Optical

Glaucoma and what to look out for

With World Glaucoma week just around the corner, we put together a post to help you understand what glaucomas are and how they can be treated.

What is Glaucoma?

Any chronic, progressive and degenerative disorder that damages the optic nerve is called Glaucoma. In other words, Glaucoma is any disease that affects the nerve that transmits what the eye sees to your brain. Glaucomas can cause blindness, and irreversible damage to your vision, so it is imperative that we spot them early and treat them as soon as possible.

Who is at risk of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma currently affects over 80 million people worldwide. Unfortunately, approximately half of these individuals are unaware that they even have a degenerative eye disease. This is because people often don’t experience any noticeable symptoms at the beginning. So, who is at risk of contracting Glaucoma?

People who:

have a family history of Glaucoma
have high eye pressure
are over 50
are of African or Asian descent
have diabetes, heart disease or sickle cell anaemia
have corneas that are thin in the centre
are vision-impaired – are long or short-sighted
experience migraines
have taken cortisone (steroid) medication continuously over a prolonged period
have had an eye injury
have a history of abnormal blood pressure
experience obstructive sleep apnoea

What causes Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is the result of optic nerve damage. This is often caused by a build-up of pressure in your eye. A build-up of internal fluid causes the pressure. Extra fluid can be built up when the drainage system is partially blocked by one thing or another or due to an overproduction of fluid.

What are the symptoms of Glaucoma?

Glaucoma can be difficult to detect. However, here are obvious symptoms to look out for:

Blind spots in your vision – can occur both in your peripheral or central vision and often occurs in both eyes
Tunnel vision
Severe headaches
Eye pain
Nausea and vomiting
Blurred vision
Halo’s appearing around lights
Eye redness

How can we prevent or early-detect Glaucoma?

Preventing or early-detecting Glaucoma comes down to being vigilant.

Here are our top four tips:

Get regular dilated eye examinations.

Comprehensive eye exams help detect Glaucoma before the onset of significant damage. We always recommend yearly check-ups, as well as more extensive examinations every five to 10 years for anyone under 40 years old and two to four years for anyone above 40. Book an appointment now to discuss the best screening schedule for you and your family.

Understand your family history of Glaucoma.

Glaucomas can be genetic. Therefore, it is important you understand your inherent risk of developing Glaucoma.

Exercise regularly

Exercise can prevent Glaucoma by reducing eye pressure.

Wear eye protection

Serious eye injuries lead to Glaucoma. So, protect your eyes when in high-risk situations such as using power tools or playing intensive ball sports.

Glaucomas can be extremely severe if left untreated. So with World Glaucoma Week this March 6^th-12^th, it’s a good time to book an appointment and check up on the health of our eyes to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

To book an appointment, call us on (03) 9841 5798 or click here.

Myopia Symptoms In Children Post-Pandemic

Have you noticed an increase in myopia symptoms in your children since the pandemic? In this article, we’ll look at what myopia is, what to look out for, and how to manage it.

Myopia (short-sightedness) was already increasing in Australia before Covid-19, with statistics from the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare¹ in 2016 showing that myopia is the second most commonly reported long-term condition (20%) in young Australians (only preceded by hay fever at 24%).
Then along came the pandemic, and with it home-schooling, increased screen time, and limited outdoor recreation time. A Chinese cross-sectional study of school children in Feicheng, China found that ‘a substantial myopic shift’ (−0.3 diopters) was noted after home confinement due to coronavirus disease 2019 for children aged 6 to 8 years. So it stands to reason that we can expect an increase in myopia in Australian children. While this isn’t good news, by managing myopia in kids early on, we can slow its progression.

What exactly is Myopia?

Myopia, or shortsightedness, is a common eye condition where a person can’t see distant objects clearly, but they can see close objects clearly. It happens when lights rays focus on a point in front of a retina, instead of directly on it, due to the eyeball being too long, or the cornea too curved for the length of the eyeball.

Myopia usually begins mildly in children, and progresses as they get older.

What are the risk factors?

