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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.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. It affects 1 in 10 Australians aged 80 and over – but glaucoma can also strike at any...
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.
Refractive errors
Refractive errors are very common, causing blurred vision. Learn about short sightedness, astigmatism and other types of refractive errors here.
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...
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Top results
Childhood eye diseases and conditions - Fred Hollows
The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs treat various eye diseases which can lead to blindness. Find out more about these devastating eye conditions.
Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website
Eye Health | Common Eye Conditions | Glossary of Eye Conditions
A glossary of eye conditions including information on cataract, diabetic retinopathy, as well as definitions of myopia, hyperopia, and glaucoma. Read more.
Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website
Laser Treatment of Eye Conditions | myVMC
A laser is an intense, focused beam of light that can heat and destroy human tissue. Since the 1960s, focused, carefully controlled lasers have been used for the treatment of human eye diseases. By carefully selecting the type and strength, a beam of laser can be fired into the eye to destroy diseased tissue or to prevent degenerative eye conditions from worsening.
Read more on myVMC – Virtual Medical Centre website
Eye health in Australia | Vision Initiative
Introduction to common eye conditions
Read more on Vision Initiative website
Trachoma disease - causes & treatment - Fred Hollows
The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs treat various eye diseases which can lead to blindness. Find out more about these devastating eye conditions.
Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website
Cataract condition - causes & treatment - Fred Hollows
The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs treat various eye diseases which can lead to blindness. Find out more about these devastating eye conditions.
Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website
Eye conditions | Vision Australia. Blindness and low vision services
Understanding the most common types of vision lossThis section provides information about the most common eye conditions that cause blindness and low vision.Contact us early and get the support you need. Call our helpline on1300 84 74 66or email info@visionaustralia.org.Conditions on this page:
Read more on Vision Australia website
The human eye anatomy & functions - Fred Hollows
The Fred Hollows Foundation's programs treat various eye diseases which can lead to blindness. Find out more about these devastating eye conditions.
Read more on Fred Hollows Foundation website
Eye care - optometrists - Better Health Channel
A standard eye examination with an optometrist includes a screening for all common eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts.
Read more on Better Health Channel website
Family history | Vision Initiative
Information on the link between family history of eye disease and eye health
Read more on Vision Initiative website
Top results
Interventions for helping people use eye drops as prescribed for raised eye pressure or glaucoma | Cochrane
A large number of people do not use eye drops as prescribed.Glaucoma is a slowly progressive eye disease, which can result in severe vision loss. Drops prescribed for raised eye pressure or glaucoma are aimed at lowering the pressure to assist in reducing the rate of progression, or preventing the conversion of raised eye pressure to glaucoma. It is important that these eye drops are used continually, usually for life. Approximately one-third of people who are prescribed eye drops for the first time fail to continue collecting prescriptions within the first year and even when patients collect prescriptions they do not always use the drops as frequently as they should. A number of reasons are thought to be the cause, for example, forgetfulness, being prescribed a large number of medications, difficulties instilling drops, lack of knowledge about glaucoma, a busy lifestyle and seeing no benefit.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Rituximab for the treatment of thyroid eye disease | Cochrane
Thyroid eye disease affects 50% of patients with the autoimmune condition, Graves' disease. Symptoms include eye pain, redness, swelling, protrusion (proptosis), double vision, and in severe cases, reduction in vision. Currently treatment options include steroids and radiotherapy, but relapses are common. Surgery is reserved for severe cases. Rituximab is a medication given by intravenous infusion which has been shown to benefit patients with other autoimmune conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. This review was designed to investigate whether rituximab is effective and safe as a treatment option for patients with thyroid eye disease. There is a lack of evidence from randomised controlled trials to support the use of rituximab for thyroid eye disease. Rigorous studies looking at patients with active thyroid eye disease, comparing rituximab treatment with either steroids or placebo, need to be conducted in order to answer this question.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Corticosteroid eye drops used in addition to standard antibiotic therapy in the treatment of bacterial keratitis | Cochrane
Corticosteroid eye drops used in addition to standard antibiotic therapy in the treatment of bacterial keratitis
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
For GPs | Vision Initiative
Training on eye health and vision care available for GPs
Read more on Vision Initiative website
Pentoxifylline for diabetic eye disease | Cochrane
Diabetic retinopathy or eye disease is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries. Nowadays its treatment is based on the use of laser therapy. Since this is a procedure which destroys important cells in the eye, drug approaches have been developed to prevent or improve lesions in the eyes of diabetic people. Studies with the agent pentoxyfilline suggest this may have an important role in the outcome and progression of diabetic retinopathy.
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
For nurses | Vision Initiative
Online training on eye health and vision care available for nurses
Read more on Vision Initiative website
Orbital therapy for adult thyroid eye disease | Cochrane
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Treatment of amblyopia (lazy eye) caused by strabismus (squint) with patching or optical treatment (glasses or penalisation) or both | Cochrane
Treatment of amblyopia (lazy eye) caused by strabismus (squint) with patching or optical treatment (glasses or penalisation) or both
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Is it better to do strabismus (squint) surgery before or after completing amblyopia (lazy eye) treatment? | Cochrane
Is it better to do strabismus (squint) surgery before or after completing amblyopia (lazy eye) treatment?
Read more on Cochrane (Australasian Centre) website
Our work | Vision Initiative
Introduction on the work of the Vision Initiative between 2012 and 2017
Read more on Vision Initiative website
