5 Most Common Eye Conditions Explained

Sight is one of our most precious senses, giving us the freedom to live independently, connect with our surroundings and truly experience the world around us.

As we grow older, it’s natural for our vision to change, and eye problems can become more common. For many, this might simply mean needing glasses for reading, driving or watching television.

However, some people may face more serious eye conditions that can threaten their sight and have a real impact on daily life.

The reassuring news is that many eye problems can be successfully managed, treated or even corrected with modern surgical techniques, helping you protect and preserve your vision.

So, what are these five common eye conditions you should know about? Let’s take a closer look.

Dry Eyes

Dry eyes are a common problem where the tear glands do not produce enough tears or produce poor quality tears, causing insufficient lubrication of the eyes. This often leads to symptoms like itching, soreness, and tiredness. While dry eyes can be uncomfortable, they rarely cause vision problems. Symptoms can often be relieved with artificial tear drops and adding humidity to your environment. In more severe cases, small plugs may be inserted into the tear ducts to reduce tear drainage and keep the eyes moist longer.

Cataracts

Cataracts are a common eye condition, usually linked to aging, but they can also affect younger people. Over time, the eye’s natural lens can become cloudy, gradually worsening until vision is affected and daily activities become difficult. This clouding is called a cataract. Symptoms include hazy or blurry vision, and sometimes a visible cloudy spot in the eye. Fortunately, cataracts can be treated effectively with a minor operation where the cloudy lens is replaced by an artificial one. Each year over half a million cataract surgeries are performed in the UK, making it the most common surgical procedure.

Eye Floaters

Most people will experience eye floaters at some point. These appear as small spots or specks drifting across the field of vision and are usually harmless. Floaters are caused by tiny pieces of the gel-like vitreous inside the eye breaking loose. However, a sudden increase in floaters, especially when combined with flashes of light, could signal a serious issue like retinal detachment and should be evaluated promptly by a healthcare professional.

Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

AMD is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults. It affects the macula, a small but crucial part of the retina responsible for sharper central vision. In AMD, blood vessels in the macula become damaged, leading to changes in vision such as blurriness, dark spots, distorted lines, or shifts in colour perception. There are two types: wet and dry AMD. Risk factors include age, smoking, family history, and prolonged exposure to UV light. While there is no cure, wet AMD can be managed with regular treatments to slow progression. Dry AMD progresses slowly and typically does not affect peripheral vision.

Lazy Eye (Amblyopia)

Lazy eye is a common childhood condition where vision in one eye fails to develop properly. Children may notice they see better out of one eye. Regular eye checks during childhood usually detect this condition. Causes include a squint, significant differences in vision between the two eyes, or occasionally cataracts. Treatment options include glasses, patching the stronger eye to encourage the weaker eye to improve, or using eye drops to blur vision in the stronger eye. Early intervention is important to correct lazy eye effectively.