What are cataracts? Cataracts are formed when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy or misty. This is a gradual process that usually happens as we get older. It does not hurt. The early stages of a cataract do not necessarily affect your sight. The only proven treatment for…
What is AMD? Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK – affecting more than 600,000 people. However, most people with AMD can see well enough to get around. The macula is an area at the back of your eye that is responsible for…
What is a squint? A squint occurs when your eyes don’t point in the same direction. The most common type of squint is where one eye turns slightly inwards, towards your nose. Sometimes the eye may turn out or – very occasionally –up or down, while the other looks ahead….
What is astigmatism? Most people’s eyes are round like a football and light focusses on one area of the retina (the thin layer of tissue that lines the back of the eye). If you have astigmatism your eye is shaped a bit like a rugby ball. This means that the…
What is long-sightedness (hyperopia)? Normally, light is focussed by the cornea and lens to form a sharp image on the retina. Long-sightedness occurs when the eyeball is slightly too short so that the focus point is behind the retina at the back of the eye. If you are long-sighted, you…
Overnight vision correction, also known as orthokeratology, ortho-k or corneal reshaping, is a procedure where you are fitted with specially designed rigid gas-permeable (RGP) lenses that you wear overnight. These lenses help to alter the shape of your cornea while you sleep in order to temporarily reduce or correct mild…
If you need glasses, the optometrist will write you a prescription. Here is a simple guide to what it means: Sph (sphere) represents how long or short-sighted you are. This can be positive (+) for long sight or negative (-) for short sight. The higher the number, the stronger your…
