Make an appointment with either an HCF Eyecare Centre or your local optometrist now - Medicare covers you for regular optometric consultations where bulk billing is accepted. If you have HCF extras cover, we’ll pay benefits towards the cost of glasses and contact lenses.

• Wear a sunhat and sunglasses when outside in the sun. Sunlight contributes to problems like cataracts and pterygiums (small growths on the white part of the eye)
• Don’t smoke
• Protect your eyes with special glasses when working with dangerous materials at home, school and work.

The truth is that although many older people do need glasses:

• 50 per cent of the vision loss associated with ageing can be corrected
• 25 per cent is preventable.

• squinting or frowning
• rubbing their eyes frequently
• closing one eye to look at things
• sitting close to television
• holding a book close to their face.

Both shortsightedness (myopia) and longsightededness (hyperopia) are common. There is no cure for either, but with glasses or contact lenses, you can improve your vision.

Cataracts

If you develop cataracts a cloudiness forms in the lens of the eye and affects your vision. Most cataracts are a result of aging and long-term exposure to ultraviolet light.

Cataract surgery is now a relatively minor procedure. Often it’s performed under a local anaesthetic on an out-patient basis at a hospital or clinic.

Diabetic retinopathy

About 4 per cent of the population has diabetes and many more are undiagnosed. Many people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy and early diagnosis is important for successful treatment.

Glaucoma

About 4 per cent of people over 40 have glaucoma, but it can also affect young people too. With glaucoma, the nerve cells which transmit information from the eye to the brain become damaged.

People often don’t have symptoms immediately which is why regular checkups are so important. Glaucoma is a leading cause of blindness in Australia, but if treated early, most people keep their vision.

Age-related maculopathy

About 4 per cent of people over 40 have age related maculopathy, which affects fine vision. Regular examination is the key to successful treatment.

Expert Help

Make an appointment with your optometrist for an eye examination or find an HCF Eyecare Centre nearest you.