An Ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in eye, vision care and eye surgeries.
They perform comprehensive eye exams for the diagnosis and management of eye diseases using both pharmaceutical and surgical interventions as needed.
Optometrists are medical professionals that provide primary eye care which includes sight tests, diagnosis and management of ocular diseases.
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On request we can visit your place of work or school to assess the visual needs required in your daily activities. Our attending team will then examine your nominated staff or students on site. Following this evaluation we generate a report advising of our findings and recommendations for optimum visual performance. We have serviced varied institutions including mines, security companies, transport companies, primary schools and secondary schools. Feel free to Contact us for any additional information
Should a patient not be able to visit one of branches e.g. The elderly or due to ill-healh ; we can arrange for our Optometrist to do a home visit consult as needed.
Cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. It is the most common cause of vision loss in elderly people and is also the leading cause of blindness in the world. There a various types of cataracts of which you Ophthalmologist will be able to discuss this further with you.
At first, a cataract has little effect on your vision then you will start to notice that your vision is blurred a little, like looking through a cloudy piece of glass or dirty window. Patients with cataracts often complain of glare from the sun or bright lights e.g. when driving at night, oncoming headlights cause more glare than before. An detailed eye exam is required to diagnose a cataract. If you suspect you have one, visit one of our branches that is nearest to you for a consultation.
Early cataracts are often left in place and monitored by your specialist. When they adversely affect your vision they can be removed surgically by an Ophthalmologist. During surgery, the surgeon will remove your clouded natural lens and replace it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL) which then restores your vision. For further details on the procedure please visit one of our branches that is nearest to you.
Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can cause blindness. It damages the optic nerve (a bunch of nerves that carries information from your eyes to your brain for processing) resulting in permanent vision loss. Glaucoma has no early warning signs and can only be detected during a comprehensive eye exam. If undetected and untreated it silently affects vision without your knowledge. Most people only notice the vision loss when it's too late. Unfortunately the vision lost cannot be restored and treatment is aimed at preserving the vision present at diagnosis.
Glaucoma has a genetic link and is more common in people with a positive family history. It can also occur in people with Diabetes, previous eye injuries or secondary to continued use of certain medications such as corticosteroids.
Treatment is dependent on the type of glaucoma you have; options include topical eye drops, surgery or a combination of both.
Conjunctivitis, also known as "pink eye," is a common eye infection caused by either a bacteria or a virus. There are various types;
Viral conjunctivitis. Caused by a virus, like the common cold. This type of pink eye is very contagious, but will clear up on its own within two weeks without medical treatment.
Bacterial conjunctivitis. Caused by bacteria and requires urgent treatment so as to not progress into something more serious.
Allergic conjunctivitis. Caused by eye irritants such as pollen, dust and animal dander. It can be seasonal and requires drops to aid relief and comfort.
As you would expect, the treatment of pink eye depends on the type of conjunctivitis you have but is usually in the form of eye drops. If you wear contact lenses and have red, irritated eyes, remove your lenses and wear only your spectacles until your eye doctor has had a chance to examine your eyes.
Hyperopia/long sightedness is a condition whereby one has to exert effort (accommodation) to see things clearly, especially if the object is close to the eyes. These people find it easier to see objects that are far compared to nearer objects; affects near tasks such as reading and computer work. Common symptoms include:
Eyestrain
Tired/Heavy eyes/sleepiness
Tearing
Blurry vision especially for close objects
Persistent Headaches
Myopia/short sightedness is the most common visual problem in which distant tasks (such as TV watching, driving) to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. If you can see well enough to read what’s on your laptop or in a book, but you struggle to see what’s on the television or a movie screen, you may be near-sighted. Common symptoms include:
Eyestrain
Squinting
Blurry vision especially for far objects
Persistent Headaches
Astigmatism is a type of refractive error which happens when the eye fails to focus the light properly due to it being more oval in shape than spherical in shape. It can also be present in people with myopia (near-sightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness).Common symptoms include:
Eyestrain
Tired eyes/sleepiness
Squinting
Blurry vision
Persistent Headaches
Presbyopia is the normal loss of near focusing ability that occurs to everyone with age. Most people begin to notice the effects of presbyopia when in their late 30's/early 40's. Common symptoms include:
Blurred vision when working on the computer or mobile
Discomfort with reading near print e.g. newspaper which is relieved when the print is moved away from the face
Tearing with near tasks
Need for additional light when reading
Headaches
Presbyopia can be treated with eyeglasses (including reading glasses), contact lenses and vision surgery.
