Glaucoma is generally caused by raised pressure inside the eyes, which in turn damages the optic nerve. The fluid in the front part of the eye usually stays at a normal pressure, with fluid produced and drained at a constant rate. If the drainage canal stops working properly, this can increase the pressure and cause glaucoma.

Open-angle glaucoma is the most common type and is generally a symptom of ageing, with the pressure building slowly over time. Damage to the optic nerve and loss of peripheral vision occurs over many years but once the damage has occurred it is irreversible. The good news is that high pressure in the eye and damage to the optic nerve can be diagnosed by an eye examination. This means there is an opportunity for glaucoma to be diagnosed by regular eye examinations before serious damage has occurred. Treatment of glaucoma involves lowering eye pressure to prevent further damage to the nerve and peripheral vision. Although glaucoma can lead to blindness, if detected early and managed with the variety of modern treatment options available, very few people will develop vision loss.

Acute angle-closure is a rare type of glaucoma caused by a sudden blockage in the drainage canal, causing pressure to build rapidly, resulting in an emergency situation where the optic nerve can be damaged irreparably in a matter of hours. Sufferers report sudden blurred vision, light halos, headaches, and severe pain and need emergency treatment. A related condition, primary angle closure glaucoma, occurs when there is only partial blockage of the drainage canal. It shares many similarities to open-angle glaucoma, such as raised eye pressure and few symptoms, but damage to the optic nerve generally occurs more rapidly and there are some different treatment options.

Other less common forms of glaucoma include normal tension glaucoma, where eye pressure isn’t elevated but the optic nerve is still damaged; uveitic glaucoma, caused by complications from a form of eye inflammation called uveitis; and neovascular glaucoma which is caused by the formation of new blood vessels. Early detection is key to reducing the risk of optic nerve damage because once damage has occurred this cannot be reversed. The most common treatment to lower pressure is eye drops. Laser treatments, such as selective laser trabeculoplasty, can be used instead of, or in addition to, eye drops. Surgery to lower pressure within the eye can help immensely, usually in cases where laser and drops have not been sufficient, and include trabeculoplasty, trabeculectomy, and tube-shunt surgery.

Corneal problems can be minor and may heal on their own, such as corneal abrasions and those caused by allergies. Other conditions will require help from specialists in this field, and often result in symptoms such as eye pain, watery or red eyes and sensitivity to light.

Some corneal conditions requiring treatment include:

● Corneal dystrophies such as keratoconus, which is a thinning and bulging of the cornea, causing it to take on a cone shape. In mild cases, this is treated with glasses or contact lenses. Corneal cross linking is a clinic-based procedure to stop keratoconus progressing to more advanced stages – where surgery such as corneal graft is required.

● Corneal infections or keratitis. These are more common in contact lens users and, if caught early, can be treated with antibiotics or antifungal medicines. In severe cases or when left untreated, keratitis can cause scarring of the cornea and vision loss.

Macular degeneration is a common disorder for people aged over 55. It is caused when the centre of the retina deteriorates, causing loss of central vision. It can be classified as dry or wet – the less common wet macular degeneration is caused by leaky blood vessels growing beneath the retina. For both forms, the key symptoms are blurred central vision and distortion (straight lines look bent or crooked).

Other types of conditions treated by our retinal specialists:

● Diabetic eye disease
● Retinal vein occlusions
● Macula hole
● Epiretinal membrane
● Retinal tear
● Retinal detachment
● Flashes and floaters
● Retinal dystrophies

Oculoplastic surgeries can be carried out to treat painful and irritating conditions as ectropion (turned out) or entropion (turned in) eyelids, through to treating primarily cosmetic issues. Some conditions can come under both categories, such as ptosis (droopy eye lid), which can affect eyesight in severe cases.

Oculoplastic surgeons can also operate on the bones around the eyeball and the tear drainage system, helping with such conditions as epiphora (watery eye) and nasolacrimal duct obstruction (blockage of tear duct). They also perform surgeries to remove skin cancers of the eyelid and tumours behind the eye or in the eye socket.