Eye conditions assessed by our optometrists in Gatineau

Our optometrists at Altitude Optometry in Gatineau diagnose and treat a wide range of eye conditions.

Below are simple explanations of the most common vision problems.

Refractive errors

• Myopia : Difficulty seeing distant objects – blurred vision when looking at objects far away.
• Hyperopia: Blurred vision up close, sometimes also from a distance.
• Astigmatism : Distorted or blurred vision caused by an irregular curvature of the cornea.
• Presbyopia: Progressive decline in near vision with age, often around 40 years of age and older.

Eyelid disorders

• Blepharitis Inflammation of the eyelids.
• Chalazion : Blockage of the Meibomian glands.

Problems with the surface of the eye

• Dry eye : Problem with tear production or quality.
• Corneal abrasion: Scratch on the cornea, often caused by a foreign body or trauma.
• Pinguecula : A benign yellowish growth on the conjunctiva of the eye.
• Conjunctivitis: Inflammation of the conjunctiva, often caused by infection or allergy.
• Subconjunctival hemorrhage : Bleeding under the conjunctiva, usually painless, caused by a small ruptured blood vessel.
• Corneal ulcer : Open wound on the cornea, often associated with infection.
• Herpetic keratitis (ocular herpes): Infection of the cornea caused by the herpes simplex virus.

Disorders of the anterior segment (iris and lens)

• Cataract : Clouding of the lens, causing blurred vision.
• Uveitis : Inflammation of the uvea, often linked to autoimmune diseases.

Posterior segment disorders (retina and optic nerve)

• Posterior vitreous detachment : A common age-related condition in which the vitreous gel detaches from the retina, which can cause floaters and/or flashes of light.
• Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) : Degeneration of the macula, leading to loss of central vision.
• Retinal detachment : An eye emergency in which the retina detaches, threatening vision.
• Diabetic retinopathy : A complication of diabetes affecting the retina.
• Glaucoma : A condition that damages the optic nerve, often linked to high eye pressure, but which can also occur with normal pressure.
• Ophthalmic migraine: A temporary condition that can cause visual disturbances such as flashes of light, sparkling spots, blurred vision, or partial vision loss. These symptoms may or may not be associated with headaches.