Myopia (shortsightedness)
Myopia is what most people call shortsightedness. Shortsighted people do not see distant objects clearly. The eye's lens and cornea normally focus light into an image on the retina  In a myopic eye the light is focused in front of the retina and so the image is blurred. Myopia can be easily corrected with spectacles or contact lenses providing normal vision.

Hyperopia (longsightedness) is the opposite of Myopia. Hyperopic people have  difficulty seeing near objects clearly, although they may be able to focus on distant objects. Optometrists correct Hyperopia using spectacles or contact lenses.

Astigmatism is a focusing  error  which  causes asymmetric  blur. An image  will be more blurred in one direction than another whereas with Myopia and Hyperopia all directions are equally blurred. Objects at all distances are blurred.  Astigmatism can be corrected by spectacles or contact lenses.

Glaucoma is a serious eye condition that can cause blindness if left untreated. Almost 2 per cent of the Australian population have glaucoma. It is an eye disease caused by having an abnormal fluid pressure inside the eye which painlessly and permanently damages the optic nerve. Generally the damage is gradual, first destroying peripheral sight and causing  'tunnel vision'. Because there are no symptoms, as it is generally painless and loss of sight may be very gradual, many people have glaucoma without knowing it.The tests for glaucoma are simple and painless. It is usually treated with eye drops which reduce the pressure in the eye.

Drainage AreaThe eye is always producing fluid. The eye's drainage areas may become clogged or blocked. Too much fluid stays in the eye. This increases eye pressure.

Optic NerveToo much pressure in the eye can damage the optic nerve. If damaged, it cannot send messages to the brain.

Presbyopia  is a condition that makes vision difficult at a normal reading distance. It is not a disease. Presbyopia is a normal part of the ageing process, affecting everyone over the age of about 45 years. Between 40 and 50 years of age, most people find they can no longer focus comfortably at objects closer than at arm's length. Your optometrist can prescribe lenses that refocus your vision for looking at near objects

Colour Vision Deficiencies are often incorrectly referred to as colour-blindness. A person with a colour vision defect will confuse some colours (most commonly red and green) and may not see some colours as brightly as someone with normal colour vision.

Cataracts are a cloudiness that can form in the clear lens of the eye. Poor vision results because the cloudiness interferes with light entering the eye. Cataracts are usually a result of ageing and long-term exposure to ultraviolet light. Most cataracts progress slowly, gradually causing vision to deteriorate. Cataracts are treated by surgically removing the lens from the eye and replacing it with a plastic intraocular lens(IOL). This is a routine procedure usually conducted under a local anaesthetic.