As we age, we can experience some difficulty in focusing up close. Newspapers, books and smart phones begin to appear blurry and we need better light in order to see clearly.

Symptoms of presbyopia can include:

• Feelings of eye strain and tiredness
• Headaches
• Holding items at a distance in order to focus and see them clearly

A condition producing distorted or blurred vision at all distances. It is usually due to the shape of the cornea (the front surface of the eye).

Symptoms of astigmatism can include:

• Eyestrain
• Blurry/distorted vision
• Changes to vision over time

A degenerative form of eye disease in which the lens gradually becomes opaque and vision mists over causing things to appear hazy and blurry.

Symptoms of cataracts can include:

• Cloudy or blurred vision
• Increasing sensitivity to glare and light
• Frequent prescription changes for glasses or contact lenses
• Poor night vision and/or double vision
• Colour vision changes and dimming

Also known as Digital Eye Strain, Computer Vision Syndrome, encompasses a group of eye and vision related conditions stemming from prolonged use of computers, tablets, e-readers and smart phones.

Symptoms of computer vision syndrome can include:

• Eye discomfort and vision problems when using digital screens for long periods of time

A condition caused by damage to blood vessels within the tissue at the back of the eye (retina). A complication of diabetes, regular eye examinations and appropriately maintained blood sugar levels are recommended.

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy can include:

• Floaters
• Blurriness
• Dark areas in vision
• Difficulty in perceiving colours

Caused by a chronic lack of appropriate lubrication and moisture on the surface of eyes. Dry eyes can cause constant irritation, significant inflammation or scarring to the front surface of the eye.

Symptoms of dry eyes can include:

• Watery eyes
• Red, sore and/or itchy eyes
• Burning or aching sensations
• Heavy and/or tired eyes
• Dry sensation
• Light sensitivity
• Blurred vision

Glaucoma is a progressive optic nerve disease, resulting in peripheral vision loss. It is commonly associated with an increased eye pressure.

There are no obvious symptoms of primary glaucoma until the end-stage of the disease. This is why regular eye examinations are imperative.

Symptoms of acute closed angle glaucoma can include:

• Sudden eye pain
• Headaches
• Blurred vision
• Appearance of halos around lights
• Difficulties with peripheral vision

A progressive, degenerative disorder characterised by thinning of the cornea – its round dome shape starts to bulge and become cone-like, affecting the ability to focus correctly.

Symptoms of keratonconus can include:

• Sensitivity to light
• Appearance of halos around lights
• Distorted, blurry vision
• Difficulty driving at night
• Double vision or worse vision in one eye
• Eye strain and/or pain
• Headaches

A fairly common focusing issue causing difficulty in seeing close objects clearly.

Symptoms of long sightedness can include:

• Squinting to see close objects
• Headaches
• Tired eyes
• Blurred vision

A condition which causes loss in the centre of the field of vision. With dry macular degeneration, there is a build up of waste products at the centre of the retina and with wet macular degeneration, leaky blood vessels grow under the retina.

Symptoms of macular degeneration can include:

• Distortions in central vision, straight lines appear wavy
• Difficulty recognising faces
• Dark patches in centre of vision
• Blurred vision

Also known as ultraviolet keratitis, photokeratitis is a painful eye condition caused by exposure of insufficiently protected eyes to the ultraviolet (UV) rays from either natural (sunlight) or artificial (welding flash) sources.

Symptoms of photokeratitis can include:

• Eye pain
• Eyelid twitching
• Constricted pupils
• Extreme tears
• Pain from strong light

A growth with the appearance of a yellow spot or bump on the conjunctiva. A deposit of protein, fat, or calcium, it often appears on the side of the eye near your nose.

Symptoms of pinguecula can include:

• Irritated or dry eye
• Feeling of ‘something in your eye such as sand’
• Red or inflamed eye

Also know as near sightedness, short sightedness/myopia, is a difficulty to focus on objects at a distance.

Symptoms of short sightedness can include:

• Distant objects appear blurry
• Headaches
• Tired eyes from strain
• Squinting and frowning when trying to see distant objects

A noncancerous, painless, triangular growth which may occur on one or both eyes. Most common in people who spend a lot of time in the sun, such as those who work outdoors.

Symptoms of pterygium can include:

• Eye irritation
• Red eyes

Small, semi-transparent or cloudy particles within the clear, jelly-like fluid that fills the inside of eyes (vitreous). These floaters or spots can appear as dark dots of various shapes and sizes, threadlike strands, squiggly lines, rings or cobwebs.

Symptoms of spots or floaters can include:

• Shapes that seem to dart away when you try to focus on them