Healthy Vision Month: Common Eye Problems and Top Tips for Eye Health

By Claudia Jackson

May is Healthy Vision Month, and at Morehealth, we’re supporting this initiative by helping to raise awareness of some common eye problems and providing you with top tips to keep your eyes healthy.

Our eyes are among our most vital organs, but many of us take our eyesight for granted until problems arise. In this post, we will look at some of the most common eye conditions and offer practical tips for protecting your vision and maintaining your eye health.

Common eye problems

Eye problems can be present at birth or develop later in life. They can occur due to problems with the shape of your eye, infection or damage to the structures inside your eyes.

Conjunctivitis

Conjunctivitis (pink eye) is inflammation or infection of the conjunctiva, the thin membrane that lines your eyelid and eyeball. It can affect one or both eyes and may be caused by a viral or bacterial infection, exposure to irritants or an allergy. Viral and bacterial conjunctivitis are highly contagious and can easily be spread to other people, or from one eye to the other. To reduce the risk of spreading conjunctivitis, wash your hands frequently with soap and water, avoid touching your eyes, and don’t share items such as towels, facecloths and pillows.

Symptoms of conjunctivitis include:

• Redness, itching, burning or a feeling of grit in your eye
• Discharge: Your eyelids may be stuck together in the morning
• Watery eyes

Treatment for conjunctivitis

Treatment for conjunctivitis depends on the type of conjunctivitis you have.

• Viral conjunctivitis: Usually resolves on its own within a week or two. Clean your eyelids by wiping them gently using boiled, cooled water and a clean cotton pad (use a separate pad for each eye). Placing a cold flannel over your eyes can also help to relieve symptoms.
• Bacterial conjunctivitis: Is treated with antibiotic eye drops.
• Allergic or irritant conjunctivitis: Treatment includes avoiding the source of the allergy or irritant and using antihistamine or anti-inflammatory eye drops.

Dry Eye Syndrome (keratoconjunctivitis sicca)

Tears help lubricate your eyes and prevent irritation. Dry eye syndrome is a common condition where your eyes don’t produce enough tears, or your tears dry up too quickly. The condition isn’t usually serious, but it can be uncomfortable.

Symptoms of dry eye syndrome include:

• Burning, stinging or redness of your eyes
• Blurred vision
• Sensitivity to light

Treatment for dry eye syndrome

The main treatment for dry eye syndrome is lubricating eye drops (artificial tears). You can also address the cause of your dry eyes by avoiding irritants like dust and cigarette smoke, taking regular breaks when using a computer and switching from contact lenses to glasses.

If your condition doesn’t improve with over-the-counter treatments, your GP may prescribe a stronger medication such as cyclosporine.

In some cases, your healthcare provider may recommend inserting punctal plugs. These are devices that block tear drainage and maintain moisture within your eyes.

Refractive errors

Refractive errors are a common type of eye problem that affects your vision. They occur when the shape of your eye prevents light from focusing correctly on your retina.

Types of refractive error include:

• Myopia (near-sightedness): Affects your ability to see distant objects.
• Hyperopia (farsightedness): Affects your ability to see close-up objects.
• Astigmatism: Affects your ability to see both close-up and distant objects.
• Presbyopia: An age-related condition where close-up objects gradually appear blurred and out of focus.

Symptoms of refractive errors include:

• Blurred vision
• Eye strain
• Headaches
• Difficulty reading or seeing distant objects

Treatment for refractive errors

The main treatment for refractive errors is glasses or contact lenses. These work by bending the light as it enters the eye and allowing it to focus correctly on the retina. In some cases, laser surgery to reshape your cornea (the surface of your eye) can permanently correct a refractive error.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a condition where there is damage to the optic nerve (the nerve that connects the eye to the brain), usually due to fluid build-up in the front of the eye, which increases pressure inside the eye. It can lead to vision loss or blindness if not treated early. There are often no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.

Symptoms of glaucoma include:

• Gradual loss of peripheral (outer) vision
• Blurred vision
• Rainbow coloured circles around lights
• Tunnel vision in advanced stages

Rarely, glaucoma can develop suddenly, causing symptoms such as:

• Severe eye pain and redness
• Tenderness around the eyes
• Blurred vision
• Halos around lights
• Nausea and vomiting
• Headache

Treatment for glaucoma

The initial treatment for glaucoma is prescription eye drops to reduce the pressure inside your eye. Other treatments for glaucoma include laser treatment and surgery to improve fluid drainage and reduce pressure inside the eye.

