Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) & Gout
A recent study by researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Medicine (Gout Associated With Increased Risk of AMD), has looked into the association between AMD and gout. Gout is a form of arthritis resulting from inflammation in the joints.
What is retinitis pigmentosa?
Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of rare, genetic disorders that involve a breakdown and loss of cells in the retina — which is the light sensitive tissue that lines the back of the eye. Common symptoms include difficulty seeing at night and a loss of side (peripheral) vision.
Swollen eyes
A swollen eyelid occurs when there is inflammation or excess fluid (oedema) in the connective tissues surrounding the eye. Swollen eyes may or may not be painful, and the condition can affect both the upper and lower eyelids.
High Eye Pressure & Glaucoma
“I’ve heard that glaucoma is caused by high eye pressure, and that left untreated glaucoma can cause blindness. At what pressure will I go blind?” Glaucoma is a multi-factorial, complex eye disease with specific characteristics such as optic nerve damage and visual field loss. While increased pressure inside the eye (called intraocular pressure or IOP) […]
What is Bell’s palsy?
Bell’s palsy is a temporary weakness or paralysis of the seventh cranial nerve, which is also called the facial nerve. The facial nerve extends from the base of the brain to the side of the face, where its fibres spread out and control the muscles of facial expression. The facial nerve also controls movements of […]
FAQ: Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
What is a cataract? A cataract is a cloudiness of the eye’s natural lens, which lies directly behind the pupil. What causes cataracts? The lens is mostly made of water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. But as we age, […]
What is age-related macular degeneration
The macula is part of the retina at the back of the eye. It is only about 5mm across, but is responsible for all of our central vision, most of our colour vision and the fine detail of what we see. The macula has a very high concentration of photoreceptor cells that detect light and send signals to the brain, which interprets them as images. The rest of the retina processes our peripheral (side) vision. Macular disease causes loss of central vision.
Pterygium & Pinguecula
Both a pterygium and a pinguecula are abnormal growths that form on the surface of the eye. While they may appear similar, and have similar symptoms and causes, they are actually different conditions.
The history of macular degeneration. A lesson from the past
Age Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of blindness in the developed world. It happens when the cells in the most sensitive seeing part of the retina are destroyed.” I recently came across Prof Chris Knobbe’s You Tube lecture (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AJCLB3D-2cE) entitled; Is age related macular degeneration preventable? The revelation embodied in his talk […]
High Blood Pressure: How it affects your eyes
Suffering from high blood pressure over a long period of time can cause adverse changes in the retina. This is one of those chronic conditions often first diagnosed by your optometrist during a routine eye examination. It’s called a “silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms. Hypertension or high blood pressure can exist for […]