Risk factors of myopia include:

– Family history
– Low levels of light exposure
– Low amounts of time outdoors
– Prolonged time on ‘close’ tasks, such as reading, phone or iPad use, etc

What are the symptoms of Myopia?

In some cases there may be no signs of myopia, which is why we encourage eye tests. Symptoms that do appear include:

– Difficulty seeing distant objects, like reading the board at school
– Poorer performance at school
– Sitting closer to the TV
– Tired eyes
– Squinting
– Headaches

What is the treatment and how is it managed?

We recommend making an appointment with us to discuss treatment options, such as low-dose atropine eye drops, better posture for close tasks, or Ortho-K lenses.

Long-term management strategies include:

– 20-20-20 rule: for every 20 minutes of a ‘close’ task, take a 20-second break to look at an object 20 feet away (about 6 metres)
– Always have a good amount of light during near tasks
– Focus on good posture; try to sit upright
– Ensure a good working distance for near tasks (30-40cm)
– Increase levels of outdoor activity

To make an appointment with us to get your child’s eyes tested, call 9841 5798 or contact us via our online form.

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016. Australia’s health 2016. Australia’s health series no. 15. Cat.no.AUS 199. Canberra: AIHW. Adults stats section 3.15 pg 117. Child stats section 5.4, pg 3

^2. Wang J, Li Y, Musch DC, et al. Progression of Myopia in School-Aged Children After COVID-19 Home Confinement. JAMA Ophthalmol. 2021;139(3):293–300. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2020.6239

Ten tips for healthy eyes in 2022

We can all agree that 2021 was not the most conducive to everyone being their best selves and living their best lives. Luckily, 2022 is here, giving us all a chance for a fresh start. At Optical Insight, we’ve put together a list of our top tips to kick the New Year off on the right foot:

Tip 1: Book an Eye exam

January is the perfect time to get all of your health exams out of the way. Start the year fresh and healthy by booking your annual eye exam. These exams can ensure you maintain healthy eyes, alert you to possible eye diseases, or ensure that your prescription is correct. This can save you in the long run, as early intervention can make a huge difference in eye health.

Tip 2: Wear sunglasses

This year, make it a point to wear UV protective sunglasses all year round. Just like your skin, UV rays can damage your eyes by accumulating over time. The damage can cause you to get cataracts earlier in life and increase the risk of rare eye cancers. Wearing UV protective sunglasses helps protect your eyes by blocking UV rays and weather such as wind to prevent irritation and dryness. So, in 2022 make it a habit to wear your sunglasses when you’re outside all year round.

Tip 3: Eat eye-healthy foods

One of the most common New Year’s resolutions is to eat cleaner. For most of us, the main motivation is to be healthier or attain a better body image. What if we told you that what you eat also affects your vision and overall eye health? Strive to eat fresh fruit, dark green vegetables and foods high in Omega-3 fatty acids such as cold-water fish like salmon and tuna to ensure you maintain optimal vision in 2022.

Tip 4: Limit the amount of time you wear contacts for

Contacts are a fantastic alternative to glasses, but they aren’t a permanent solution. Leaving contacts in for too long can take a toll on your eyes. Although contacts are a very safe option, they can still cause dry eyes and infections when worn for extended periods. So in 2022, make a conscious decision to limit the amount of time you wear contacts.

Tip 5: Take a break from screens

By far our favourite New Years Resolution; try to limit the amount of screen time you get every day. Not only is it a fantastic idea for your mental health, but limiting screen time also promotes eye health. Studies have found that focusing on a screen for too long reduces the number of times you blink per hour. This can cause your eyes to strain as your eye muscles become exhausted and your eyes dry out. So in 2022, try to utilise the 20/20/20 rule; every 20 minutes, look away from the screen at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Tip 6: Take care of your heart

This one may sound weird when talking about the eyes, but heart health directly affects eye health. This is because our heart pumps blood throughout our bodies vascular system – including the blood vessels in our eyes. Therefore, having high blood pressure and high cholesterol levels can increase the risk of eye diseases. So keep an eye on your blood pressure, cholesterol and glucose levels to ensure a healthy heart and healthy eyes.

