Ophthalmology - Comprehensive Eye Health Solutions

Cataract occurs when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy. It often develops in older people, but it can also be due to injury, prolonged eye inflammation, or steroid treatment. Babies can be born with cataracts too.

The most common symptom is blurry vision. Other symptoms may include seeing colours as faded, being very sensitive to light or glare or even having double vision.

Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve. It often develops in older people and can cause vision loss and permanent blindness if left untreated.

Often, there are no visible symptoms in the early stage of the disease. Without treatment, it can lead to the gradual loss of side (peripheral) vision, tunnel vision and then permanent vision loss. That's why it is also known as "the silent thief of sight".

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the loss of central vision, affecting adults over 50 years old. It is caused by aging damage to the macula, a small spot near the centre of the retina.

The most common symptom is blurred central vision and difficulty in completing “straight-ahead” tasks that require sharp central vision.

Myopia (short-sightedness) is difficulty in seeing objects that are far away. It often develops in childhood and is corrected with glasses.

The most common symptom is blurry vision when trying to focus or read from a distance.

Hyperopia (farsightedness) is a condition that makes it difficult to focus on objects that are close to the eye. It occurs when the eyeball is too short to refract light properly and can be corrected with glasses.

Some of the symptoms associated with hyperopia include blurred vision, headaches, and sore eyes when reading.

Presbyopia is the loss of accommodative function of the eye to near objects. It is caused by the ligaments of the lens of the eye naturally hardening over time. It is often confused with hyperopia.

Common symptoms are visual fatigue and problems reading small writing. It is also important to note that presbyopia can occur alongside other refractive errors.

Squint (strabismus) is when the eyes do not maintain proper alignment, for example, if they point in different directions. It often develops in childhood and may require surgery to straighten the eyes. In less serious cases, it may be possible to straighten the eyes with specialised glasses.

Other eye conditions that warrant a visit to the eye doctor include:

• Astigmatism - This is a common eye issue that results in blurry or distorted vision. Astigmatism develops when the cornea or lens has an abnormal shape. Besides blurry vision, symptoms also include headaches, trouble seeing at night and eye strain.
• Diabetic retinopathy (diabetic eye diseases) - This eye condition is caused by abnormality in the blood vessels in the retina due to diabetes mellitus and can lead to blindness. There is usually no sign of early symptoms and thus, it’s important to manage your diabetes to avoid this complication. Later symptoms include blurry vision, floaters, and blindness.
• Dry eye - Dry eye is a common condition when your eyes don’t make enough tears. Symptoms include dry or ‘scratchy’ eyes, blurry vision, red eyes, and a burning sensation in the eyes.
• Floaters - These small dark shapes that look like spots, squiggly lines, or treads float across your vision. While many people experience floaters once in a while, they can be a sign of more serious eye problems. It’s important to tell your medical doctor if you have floaters.
• Pink eye - Also known as conjunctivitis, pink eye causes redness and swelling. You may also experience pain and itchiness. Pink eye can sometimes resolve on its own if it's mild.
• Retinal detachment - This condition occurs when the retina is detached away from its natural position, which is at the back of the eye. Symptoms include a sudden increase in floaters, a shadow over your vision and flashes of light in one or both eyes.
• Thyroid eye disease - Thyroid eye disease (TED) or Graves’ disease is an autoimmune disorder. As a result, the eye muscles, tear glands, and fatty tissues behind the eye get inflamed. This may cause the eyes and eyelids to become red, swollen, or even bulging out. Learn more about the symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment for thyroid eye disease.