There are several common eye diseases in all age groups, below are some of the most common eye problems:

• In children: blocked tear ducts, turn in the eyes (crossed eyes) and conjunctivitis.
• In young adults: allergic eye disease, conjunctivitis, chalazions.
• In older patients: cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration and floaters.
• In ALL age groups: refractive error (need to wear glasses).
• Most general ophthalmologists would see patients over the age of 50 or 60.

Therefore, the most common eye diseases are cataract, glaucoma and macular degeneration and floaters.

How Often Should You Have an Eye Examination

Who should I get eyes tested for common eye diseases? Well, probably everyone over the age of 45 should have an eye examination by an optometrist or an ophthalmologist every 2 years. However, if there are risk factors or symptoms, then more often is needed. For example, if there is a family history of glaucoma, if you have diabetes, or if you have a poor diet or smoke, then you should have your eyes examined every year.

Can anything be done about these conditions? Absolutely!

That’s the reason we should have regular eye tests. Apart from anything, we live in an era of ‘preventative’ medicine. We try and prevent these eye diseases from setting in.

The other side of it is that we can treat all of them. The earlier we catch them, the less involved is the treatment and the more successful the results.

Cataracts Removal Procedures

Cataract removal procedures are much quicker and safer these days then they have ever been. Not only can cataracts be removed but people can be made to be a lot less spectacle dependent with the procedure.

Glaucoma Treatment

Medications to treat glaucoma have come along way. Now, drops with minimal side effects, often which only need to be used once or twice a day, usually control the condition.

I’m a fan of laser called SLT: this is an alternative to drops in mild cases of glaucoma and takes away the need to remember to put the drops in.

Macular Degeneration Treatment

Macular degeneration can be treated with medications placed into the eye.

Treating Floaters with Laser

Something not too many people know about is the treatment of floaters with laser. There are many people out there that have floaters but are told they don’t require treatment. It IS true that treatment is not essential. However, if they are a real bother then treatment that’s non surgical and very safe is now available.

Summary: our eyes are very precious and we should care for them. There are common conditions affecting them that can be detected early with eye testing and treated with modern, safe and painless techniques.

Click here for more information about the Six Common Types of Eye Diseases Explained.

It has long been known that marijuana, or cannabis, lowers the pressure inside the eye.

Listeners would be interested to know that there is a common eye condition known as glaucoma. Glaucoma is a disease which can slowly and silently erode people’s sight.

Glaucoma Cause

The condition is caused by a pressure inside the eye which is too high for the optic nerve, the structure which joins the back of the eye to the brain, to handle.

As the optic nerve dies, peripheral (as opposed to central) vision deteriorates. Because it’s peripheral people don’t detect it at first (it is detectable with testing, however). Gradually the peripheral vision loss comes closer to the centre and people develop so called ‘tunnel vision’ by which time the disease is very advanced. Left untreated the patient goes blind.

We can’t stress enough how important it is to have your eyes tested for this condition.

Glaucoma Treatment

The treatment is based around lowering the pressure (so called Intraocular Pressure or IOP) inside the the eye. This can be done by medicated drops, laser or an operation….and marijuana!

Of course it sounds interesting and like it could be a lot of fun. Imagine…the medical use of marijuana to treat glaucoma!

Facts You Should Know About Marijuana in Relation to Glaucoma

• Indeed, marijuana lowers the pressure in the eye but only modestly. In most patients it wouldn’t be enough to control the disease without other medication.
• The pressure lowering effect last only a few hours so you would have keep puffing away all day!
• Though not lethal, the potential risks of using marijuana, both medical and social, can be substantial. Potentially, the effect on the brain can be permanent.
• So, really, the use of marijuana in glaucoma violates the Hippocratic oath to first do no harm!

Now, I know some would compare marijuana with alcohol and tobacco and say these kill a lot more people than marijuana. That’s true. But to use the excuse of it’s medical benefit for the treatment of an eye disease is unfounded. It may be different in the case of pain in terminal cancer patients.

Can Marijuana Treat Glaucoma?

The conclusion is there is no role for the use of marijuana (cannabis) in the treatment of glaucoma.