Archives for Eye Conditions

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
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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,
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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
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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
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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
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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,
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Categories: Eye Conditions.

Dry Eye Syndrome

Frequently asked questions about dry eye Do your eyes feel sore or watery? Does reading or computer work make your eyes feel gritty and scratchy? If so, you may have dry eye syndrome. Ever suffer from symptoms such as: Eyes feeling gritty Sensitivity to light Sore, stingy or burning eyes Blurred vision Eye redness Watery eyes Tired eyes? Eyes that are not properly protected by tears are vulnerable to dust, debris, and bacteria, leading to eye infections. Dry eye syndrome affects many people, and although it can develop at any age, it is more common amongst older people. Up to
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Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Keratoconus: causes and treatment options

Keratoconus – Progressive thinning and distortion of the cornea Keratoconus is an eye disease of the cornea: the thin, clear tissue covering the surface of the front of the eye. A normal, healthy cornea is round in shape, but sometimes the cornea can weaken, losing its shape. Instead of a dome, it becomes cone-shaped, preventing clear vision. This is known as keratoconus. It is a progressive disorder that can either progress rapidly or take years to develop. It may affect only one eye but more commonly occurs in both. Causes of Keratoconus The cause of keratoconus is unknown. It is
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Categories: Eye Conditions.

PVD – floaters and flashes in your eyes

Posterior Vitreous Detachment A common eye condition as we age Posterior vitreous detachment (PVD) is a very common eye condition. It’s caused by natural changes to the vitreous gel that takes up the space inside the eye. Many people develop posterior vitreous detachments and never experience symptoms, whereas others may notice floaters and flashes. Although PVD causes some frustrating symptoms, it doesn’t cause pain, harm the eye or cause permanent loss of vision. Understanding PVD Basically, the eye is divided into three sections: the anterior chamber, the vitreous chamber and the posterior chamber. The vitreous chamber is positioned at the
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Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.

Digital Eye Strain

Do you have tired eyes, irritated eyes, blurry vision or headaches? Looks like you could be suffering from digital eye strain. According to the Vision Council of America, 70% of U.S. adults experience digital eye strain as a result of digital devices. And it’s getting worse. As people spend more time each day looking at computers, mobile phones, tablets and other electronic devices, digital eye strain is becoming a bigger and bigger problem. The problem is also occurring more frequently in children as they acquire phones and tablets at younger ages and use them for longer periods throughout the day.
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Categories: Eye Conditions and Eye Health.