The eyes are the windows to the soul and are one of the most important organs in the body, but as we age, they inevitably begin to deteriorate, just like other organs in the body, and we suffer from various vision problems.

Common eye diseases such as presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration start to appear when you reach the age of 40. If the condition is allowed to deteriorate, as there is a risk of permanent damage to your vision, so early screening is advisable. Some doctors recommend regular eye examinations for those who have reached the age of 50.

If you have a chronic disease or a family history of your eyes, you should be screened early and stop any bad habits that can damage your eyes.

Common eye problems:

Cataracts

Cataracts are caused by the degeneration and clouding of the lens of the eye. Common symptoms include loss of vision, blurred vision, and dimming of the colour of objects seen. Most cataract patients in Hong Kong are elderly. If you have deep myopia, diabetes, etc., you will develop cataracts about 10 years earlier. In an age of electronic products, the light from electronic screens can be damaging to the eyes. Exposure of the eyes to bright light for long periods of time may also increase the risk of developing cataracts earlier.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma, known as the 'thief of sight', is a form of optic neuropathy. The inability of the aqueous humour to drain out of the eye increases the pressure in the eye, causing pressure on the optic nerve and causing damage to the optic nerve. Patients with glaucoma will first experience peripheral vision damage, followed by central vision loss and, in severe cases, blindness. As chronic glaucoma is largely asymptomatic in the early to mid-stages, many patients do not notice the disease until it has progressed to an advanced stage.

Macular Degeneration

There are two types of macular degeneration: dry and wet, with dry macular degeneration causing relatively little damage to visual function. It is a condition of the macular region of the eye that causes loss of vision, distorted vision and poor central vision. The main cause of macular degeneration is the degeneration of the retinal pigment layer and cells. In some patients, leakage from the choroidal blood vessels of the eye severely damages the photoreceptor cells in the macula, resulting in impaired vision.

All of these are common eye diseases that are associated with vision deterioration. Early screening and treatment are essential to slow down vision deterioration. Otherwise, damage to the optic nerve or retina may lead to irreversible vision change and even blindness.

<Online Appointment>