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62 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
AU T UMN 20 1 7
more prevalent in people with diabetes.
Smokers are more at risk and the
prolonged glare from the sun without the
use of sunglasses may also predispose
the eyes to cataract development.
Stronger glasses and better lighting may
initially help but the cataract frequently
needs to be removed and often an
artificial lens may be implanted to take
over the role of the diseased lens.
Glaucoma is another very common
condition that may affect your vision.
The eye is not hollow but fluid filled and
that fluid imparts a pressure within
the eye. The fluid at the front of the
eye is called the aqueous humor and
is watery while the fluid at the back
of the eye is jelly like and called the
vitreous humor. The aqueous humor
is continually circulating and if it gets
blocked the pressure in the eye builds
up which prevents the blood getting into
the eye to nourish it and give it oxygen.
The main nerve, the optic nerve that
transmits the visual images we see back
to the brain, may die off. Fortunately
there are very good drops that reduce
the pressure but it is important to
get the diagnosis as early as possible.
In very acute cases, sometimes
laser surgery is required to clear the
blockage. Your friendly neighbourhood
optometrist is able to check your eye
pressure as part of a general eye check-
up and there is no need to get a referral
from your GP and Medicare covers most
of, if not all, of the check-up cost.
Like cataracts, glaucoma runs in
families and is also a complication of
diabetes which further emphasises the
important need for people with diabetes
to get a regular eye check-up. Trauma
to the eye may lead to glaucoma and
it may be brought on by drugs such as
cortisone which may be used for various
inflammatory conditions.
Macular degeneration is a chronic eye
condition that has certainly come to the
forefront of eye concerns in our ageing
population. It is estimated that one in
seven Australians will suffer from it
and it is the main cause of blindness in
Australia, contributing to 50% of cases
of blindness. The macular is an area in
the centre of the retina or screen which
has the most concentrated number of
nerve cells and hence we tend to focus
what we see onto the macular for clarity
and colour. For various reasons this area
becomes diseased and the nerve cells are
lost along with vision.
Aged over 50, smoking, diabetes,
obesity and a poor diet particularly
lacking in fruit and vegetables are
implicated in causing it. The visual loss
tends to be central and straight lines
such as steps become distorted. There
is no cure but diet, along with smoking
cessation, are critical in lessening its
impact. The diet recommended should
contain daily fruit and green leafy
vegetables along with fish 2-3 times per
week. Nuts have also been shown to be
of benefit. Sometimes injections into the
eyeball are required to keep the condition
under control and to save vision.
Diabetes is a very prominent risk
factor for many of these conditions,
especially cataracts and glaucoma, and
if that isn’t enough it has its own unique
eye problem called diabetic retinopathy.
A healthy retina is so important for
normal vision. In diabetic retinopathy
the high blood sugar levels from the
diabetes cause damage to the little blood
vessels supplying blood to the retina. The
arteries get blocked, leak fluid and blood
and form little swellings called micro
aneurysms. The end result is a damaged
retina and a visual loss which is mostly
gradual but may be sudden. It is critical
that people with diabetes get a regular
eye check-up. It can be prevented if the
diabetes is well controlled along with
proper blood pressure and cholesterol
levels… and no smoking, Bruce!
Probably the worst eye condition
known to man and peculiar to the
AFL is a condition called the One Eyed
Collingwood supporter. Not a lot is
known in regards to how the good eye is
lost but perhaps they didn’t listen to the
wise words of their fathers! Now, where
did I put my glasses?
Stay happy and healthy.