Cataracts

Cataracts occur when the lens (the transparent part of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina) becomes cloudy. The condition is more common in people over the age of 60.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Difficulty reading or watching television
• Seeing halos around lights
• Double vision
• Increased sensitivity to light and glare
• Colours appear faded

Treatment for cataracts

In the early stages, you may be able to manage your cataracts by using stronger lighting, updating your glasses or using magnifying glasses for close-up work such as reading. More advanced cataracts are treated with surgery to replace your cloudy lens with an artificial one.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD is a condition that affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for central vision. It can affect one or both eyes and is most common in people over the age of 50. There are two types of AMD: dry AMD and wet AMD.

• Dry AMD: This is the most common type of AMD and occurs when the macula gradually thins out over time.
• Wet AMD: This type of AMD is less common and more severe. It occurs when abnormal new blood vessels form behind the retina and leak fluid, causing vision loss.

Symptoms of AMD include:

• Blurred or reduced central vision, which can make recognising faces, reading and driving difficult
• Straight lines may appear wavy
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Seeing flickering or flashing lights, or seeing things that are not there (hallucinations)

Treatment for AMD

The treatment for AMD depends on the type of AMD you have.

• Dry AMD: There is currently no treatment for dry AMD, and the focus is on support to help you cope with reduced vision.
• Wet AMD: Is treated with anti-VEGF injections to reduce blood vessel growth and leakage.

Top tips for healthy eyes

Many of us don’t think about our eye health until something goes wrong, but there are things you can do to protect your eyes, help prevent eye issues and catch any problems early. These include:

Regular eye exams

Many eye conditions have no symptoms in the early stages, and regular eye examinations are essential to pick up any changes early. It is recommended that most adults have an eye exam every two years, but this can vary depending on your general health. Talk to your GP or optometrist about how often you should have an eye exam.

Healthy diet

A healthy, balanced diet has numerous benefits to your health, including your eyes. Some nutrients and vitamins, such as lutein, zeaxanthin, zinc, omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins C and E, have been shown to support eye health and reduce the risk of several eye diseases.

Avoid digital eye strain

Prolonged screen time without a break can result in digital eye strain (computer vision syndrome). While it doesn’t cause any permanent damage to your eyes, digital eye strain can be uncomfortable and cause symptoms such as headaches and blurred vision.

To reduce digital eye strain:

• Follow the 20-20-20 rule: Every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.
• Adjust the lighting on your screen to reduce glare
• Use artificial tears if your eyes feel dry or uncomfortable

Protect your eyes from the sun

Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun can increase the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration. Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays, avoiding the sun during peak hours, and wearing a hat with a brim when outside.

Quit smoking

In addition to damaging your overall health, smoking also increases the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration, and damage to the optic nerve.

Use the correct safety eyewear

Make sure you protect your eyes by wearing the correct protective eyewear when engaging in activities such as home improvements, gardening or certain sports.

Manage chronic (long-term) health conditions

Some chronic health conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, can severely affect your eye health if not managed properly. Work with your healthcare provider and get regular eye check-ups to minimise eye damage from chronic conditions.

When should I see a doctor for eye problems?

Some eye problems can develop quickly, and damage to your sight may be irreversible. See your doctor if you notice any changes to your vision and seek immediate attention if you experience:

• Sudden vision loss
• Severe eye pain
• Flashes of light or new floaters
• Eye redness with vision changes
• Double vision

Does private medical insurance cover eye health?

Private medical insurance in the UK may or may not cover eye health, and optical cover varies depending on your provider, the specific policy and any optional add-ons.

What your optical cover provides also varies, and some policies only cover specific types of eye care, such as inpatient treatment for conditions like cataracts, while others cover outpatient treatments like routine eye tests, glasses, and contact lenses.

Optical cover typically excludes pre-existing conditions, cosmetic procedures and procedures like laser eye surgery. It may cover routine eye care such as eye tests, prescription glasses or contact lenses and treatment for eye diseases like glaucoma, cataracts and age-related macular degeneration.

Cash plans are an alternative option that can help with the cost of eye care by offering money back on routine treatments such as contact lenses, glasses or eye tests.

At Morehealth, we offer a range of health plans that offer in-person and digital services with exclusive benefits, discounts and cashback offers at a budget to suit you. To find out more, or to talk to one of our friendly advisors about private medical insurance and eye health, call us now on 0800 028 5540 or Get A Quote.