Health Information

Find out why regular eye tests are important and how a healthy lifestyle can help you maintain good vision.

Trachoma is a type of bacterial eye infection. The condition is a leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide, although it's rare in developed countries such as the UK. Trachoma usually first affects young children, causing mild irritation in the eyes and a discharge of pus and/or mucus.

Retinal migraine is an eye condition that causes brief attacks of blindness or visual problems like flashing lights in one eye. These episodes can be frightening, but in most cases they're harmless and short-lived, and eyesight goes back to normal afterwards.

Short-sightedness is a common eye condition that causes distant objects to appear blurred, while close objects can be seen clearly. It's thought to affect up to one in three people in the UK and is becoming more common.

A macular hole is a small gap that opens up at the centre of the retina, in an area called the macula. The retina is the light-sensitive film at the back of the eye. In the centre is the macula – the part responsible for central and fine detail vision needed for tasks such as reading.

Uveitis is inflammation (swelling) of the middle layer of the eye, called the uvea or uveal tract. The uvea is made up of the iris (the coloured part of the eye), the ciliary body (the ring of muscle behind the iris), and the choroid (the layer of tissue that supports the retina).

Long-sightedness, also known as hyperopia, affects a person's ability to see objects close to them. Vision problems such as long-sightedness are often referred to as refractive errors.

Herpes simplex eye infections are usually caused by the herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), which can also cause cold sores on your mouth or face. Symptoms of a herpes simplex eye infection may include: eye redness

Glaucoma is a condition which can affect sight, usually due to build up of pressure within the eye. Glaucoma often affects both eyes, usually to varying degrees. One eye may develop glaucoma quicker than the other.

Nail patella syndrome is a rare genetic condition that can cause problems with the nails, bones, kidneys and eyes. It's thought to affect at least one in 50,000 people.

Floaters are small shapes that some people see floating in their field of vision. They can be different shapes and sizes and may look like: tiny black dots small, shadowy dots

Routine eye tests are offered to newborn babies and children to identify any problems early on in their development. Although serious vision problems during childhood are rare, early testing ensures that any problems are picked up and managed as early as possible.