04:02:00 pm, by Geraldine , 409 words, 111 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions

Different people need glasses for different tasks. Some people require them to read a paper and thread a needle. Others require glasses for driving or watching television and some people require glasses for everything they want to see and do.

Hyperopia

Hyperopia, or long-sightedness, is a condition where close objects are blurry. In a relaxed hyperopic eye, the image is focused behind the retina, the back of the eye. To focus the image on the retina, a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see all distances clearly. Hyperopia may be hereditary and often the size of the eyeball itself is slightly smaller than average.

Myopia

Myopia, or short-sightedness, is a condition where faraway objects are blurry. In a myopic eye, the image is focused in front of the retina. To focus the image on to the retina, a minus spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see all distances clearly. Myopia may be hereditary and often the size of the eyeball itself is slightly longer than average.

Presbyopia

Presbyopia is a common condition where the eye loses its ability to see close objects clearly. In a presbyopic eye, the lens, which would normally alter shape to adjust focus for close objects, slowly loses its flexability. This usually starts happening between the ages of 40 and 45 and can continue up to the age of 65. To focus a close image on the retina, a plus spectacle lens is required to be placed infront of the eye. This will allow the spectacle wearer to see close objects clearly, but it will make distant objects blurry. Presbyopia is experienced by everyone as it is part of the aging process and it cannot be prevented.

Astigmatism

Astigmatism is a condition where there is asymmetric blur of an object. In an astigmatic eye, one direction of the image may be focused on the retina and part in front or behind the retina. Astigmatism is usually due to the shape of the front of the eye, the cornea, not being completely spherical. This results in light which would normally be focused as a point on the retina, being focused as a line. To focus the image on the retina, a cylindrical spectacle lens is required to be placed in front of the eye. This will make objects at any distance clear.

03:24:44 pm, by Geraldine , 585 words, 658 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Macular Degeneration

What is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration (MD) is a disease of the central retina (called the macula) that affects central vision. It is the leading cause of vision loss among people over age 65. Because it affects only central vision, macular degeneration does not cause total blindness. But it can make most daily activities like driving and reading difficult or impossible.

What causes it?

The exact cause of macular degeneration is still not understood, but it is thought to be associated with artherosclerotic changes in the tiny blood vessels that nourish the macula, compromising the blood flow to this part of the retina.

Age clearly plays a role in the disease. For this reason, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Macular degeneration has two forms:

Dry MD is the more common form, affecting approximately 90 percent of those who have macular degeneration. It typically develops slowly and causes mild visual distortion to moderate central vision loss.

Wet MD affects only 10 percent of people with macular degeneration, but causes more severe vision loss. In wet MD, new blood vessels that form under the macula leak fluid and can cause a rapid and severe loss of central vision.

How common is Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is the most common cause of severe vision loss among individuals over age 65. Age is the greatest risk factor. People over 40 have a 4% risk, over 50 have a 9% risk, over 65 have a 23% risk and over 80 have a 31% risk. It accounts for 45% of the legally blind and 70% of the seriously visually impaired people over 70.

Other risk factors include:

• Smoking
• A family history of MD
• High cholesterol
• A poor ability to tan when young
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• High dietary intake of saturated fat and cholesterol
• Uncontrolled hypertension
• A high body mass index in men
• Race - MD affects Caucasians more frequently than people of other races
• Gender - Women are twice as likely to develop MD

What are the symptoms of Macular Degeneration?

Macular degeneration is painless. Visual symptoms are constant and limited to the central area of a person's visual field.

They include:

• Distorted vision
• Blurred vision
• A central darkened spot or empty area

An amsler grid can be used to monitor for any change in relation to MD. Follow this link for a sample amsler grid.

http://www.mdfoundation.com.au/resources/1/Amsler_Grid.pdf

Can Macular Degeneration be treated?

Though there is currently no widely accepted treatment for macular degeneration, promising new medications are currently being developed, in particular for Wet MD. If you or a family member has MD, ask your optometrist about new treatment options that may be available.

Can Macular Degeneration be prevented?

Recent research suggests certain antioxidant vitamins and other nutritional supplements may slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration in some individuals. Vitamins A, C and E; zinc; Carotenoids and lutein may be beneficial in maintaining a healthy retina. These substances, however, have not been shown to reverse existing damage to the retina from MD.

