Ophthalmology

The frequency of vision exams varies based on various factors such as age, health status, and the presence of any underlying eye conditions or risk factors. A yearly biennial eye exam is usually recommended for healthy adults without any vision problems or risk factors.

Vision checkups are important for children’s eye health. They should have their first exam at six months old, then at age three, and before starting school. School-aged children should have their eyes checked every two years or as advised by their eye doctor.

Eye problems are more common in certain individuals who have risk factors like age, family history, medical conditions, lifestyle choices such as smoking and high-fat diet, excessive exposure to UV rays, prolonged computer or device use, and previous eye injury or surgery. It’s essential to have regular eye exams and monitor eye health closely if you have any of these risk factors. Early detection and treatment can help preserve vision and prevent vision loss.

Glaucoma is a group of eye conditions characterized by damage to the optic nerve that can lead to vision loss, sometimes without any noticeable symptoms. Increased pressure inside the eye is the most common cause of this condition, which can damage the delicate tissues of the optic nerve over time. Left untreated, glaucoma can lead to blindness.

Diabetic retinopathy is a diabetic complication that affects the eyes. High blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the retina, causing fluid or blood leakage and vision problems, leading to vision loss if left untreated.

Lazy eye, also known as amblyopia, is a developmental disorder in vision in which one eye has poor vision despite having no apparent structural damage to the eye. This occurs when the brain fails to develop the ability to see with one eye and begins to favor the other eye.

The ophthalmology department at Wellkins Medical Centre offers treatment and management for various eye conditions, including vision checkups, cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, dry eye syndrome, conjunctivitis (pink eye), refractive errors (nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism), strabismus (eye turn), amblyopia (lazy eye), age-related changes, age-related cataracts, retinal detachment, uveitis (inflammation of the middle layer of the eye), corneal dystrophies (genetic conditions affecting the cornea), and ptosis (drooping eyelid).

The ophthalmology department at Wellkins Medical Centre offers minor eye procedures, including chalazion removal, trichiasis (eyelash removal), corneal foreign body removal, and lacrimal syringing (patency of ducts).