Perhaps the most frightening condition that anyone can get is that which affects the eyes.
Many people will absolutely fear going blind, for all the obvious reason, but unfortunately this does happen to some.
Of course, eye problems do not have to be that severe so the services of an optometrist should be sought if any medical conditions arise such as diabetes.
The qualified optometrist has all the modern equipment and machines available to figure out if there is anything wrong with the eyes and will be able to advise further after the first appointment.
With eyes, many things can go wrong, but it really is a case of getting it sorted out sooner rather than later.
Many people who delay may inadvertently be making the problem worse by ignoring the fact.
Take, for example, glaucoma, which is a disease of the eyes normally found in the sick and the aged.
Pressure builds up in the eye and untold damage is done if the patient just carries on without getting help.
Very often it is too late to do anything by the time they admit defeat and go to see an eye doctor.
Even diabetes, a very common disease these days and getting worse, can cause a lot of damage to the eyes.
Many who have been diagnosed with adult onset diabetes will be given all the information to keep a check on their eyes as well as other body parts like the feet.
Too much sugar in the blood causes a raft of problems and not only with the eyes.
Another common disease of the eyes is cataracts which tend to affect older people.
This is a clouding of the front of the eye to the point where the patient will be unable to see very much.
They are usually slow growing so the patient may put the disturbance in the vision as just a side effect of getting old.
This is not always so and the patient should always take care to get regular check ups with the appropriate eye doctor.
Once the eye is completely clouded, there is an operation that can be done in a hospital that will take out the clouded lens of the eye and replace it with a synthetic one.
The patient may need to wear glasses after this operation but the sight will be such that the patient can become independent again.
If the patient has two eyes affected with cataracts then the surgeon will only take care of one eye at a time.
This means that after the first operation, the patient can at least function on his or her own for some time.
Perhaps the most important thing to do when visiting an eye doctor is to make sure that he or she has all the necessary qualifications.
If it is necessary to visit an eye doctor then it is of utmost importance to make sure that they know what he or she is doing and is abreast of current medications.