Most people will suffer from flashes or 'floaters' at some stage in their lives. These 'dots' or specks are most noticeable when looking at a white background and are simply small particles that float in the vitreous fluid inside the eye. However a sudden onset could be a sign of a more serious problem and you should consult your optician.

This is the name given to a group of diseases characterised by progressive damage to the optic nerve head, sometimes due to raised pressure within the eye.

Macular degeneration is a medical condition usually found in older adults which results in a loss of vision in the centre of the visual field (the macula) because of damage to the retina.

Often referred to as short and long sightedness, myopia and hypermetropia are two of the most common eye defects. Your optician can easily correct both conditions. Myopia is the inability to see objects clearly at a distance, but close up objects are much clearer. Hypermetropia means objects are generally clearer further away than up close.

Presbyopia describes the condition where the eye exhibits a progressively diminished ability to focus on near objects. This condition is more prevalent with age.

Retinoblastoma is a rare form of eye cancer which generally affects children under 5 years old. It is treatable but if signs are noticed they must be checked out quickly.