The word “uveitis” is used because the swelling most often affects that part of the eye called the uvea.

There are four main categories of uveitis:

• Anterior uveitis, which affects the front of the eye, is the most common
• Intermediate uveitis affects the ciliary body
• Posterior uveitis affects the back of the eye
• If the entire uvea is inflamed, you have pan-uveitis

It’s important to seek assistance from an ophthalmologist to treat this condition.

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The conjunctiva contains nerves and many small blood vessels which are usually barely visible but become larger and more visible if the eye is inflamed. Fragile when placed under pressure, their walls may break easily, resulting in a subconjunctival haemorrhage (bleeding under the conjunctiva).

Most subconjunctival haemorrhages are spontaneous without an obvious cause, but it may occur from an injury, coughing, heavy lifting, or vomiting. It tends to be more common among those on blood thinning agents such as warfarin or anti-platelet agents such as aspirin, ecotrin and plavex.

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Normally, each eye focuses on the same spot but with a squint, one eye can be deviated inwards (esotropia) or outwards (exotropia).

Squints do not get better on their own and must always be assessed by an eye specialist (ophthalmologist). Eye exercises do not help squints and failure to seek the help of an ophthalmologist may lead to a permanent visual disability.

Some are born with this condition (known as congenital strabismus) and young children are at the highest risk of loss of vision due to squint. Young children can suppress vision in a weaker eye, which lets them avoid double vision. However, that may lead to “lazy eye”, a condition doctors refer to as amblyopia. Depth perception and peripheral vision may be affected and it can cause eyestrain and headaches.

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If severe, it can result in a decrease in visual acuity, so prompt diagnosis and treatment of scleritis is essential to prevent permanent vision loss.

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Often experienced during puberty, one of the earliest symptoms of rosacea is facial flushing brought on by changes in body temperature, emotion, or hot drinks. Eventually, the skin of the eyelids may become chronically red, irritated and inflamed.

Treatment is directed toward symptomatic control and disease prevention rather than cure.

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Tear duct obstruction prevents tears from draining through this system normally. If the tear duct is blocked, there will be a backflow of tears and discharge from the eye.

The most common cause is the failure of a membrane at the end of the tear duct to open normally at or near the time of birth, but other causes of blocked tear ducts in children include:

• Nasal bone that blocks the tear duct entering the nose
• Absent puncta (upper and/or lower eyelids)
• Narrow tear duct system
• Infection

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Symptoms

Typical symptoms include:

• Bleeding into the white of the eye (subconjunctival haemorrhage)
• A sharp pain in your eye followed by burning and irritation
• Blurred vision or loss of vision in the affected eye
• A feeling like there’s something in your eye
• Scratchy feeling when blinking
• Sensitivity to bright lights
• Watery and red eye

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Symptoms

• A gritty feeling
• Feeling like there’s something in your eye
• Itching
• Redness
• Blurry vision
• Light sensitivity

Sometimes, dry eyes create too many tears. Instinctively, your body sends a flood of tears to try to compensate for the dryness, but these tears are mostly water: they can wash debris away, but can’t coat your eye’s surface.

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It usually presents as a painful rash involving one side of the forehead, the upper eyelid, side of the nose and can also involve the eye. Early treatment can help prevent some of its long-term repercussions, such as post-herpetic neuralgia.

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