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  |  General Health  |  Dental & Opthalmic  |  Keep an eye on your health
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Keep an eye on your health

by Suzannah Olivier
continued from page 1
Regular eye tests
Everyone should have his or her eyes checked by an optician at least once a year. If a prescription is needed the optician may suggest more frequent checks of up to once every six months.

If you've always had 20/20 vision in the past it may be tempting to forgo a check up, but if you drive or operate heavy machinery it's the sensible thing to do. If you notice any symptoms such as headaches or blurred vision it is important for you to have a check-up. You will have to pay around £25 for a check-up. Tests are free if you are under 16 years old, over 60, on a low income or at risk of certain conditions (such as diabetes and glaucoma).

The optician's office looks quite futuristic these days with machines to check for every eye condition. Some of the checks will probably include:

  • Reading a variety of letters at distance, without or with corrective lenses
  • The optician will peer into your eyes to check for a healthy blood supply and a healthy retina (back of the eye)
  • Another machine may be used to test your field of vision: how well you see around the periphery
  • A machine that puffs a small amount of air onto the surface of the eye (a slight surprise but not uncomfortable) to check for glaucoma
  • A check for colour blindness
  • A digital photograph may be taken of the eye to compare with later images

    Conditions that affect our eyes
  • Long sightedness: An inability to see clearly when reading. Treated by wearing glasses.
  • Short sightedness: An inability to see distant objects clearly. Treated by wearing glasses or contact lenses.
  • Astigmatism: When light rays through the eye do not meet in the centre of the retina as they should. This happens when the cornea is not perfectly round (commonly referred to as a rugby ball shape). Treated by wearing contact lenses or glasses.
  • Cataracts: An opacity of the lens caused by ageing, diabetes, trauma to the eye, some medications and other eye conditions. The best treatment is through prevention, but surgery can replace the lens with an artificial one. Smoking and sun damage can increase the risk of cataracts.
  • Glaucoma: High pressure inside the eyeball that can damage the eye. This is often hereditary. Treatment can be by drops, drugs or surgery to reduce pressure.
  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD): Deterioration of the retina at the back of the eye - the leading cause of blindness in over 65s. There is no specific treatment so prevention is important.
  • Detached retina: When the retina is damaged. Laser treatment is very effective if it is caught early.
  • Diabetes: A major cause of eye disease. An optician can usually identify it.
  • Dry eye: Often exacerbated by staring at computer screens without blinking, but also caused by hormone or immune system imbalance. In the developing world it is often due to vitamin A deficiency.
  • Conjunctivitis: Inflammation from a bacterial or viral infection of the conjunctiva, the invisible, lubricating film, which protects the eye.


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    This iVillage Health service area is designed for educational purposes only. You should not rely on this information as a substitute for personal medical attention, diagnosis or hands-on treatment. If you are concerned about your health or that of a child, please consult your family's health provider immediately and do not wait for a response from our professionals. For the full Disclaimer, click here.
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