Common Eye Conditions

Most people don’t have a perfectly shaped cornea. However, when the curve is pronounced, your vision may be blurred and this is known as astigmatism. This is very common and is not a disease.

Short-sightedness is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. The medical term for shortsightedness is myopia. It’s thought to affect up to one in three people in the UK and is becoming more common. If distant objects appear fuzzy to you or if your child is finding it difficult to see things in the distance, such as the blackboard at school, you should make an appointment for an eye examination. Children up to the age of 16 (or 19 if in full time education) are entitled to an eye examination free of charge.

Short-sightedness is a refractive eye condition. Refractive eye conditions occur when problems with the eye’s structure affect how light enters the eye. Light doesn’t reach the light-sensitive tissue (retina) at the back of the eye, instead the light rays focus in front of the retina, resulting in distant objects appearing blurred.

Long-sightedness, also known as hyperopia, affects a person’s ability to see objects close to them. Vision problems such as long-sightedness are often referred to as refractive errors.

Long-sightedness occurs when:

• The eyeball is too short.
• The cornea is not curved enough.
• The lens is not thick enough.

There are various causes of long-sightedness including age, genetics and certain underlying medical conditions, such as diabetes.

What is Blepharitis?
Blepharitis is an inflammation of your eyelids. It can make eyelids and eyelashes red and crusty and make your eyes feel irritated or itchy. It can also lead to burning, soreness or stinging in your eyes. The symptoms tend to be worse in the morning when you wake up and your eyelids may be stuck together. Whilst Blepharitis can be uncomfortable, it rarely causes serious eye damage. You can normally treat it by just taking care of your hygiene but you may need treatment. If you are concerned or have any questions, you should see your local optometrist.
Why do I get Blepharitis?
There are two types of Blepharitis:
1. Anterior Blepharitis which affects the outside front edge of your eyes (near your eyelashes). It may caused by an infection due to staphylococcus.
2. Posterior Blepharitis which is caused when something affects your meibomian glands (which produce part of your tears)