Optometrist Dubbo

Dry eye is a condition that commonly affects people of all ages. It is more appropriate to refer to the condition as a 'tear film abnormality' rather than dry eye because often people with 'dry eye' will complain of watery eyes.

There are several symptoms that contribute to having dry eye, such as; Environmental, concentration, contact lens wearing, aging, hormonal changes, medications, blepharitis, meibomian gland dysfunction and arthritic conditions.

Most Dry eye can be treated with eye drops, gels or lubricants and in severe cases, tear drainage maybe required. 

Please book an appointment at our Dubbo office with one of our Optometrists to discuss your symptoms and management.

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens in the eye and is one of the leading causes of vision impairment. While cataracts most commonly occur in those who are older, they can develop in younger people as well. Some people are born with a cataract.

In early stages a cataract may not cause vision problems. However some of the common signs associated with advanced cataracts include: blurred vision, glare sensitivity, distortion or double vision in the affected eye, or a feeling of looking through a veil or curtain.  

Those most at risk include people who have: A family history of the eye condition, diabetes, an eye injury, exposed their eyes to sunlight without protection over a long period and smokers.

When symptoms begin to appear, vision may be improved through cataract surgery, we are able to provide a referral to local Ophthalmologists to arrange cataract extractions.

For more information, please visit, Vision Australia.

Please book an appointment at our Dubbo office with one of our Optometrists to discuss your symptoms and management.

If you have diabetes it is recommended you have an examination once a year even if you think your vision is OK, this is so any Diabetic changes can be detected before they start to reduce your vision.

With the latest in Digital retinal photography available, we will capture several images of the back of your eye to ensure the Optometrist can see the back of your eye thoroughly. Detecting any problems early and getting treatment will help prevent more serious problems occurring. 

The risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases with the length of time you have had diabetes. The risk is also increased when blood glucose levels are not well controlled over time. Good blood glucose levels and blood pressure, and regular comprehensive eye examinations can greatly reduce the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy but it does not eliminate it.

Diabetic Retinopathy can occur regardless of the type of diabetes you have, your age, or even the control you have over your blood-glucose levels. 

For more information, please visit, Diabetes Australia.

Please book an appointment at our Dubbo office with one of our Optometrists to discuss your symptoms and management.

Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases in which the optic nerve at the back of the eye is slowly destroyed. In most people this damage is due to an increased pressure inside the eye - a result of blockage of the circulation of aqueous, or its drainage. In other patients the damage may be caused by poor blood supply to the vital optic nerve fibres, a weakness in the structure of the nerve, and/or a problem in the health of the nerve fibres themselves.

Although anyone can get glaucoma, some people have a higher risk, those with; Family history of Glaucoma, diabetes, migraine, short sighted, eye injuries, high blood pressure and past or present use of cortisone drugs (steroids). People in these groups should have their first eye check no later than the age of 35. For most people, it is recommended to have an eye check for glaucoma by the age of 40.

For more information, please visit, Glaucoma Australia

Please book an appointment at our Dubbo office with one of our Optometrists to discuss your symptoms and management.

Macular Degeneration (MD) is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision, affecting the ability to see fine detail, drive, read and recognise faces.

Although there is no cure for MD, there are treatment options that can slow down its progression, depending on the stage and type of the disease. The earlier the disease is detected, the more vision you are likely to retain.

Age-related macular degeneration, or AMD, is the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 65. In its more advanced stages, AMD will cause patients to have a very noticeable decrease in their ability to see sharply or use focused vision, which is the type of vision required for reading or watching television.

AMD can be diagnosed by looking at the back of the eye with an ophthalmoscope. Before you notice any changes, the Optometrist is able to detect both pigment clusters within the centre of the retina and drusen, which are yellow whitish residues which can be found along the retina. In the later stages new blood vessels can be seen. By means of fluorescent angiography these new blood vessels can be depicted most clearly. 

At this time there is no known cure for macular degeneration. In some cases, macular degeneration may be active and then slow down considerably, or even stop progressing for an extended period. There are ways to slow macular degeneration, depending on the type and the degree of the condition. These range from nutritional intervention, injection or laser surgery of the blood vessels.

For more information, please visit, Macula Disease Foundation Australia.

Please book an appointment at our Dubbo office with one of our Optometrists to discuss your symptoms and management.