Glaucoma is the name given to a group of eye diseases that occur when too much pressure develops inside one or both eye balls.  It is a leading cause of vision damage and blindness in people over 40 years of age, but it can affect people of any age.

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in people over the age of 55. Macular degeneration is the physical disturbance of the centre of the retina called the macular.

Cataract is the eye condition responsible for the largest single direct health cost in Australia. In 2004 it was estimated that almost 1.5 million Australians aged 55 or over had cataracts.

Diseases of the retina can lead to partial or total loss of vision. For young people, retinal disease can be caused by the presence of other diseases such as diabetes. For older people, the most common retinal diseases are associated with conditions such as macular degeneration.

Trachoma affects almost 10 percent of the world’s population. It usually occurs in undeveloped countries where people live in overcrowded conditions and have poor hygiene and limited access to water.

Because of the rare incidence of some eye diseases, there is often little known about the conditions, their causes and treatment.