Conditions requiring specialist treatment

Macular Degeneration

 

• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s and 60s.

• It does not cause total blindness. But it can make everyday activities like reading and recognising faces difficult.

• Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years ("dry AMD"), or quickly over a few weeks or months ("wet AMD").

• The exact cause is unknown. It's been linked to smoking, high blood pressure, being overweight and having a family history of AMD.

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Diabetic Retinopathy

 
Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in people who have diabetes. It affects blood vessels in the retina (the light-sensitive layer of tissue in the back of your eye).
If you have diabetes, it’s important to get a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once a year. Diabetic retinopathy may not have any symptoms at first — but finding it early can help you take steps to protect your vision. 
Managing your diabetes — by staying physically active, eating healthy, and taking your medicine — can also help you prevent or delay vision loss.  

Retinal detachment/Trauma/Foreign body

Retinal detachment describes an emergency situation in which a thin layer of tissue (the retina) at the back of the eye pulls away from its normal position. Retinal detachment separates the retinal cells from the layer of blood vessels that provides oxygen and nourishment to the eye.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a common eye condition where the optic nerve, which connects the eye to the brain, becomes damaged. It's usually caused by fluid building up in the front part of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. Glaucoma can lead to loss of vision if it's not diagnosed and treated early.

Cataracts
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Cataracts are when the lens, a small transparent disc inside your eye, develops cloudy patches.
Over time these patches usually become bigger causing blurry, misty vision and eventually blindness.
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Cataracts usually appear in both eyes. They may not necessarily develop at the same time or be the same in each eye.
They're more common in older adults and can affect your ability to carry out daily activities such as driving.
Cataracts can also affect babies and young children.

Ocular cancer

 
Eye cancers are called ocular cancers. Ocular is the medical name for the eye. Eye cancer is very rare. Around 851 cases are diagnosed in the UK each year. 
Cancers affecting the inside of the eye are intraocular. Those affecting the outside of the eye are extraocular.
Cancer that starts in the eye is called primary eye cancer.