Experts across the globe have concluded, with good evidence, that myopia leads to further sight-threatening conditions. Myopia is spreading Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology showed 10 million people worldwide suffered from myopia in 2010. By 2050, it is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s population will have myopia,
Read More

Categories: Eye Conditions.