Tip 7: Quit smoking

Among the extensive list of health risks that comes with smoking is the risk of developing eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts. It can also damage your retina and lead to loss of vision. This is because smoking causes plaque build-up in your bloodstream, weakening arteries and increasing the risk of heart attacks. So, in 2022, if you need the motivation to quit smoking, think of your eye health.

Tip 8: Wash your hands

If Covid-19 taught us anything, it’s to maintain good hand hygiene. So strive to keep up the practice in 2022 by washing your hands regularly and thoroughly. This is the most simple yet effective way to protect your eyes from infections – particularly if you wear contacts.

Tip 9: Clean out your make-up bag

If you wear make-up, you’ve probably kept products way past their use-by date at least once or twice before. We’ve all been there. But, make-up, particularly products used around your eyes, such as eyeliner or mascara, have a recommended use-by after opening. These products need to be replaced anywhere between six and 24 months after opening. This is because cosmetics can be a hotbed for germs and bacteria. So, come 2022, try to go through your make-up bag and replace any products that are past their prime.

Tip 10: Talk about eye health

Eye health is an important issue that is often not discussed. So, in 2022, take some to have an open discussion about eye health – such as family medical histories including hereditary eye conditions – with your friends and family to ensure everyone stays informed and healthy.

Follow our top ten tips to ensure you see clearly in 2022. For more information or to discuss your eye health contact us today.

High Blood Sugar Causes Permanent Eye Damage

We all know the key to a healthy body is a healthy diet. This principle applies to healthy eyes as well. Just as eating high sugar foods can take a toll on your body, high sugar foods can also affect your eyesight. Moreover, studies have shown that those with chronic high blood sugar are more at risk for eye diseases and can cause permanent eye damage if you do not look after your eyes

Sugar is a pro-inflammatory ingredient. Pro-inflammatory diets have been known to increase the risk of adverse health effects. Sugar, for example, can cause high blood sugar. High blood sugar, and inflammation, can cause the lenses in your eyes to swell, which can lead to blurry vision. Studies have found that eating food that is high in sugar and starch can make people more susceptible to age-related muscular degeneration. It typically starts later in life and can affect the retina, leading to vision loss. Eating foods high in antioxidants can reduce the likeliness of developing age-related muscular degeneration.

Sugar and Age-Related Muscular Degeneration

Studies have found that eating food that is high in sugar and starch can make people more susceptible to age-related muscular degeneration. It typically starts later in life and can affect the retina, leading to vision loss. Eating foods high in antioxidants can reduce the likeliness of developing age-related muscular degeneration.

Sugar and cataracts

High blood sugar can result in the swelling of the eyes. This can lead to changes to your eyes. One such change is the development of cataracts – a condition that results in blurry and obstructed vision due to the clouding of your lenses. It is also one of the common eye issues in children. Read your children’s body language and get your child’s eye tested with our optometrist if your child has any symptoms.

Sugar and Glaucoma

High blood sugar can lead to issues such as high glycemia, hypertension and high blood pressure. These can have a run-off effect that causes harm to your eyes. For example, it can lead to a glaucoma; a group of eye conditions that cause blindness. This results from the blood vessels in your eyes narrowing which leads to a build-up of fluid that cannot drain properly. The build up leads to excessive pressure inside the eye – a glaucoma. Over 300,000 people in Australia live with a glaucoma. It’s known as the ‘silent thief of the night’. If left untreated it can lead to peripheral vision loss and blindness.

Diabetes and Eye Health

Diabetes increases the risk and likelihood of developing the issues mentioned above. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your body cannot produce enough insulin to break down glucose – a sugar – in your body. If you have diabetes, it is very likely that you will develop changes to your eyes. Some individuals may find it challenging to focus the eye, and others will have their vision issues vary day today. These issues, however, are often eased as glucose levels stabilise. As such, it is crucial to have regular eye checks if you are living with diabetes. Nearly half of all Australian’s living with diabetes aren’t having regular diabetes eye checks, causing many to lose part of their sight as a result.

