Eyecare health

Looking after your eyes

It is important to have your eyes regularly tested even though you may not feel as though your vision has deteriorated. An eye test can pick up not only a change in prescription, but can also detect general health problems. People who are over the age of 60, have a family history of glaucoma and are diabetic are considered a higher risk group so whilst it is recommended they have a sight test every 12 months, a regular check up every 2 years is recommended for everyone else.

Simple things such as a healthy diet and lifestyle, giving up smoking and protecting your eyes from the sun can improve the health of your eyes. Some people may still find that they suffer from dry eye syndrome or conjuntivius which can have many different underlying causes. Although dry eye syndrome is not always serious and can be treated with the correct eye drops as advised by your optom or doctor, some series of dry eye can be associated with blepharitis. Blepharitis is not usually serious, but if it is not treated correctly it can cause severe inflammation of the cornea. If you are concerned that you may be suffering from dry eye syndrome contact us on 0121 643 2880 for more advice.

As we age, our sight deteriorates. This is known as age related macular degeneration and is incredibly rare in younger people. AMD is the leading cause of visual impairment in the UK affecting more than 460,000 people. AMD can affect your central vision leading it to become increasingly blurred. Although it is uncertain what causes this, it is known that AMD will not cause complete blindness. Whilst there is no cure for AMD there are a range of treatments which are available.At Piccadilly Opticians we recommend Macushield for those who are suffering from AMD.