Frequently Asked Questions
- Can glaucoma be treated?
Glaucoma is usually treated using eye drops and/or an operation. The aim of current treatment is to reduce the pressure inside the eye. - Can macular degeneration be prevented?
A recent study (the Age Related Eye Disease study - ARED study) showed that some dietary supplements may reduce the incidence of Age Related Macular degeneration. Further detail can be found at www.rcophth.ac.uk - What is a cataract?
This is when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy. The treatment for this is surgery. - Can cataract be prevented?
A recent study (the ARED study mentioned above) looked at whether or not a particular dietary supplement reduced the incidence of cataract. It was found that it did not. - What causes a dry eye?
Dry eyes can be either due to a problem with the quality of the tears or with the quantity of tears available. The differences may depend on age, diet, health, contact lens wear, atmosphere or occupation. Depending on the cause the treatment may be hot compresses or just the use of tear supplements. Your practitioner will be able to advise after further investigation. - What vision symptoms do diabetics get?
People who are diabetic may find that their sight becomes blurry, so that they need a change in their spectacle prescription, or they may see parts of their vision missing. They are also more prone to cataract. If you get any of these symptoms you should consult your optometrist. More information on diabetes can be found onwww.diabetes.org.uk - Can retinal detachment be treated?
Providing a retinal detachment is caught early enough it can be treated by an operation. There are several different types of operation, but all aim to reattach the retina to the back of the eye. Further information can be found on:www.moorfields.org.uk/EyeHealth/RetinalDetachment/view and www.rcophth.ac.uk - Are floaters a sign of eye problems?
Most people, particularly if they are short sighted, have some floaters inside their eyes. These appear as little black spots or 'flies' which appear to float around in front of your sight. They move when you move your eyes and are normally more obvious when you are looking at a plain pale background (like a cloudless sky). They are normally quite innocent, but if you get a shower of floaters, if you see lots of floaters after you have banged your head, or if you see flashing lights in your eyes or a 'curtain' or 'veil' in front of your eyes you should seek urgent medical attention. More information on floaters can be found on www.moorfields.org.uk/EyeHealth/Floaters - Can an optician tell if I have glaucoma?
Part of the reason for having an eye examination is to check the health of your eyes. An eye examination will include the tests for glaucoma. These are looking at the back of your eye (ophthalmoscopy), which is done on everybody; measuring the pressure inside your eye (tonometry) and checking your visual fields. Tonometry and visual field tests are recommended as good practice if you are at risk of glaucoma. From the results of these tests, your optometrist will be able to tell whether or not you have glaucoma. If s/he is not sure about the results of any of these tests s/he may either refer you to your doctor, or ask you to return to have the tests repeated on a different day. If you have glaucoma you are normally unaware of it, as it is normally quite painless and affects your sight very gradually. It is therefore very important that you have your eyes examined regularly, particularly if you are at a higher risk of glaucoma. - What is the difference between and Optician and an Optometrist?
The term 'optician' covers all types of opticians: ophthalmic, dispensing and manufacturing. An ophthalmic optician is now known as an optometrist and is qualified to examine eyes, recognise disease, prescribe and fit spectacles and contact lenses (providing they are on the appropriate opticians register). A dispensing optician is qualified to fit spectacles, and may have done additional qualifications to enable them to fit contact lenses too (in which case they call themselves 'Contact lens opticians'). A manufacturing optician makes the spectacles. - What is the difference between and Optician and an Optometrist?
The term 'optician' covers all types of opticians: ophthalmic, dispensing and manufacturing. An ophthalmic optician is now known as an optometrist and is qualified to examine eyes, recognise disease, prescribe and fit spectacles and contact lenses (providing they are on the appropriate opticians register). A dispensing optician is qualified to fit spectacles, and may have done additional qualifications to enable them to fit contact lenses too (in which case they call themselves 'Contact lens opticians'). A manufacturing optician makes the spectacles. - Who should I see for an eye examination?