Moreover, when your blood sugar is constantly high, it can lead to sight-threatening conditions. One such disease is diabetic retinopathy, which occurs when the blood vessels in the back of your eye are damaged, leading to loss of vision. It can happen regardless of the type of diabetes or age. Symptoms of the disease include blurred, distorted or patchy vision that cannot be correct with prescription glasses, problems with balance, reading and recognising people, being overly sensitive to glare and difficulty seeing at night. The early stages of diabetic retinopathy may have no symptoms, and diagnosis may be prolonged. As a result, it is imperative that you get your eyes every two years if you are diabetic.

Looking after your eyes

To help prevent vision loss, it is crucial you do the following:

Have your eyes checked regularly – at least once every two years.
Control your blood glucose levels.
Maintain healthy cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
Seek treatment as soon as you notice changes in your vision.
Maintain a healthy lifestyle – add a list of good foods for healthy eyes to your diet plan and exercise regimen.

At Optical Insight, we believe investing in healthy eyes will pay off for a lifetime. Detecting vision problems early on is far better than when serious complications arise. Our comprehensive care delivers a 5-star experience for every vision test, whether you need a frequent eye health test, dry eye test, or digital retinal imaging exams. Schedule your appointment today to ensure your eyes are as healthy as possible!

9 Children Common Eye Issues

Eye health is one of the most important factors in growing children. Especially because as our children age, their eyes change every day. In this article, our optometrists list out 9 common eye issues in children

Headaches and tired eyes can be a sign that your child needs an eye check-up. Read your children’s body language and get your child’s eye tested with our optometrist if your child has any symptoms of common eye issues. Your child may not be aware their eyes have problems and it’s difficult for you as parents to tell whether your child has sight problems. It is equally important we catch any problems with their eyes as soon as possible. So if you’ve noticed any of the above behaviours developing in your kids while at home or school don’t ignore them.

Early detection of any paediatric eye conditions is vital. Regular checks can detect eye problems that children either don’t know about or can’t describe. At Optical Insight, our optometrists advise you to take your child to see an optometrist every two years or more regularly if it is recommended by the optometrist or your doctor. As behavioural testing optometrists, we can conduct visual perceptual tests in an effort to identify any gaps in these “building blocks”. Often children will be referred by a GP, maternal/child health nurse or school nurse.

Learn more about 9 Common Eye Issues In Children and a thorough examination of the eyes and face is required in order to figure out the cause, so if you are concerned, a trip to see one of our professional optometrists is worthwhile.

Book an appointment now

COMMON EYE ISSUES IN CHILDREN

1. Refractive errors

Refractive errors occur when the eye fails to bend light to focus on the retina. This leads to blurry vision. Refractive errors include myopia (short-sightedness), hyperopia (long-sightedness) or astigmatisms.

Refractive errors are diagnosed through thorough eye exams.

Click here to book an exam now.

2. Amblyopia (Lazy eye)

Amblyopia occurs due to abnormal visual development in one/both eyes. This results in the brain to ignore images from the ‘lazy’ eye and can lead to the deterioration of vision. Improving lazy eye requires ongoing treatment by trained professionals.

Contact us for more information.

3. Strabismus (Crossed eyes)

Children with crossed eyes – having one or both eyes turning inwards, outwards, upwards or downwards constantly or occasionally – will require a thorough examination. This examination will rule out any serious conditions, as well as preventing the development of other issues and provide treatment.

4. Ptosis (Congenital droopy eyelid)

Occurs with weak upper eyelid muscles or damaged nerves. A thorough eye examination is required to determine any underlying causes and treatments.

Click here to book an exam now.

5. Conjunctivitis

There are many causes to conjunctivitis. These include bacterial or viral infections, allergies or an underlying systemic illness. Neonatal conjunctivitis, which can occur in a child’s first month of life, is one of the most serious types of conjunctivitis as it can threaten the child’s vision. When this occurs a paediatric ophthalmologist should be sought out immediately.

6. Childhood cataracts

Some children can be born with cataracts; however, they may not be discovered until the child is slightly older. These cataracts can put a child’s vision at risk. As a result, thorough eye exams, at a young age are so important to assist with diagnosing conditions such as cataracts as soon as possible. Early diagnosis will also assist with the management and prevent further vision impairment.

