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Your guide to eye issues, symptoms and treatments

Below you'll find a range of common eye problems and symptoms with guides that cover treatment and prevention options.

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We're here to support your eye health in any way we can

Changes to your eye health and vision can be hard to deal with, especially when a change is sudden or unexpected. But many common eye problems are treatable and we're here to help you find the best possible path to keeping good eyesight.

Your eye explained

This diagram shows the key parts that make up the human eye.

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    Cornea

    Waves of light bounce off whatever you’re looking at and enter your eye through the cornea. Once light passes through the cornea, it goes through the pupil.

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    Agueous humour

    This is a thin, watery fluid made by the eye. The aqueous humour is 99.9% water and 0.1% nutrients such as glucose, proteins and vitamins. These nutrients keep the eye healthy, as well as protect the cornea against wind, pollen, dust and pathogens.

  3. 3 of 14

    Pupil

    Your pupil changes size to help you see better. In bright light, it gets smaller. In the dark, it opens up to let more light in. That way, your eyes get the best chance of making sense of what’s in front of you.

  4. 4 of 14

    Iris

    The muscles that control the pupil (the black dot in the centre of your eye) are found in the iris, that’s the coloured part of the eye. You might think of yourself as having blue, green or brown eyes, but in fact you’re far more unique than that. That’s because each iris has a pattern of ridges and folds that are specific to you.

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    Lens

    The flexible lens behind the iris changes shape to allow you to see clearly. It flattens so you can see things at a distance and, when you look at something up close, it becomes thicker. This helps to focus light on the retina at the back of your eye.

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    Ciliary body

    The ciliary body is located behind the iris and has two important functions. It produces aqueous humour and also helps adjust the shape of the lens.

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    Vitreous humour

    Vitreous humour is a gel‑like substance that consists of around 99% water and fills the main part of your eye, maintaining its shape, like air in a beach ball (although your eye is only about an inch wide, making it a little bit smaller than a squash ball).

  8. 8 of 14

    Sclera

    The sclera is the white part of the eye that covers most of the eyeball. Made of tough, fibrous tissue, it acts as a protective layer and connects to the cornea.

  9. 9 of 14

    Choroid

    The choroid is a thin layer of tissue between the sclera and the retina. It acts like a blood supply system, delivering nutrients and oxygen to the retinal pigment epithelium (cell layer just outside the retina) and the outer part of the retina at the back of the eye.

  10. 10 of 14

    Retina

    The retina is packed with millions of light‑sensitive cells called rods and cones. They help turn light into messages that get sent to your brain through the optic nerve. Your cones help you see colour. Rods pick up light better in the dark, but they can’t detect colour. That’s why things look greyer at night.

  11. 11 of 14

    Macula

    The macula is located at the centre of the retina, at the back of the eye. It's the part of the eye that processes what you can see directly in front of you, also known as your central vision.

  12. 12 of 14

    Cones and rods

    Cones and rods are the photoreceptor cells found in the centre of the macula. When light stimulates these cells, they send signals to the brain to create vision, allowing us to see fine details and colours.

  13. 13 of 14

    Blood vessels

    Blood vessels supply oxygen and nutrients to the eye, helping to keep the retina and other parts healthy and working properly.

  14. 14 of 14

    Optic nerve

    The optic nerve carries messages from your eye to your brain. These messages come from the rods and cones in your retina, which react to light. Your brain then turns those messages into the image you see.

Vision problems and eye care 

You may not think about your eye health often, especially if your vision hasn't felt any different. But it's normal for your eyesight to change over time, so it’s good to know what to look out for. 

If your eyes don't feel quite right, or you've noticed a recent change in your vision, have a look through the eye issues below to find more details on symptoms and treatment options.

Common eye issues

  • Myopia

    Myopia, also known as short‑sightedness or near‑sightedness, is a very common cause of blurred vision.

    Find out more

  • Long‑sightedness

    Long‑sightedness affects the ability to see objects nearby. People can usually see distant objects clearly, but closer objects tend to be out of focus.

    Find out more

  • Astigmatism

    This is simply an imperfection in the shape of your eye that affects how you see.

    Find out more

  • Presbyopia

    Presbyopia is one of the most common causes of blurry close‑up vision as you get older. It's when your eyes find it harder to focus on things up close.

    Find out more

  • Presbyopia

    Presbyopia is one of the most common causes of blurry close‑up vision as you get older. It's when your eyes find it harder to focus on things up close.

    Find out more

  • Blurry Vision

    Blurry vision is not an eye condition itself, it’s usually a symptom of an underlying condition or a sign that your glasses or contact lenses may need updating.

    Find out more

  • Floaters and flashes

    Seeing black dots in your vision, also known as floaters, is very common.

    Find out more

  • Macular Degeneration

    An eye disease caused by deterioration of the macula — a small area in the centre of the retina (the light‑sensitive part of the eye).

    Find out more

  • Glaucoma

    Glaucoma is a group of diseases that damage the optic nerve. As most cases won't have any symptoms one of the best ways to detect it is a routine eye test.

    Find out more

  • Cataracts

    Cataracts are very common. When the lens is cloudy from a cataract, the images appear blurred, a bit like looking through a dirty window.

    Find out more

Other eye problems 

Top tips to keep your eyes healthy

  • Eye Icon

    Get regular eye tests

    Eye tests can spot problems early, even before you notice any changes in your vision.

  • Person icon

    Eat a balanced diet & get enough sleep

    Just like the rest of your body, your eyes need quality food, plenty of water and a good night's sleep. Aim for a good range of nutrients and antioxidants.

  • Glasses icon

    Wear sunglasses

    Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays by wearing sunglasses whenever you’re outside, even on cloudy days.

  • Computer mouse icon

    Avoid eye strain

    If you spend most of your day at a computer, use the 20‑20‑20 rule: every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds to prevent digital eye strain.

    Learn more about eye strain

  • Washing hands icon

    Keep your eyes clean & protected

    Touching your eyes with dirty hands or wearing unclean contacts can lead to infections. Wash your hands and lenses and wear eye protection in dangerous environments.

Your questions about eye health answered

Eye tests can help identify common eye issues

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    Book an OCT scan

    OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) is a hospital‑grade eye scan that helps us to view the structures of your eye in even greater detail.

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    Specsavers eye tests

    Eye tests play a huge part in making sure your eyes stay healthy.

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    What to expect during your store visit

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