Our eyesight is something many of us take for granted.
From reading a book and driving a car to recognising the faces of loved ones, our vision plays a vital role in everyday life. Yet it is often only when we begin to notice changes that we start thinking about our eye health.
The good news is that looking after your eyesight doesn’t have to be complicated. A combination of healthy lifestyle habits, regular eye examinations and seeking expert advice when something changes can help protect your vision for years to come.
As Mr Sheraz Daya, Medical Director of Centre for Sight, recently explained during a BBC Sussex interview celebrating the Centre’s 30th anniversary, advances in eye care have transformed what is possible for patients. Many conditions that once significantly affected people’s quality of life can now be treated more effectively than ever before, particularly when they are identified early.
Make Eye Health Part of Your Overall Wellbeing
Your eyes are closely connected to your overall health. Conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure can affect your vision long before other symptoms appear, making routine eye examinations an important part of preventative healthcare.
Simple habits can also help keep your eyes healthy, including:
- Wearing sunglasses with UV protection
- Eating a balanced diet rich in leafy green vegetables and oily fish
- Not smoking
- Taking regular breaks from digital screens
- Managing long term health conditions
- Attending regular eye examinations, even if your vision seems fine
Many eye conditions develop gradually and without pain, meaning changes can be difficult to notice yourself.
Understanding How Your Eyes Change with Age
As we get older, our eyes naturally change. While this is a normal part of ageing, it also increases the likelihood of developing certain eye conditions.
Cataracts remain the most common surgical procedure performed anywhere in the world and become increasingly common as we age. Other conditions such as glaucoma and age related macular degeneration also become more prevalent later in life.
Mr Daya explains that while many people may only experience one eye condition in their forties, it becomes increasingly common for people in their sixties and eighties to develop multiple age related eye conditions. This makes regular monitoring even more important as we grow older.
The earlier these conditions are detected, the more treatment options are often available.
Modern Eye Care Has Come a Long Way
Eye surgery has changed dramatically over the past four decades. Mr Daya recalls that when he first entered ophthalmology in the early 1980s, many procedures involved much larger incisions and fine stitches. Today, many treatments use advanced laser technology and incredibly small incisions, with some procedures requiring no stitches at all. These innovations allow surgeons to achieve greater precision while helping patients recover more quickly.
Technology continues to move forward at an extraordinary pace.
At Centre for Sight, new innovations are carefully assessed before being introduced into clinical practice, ensuring they are supported by robust evidence and deliver genuine benefits for patients. This commitment to innovation has enabled the Centre to remain at the forefront of advanced eye care for three decades.
How Artificial Intelligence Is Supporting Better Eye Care
Artificial intelligence is becoming an increasingly valuable tool in ophthalmology, but not in the way many people imagine.
Rather than replacing clinicians, AI is helping specialists analyse complex diagnostic scans more efficiently and identify subtle changes that might otherwise be difficult to detect. Research has shown that AI can accurately identify conditions such as diabetic eye disease and age related macular degeneration while supporting clinicians in making informed decisions.
During the interview, Mr Daya highlighted another important benefit of AI. By reducing time spent analysing data and completing administrative tasks, clinicians can spend more time doing what matters most: caring for patients.
Human expertise, however, remains essential. Every diagnosis and treatment recommendation still relies on the experience and judgement of highly trained ophthalmologists.
Restoring Vision Can Transform Lives
One of the most rewarding aspects of ophthalmology is seeing the impact restored vision has on patients’ lives.
Mr Daya shared the story of a patient who had lost sight in one eye decades earlier following cataract surgery and had lived with severe visual impairment for around 40 years. After finally agreeing to undergo treatment, he was able to walk out of theatre seeing again and, for the first time, clearly see his daughter.
Stories like these demonstrate that modern eye care is about much more than improving eyesight. It is about restoring confidence, independence and quality of life.
When Should You Seek Advice?
If you notice any changes in your vision, it is always worth having them assessed by an eye care professional.
Book an eye examination if you experience:
- Blurred or distorted vision
- Increasing difficulty driving at night
- More glare from headlights or sunlight
- Frequent prescription changes
- Reduced contrast or colour perception
- A family history of eye disease
Sudden vision loss, flashes of light or a curtain like shadow across your vision should always be treated as an emergency and assessed immediately.
Protect Your Vision for the Future
Looking after your eyesight is one of the most important investments you can make in your long term health. While we cannot prevent every eye condition, healthy lifestyle choices, routine eye examinations and seeking specialist advice at the earliest opportunity can make a significant difference.
Thanks to remarkable advances in technology, diagnostics and surgical techniques, today’s treatments are more accurate, less invasive and more effective than ever before. By combining innovation with expert clinical care, Centre for Sight continues to help patients protect and restore one of their most precious senses: their vision.