Click here to book an exam now.

7. Congenital glaucoma

Similar to cataracts, glaucoma’s can be present at birth. They are often very difficult to diagnose, particularly without thorough examinations. Children with congenital glaucoma’s in their family history are at a higher risk.

8. Nystagmus

Involuntary eye movements that move side-to-side, up and down or in a circle. It’s often a result of abnormal binocular fixation at a young age and can be associated with a number of eye diseases.

9. Eye injuries and foreign bodies

Injuries and accidents happen, particularly to children. Even a small injury, such as a small scratch on the eyelid, can cause serious vision problems. We recommend an eye exam as soon as something happens.

Click here to book an exam now.

EARLY DETECTION

Eye checks are the first defence against any underlying or future vision issues in your child. In most cases, an simple eye examination will help children avoid vision loss and blindness. Moreover, it can help some children fix issues that cause learning difficulties, such as refractive errors.

Book an appointment today to ensure your children’s eyes are as healthy as possible!

It’s Time To Go Outside

Spring can surprise us all with some scorching days, so be ready to get out there and enjoy the most it has to offer.

Sending our children outside to play is not only a great way to give their eyes a break from screens but being in the sunlight has been known to prevent rates of near-sightedness. Research has proven that modern-day children are more likely to have vision impairments, compared to children from a couple of decades ago. This was once thought to be due to increased screen time, however, new research has shown that sunlight exposure may be an important factor. In fact, an additional one hour of outdoor time per week will reduce the risk of myopia – near-sightedness – by 14 per cent.

We recommend that children spend two hours outdoors, no matter the season. They could be playing with friends, going on a walk, playing sport or having a picnic. No matter the situation, being outside will expose children to the daylight needed and minimise time straining their eyes, focusing on close up objects such as books or computers.

What is myopia/near-sightedness?

Myopia, near-sightedness or short-sightedness, is a common eye condition where a person can’t see distant objects clearly, but they can see close objects clearly. It happens when lights rays focus on a point in front of a retina, instead of directly on it, due to the eyeball being too long, or the cornea too curved for the length of the eyeball.

It is currently the second most common condition in children, after hay fever. Myopia usually begins mildly in children and progresses as they get older.

Other Risk Factors

Other risk factors of myopia include:
• Family history
• Low levels of light exposure
• Prolonged time on ‘close’ tasks, such as reading, phone or iPad use, etc

Symptoms:

A recent study found that almost one in three children with myopia are not diagnosed. This is why it is important to conduct frequent eye-tests.

Obvious symptoms of myopia are:
• Difficulty seeing distant objects, like reading the board at school
• Poorer performance at school
• Sitting closer to the TV
• Tired eyes
• Squinting
• Headaches

To make an appointment with us to get your child’s eyes tested, call 9841 5798 or contact us via our online form.

10 Tips To Protect Your Eyes This Winter

Winter has arrived, meaning more time indoors, more screen time and increased exposure to heaters. All these things have implications on your eye health, which is why we have put together 10 tips to protect your eyes this winter.

What is it about winter that affects my eye health?

1. Dry Outdoor Air

Outdoor air during winter holds a lot less humidity compared with the rest of the year. This dry air can be dehydrating for our eyes, as well as skin. Eyes need moisture to stay healthy, and dehydration can lead to irritation.

2. Warm Indoor Air

Along with the dry outdoor air, warm, dry indoor air from heaters can also cause dehydration to the eyes; sometimes even more, as recirculated air can contain other dehydrating elements like bacteria or skin flora.

3. Increased screen time

During winter, you may find that your screen time increases as you spend more time indoors. Looking at monitors for long periods of time can tire the eyes, and also lead to less blinking, which is a contributing factor to dry and irritated eyes.

10 Eye Care Tips For Winter

1. Regulate the temperature indoors

Heaters set to high temperatures can cause or aggravate existing dry eyes issues in winter. We recommend setting your heater to a consistent mild setting, to ensure your eyes retain as much moisture as possible.

