Eye Health
Our eyes
Our eye is made up of many parts that work together to enable us to see. For example:
iris – the coloured part of your eye
cornea – the clear outer layer at the front of your eye
pupil – the dark hole in the middle of your iris
sclera – the white part of your eye
conjunctiva – thin layer of tissue covering the front of your eye except the cornea
lens – located behind your pupil
retina – at the back of your eye, which includes rods (responsible for identifying shapes and movement) and cones (detail and colours)
optic nerve – at the back of your eye which connects to the brain.
How your eyes work
Light enters the cornea and travels through the pupil and the lens. The lens and cornea work together to focus the light onto the retina. The retina turns this light into electrical signals which travel to the optic nerve and onto the brain. The brain then interprets these signals and turns them into images.
Common eye problems
Many things can affect our vision. Some of these are short-term problems and some are long-term (chronic) issues. In Australia, over 13 million people have one or more chronic (long-term) eye conditions.
Common problems that don’t usually persist long-term or threaten your sight include:
tired and blurred eyes, usually caused by spending long periods using electronic devices such as computers, tablets, phones and televisions
red eye - when your eyes become red, irritated or bloodshot due to irritants, allergic reactions or infection
dry eye – when your eyes don’t make enough tears to lubricate your eyes
watery eyes – which can be caused by infection, allergic reaction, something in the eye, or a health condition.
Chronic eye problems
Some eye conditions can interfere with your sight or even cause permanent damage to your vision. These include:
Focusing problems (also called refractive errors) which cause images to be seen as blurry. The most common are:
myopia (short-sightedness)
hyperopia or hypermetropia (long-sightedness)
astigmatism (when vision is distorted at all distances)
presbyopia (inability to focus on near objects).
The most common chronic eye conditions in Australia are:
cataracts: when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and impairs vision
glaucoma: a condition that causes damage to the optic nerve
macular degeneration: and other diseases that affect the central part of the retina called the macula
diabetic retinopathy: a complication of diabetes that causes damage to the blood vessels in the eye.
Treating eye problems
Many eye problems can be successfully treated or managed. Refractive errors can be treated with glasses, contact lenses, or even laser surgery.
Treatment for chronic eye problems will depend upon the cause but may involve:
cataracts – surgery
glaucoma – medication or surgery
macular degeneration – nutrition or eye injections
diabetic retinopathy – careful management of diabetes through lifestyle changes and medication, laser treatment, surgery or eye injections.
For other problems like red eye, dry eye, irritated or infected eyes, treatment and management may involve:
resting your eyes
limiting time on screens
applying cool compresses
gently washing your eyes
over-the-counter (OTC) eye drops, gels or ointments
prescription eye drops, gels or ointments.
Talk to your MediADVICE Pharmacist about which product is best suited to your condition. Your pharmacist will also be able to advise you if any of your current medications may be contributing to your eye problem.
Nutrients for eye health
AREDS is a combination of antioxidants and zinc. In clinical trials, AREDS have been found to be a suitable intervention to reduce the risk of progression of AMD (age-related macular degeneration) in people whose condition is intermediate to advanced. AREDS include beta-carotene, which can increase the risk of lung cancer in smokers. If you smoke and are in the high-risk group for AMD, talk to your doctor about your options. These may include ARED2, a combination with the addition of the antioxidants lutein and zeaxanthin as a suitable carotenoid substitute for beta-carotene.
More about lutein and zeaxanthin
Clinical trials have found a link between lutein and zeaxanthin and improvements in physical indicators of excessive screen time. These include improved macular pigment optical density (MPOD, meaning increased ability to filter blue light), as well as improvements in eye strain, eye fatigue, headache frequency and sleep quality.
Regular eye tests
Changes to your eye health and vision can happen gradually without you having any signs or symptoms. Regular eye tests can detect problems at an early stage, meaning you can start treatment earlier and reduce your risk of any permanent damage to your eyes. It’s recommended you have an eye check every two years if you don’t have eye disease. You may need testing more frequently if you have a medical condition or existing eye problem.
Eye tests are performed by optometrists and ophthalmologists. An eye test may include:
discussion of your general health, family history and general vision
measuring your visual acuity (how well you see at various distances)
testing your colour vision
checks on how you react to light and movement
measuring the pressure inside your eyes
examining the outer surface of your eye.
You might also have imaging scans to check the health of your retina.
Tips to look after your eyes
Taking care of your eyes will help reduce the risk of vision problems. You should:
have regular eye checks as advised by your health practitioner
protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses and a hat when outdoors
maintain a healthy lifestyle by eating a wide range of foods rich in antioxidants, omega-3 fats, vitamins and minerals
choose food sources of lutein and zeaxanthin, including orange capsicums, cooked corn, egg, spinach and kale
protect your eyes from hazards to reduce the risk of eye injury
avoid smoking
avoid touching your eyes with dirty hands to prevent infection.
When to see an optometrist or ophthalmologist
While regular checkups are important, you should also see your optometrist or ophthalmologist if you notice any changes to your vision. Some issues are considered to be eye emergencies, as they may cause vision loss. These include:
injuries to your eye, including penetrating wounds, blunt trauma, chemical injuries or foreign objects in your eye
flashes and floaters (specks you see in your eye)
sudden loss or change in your vision
eye pain.
Your local MediADVICE Pharmacist is available to help you manage your health. We can provide advice on medication and other products that can help you manage a range of health conditions, including eye health.
We can conduct medication reviews to determine if any medications may be contributing to your eye condition, and we can also refer you to a doctor if necessary.
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