ClareFraser.com

Cataract operations are now very common day case procedures.  However, it is still an operation and can make people very scared.  I have met many patients who have cancelled their booked procedure because they are too frightened to come in on the day.  This is such a shame as this procedure is the most successful operation done in Australia today.  There is no need to be afraid, so I have written this article do demystify what will happen.  Please note that this only applies for the public hospital system.  Private surgical facilities may have different procedures.

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Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of legal blindness in patients aged 20 - 65 years in Western countries.  This is a disease of the retina - the film at the back of the eye responsible for detecting light.

From the time of diagnosis of Type 2 (late onset, or non-insulin dependant diabetes) it is not common to develop retinopathy within the first 5 years.  However, as Type 2 diabetes can be present many years before diagnosis, about 5% of people will already have diabetic eye disease at the time of diagnosis.

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The thought of the first trip to see an eye doctor can make some people anxious, but there is no need to worry.  Here are some simple things that you can do and bring to make your visit easier.

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When starting out as a doctor I did not get offended when people automatically assumed that I was a nurse. However, now I am training to be an ophthalmologist, I get very offended when people confuse what I do with iridology.

Mainly I find it quite scary that there are some people who do not seem to even be aware of the difference.  Ophthalmologists are medical doctors (6 years at university and one intern year) who then do at least another 5 years additional training to specialize in diseases of the eye and eye surgery.  Iridologists on the other hand, can complete a certificate of iridology in 72 hours (3 hours, one night a week for 6 months). ¹

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A diagnosis of optic neuritis can be quite scary for some people. It generally affects young people in their 20s and 30s who have never had a medical problem before in their life, and anything which affects your eyesight is going to make people worry. In addition there is the link between optic neuritis and Multiple Sclerosis. So here is a summary of some of the knowledge gained in recent years. Read more »

Recommendations for "natural" eye wash solutions range from chamomile to lavender oil to boric acid (!). As a doctor I find I have an inbuilt suspicion about many "herbal remedies" but on the whole, if the remedy does no harm, I have no objections. However, many patients have recently asked me about whether it is okay for them to used cold chamomile tea on their eyes. So, I thought it best to do some research to make sure that it did no harm and share some of the findings with you. Read more »

Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid margins (around the lashes and the part that touches the eyeball) and is one of the most common causes eye irritation. It affects more than 10% of the population and fills the Sydney Eye Emergency clinic with hundreds of people a month seeking relief from their symptoms. The trouble with blepharitis that there is no magic cure and it tends to recur. The good news is that most symptoms can be controlled with a few simple measures, but it takes persistence and dedication. Read more »