http://clarefraser.com Ophthalmology for enquiring eyes Sun, 06 Sep 2009 11:20:27 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Cataract operations are now very common day case procedures.  However, it is still an operation and can make people very scared.  I have met many patients who have cancelled their booked procedure because they are too frightened to come in on the day.  This is such a shame as this ... http://clarefraser.com/2007/06/09/having-a-cataract-operation/ Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of legal blindness in patients aged 20 - 65 years in Western countries.  This is a disease of the retina - the film at the back of the eye responsible for detecting light. From the time of diagnosis of Type 2 (late onset, ... http://clarefraser.com/2007/06/09/diabetic-retinopathy/ The thought of the first trip to see an eye doctor can make some people anxious, but there is no need to worry.  Here are some simple things that you can do and bring to make your visit easier. http://clarefraser.com/2007/05/16/visiting-the-ophthalmologist/ When starting out as a doctor I did not get offended when people automatically assumed that I was a nurse. However, now I am training to be an ophthalmologist, I get very offended when people confuse what I do with iridology. Mainly I find it quite scary that there ... http://clarefraser.com/2007/05/04/iridology-is-the-eye-a-window-to-all-diseases/ A diagnosis of optic neuritis can be quite scary for some people. It generally affects young people in their 20s and 30s who have never had a medical problem before in their life, and anything which affects your eyesight is going to make people worry. In addition there ... http://clarefraser.com/2006/08/05/optic-neuritis/ Recommendations for "natural" eye wash solutions range from chamomile to lavender oil to boric acid (!). As a doctor I find I have an inbuilt suspicion about many "herbal remedies" but on the whole, if the remedy does no harm, I have no objections. However, many patients ... http://clarefraser.com/2006/08/04/chamomile-eye/ Blepharitis is inflammation of the eyelid margins (around the lashes and the part that touches the eyeball) and is one of the most common causes eye irritation. It affects more than 10% of the population and fills the Sydney Eye Emergency clinic with hundreds of people a month seeking ... http://clarefraser.com/2006/08/04/blepharitis/