2. Remember to blink!

Activities such as reading or using a digital device often slow down our blinking; it’s something that simply happens when we are visually focused on something. To offset the effects of reduced blinking (dry or irritated eyes), make an effort to blink more during these activities, to ensure the eye has enough lubrication.

3. Try a humidifier

It’s not possible to simply not use a heater during winter – Melbourne is too cold for that! But you might want to consider using a humidifier. Not only will it increase moisture in your indoor air, but it will also improve the quality of that air.

4. Artificial tears can help

If dry eyes continue to bother you, book an appointment with us for a check-up. We may recommend artificial tears to assist by adding moisture to the eye.

5. Add cold-water fish to your diet

Coldwater fish includes tuna, mackerel and halibut. These fish contain omega-3 essential fatty acids, which are known to help your eyes retain moisture. Adding these into your diet during winter can aid in protection against dry eyes.

6. Keep your eyes hydrated

We all know we need to drink eight glasses of water a day. But did you know this also impacts your eyes? By keeping your body hydrated you help your eyes stay hydrated during the winter season.

7. Wear sunglasses with high UV protection

Though clouds may block out the sun during winter, UV rays still filter through. Do you notice how often on a cloudy day you still experience a glare? When practical we recommend wearing sunglasses when outdoors, ensuring they are sunglasses that offer 100% UV protection. If you’re in-store looking for a new pair of sunnies, ask about UV protection.

8. Don’t forget to protect your eyes when visiting the snow

High-speed winds and UV reflection off the snow means that a pair of quality goggles is essential, whether you’re skiing, snowboarding or just playing around. Look out for ones with built-in UV protection.

9. Keep your eyes clean

Some everyday tips to keep your eyes clean include: – washing your face at the end of every day, including removing makeup – not sharing makeup brushes or applicators, and making sure to clean these and not use expired make-up – keeping your hands away. Avoid rubbing your eyes, as this can lead to the transfer of bacteria.

10. Use the 20-20-20 rule while on screens

Incorporate the 20-20-20 rule into your daily routine when spending time on digital devices, especially if you work an office job where you’re on a computer 9-5.

Take a break every 20 minutes
Find an object 20 feet away
Look at it for 20 seconds

For more eye care tips, check out our post on Eyesight Tips For Extended Zoom Meetings

Women and Eye Health

A web report from The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Eye Health shows that females (59%) experienced a higher prevalence of long-term vision disorders than males (51%) in 2017–18. This divide was much higher in women aged 15-44, where women had at least a 10% higher prevalence. So how is eye health different for women?

Women live longer than men

As women have a longer life expectancy than men, there is a greater chance that they will develop age-related eye problems, such as macular degeneration or cataracts.

Pregnancy

Due to hormone changes in pregnancy, pregnant women may find that they have blurry or poorer vision, scratchy eyes or dry eyes. Luckily this is temporary, and usually disappears after delivery. You can use eye drops to alleviate any dry or scratchiness; just make sure you check that they’re safe for pregnant women.

Menopause

Like pregnancy, menopause leads to significant changes in hormones that can affect a woman’s eye health, and increase their likelihood of experiencing health issues such as dry eyes and macular degeneration.

Makeup

How often do you clean your makeup brushes? Poor hygiene in regards to makeup can lead to bacteria infecting the eyes, causing issues such as dry eyes and conjunctivitis.

Eye conditions that affect women more

Eye conditions such as dry eyes, cataracts and presbyopia (difficulty focusing on near objects) affect women more overall. This could be due to a mixed bag of reasons, from age, hormones and the tendency for women to get any potential health issues checked sooner.

How can I protect my eyes?

There are some simple, everyday things you can do to help protect your eyes: – protect your eyes from UV rays with sunglasses that have 100% UV protection (see our article on Early UV Protection for more information) – thoroughly clean makeup brushes and application tools regularly – use blue light lenses if you spend a lot of time on screens – reduce screen time where possible, and take regular breaks. Use the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds – a healthy, balanced diet will ensure your eyes get the nutrients they need – if you wear contacts, store them correctly and care for them as instructed – see your optometrist regularly for check ups – stay alert for any signs of vision issues If you have any concerns about your eye health, make an appointment here or call 9841 5798.