Actions you can take to lower your risk of MD include:

• Get plenty of exercise
• Maintain a proper weight
• Eat a healthy diet including fish and green leafy vegetables
• Avoid smoking
• Take a multiple antioxidant vitamin supplement daily
• Wear sunglasses when outdoors

Low vision aids

People who have lost vision due to MD can often benefit from low vision aids. These specialised optical devices provide high magnification and help a person with MD use their remaining central vision as effectively as possible. See your optometrist for further information.

07:11:35 am, by Geraldine , 1031 words, 668 views  
Categories: Common Eye Conditions, Diabetic Retinopathy

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy is damage to the retina (the light-sensitive inner lining of the back of the eye) associated with the systemic disease diabetes mellitus. Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among adults in Australia.

What causes diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetes mellitus (also simply called diabetes) is characterised by an altered metabolism of carbohydrates and lipids, resulting in a chronic elevation in blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Hyperglycemia can lead to long-term changes in the circulatory and nervous systems in the body. The hyperglycemia experienced by diabetics is related to an inability to produce sufficient insulin, a resistance to the effects of insulin, or both.

The diagnosis of diabetes is made based on a person's fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, (commonly referred to as the fasting blood sugar). An FPG level of 7.0mmol/l or higher indicates the presence of diabetes mellitus.

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes in which the tiny blood vessels in the retina are damaged by the disease. Damage to the retinal blood vessels can cause a number of problems. In some cases, the damaged blood vessels leak fluid and lipids under the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina that allows us to see details. The fluid causes the macula to swell, blurring vision. In other cases, the retinal blood vessels can become blocked, causing portions of the retina to cease functioning because of lack of oxygen and nutrients.
In its advanced stage, diabetic retinopathy is characterised by the growth of fragile blood vessels along the retina and into the clear, gel-like vitreous that fills the inside of the eye. These tiny blood vessels can break open and bleed, causing vision to be obscured and permanent damage to the retina.

How common is diabetic retinopathy?

Approximately 1.5 million Australians have diabetes, 50% are unaware of their condition. All people with diabetes - those with Type 1 diabetes (previously called juvenile onset diabetes) and those with Type 2 diabetes (previously called adult onset diabetes) are at risk of developing diabetic retinopathy.

According to the National Eye Institute, nearly half of all people with diabetes will develop some degree of diabetic retinopathy in their lifetime. The longer a person has diabetes, the more likely they are to have diabetic retinopathy. After having diabetes for 15 years, about 80% of Type 1 diabetics will have some degree of retinopathy.

Risk factors for diabetes (and therefore diabetic retinopathy) include:

• Obesity (more than 20% heavier than your ideal body weight)
• A family history of diabetes
• Hypertension (blood pressure of 130/90 or higher)
• Having a high density lipoprotein (HDL or "good cholesterol") reading of 1.0 mmol/l or lower
• Elevated triglyceride levels (2.5 mmol/l or higher)
• Having been diagnosed with gestational diabetes during a pregnancy or having given birth to a baby weighing 9 pounds or more
• Being a member of a high risk ethnic group

What are the symptoms of diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy often has no early warning signs. There is no pain, and vision may remain unaffected until the disease becomes severe.
If leaking blood vessels cause swelling of the macula (called macular oedema) central vision will become blurred, making it hard to see clearly when driving or reading. Vision may get better or worse during the day, depending on the degree of oedema.

If leaking blood vessels cause bleeding in the eye, symptoms will vary based on how much blood is involved. With relatively limited bleeding, the visual disturbance may appear as spots floating in your visual field. These spots may go away after a few hours.

If bleeding is more severe, vision may suddenly become severely clouded. This can occur overnight during sleep. It may take months for the blood to clear from the eye, or it may not clear at all.

What is the treatment for diabetic retinopathy?

There are two treatments for diabetic retinopathy - laser surgery and vitrectomy. These surgical treatments are typically used only when diabetic retinopathy is in an advanced stage.

Laser surgery can be used to seal leaking blood vessels in the retina or to shrink fragile new blood vessels. Laser surgery is typically performed on an outpatient visit or in the doctor's office. You will be able to go home the same day.

Laser surgery usually cannot restore vision that has already been lost. Therefore, early detection of diabetic retinopathy is the best way to prevent serious vision loss from the disease.

If a significant amount of blood has leaked into the vitreous, a vitrectomy may be required to restore vision. In this procedure, the surgeon makes a tiny incision in the sclera and gently suctions out the bloody vitreous, replacing it with a sterile clear fluid. After the surgery, you may be able to go home the same day or you may be asked to stay in the hospital overnight.

Can diabetic retinopathy be prevented?

