Cataracts are the most common age-related occurrence in eyes. The lens becomes thicker and stiffer and appears yellow and cloudy. Eventually it may turn white, changing the colour of the pupil. A cataract may cause your vision to become fuzzy in a progressive fashion and may also be the cause of disabling glare. Once a cataract affects vision too much, a cataract removal operation is generally advised. This decision is usually made in consultation with an eye specialist. The operation is almost always done under local anaesthetic. A tiny incision is made in your eye and the cataract is broken up into small pieces using ultrasound vibrations. Once all the pieces have been removed, an artificial lens is implanted into your eye. It is relatively short in duration and an overnight stay in hospital is not required. Post-operative care consists of eye drops and a check at 1-2 days then after 2-4 weeks.

Keratoplasty (corneal transplant): the damaged cornea is removed and replaced with one from a donor.

Implantable contact lenses (ICLs) are tiny lenses surgically inserted into the eye, to correct vision problems such as myopia (short sightedness), hyperopia (long sightedness), with or without astigmatism. ICLs are permanent but removable and are often used for patients who are not good candidates for laser eye surgery due to high prescriptions or thin corneas.

Intravitreal injections are a procedure in which medication is injected directly into the vitreous humor - the gel-like substance inside the eye. These injections are commonly used to treat various conditions such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic retinopathy and retinal vein occlusion and are also used to deliver antibiotic, antifungal and antiviral medications in patients with eye infections.

Keratoconus is a progressive eye disease in which the cornea, the clear, front surface of the eye becomes thin and cone-shaped, which distorts vision. Read more about keratoconus on the Healthify website.

Oculoplastic surgery focuses on surgical treatment of eyelid and tear duct problems, including both functional and cosmetic issues. Common procedures are: Blepharoplasty: removal of excess skin and/or fat from the upper and/or lower eyelids Ptosis (droopy eyelid) repair Skin cancer surgery Tear duct surgery

Pterygium is a noncancerous thickened growth on the conjunctiva (the clear membrane covering the white part of the eye), common in people who spend a lot of time in the sun or work outdoors. Read more about pterygium on the Healthify website

A weakness in one or more of the muscles of the eye will cause the eye to turn or move away from the normal focusing position. This is commonly known as a squint. A squint can be corrected by surgery, or by using glasses. Rarely, children may grow out of a squint. Surgical correction of squint usually involves a general anaesthetic. In the procedure, the muscles involved are repositioned to correct the alignment. It is important to recognise and treat a squint as, if left uncorrected, it can result in permanent impairment of vision.

Glaucoma is a group of diseases that can damage the eye’s optic nerve and may result in vision loss and blindness. Multiple factors are often important in causing glaucoma, but it is most commonly related to an increase in pressure in the eye. Symptoms are generally absent until the condition has progressed to an advanced stage. Very occasionally, a rarer form of glaucoma can develop suddenly and symptoms may then include: headaches and aches around the affected eye, seeing halos around lights, sensitivity to light, blurred vision, nausea and vomiting. You may be more likely to develop glaucoma if you: have someone else in your family with glaucoma already have high pressure in your eye have experienced injury to your eye have or have had certain other eye problems have migraine or circulation problems. Glaucoma is more common in people over 50 years of age and more common in women than men. Diagnosis usually comes after consultation with an eye doctor. Signs of glaucoma may also be picked up at an optometrist’s eye examination. The following tests are used to diagnose and monitor glaucoma: Tonometry – measures eye pressure. It is often the first screening test for glaucoma. The eyes are numbed with eye drops and then examined. Dilated eye exam - this is done with an ophthalmoscope (which is a medical instrument that allows the doctor to look through the pupil to the back of the eye). The retina and optic nerve are then examined for any sign of damage. Visual acuity test – test to check distance vision using an eye chart. Visual field test – test to measure side (peripheral) vision. Pachymetry – test to measure the thickness of the cornea. Many other new techniques are emerging to help identify the likelihood of glaucoma and help determine its rate of worsening. Although glaucoma cannot be cured, early treatment can prevent further worsening of the condition and vision loss. Regular eye examinations will need to be continued life-long. Treatment for glaucoma aims to decrease eye pressure and can include: medicated eye drops laser treatment - a laser is used to remove blockages in the eye’s drainage channels surgery - a new channel is created to allow fluid to drain. Find details about the different treatment options on the Glaucoma New Zealand website.