Experts have issued a warning over five conditions that could impact your eyesight following Sir Elton John’s shock health update.
The Rocket Man singer shared concerning news with his fans this week, revealing that he has been left with “limited vision” in one eye, and the recovery is an “extremely slow process”.
Speaking to his 4.2 million followers on Instagram, the 77-year-old explained he had developed an eye infection over the summer, and that it would “take some time” for his sight to return to the “impacted eye”.
As the award-winning singer continues his recovery, The Telegraph has explored five common eye conditions people should be aware of.
1. Conjunctivitis (also known as pink eye)
The highly-contagious conjunctivitis makes your eyes itchy, red and inflamed, often accompanied by a gritty feeling and pus that sticks to your eyelashes, according to the NHS.
The condition occurs when the blood vessels in the conjunctiva (a clear membrane that covers the eye) become infected by a virus or bacteria, but your symptoms should improve in two weeks without treatment.
However, there are certain things you can do at home to ease your symptoms, including washing your eyelids with clean water. The NHS advises boiling water before allowing it to cool down and then using it to gently wipe your eyelashes.
You should do this with a clean cotton wool pad, but remember to use separate pads for each eye. You can also hold a cold flannel over your eyes to cool them, or a pharmacist can recommend eye drops or antihistamines.
2. Keratitis
Keratitis is a swelling condition that impacts the corneas (the clear outer layers of our eyes) and can be caused by an infection (everything from viral to parasitic) or an injury.
Alex Ionides, a consultant ophthalmologist at Moorfields Eye Hospital, said: “People who wear soft contact lenses are most at risk from bacterial keratitis.”
He went on to say that if you use contact lenses and you have a red and inflamed eye, you must seek “immediate” advice as contact lens-linked infections can be “blinding”.
Laura Hughes, a consultant ophthalmologist, also spoke about a concern with contact lens wearers, urging people to never swim, shower, sleep in them, or run them under tap water, as there’s a “risk of a serious acanthamoeba parasitic infection”.
Some of the treatments include antibiotic eye drops, although the paper warned that viral infections may not always be completely eradicated.
3. Styes
A stye is a painful lump similar to a spot that appears on or around the eyelid after developing from a blocked oil gland. The NHS says the surrounding skin could be red and swollen and the stye filled with pus.
They’re generally not contagious, with Alex saying they’re caused by an “infection of an eyelash follicle”. You could apply a warm flannel a few times each day, with other treatments including antibiotics if the infection spreads.
In addition to these, antibiotic ointment is also used, as well as common tablets such as paracetamol. If you’re unsure, you should consult an eye doctor.
4. Uveitis
Uveitis (also known as iritis) is a rare condition that leads to inflammation in your eye, with the NHS urging people to seek treatment early, as it can lead to long-term complications, including vision loss and blindness.
It could be contagious and may be caused by immune system conditions, infections, or injuries, but it should improve quickly with treatment, although it has been known to reoccur.
Symptoms include eye pain (which may feel worse when you’re reading), red or watery eyes, blurred vision, light sensitivity, and lights or dark spots in your eyes.
Laura said more severe symptoms “need reviewing” by an ophthalmologist and warned people to “never ignore” deteriorating vision, particularly when you have a new infection, as they can be “sight threatening”.
Treatments include dark glasses, eye drops, eye injections and antibiotics, with medicines that limit the activity of your immune system used in severe cases.
5. Blepharitis
Blepharitis occurs when the skin folds become inflamed, causing itchy and swollen eyelids, often accompanied by soreness, a gritty sensation, crusts on your eyelashes, and sticky eyelids.
The NHS says if you have this condition, you can try cleaning your eyelids twice a day and then reduce it to once a day when you start noticing an improvement, but remember to continue cleaning them even when your symptoms end.
In addition to this, a pharmacist may be able to advise you on eye pads, wipes and drops. Laura said itchy, gritty eyes or a “short history of discharge or watering” should be addressed by a GP or chemist.
If, however, the treatments fail to work, you should visit an optician.