After suffering a severe headache popular YOC staff member Janeene Moon decided to see her Dapto-based optometrist – little did she know that without the timely visit her tumor may not have been found until it was too late.
Darren Liver’s knowledge and professional attitude made a huge difference and the positive experience convinced Janeene that having regular eye tests is not only relevant to older people but also she wanted other WOLers to know the real facts about eye care.
According to Darren tumours can be hidden for many years without showing any significant signs and without detection can lead to major complications.
Over the age of 50 many eye diseases and conditions become more prevalent including glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration and the best form of defence for any of these eye conditions is early detection and prevention.
Unfortunately the early signs of these diseases are usually unnoticed by the sufferer and often when symptoms are finally noticed it can be too late to treat.
Probably the most devastating of these eye diseases and certainly the most common cause of blindness in the elderly is macular degeneration.
Macular Degeneration
The macula is the central part of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. It is responsible for the ability to read, to drive, recognise faces, and see colours clearly.
Macular degeneration causes progressive macular damage resulting in loss of central vision. One in seven people over the age of 50 are affected, and the incidence increases with age.
Macular degeneration is now Australia’s leading cause of blindness and is responsible for 48 per cent of all severe vision loss. While this disease can affect younger people, it is most often related to ageing and is also referred to as Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD).
Macular degeneration is easily diagnosed by dilating the pupil with drops and using various instruments to view the back of the eye. One of the newer instruments now available is a retinal camera which gives an overall view of the retina and macular.
Vision impairment is an important issue facing the present and future generations of older Australians because it can affect a person’s physical, emotional, economic and social well-being, reducing their quality of life and increasing their level of independence.
Retinal Photography
A digital retinal camera takes a photo of the back of your eye and is a simple and painless procedure. The digital image gives a detailed view of your:
• Retina
• Optic nerve head
• Macular
The retina is the film that lines the back of your eye.
The Optic nerve takes information from your eye to your brain.
The Macular is a small spot on your retina that is responsible for seeing fine detail such as seeing faces and reading.
The digital image taken is helpful in diagnosing and monitoring diseases that affect these structures, such as:
• Glaucoma
• Diabetic Retinopathy
• Macular Degeneration
• Hypertensive Retinopathy
It is of particular importance to those people of higher risk such as people with:
• Diabetes
• High Blood pressure
• High refractive error (thick glasses)
• Family history of Macular Degeneration or Glaucoma
For more eye care information contact Darren direct:
Darren Liver B.Optom. (Hons) Optometrist
Provider No. 0613339T
Phone: (02) 4261 3313
13 Bong Bong Rd
Dapto NSW 2530 | 