It's estimated that 50% of people with Type 2 diabetes are unaware of their condition. In some cases, detection of their diabetes takes place during a routine eye exam.

During a routine eye exam, your optometrist will examine your retina and look for early signs of diabetes. These signs include:

• Small haemorrhages from leaking blood vessels
• Macular oedema
• Areas of pale retina (called cotton wool spots) where blood supply has been obstructed
• Yellowish, waxy-appearing deposits in the retina caused by localised retinal oedema

If your optometrist detects signs of early diabetic retinopathy, they may refer you to an ophthalmologist who is a retinal specialist for additional testing and/or treatment.

Most cases of Type 2 diabetes can be managed through proper diet and exercise. Daily exercise and a high fibre diet with restricted amounts of carbohydrates, cholesterol, and saturated fat can improve overall health and help lower blood glucose levels. In cases where diet and exercise cannot sufficiently reduce blood glucose levels, oral medicines or injections of insulin may be added to the treatment plan.

If you have been diagnosed with diabetes, you should have an annual dilated eye exam to monitor the health of your retina. (Depending on your individual needs, your optometrist may recommend more frequent exams.) Annual eye exams are also recommended if you are not a diabetic but have one or more of the risk factors for diabetes listed above.

02:15:53 am, by Geraldine , 295 words, 357 views  
Categories: Eye Care, Care Tips for your Glasses

Take a few minutes each day to follow these simple care tips - they'll prolong the life of your glasses.

Inspect
Check your glasses frequently for signs of wear. If a hinge screw is loose, visit your Optometrist.

Carefully check the alignment of your glasses while standing in front of a mirror. If they seem misaligned, return to your optometrist for a frame adjustment.

Inspect the lenses frequently for scratches. Scratches can impede vision.

Clean
Clean your glasses frequently as follows:

• Spray each side of your lenses with a lens cleaner spray.
• Wipe with a tissue.
• Never use a tissue when the lenses are dry as this can scratch the lenses.
• For touch-up lens cleaning when lens cleaner is not available, use a microfibre lens cleaning cloth.
• Don’t use clothing to wipe your glasses.

Protect
Keep your glasses in a protective case when you're not wearing them. If you've lost your case, purchase a replacement.

Always use both hands to remove your glasses. If your case isn't around, leave the temples open and place your glasses upside down (resting on the top of the Eyewire) on a flat surface in a safe place.

Other Care Tips

• Rinse and clean perspiration from your glasses as soon as possible.
• Sweat and skin oils can damage frame finishes and lens coatings.
• If you use hair spray, apply it before putting on your glasses. If this isn't possible, shield the lenses with your hand to avoid spraying them. Hair spray can damage expensive lens coatings.

Following these care tips will keep your eyewear in great shape for years. But don't rely on just one pair of glasses. Having more than one pair of glasses will guarantee that you have a back-up in case your favourite glasses get damaged.

01:59:15 am, by Geraldine , 314 words, 399 views  
Categories: Eye Care, Our Practice

At Stuart Macfarlane Optometrist we provide comprehensive eye examinations, assessing your vision as well as examining the health of your eyes. Using up-to-date specialised equipment, we look for evidence of eye diseases such as glaucoma and cataracts, and can also detect ocular signs of general disease such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

We stock an extensive range of quality frames meaning you can choose from the latest in fashion, or a frame that best suits your budget.

Our frames come with an exclusive 12-month warranty, giving you an added level of confidence and peace of mind. You can also be assured that our frames and lenses are competitively priced. We also offer savings on additional pairs of spectacles purchased (conditions apply).

At Stuart Macfarlane Optometrist, we can assist you to become a successful and regular contact lens wearer. Whether you want to change your look or just appreciate the convenience of not having to wear spectacles, contact lenses could be the answer for you. As specialists in contract lenses, we will assess your eyes to find the best lenses to suit your individual needs.

Our team of dedicated and knowledgeable staff, with a combined industry experience of over 50 years, will ensure that all your eye care needs are met. Each time you visit Stuart Macfarlane Optometrist the same friendly and familiar faces will greet you.

Stuart Macfarlane Optometrist has been providing professional optometric care to the Logan community for over 20 years. The practice has always been independently owned and operated, allowing for much greater scope in providing personalised care.

Our goal at Stuart Macfarlane Optometrist is to provide the highest quality service and value in a professional and friendly atmosphere. We achieve this by building trust through friendship and respect for the individual, recognising the importance of optimal vision to quality of life, and a commitment to continuing education, advanced technology and teamwork.