Macular degeneration - The macula is the centre of the retina and affords your sharpest vision. As adults get older, many experience damage to their retinas which can lead to an increasing loss of central vision in that region of their macula, hence the term macular degeneration. If you have this condition, you find it difficult, even impossible, to read or to recognise faces. As well, contours, shadows and colour vision are less vivid. Macular degeneration is the leading cause of ‘legal’ blindness and severe vision loss in Australia. For more information, just click mascular degeneration.

Cataract - A cataract is a clouding of your eye's natural lens, which lies behind the iris and pupil. Mostly consisting of water and protein, this lens adjusts your eye's focus, allowing you to see things both up close and at a distance. As you age, the protein that keeps the lens clear may clump together and start to cloud the lens. In time it can grow more cloudy, obstructing more and more light and making it harder and harder to see. Cataracts typically progress slowly but if left untreated they can lead to blindness. For more information, click cataract.

Diabetic retinopathy - If you have diabetes and have struggled with blood sugar control for years, the small blood vessels in your eyes' retinas may begin to swell, bleed or develop abnormal brush-like branches. In the early stages, they may produce no visual symptoms at all. But as the disease progresses, you will probably notice a cloudiness of vision, blind spots or floaters. If left untreated, diabetic retinopathy can cause blindness. That's why we urge you to have your eyes examined regularly, especially, if you are a diabetic or if you have a family history of diabetes. For more information, click diabetic retinopathy.

Glaucoma - Worldwide, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness. Its most common form is often called the “silent thief of sight.” That's because damage to your optic nerve occurs so gradually over such a long period of time that you generally only notice it once the disease has become quite advanced. Since glaucoma is irreversible, your affected visual field cannot be recovered. Fortunately, it's very easy to have your pressure and optic nerves checked for glaucoma damage. And if detected early enough, we can arrest glaucoma's development using both medical and surgical treatment. For more information, click glaucoma.

Retinal vein occlusion - When either the branch retinal vein or central retinal vein becomes closed off, it's called an occlusion. (The picture to the left depicts a branch vein occlusion. Central retinal vein occlusion [CRVO] involves the whole retina.) This eye condition is second only to diabetic retinopathy as a cause of visual loss due to retinal vascular disease. It occurs when a retinal artery next to the retinal vein pushes up against it, or when the retinal artery - which crosses over the top of the vein - applies a large amount of pressure to the vein, blocking the blood flow away from the retina. If you have diabetes, glaucoma, high blood pressure, blood disorders and/or cardiovascular disease, you are more at risk. Fortunately, because we are retinal specialists at Eye Surgeons Miranda, we have the expertise to offer the very latest treatments.

Pterygium - This is an ailment we see fairly commonly among those who enjoy The Shire's sun, sand and surf culture. Men seem to be twice as susceptible as women. Pterygium is a benign growth of a fibrovascular membrane usually starting in the side of your eye closest to your nose. Symptoms include red, dry and itchy eyes as well the sense you have something in your eye. In extreme cases astigmatism and corneal scarring are possible. We prefer to start treating pterygium conservatively. However, surgery is the only way to remove a pterygium. By combining surgical removal with conjunctival autografting, we can minimise the chances of recurrence. Sunglasses, wide-brimmed hats and UV eye protection all can help prevent pterygium.

Skin cancer - There are several signs of periocular (eye area) skin cancers. They may appear as a painless nodule or as a sore that won't heal. The skin may be ulcerated or crusted. There may be bleeding. The normal eyelid structure may be deformed, the eyelashes distorted or missing. Left untreated, such carcinomas will continue to grow and invade surrounding structures. As the senior registrar at Royal North Shore Hospital, Dr Hunt trained in ocular plastic surgery for 12 months. Thus, he has considerable expertise in the management of periocular malignancy. Ideally, the cancer should be detected early to give him a better chance of removing the tumor completely and minimizing the amount of tissue that needs removal.

Eyelid surgery - The condition where eyelids droop very low and block vision is called ptosis. It's caused by either poor muscle tone or nerve damage. The only effective way to fix drooping eyelids is surgery. The other common cause for drooping lids is hooding of excess skin in the upper eyelid. While the eyelid may be at the right height, the overhanging skin can obscure vision. It also makes your eyes look tired and you look older. To correct this condition, we remove excess skin, fat or muscle from your eyelids. Not only will you recover any vision you might have had blocked, your eyes will also look rejuvenated, more rested and alert. While some people with mild drooping opt for surgery for cosmetic reasons, those with more severe hooding should be eligible for a rebate from Medicare and/or their health fund.

Uveitis - Pronounced YOU-VEE-EYE-TIS, this is a complex condition that presents as an inflammation of your eye's pigmented vascular layers. Usually of unknown origin, uveitis is often associated with chronic diseases such as Ankylosing spondylitis or systemic lupus erythematosus. It can also occur in association with infections such as tuberculosis. The type of uveitis or any associated illnesses, as well as its severity, duration and responsiveness to treatment, all factor into the outlook. The prognosis is generally good if you receive prompt diagnosis and treatment, but serious complications (including cataracts, glaucoma, band keratopathy, retinal edema and permanent vision loss) may result if left untreated.

Corneal foreign body removal - We all get something in our eye from time to time, and in most cases you can remove it by blinking rapidly or irrigating the eye with water. Sometimes though the object becomes embedded in your eye's corneal layer, and the natural instinct to rub only makes it worse. Foreign bodies in the cornea are particularly common among construction workers and tradesmen who have been grinding or drilling metal...without adequate eye protection. Because they can't afford to be away from their jobs too long, they need the irritant removed urgently and definitively. Local GPs simply aren't equipped, either in terms of experience, instruments or confidence, to do the work properly. We are.

Misdirected eyelashes - The medical name is trichiasis, and it's what happens when an eyelash grows the wrong way, its point actually sticking into your cornea much like an ingrown hair. It feels like a grain of sand and can be more than a little irritating. Some practitioners have been known to offer relief by simply plucking the hair. However, this tends to be only temporary, with the hair growing back within four months. You're much better off having us do the job properly by using electrolysis or laser to ablate the offending lash(es), once and for all.

Blepharitis - Blepharitis is what we doctors call inflamed eyelids. Some refer to the condition as “dandruff of the eyes” because it is like eczema of the skin in that your eyelids become red and scaly, making your eyes feel tired and gritty. Blepharitis is caused by glands in the eyelid becoming blocked and hindering the natural lubrication of your eyes. We see the problem increasingly as more people spend more time staring unblinkingly at their computers. Because there are three types of blepharitis, one of which is bacterial with potential long-term effects, you should see us for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Dry Eye Syndrome - You need tears to help maintain overall eye health and clear vision. However, millions of people - men and women of all ages - suffer from dry eyes. Contact lenses wearers are particularly susceptible. When your eyes don't produce enough tears, they can look red and feel irritated or scratchy, like there's something foreign in there. Light sensitivity and blurred vision are also possible symptoms. Because excessive dry eyes may impair vision, even damage eye tissue, you should see us for proper treatment. You should also wear sunglasses and increase your intake of cold-water fish like tuna (pictured), salmon and herring, which contain omega-3 fatty acids.