A sight for sore eyes

Loss of sight is often our worst fear, yet we take our eyes for granted. In many cases, a pair of spectacles or laser surgery is all that is required to see clearly. TV presenter Phillip Schofield (right) recently dispensed with his glasses after undergoing laser treatment last month.

However, some eye problems can be relieved or even avoided simply by adopting a healthier lifestyle and following a regular eye-care routine. Research by the Eyecare Trust shows that obesity, smoking, poor diet and lack of exercise can dramatically increase the risk of sight loss or blindness.

Trust director and optometrist Rosie Gavzey said:

“People tend to think that looking after your eyes just means having regular eye tests.
They have no idea that lifestyle and diet can have a huge impact on the health of their eyes.”

Being overweight can cause damage to blood vessels in the eye, increasing the risk of developing age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – a leading cause of blindness – cataracts and glaucoma.

While most smokers understand the risk of lung cancer, few are aware that they are twice as likely to lose their sight as non-smokers.

A healthy diet can be beneficial to eye health. Eating three portions of fruit a day and one portion of oily fish a week can reduce the risk of AMD by 40 per cent.

There is no escaping the fact that our eyes do change over time, most notably between the ages of 45 and 55, when print suddenly appears to shrink and reading, particularly in low light, becomes a real challenge. Optometrist Royston Bayfield, a co-founder of Leeds-based Bayfield & Bartlam Opticians, said: “This is part of the normal wear and tear of living and most people over the age of 40 can expect to need some form of prescription glasses for reading."

“Between the ages of 18 and 70, people with no reported eye problems should have an eye examination every two years.” Dry eye is another common complaint, with symptoms often starting to appear once people reach their mid-thirties.

Raman Malhotra, a consultant ophthalmic and oculoplastic surgeon at the Cadogan Clinic in London, said: “People become aware of the symptoms at the end of the day, when their eyes feel gritty.” In many cases, dry eye is the result of an imbalance between the production, drainage and evaporation of tears. Mr Malhotra said: “Over time, the protective oil component of tears can be lost, allowing more water to evaporate, causing dryness."

“Hot compresses applied daily to the eyes will improve the oil component and increase the blood supply to the eyes.”

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