Problems with eyes can vary from minor and harmless conditions to more serious problems where it is important to act quickly to avoid loss of sight.
It is important to take good care of your eyes and attend eye checks with an optician at least every two years. They are able to check you vision but also look for other signs of eye problems or damage.
Some of the common conditions that can affect eyes are:
- Low vision
- Watery eyes
- Dry eyes
- Eye lid problems (e.g. Stye, chalazion)
- Cataracts
The eyes can also be affected by other conditions you may have such as diabetes or high blood pressure. These conditions can cause changes to the blood vessels in the back of the eye. The better you manage your diabetes or high blood pressure the less likely you are to develop eye problems as a result of these. To make sure you are managing your diabetes or high blood pressure as best you can it is important to have regular check ups with your GP and take the medication prescribed for you as regularly as you can.
There are also eye conditions that need urgent attention. Warning signs to look out for that suggest more serious eye problems would include a sudden change in vision with or without eye pain which can be associated with headaches and vomiting. It is important to seek medical attention urgently if you are suffering from these symptoms.