Conditions Treated

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of conditions whereby there is progressive damage to the optic nerve, which connects the retina (back of the eye) to the brain. Irrespective of the type of glaucoma, there is progressive, irreversible loss of side vision. In end-stage glaucoma, central vision is also lost. Some people may be at higher risk of developing glaucoma, particularly those with a strong family history of the disease.

For these reasons, early detection is critical for the preservation of sight by reducing the rate of vision loss. Treatment for all types of glaucoma aims at reducing eye pressure. Often this is through topical eye drops, but some patients may also require various laser treatments or surgical intervention.

Age-related Macular Degeneration

The macula is an area of the retina which is responsible for your central vision. It is important for many fine tasks, including reading, facial recognition and colour perception.

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in Australia. Approximately 1 in 7 Australians over 50 years of age have at least early signs of macular degeneration and roughly 17 percent will experience visual impairment.

There are two subcategories of ARMD - wet and dry. Dry macular degeneration often slowly progresses and cannot be treated. Sometimes, dry ARMD can transform to wet ARMD where there is fluid beneath the retina. Thankfully, wet macular degeneration can be treated with intravitreal injections and many patients can maintain good vision. If left untreated, wet macular degeneration can result in sudden and severe vision loss.

While the exact cause of ARMD is unknown, age, family history of the disease and smoking are all known risk factors.

Cataracts

The lens inside the eye helps to focus the light on the retina. A cataract is a clouding of the natural crystalline lens which can cause blur, difficulty with glare - particularly when driving at night - and frequent spectacle prescription changes. Cataracts are often age-related and almost everyone will develop cataracts within their lifetime. Other factors including sun exposure and traumatic head injuries may hasten the progression of cataracts.

Cataract surgery is highly successful and the patients are often extremely happy with the outcome. The procedure itself is called phacoemulsification, where the original lens is divided and suctioned out of the eye and replaced with an artificial lens implant. During the procedure, patients are given local anaesthetic and are under mild sedation.

Following cataract surgery, approximately 1 in 3 patients will develop hazy vision which is due to posterior capsular opacification (PCO). This is cloudiness of the lens ‘bag’. PCO can be easily rectified in the Doctor’s rooms with a very quick laser procedure which is painless and produces immediate results.

Diabetic Eye Disease

Poorly controlled or long standing diabetes mellitus can lead to diabetic retinopathy. High blood sugar levels can result in weakening of blood vessel walls, which leads to leaking blood vessels.

When this happens, the photoreceptors within the retina may be damaged. In advanced diabetic retinopathy, new blood vessels may form which are prone to leakage and result in significant destruction.

Treatments for diabetic retinopathy include laser and intravitreal injections. If left untreated, diabetic eye disease can lead to severe visual impairment. Therefore, diabetic patients should have regular dilated eye examinations to maintain optimal ocular health. It is also important to have well-controlled blood sugar levels and blood pressure to minimise the risk of diabetic eye disease.

Eyelid Malposition

For various reasons, a person’s eyelids may roll towards or away from the eye. This may cause irritation, watering, redness or infection. Similarly, some people may develop eyelids which are lower than usual, which may impede their vision and feel uncomfortably heavy. The eyelid position may be corrected through a surgical procedure to improve ocular health and patient comfort.

Pterygium

A pterygium (pronounced ter-idg-ee-um) is a wedge-shaped growth of thickened fibrovascular tissue that covers the white part of the eye. It typically starts growing near the inner corner of the eye and may extend onto the cornea. While the exact cause of a pterygium is unknown, sun exposure is believed to play a major role.

With increased growth, a pterygium may cause eye irritation, interfere with vision, or be cosmetically displeasing. In these cases, surgical excision may be required. However, in a lot of cases if the pterygium is not particularly bothersome and there are no suspicious features, the pterygium may be closely monitored and the patient may be able to manage with lubricating eye drops and sunglasses. It is uncommon for a pterygium to develop into a cancerous lesion.

Eyelid Lesions

Lesions may develop around the eyelids which are suspicious for skin cancer. In these cases, typically a biopsy is initially taken to determine the diagnosis. If a cancerous lesion is confirmed, your Ophthalmologist will then arrange a full excision of the lesion which is often done in theatre. Depending on the size of the lesion, an eyelid reconstruction may be required.