If you have dry age-related macular degeneration and have recently heard about red light therapy, you may be wondering what the treatment actually involves. It is an understandable question, particularly because treatments involving the eyes can sound more daunting than they actually are. Red light therapy for dry macular degeneration is medically known as photobiomodulation (PBM). Unlike many treatments used within retinal medicine, it does not involve an injection into the

Recent research has shown encouraging 2 year results with intermediate dry macular degeneration, looking at reading speed, visual acuity and change in scan appearance. As a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Medical Retina Specialist, this is an exciting development in an area of retinal medicine where treatment options have traditionally been limited. The short answer There is promising evidence that red light therapy may help certain people with dry age related macular degenera

For many people diagnosed with dry macular degeneration, one of the first questions is: “Is there anything that can actually be done to improve my vision?” Historically, treatment options for dry age related macular degeneration have been limited. Much of the focus has been on monitoring the condition, reducing risk factors and slowing its progression rather than improving the function of the retina itself. However, an emerging treatment called photobiomodulation (PBM), more

If you have been diagnosed with macular degeneration, one of the first questions you may understandably ask is: “What is the best treatment for macular degeneration?” You may be worried about your eyesight, unsure whether the condition will get worse, or confused by the different treatments you have heard about. The answer depends largely on which type of macular degeneration you have. Age related macular degeneration (AMD) can broadly be divided into two types: dry AMD and w

You are reading and suddenly notice that part of a word seems to disappear. You look at someone’s face and there appears to be a small dark or blurred area in your vision. Perhaps the spot moves when you move your eyes. Or perhaps it seems to stay in exactly the same place. One of the questions patients understandably ask is: “Why do I have a dark spot in my vision?” There are several possible explanations. Sometimes, a dark spot is caused by something relatively common, such

You take your medication. You attend your diabetes reviews. Your blood sugar readings may seem relatively well controlled. So it can come as a surprise to hear that changes are still developing at the back of your eyes. One question patients understandably ask is: “Can diabetes still damage my eyes if my blood sugar is controlled?” Good blood sugar control is extremely important and can help reduce the risk of diabetic eye disease. However, it does not mean that your risk dis

You step outside and immediately reach for your sunglasses. Bright sunlight feels uncomfortable. Headlights seem more dazzling than they used to. Your phone or computer screen may feel harsh, and you find yourself squinting more often in bright environments. Perhaps you have always been sensitive to light, or maybe this is something you have only recently started to notice. It is natural to wonder: “Why are my eyes so sensitive to light?” Sensitivity to light is known medical

Your cataract surgery went well. Your vision became clearer. Then, months or perhaps years later, things start to look cloudy again. It is completely understandable to wonder: “Has my cataract come back?” This is a question I regularly hear from patients who notice their vision changing after cataract surgery. The reassuring answer is that once a cataract has been removed, that same cataract cannot grow back. During cataract surgery, the cloudy natural lens is removed and rep

You cover one eye. Everything looks clear. You switch to the other. Something isn't quite right. Perhaps words seem blurred, straight lines appear distorted, or your vision simply doesn't feel as sharp as it used to. It can be worrying when only one eye is affected, and many people assume they just need a new glasses prescription. However, blurred vision in one eye can have a number of different causes, some of which benefit from prompt assessment. As a Consultant Ophthalmolo

A sudden flash catches your eye. You turn your head, but nothing is there. It happens again a few moments later, perhaps in a dark room or out of the corner of your vision. Seeing flashes of light can be unsettling. While they are often caused by natural changes inside the eye, they can sometimes be an early warning sign of a more serious retinal problem that requires urgent assessment. ⸻ What are flashes of light? Flashes of light, also known as photopsia, are brief bursts o

Your vision seems blurry. You blink a few times and it clears. A few minutes later, it's blurred again. You assume you need new glasses, but the problem could actually be something much more common. Dry eyes are one of the leading causes of blurred vision, yet many people don't realise they can affect the quality of their sight as well as the comfort of their eyes. ⸻ What are dry eyes? Every time you blink, a thin layer of tears spreads across the surface of your eyes. This t

You notice a small dark spot drifting across your vision. You blink. It moves away. You try to look directly at it. It seems to disappear. Then, moments later, it floats back into view. For many people, floaters are a normal part of ageing. However, in some cases, they can be an important warning sign of a more serious retinal problem. Knowing the difference can make all the difference. As a Consultant Ophthalmologist and Medical Retina Specialist, one of the most common ques

You clean your glasses. They still don't seem quite right. You blink. Your vision remains slightly cloudy. Colours don't look as bright as they once did. Headlights seem brighter than they used to. At first, you assume you simply need a new glasses prescription. But what if the problem isn't your glasses? One of the most common symptoms of cataracts is gradually developing cloudy or hazy vision. Because the changes often happen so slowly, many people don't realise how much th

You wake up one morning and your vision does not seem as sharp as it usually is. Your phone screen looks slightly out of focus. Reading feels more difficult. Road signs appear less clear. Your first thought might be that you need new glasses. But what if the problem is not your glasses? For many people, blurry vision can be one of the earliest signs that diabetes is affecting the eyes. Sometimes these changes are temporary. In other cases, they may indicate diabetic retinopat

You look at a door frame. It appears slightly bent. You look at the lines on a page. Some of them seem wavy. At first, you assume your glasses need updating. But what if the problem is not your glasses? One of the earliest signs of macular degeneration can be distortion of central vision, causing straight lines to appear wavy, bent, or uneven. Many people dismiss these changes initially because they seem minor. However, recognising this symptom early and seeking specialist ad

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients is: "How do I know when cataract surgery is actually necessary?" Many people are told they have cataracts years before treatment is ever discussed. During this time, vision may gradually change, but because the process is often slow, it can be difficult to know whether your symptoms are becoming significant enough to consider surgery. The reality is that there is rarely a single moment when cataract surgery suddenly becomes

Diabetes is a condition that can affect many parts of the body over time, including the eyes. One of the most important things I explain to patients is that diabetic eye disease can often develop long before any noticeable changes in vision occur. This can come as a surprise. Many people assume that if they can see clearly, their eyes must be healthy. However, some of the earliest changes associated with diabetes happen silently, without causing obvious symptoms. Understandin

Macular degeneration is one of the most common causes of changes in central vision that I see in clinical practice. One of the challenges with the condition is that the earliest symptoms can be subtle. Many patients initially assume that changes are simply part of ageing, tiredness, or a need for new glasses. However, recognising the early signs of macular degeneration is important because early assessment and timely management can make a significant difference to long term v

One of the most common concerns I encounter in clinic is patients wondering whether treatment for retinal disease can safely wait. In some cases, delays may seem understandable. Symptoms may feel mild, vision may appear relatively stable, or appointments may have been postponed for practical reasons. However, many retinal conditions can progress gradually beneath the surface, even before major changes in vision become obvious. Understanding the potential impact of delayed tre

One of the most common concerns I hear from patients is: “Why does my vision still feel blurry even after changing my glasses?” For many people, new glasses are expected to restore clear and comfortable vision almost immediately. When this does not happen, it can understandably become frustrating and concerning. In some cases, the issue may be related to a simple adjustment period or a change in prescription. However, persistent blurred vision can sometimes indicate an underl