Dr Sarah Jarvis
My Weekly’s favourite GP from TV and radio writes for you
We all value our sight – but Optegra’s recently published Vision of Britain report shows we don’t always treat eyes with the respect they deserve. Your GP can often help with eye problems, and can refer you to a specialist if you need further tests.
The Department of Health recommends a child’s vision is screened when they’re four. It’s essential not to miss this – 80% of what we learn is through sight. As adults, we should have our eyes checked by an optician every two years (or more if recommended) – yet only 38% of Britons do. If you wear glasses, a change in eyesight can mean they don’t work as well, and you may be prone to headaches and blurred vision – yet under half of people with spectacles get an eye check every two years. Lots of people are entitled to free eye checks – if you’re under 16, 16-18 in full-time education, over 60, registered partially sighted or blind, or get some income-related benefits. If a parent, sibling or child has been diagnosed with glaucoma, you’re eligible for a free eye test every year from the age of 40. Glaucoma is a condition where the pressure inside your eye builds up. It may not cause symptoms in the early stages, but pressure on your optic nerve means your sight can be permanently affected without regular checks to detect it. It can usually be successfully treated with regular eye drops and follow-up by a specialist. The importance of never ignoring “the painful red eye”
EVERYONE WITH DIABETES IS INVITED FOR AN ANNUAL EYE SCREENING INCLUDING PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE BACK OF YOUR EYE – DON’T MISS YOURS!
is drummed into medical students from an early stage. We’re talking about pain, not itching or soreness. An acutely red, painful eye, especially if your eyesight is affected and your eye is sensitive to light, means you must get yourself to a doctor without delay – ideally an A&E with an eye specialist department.
There are several serious causes of painful red eye that can cost you your sight unless treated: acute glaucoma (a sudden build-up of pressure in your eyeball), keratitis and uveitis (inflammation of various layers of your eye). Fortunately with the right emergency treatment most can be sorted.
Flashing lights, a blind spot in one eye or a sudden increase in “floaters” (dots or wisps floating across your line of sight) should also be checked urgently. Floaters are usually nothing to worry about but can be an early sign of detached retina (the lining of your eye).
A sore, rather than painful pink or red eye, where your sight is fine, is usually due to conjunctivitis – inflammation of the clear layer that covers the white of your eyes and the inside of your eyelids. It can be caused by allergy (usually itchy and affecting both eyes) or infection (soreness, often starting in one eye and you may have had contact with someone else affected). Your pharmacist or GP can often offer drops.
A painless bright red patch on your eye, with no other symptoms, is unlikely to be a cause for concern. A subconjunctival haemorrhage is a sudden small bleed under the conjunctiva. It looks dramatic but usually settles on its own in days.
Cataract – clouding of the lens at the front of your eye – can cause blurred, gradually worsening vision and glare from bright lights. Cataract surgery is usually done under local anaesthetic in minutes, and success rates are high. Next week: Cervical Cancer news
SUDDEN LOSS OF VISION IS ALWAYS A MEDICAL EMERGENCY – GO STRAIGHT TO A&E. EARLY TREATMENT COULD SAVE YOUR SIGHT