Eye diseases

Blepharitis

Experiencing pain, heat and swelling in the eyelids? You could have blepharitis, inflammation that usually affects both eyes. Here’s how to treat it.

Cataracts

A leading cause of blindness, cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s lens. Most people have cataracts by age 90, but it can affect anyone, even babies.

Colour blindness

Finding it hard to tell red from green, or blue from yellow, is colour blindness. In rare cases, a person can’t see colour at all. Learn more here.

Conjunctivitis

Known as ‘pink eye’, conjunctivitis is a contagious disease that turns the whites of the eye pink. Read about symptoms and treatments here.

Diabetic retinopathy

Discover how diabetes can slowly damage your retina (the layer of light-sensitive tissue in the back of the eye), leading to diabetic retinopathy.

Eye discharge

Do you have a discharge from the eyes? From styes to scratches, this can indicate an infection and could be caused by any number of conditions.

Optometrist examining female patient in ophthalmology clinic.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. It affects 1 in 10 Australians aged over 80, but glaucoma can strike at any age.

Man having his eyes examined by an ophthalmologist.

Keratoconus

This eye condition changes the shape of the cornea, the dome-shaped window that covers the iris, distorting a person’s vision.

Macular degeneration

This incurable disease leads to loss of vision, but you can cut your risk of macular degeneration by making healthy lifestyle choices.

Optic neuritis

Eye pain and sudden loss of vision? It could be optic neuritis, inflammation of the optic nerve. Learn about its symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Boy having an eye test using a vision test machine.

Refractive errors

Refractive errors are very common, causing blurred vision. Learn about short sightedness, astigmatism and other types of refractive errors here.

Light enters the eyes through the cornea and is converted into electrical signals, that your brain converts into sight.

Retinitis pigmentosa

Tunnel vision and night blindness are just 2 of the symptoms caused by the genetic eye disorder retinitis pigmentosa. Learn more about it here.

Stye

A stye occurs when the glands in your eyelids become blocked and get infected. You may notice a small red lump or swelling on your eyelid. Here's what...

Trachoma

Did you know Australia is the only country in the developed world with trachoma, an eye infection that can cause blindness? Learn how to prevent it.

Twitching eye

Spasms in the eyelid can signal fatigue, stress and in rare cases, multiple sclerosis. Learn about its causes and treatments and when to see a doctor.

Uveitis

If left untreated, uveitis - or inflammation of the uvea, the middle layer of the wall of your eye, can lead to blindness. Here’s how to spot the symp...