Immediately after smoking marijuana or ingesting marijuana edibles, the eye becomes red due to dilated conjunctival blood vessels. But you may wonder what other effects does marijuana have on the eyes? But ever since scientists recorded a lowering of intra-ocular pressure with marijuana, hopes for integrating it legally into the armoury of treatments for primary open-angle glaucoma have been –...

How does one link the festive season to a blog about the eyes? Well here at the Wellington Eye Centre, we live, sleep and dream eyes so there is no topic we can’t relate back to the amazing fields of Optometry and Ophthalmology. Here are some Festive Season Eye-related snippets. 1.  Christmas Tree Cataract Christmas Tree Cataract is a rare...

The importance of diet for eye health and vision has been known for a long time. Vitamin deficiencies are not uncommon, and it is known that deficiencies in certain vitamins can affect the health of your eyes.  Before we begin, it’s important to know one thing:  The human body is able to store certain vitamins and minerals, whilst others are...

Eye twitching is very common, but the first time it happens it feels super strange! The twitch occurs when one of the muscles in your eyelid spasms. A spasm is an intense contraction of a muscle, one you can’t control. It feels like a massive movement, but often others can’t see it happening. This common eyelid twitch is called Myokymia,...

You have just made a substantial, positive investment in your eyesight by having laser vision correction. A decision you almost certainly didn’t take lightly. And now you have great vision without glasses! So that’s it right? Done and dusted – eyes fixed – no more eye exams! Not quite. Having regular eye exams after refractive surgery is still very important....

Restasis is a prescription medication that can treat chronic dry eye disease. The active ingredient in Restasis is cyclosporine, which is an immunosuppressive agent that works by reducing inflammation in the eyes. Chronic dry eye disease is a common condition that affects millions of people worldwide. It has a variety of causes; including ageing, hormonal changes, environmental factors, and certain...

IPL stands for “Intense Pulsed Light”. IPL is a medical technology used to treat a number of skin conditions. It is also used by ophthalmologists and optometrists as an effective treatment for dry eye. Plastic surgeons, cosmetic doctors and beauty therapists all use IPL to treat a number of skin conditions, such as:  Ophthalmologists and Optometrists can use the same device...

Many of us have had an occasion where we drank enough alcohol to alter our vision, at times this might be humorous, but it can also be distressing and dangerous. But why does it happen? And can alcohol have permanent effects on our eyesight? Alcohol is classified as a Central Nervous System Depressant, meaning that it slows down brain activity. By...

Myopia control is a fast-growing area of optometry that can reduce the rate of myopia (short-sightedness) progression. If you wore glasses as a child or teenager you may remember having to regularly update them as your vision changed. This eventually stabilised and you no longer needed to update your glasses as frequently. Myopia progresses fastest when you are young, so...

Wanting to find the perfect pair of coloured contact lenses to compliment your Halloween costume this year? Want your eyes to look blood red or deepest black for that demon look you are after? Here are some good safety measures, and some advice about cosmetic contact lenses. Are contact lenses medical devices? All contact lenses are medical devices. Even coloured...

Most people thinking of having laser vision correction surgery will be suitable and can expect to have an excellent outcome. However, some people have conditions affecting their eyes that make them unsuitable for laser eye surgery. Conditions such as cataracts, lazy eye, and severe dry eyes will likely mean that you are unsuitable. This blog will discuss two other conditions...

Since the launch of Optimel Mānuka Honey eye care products in 2015, the use of honey-based products in eye care has been gaining momentum and creating a buzz. Honey has been documented for medicinal uses for centuries. It has been used to treat a range of ailments including wounds, infections, eye diseases, and gastrointestinal problems. It is only more recently...