Itchy eyes, red eyes, pink eye, cataracts and glaucoma are all diseases or conditions of the eye that can make your life very uncomfortable. In some cases they can even lead to serious vision impairment and blindness.

Here’s our guide to some of the common conditions and diseases that your optometrist or opthalmologist may diagnose.

Red and irritated eyes

Eyes can turn red for many reasons, including infection, inflammation, allergy, broken blood vessels and trauma. If the white of your eye (sclera) looks red or pink, you might have pink eye. While it’s common in children, adults can get it, too.

If the redness is from a form of pink eye known as conjunctivitis, you also will have symptoms such as itching, burning or stinging, discharge, swelling, watering – or a combination of the above. Your eye doctor can tell you whether you have pink eye or conjunctivitis.

Sometimes, tiny blood vessels in the white of the eye can break from straining, lifting or rubbing – or for no reason at all. When this happens, the sclera becomes bright red from the blood leaking under the clear conjunctiva. This condition is called a subconjunctival haemorrhage. A red eye from a subconjunctival haemorrhage looks scary, but usually it is harmless and is not considered an emergency – but you should visit an eye doctor to confirm.

Blurry and fading vision

Blurry vision can be caused by a number of conditions. Sometimes fatigue or illness can cause vision to be temporarily blurred. But nearsightedness, farsightedness and presbyopia can also be the cause.

An optometrist may recommend eyewear such as spectacles or contact lenses to correct your vision.

As we get older we may also experience cataracts, glaucoma or macular degeneration. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness among people older than 55. Cataracts make your visual field appear fuzzy or blurry.

Glaucoma is a build up of pressure on the optic nerve, which damages the nerve.

Macular degeneration affects the macular, a part of the retina responsible for vision directly in front of us. A ‘black hole’ appears in the centre of our vision. If leaking blood vessels – a characteristic of macular degeneration – are detected early enough, treatment can halt progression of the disease; some people may even experience an improvement in vision.

Our tips for healthier eyesight

• Eat well: omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc and vitamins C and E may help ward off age-related problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts;
• Quit smoking: smoking has been linked to an increased risk of cataracts, optic nerve damage and macular degeneration;
• Wear sunglasses: Sunglasses are not just cool – the right kind of sunglasses will help protect your eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays – an optician can help you choose;
• Protect yourself: If you work with hazardous or airborne materials at work or home, wear safety glasses or protective goggles to protect your eyes.

Most of us will experience temporary eye problems from time to time, including itching, blurriness or fatigue. Most of these eye problems are short-lived and will probably go away on their own with no complications. However, sudden eye problems and those that last for more than a couple of days should be checked by an eye doctor. Make sure you have at least a yearly check up with your optometrist to make sure your eyesight is in good condition.

You can find an optometrist close to you, here.