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Which health service do I need Find a hospital
  • Conditions & treatments
    Conditions & treatments
    • Bladder, kidney and urinary system
    • Blood
    • Bones and joints
    • Brain and nerves
    • Cancer
    • Diabetes
    • Ear, nose and throat
    • Emergencies and first aid
    • Eyes
    • Food and water-borne diseases
    • Heart
    • Immune system
    • Infectious diseases
    • Liver
    • Lungs
    • Men's health
    • Older people's health
    • Sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
    • Skin
    • Stomach and bowel
    • Women's health
    • Home equipment
    • Medicines and prescriptions
    • Tests, procedures and surgeries
  • Immunisations
    Immunisations
    • National Immunisation Schedule
    • Vaccines given in Aotearoa
    • When to immunise
    • Book a vaccine
    • Catching up on missed immunisations
    • Preparing for a vaccination appointment
    • Immunising your whānau
    • Benefits of immunisation
    • Vaccine side effects, reactions and safety
    • How vaccines work
    • Get a copy of your immunisation record
  • Keeping well
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    • Activity and diet
    • Cancer screening
    • Emergencies and natural disasters
    • Healthy homes and environments
    • Teeth and gums
    • Transgender and gender diversity
    • Travel
    • Safe sex
    • Workplace wellbeing
  • Pregnancy & maternity
    Pregnancy & maternity
    • Pregnancy and immunisations
    • Fertility
    • Finding out you are pregnant
    • Having a healthy pregnancy
    • Screening
    • Lead maternity carers and midwives
    • Miscarriage
    • Labour and birth
    • Your health after birth
    • Postnatal depression
    • Breastfeeding
  • Mental wellbeing
    Mental wellbeing
    • Alcohol and drugs
    • Alcohol and drug services
    • Assault and abuse
    • Mental health conditions
    • Crisis assessment teams
    • Where to get help for mental health
    • Mental health medication
    • Mārama — feedback survey for mental health and addictions
    • Psychologists
  • Locations
    Locations
    • Auckland
    • Bay of Plenty
    • Hawke’s Bay
    • Manawatū-Whanganui
    • Nelson Marlborough
    • Northland
    • Otago and Southland
    • Rotorua and Taupō
    • South Canterbury
    • Tairāwhiti
    • Taranaki
    • Wellington, Hutt and Kapiti
    • West Coast
    • Waikato
    • Wairarapa
  • Services
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    • Find the right healthcare for you and your whānau
    • Emergency departments (ED)
    • Public hospitals
    • General practices
    • Online and over-the-phone healthcare
    • Pharmacies
    • Dental care
    • Pregnancy, birth and children services
    • Publicly funded health and disability services
    • Sexual health clinics
    • National Public Health Service
    • Support services
    • Your rights using a health or disability service
    • Calendar of health events
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    1. Home
    2. Conditions and treatments
    3. Eyes

    Eyes

    Astigmatism

    A very common condition that causes blurred vision because of the shape of the cornea or lens in the eye.

    Cataracts

    When the clear lens in your eye becomes cloudy. Cataracts are one of the most common causes of reduced vision.

    Chalazion (meibomian cyst)

    A chalazion is a lump on one of your eyelids. It forms when a tiny oil gland (meibomian gland) on the inside of your eyelid gets blocked and swollen. Oil builds up inside the gland and forms a lump.

    Conjunctivitis

    An eye condition caused by infection or allergies. It can make your eyes sticky, irritated, red or pink.

    Dry eyes

    Dry eyes are caused by your eyes not producing enough tears or by something affecting the ability of your tears to form a protective film. This gives your eyes a sore, gritty sensation. The irritation of dry eye may trigger excessive tears.

    Eyelid inflammation (blepharitis)

    Blepharitis is an inflammation of your eyelid. It is not an infection, and it is not contagious. It is common and may keep coming back as it can be treated but not cured. It will not affect your vision.

    Floaters and flashes

    Dots and lines (floaters) or flashes of light in your vision are common, especially as you get older. They are not usually serious, particularly if you have had them for a long time, they are not getting worse, and your eyesight is not affected.

    Glaucoma

    An eye condition that causes damage to the optic nerve at the back of your eye. Untreated, it can cause blindness.

    Hyperopia

    When someone can see things clearly in the distance but has difficulty seeing close objects clearly.

    Low vision and blindness

    Low vision is an eyesight problem that makes it hard to do everyday activities.

    Macular degeneration

    The main cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Aotearoa New Zealand. A disease that affects the cells that feed the back of your eye.

    Myopia

    Short-sightedness means someone can see close objects clearly but has difficulty seeing things clearly in the distance.

    Presbyopia

    Begins in middle age, and makes it hard to focus on things that are up close. It is not a disease but a normal part of getting older.

    Pterygium and pinguecula

    Pterygium and pinguecula are common growths on the front of an eye. Both happen on the clear covering over the white of your eye (the conjunctiva), and usually on the side closest to your nose.

    Retinal detachment

    The retina is the surface at the back of your eye that detects shape and colour. When it separates from the inner lining of the eye, this is retinal detachment. It can cause loss of vision. This can be prevented if the detachment is found and treated early.

    Stye

    Stye is the name for a lump or swelling that happens when an infection forms around the base of an eyelash, on the edge of your eyelid. A stye can look like a tiny, yellow, pus-filled spot.

    Watery eyes

    You can get watery eyes at any age, but it's more common in young pēpi (babies) and in people over the age of 60. It can affect one or both eyes.
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