If you go to a high street practice, you will have your eyes examined either by an optometrist, or an ophthalmic medical practitioner (OMP). OMPs generally work in practices called 'Medical Eye Centres', and are doctors who have chosen to specialise in examining eyes. - Can I purchase a corrective lens spectacle over the counter?
Readymade reading spectacles to correct presbyopia (which is the condition which happens as we get older and need a prescription to read but not to see in the distance) only can be sold by anyone. These spectacles are limited in that they have a maximum prescription of +4 Dioptres and right and left lenses are identical. You should not avoid having your eyes examined regularly (at least every 2 years) as an eye examination does not only check your sight but it also examines the health of your eyes. Many conditions, such as glaucoma, are more common as we get older and do not cause any symptoms until permanent visual loss has occurred. - Does my employer have to pay for spectacles?
Only if they are needed for VDU and no other task (e.g. reading) - What are the current medical standards of fitness to drive?
The publication "At a Glance Guide to the Current Medical Standards of Fitness to Drive" is revised and updated twice yearly in Spring and Autumn. The booklet represents the recommendations of the Secretary of State's six expert Honorary Medical Advisory Panels on the medical standards for licensing as applied throughout Great Britain by DVLA's medical advisers. The standards aim to reflect current clinical practice including advances in technology, coupled with an understanding of relevant risk factors for safe driving. The publication can be downloaded in PDF format at www.dvla.gov.uk/at_a_glance/content.htm Hard copies of the booklet are available on request for a fee of £4.50 (cheques made payable to DVLA Swansea) from Drivers Medical Group, DMDG, DVLA, Swansea SA99 1DF Tel: 01792 766770 - Where should I buy my glasses from?
The prescribing and dispensing of spectacles are very closely linked and it would be in your best interests to have your spectacles dispensed where you have your eyes examined. It is often more difficult to resolve any problems you may have with your spectacles when prescribing and supply are separated. - How do I make a Complaint?
If you are dissatisfied with the service or conduct of your optometrist you should try to resolve any difficulties directly with the practice. In most cases your problem will be successfully resolved without difficulty. If you cannot reach an amicable agreement with your practice you can refer the matter to your local Trading Standards Officer or local NHS organisation via your practitioner (NHS patients only). Alternatively, you may refer to one of the following bodies: Optical Consumer Complaints Service PO Box 4685 London SE1 6ZB If your complaint involves serious professional misconduct then your complaint can be referred to: The Registrar The General Optical Council 41 Harley Street London W1N 2DJ - Does wearing glasses make you dependent upon them?
There is no evidence to suggest that wearing spectacles makes you more dependent on them. Most people need to wear spectacles more as they get older, particularly if they are long-sighted, and wearing spectacles does not increase (or decrease) this dependence. If you go short sighted when you are in your teens this is because your eyes are growing (short sighted eyes are too big) and this also tends to get worse whether or not you wear your spectacles. What people find is that, when they get their first pair of spectacles their vision is so much clearer and more comfortable with the spectacles than without them, they are reluctant to use the effort to see without them. They are then surprised when they take their spectacles off that their vision is apparently worse without them than they remember it being. In fact, their vision is not actually worse without specs than it was before they had the spectacles, but they have become accustomed to seeing more comfortably because they have spectacles. - Does sitting too close to the TV damage your eyes?
There is no evidence that sitting close to the TV causes any harm to the eyes. Television should be watched with the lights on, rather than off, as this should be more comfortable because otherwise it is like looking at a (big) torch. - Can you stop short sight getting worse? Short sight is usually caused because the eye is too big or the cornea is too steeply curved. That is why it tends to happen during the growth spurt of puberty. Whilst you cannot control how large (or long) your eye becomes, some people believe that wearing rigid contact lenses may slow down the progression of the short sight by reducing how steep the cornea becomes.
This information has been produced by the College of Optometrists.