How Do I Know If My Baby Has Vision Problems?

It might not be obvious if your baby has any vision problems, as they can still have normal-looking eyes. Instead, there may be something about a child’s behaviour or habits that will suggest there might be an issue with the way they see.

Most babies start to focus on faces and objects by 4-5 weeks of age. By about 6-8 weeks, most babies will start smiling at the familiar faces and things they see. Babies with a vision impairment might have trouble doing these things. If by 3 months of age your baby isn’t focusing on and following objects, we would recommend that you bring them in for an eye test.

Signs your baby has vision problems

In young babies, signs can be as subtle as: – Eyes move/jerk/wander randomly or quickly – Eyes don’t follow your face or an object – Minimal eye contact with family and friends – Eyes don’t react to light being turned on or off – Pupils seem white or cloudy – Eyes don’t line up, but turn inwards or outwards

How to keep your baby’s eyes healthy

There are things you can do to keep your baby’s eyes healthy: – Place toys within your baby’s focus range (20-30cm) – Give your baby’s appropriate toys to hold and play with (no sharp edges!) – Hang a mobile over their cot to encourage eye stimulation – Use UV-blocking hats and sunglasses when outside – Use stroller covers on sunny days – Encourage crawling

Early detection

Eye checks are the main weapon against avoidable vision loss and blindness. It is the early detection that prevents learning difficulties and problems, and identifies issues that are often missed and ignored. We can identify the following potential issues through early detection: squinting, lazy eyes, poor vision and eye health, and colour blindness (which if correctly identified can enhance learning, as people see different things). At Optical In Sight, we specialise in eye care for children under six. To find out more about behavioural optometry, visit our Behavioural Optometry page.

Glaucoma and what to look out for

Categories

Myopia Symptoms In Children Post-Pandemic

What exactly is Myopia?

What are the risk factors?

What are the symptoms of Myopia?

What is the treatment and how is it managed?

Categories

What is Orthokeratology?

Who is Ortho-K for?

How does Ortho-K work?

How long does ortho-k take to work?

Is Ortho-K new?

Is Ortho-K safe?

Is Ortho-K permanent?

Can everyone wear ortho-k lenses?

Can I see with my Ortho-K lenses in?

Will I have to replace my ortho-k lenses?

How do I care for my Ortho-K lenses?

What happens if I stop wearing the Ortho-K lenses?

Is Ortho-K expensive?

Are Ortho-K lenses painful?

Categories

Ten tips for healthy eyes in 2022

Tip 1: Book an Eye exam

Tip 2: Wear sunglasses

Tip 3: Eat eye-healthy foods

Tip 4: Limit the amount of time you wear contacts for

Tip 5: Take a break from screens

Tip 6: Take care of your heart

Tip 7: Quit smoking

Tip 8: Wash your hands

Tip 9: Clean out your make-up bag

Tip 10: Talk about eye health

Categories

High Blood Sugar Causes Permanent Eye Damage

Sugar and Age-Related Muscular Degeneration

Sugar and cataracts

Sugar and Glaucoma

Diabetes and Eye Health

Looking after your eyes

Categories

9 Children Common Eye Issues

COMMON EYE ISSUES IN CHILDREN

1. Refractive errors

2. Amblyopia (Lazy eye)

3. Strabismus (Crossed eyes)

4. Ptosis (Congenital droopy eyelid)

5. Conjunctivitis

6. Childhood cataracts

7. Congenital glaucoma

8. Nystagmus

9. Eye injuries and foreign bodies

Categories

It’s Time To Go Outside

What is myopia/near-sightedness?

Other Risk Factors

Symptoms:

Categories

10 Tips To Protect Your Eyes This Winter

What is it about winter that affects my eye health?

Categories

Women and Eye Health

Women live longer than men

Pregnancy

Menopause

Makeup

Eye conditions that affect women more

How can I protect my eyes?

Categories

How Do I Know If My Baby Has Vision Problems?

Signs your baby has vision problems

Early detection

Categories

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