Diabetic retinopathy affects the small vessels of the retina and if left untreated can and does cause blindness.  80% of diabetics have some retinopathy 10 years after diagnosis of diabetes.

NHS Choices has more information.

It is essential that all diabetic patients have regular eye exams to detect the early signs of damaging changes in the eye.  Prompt intervention with either laser or intravitreal drugs (drugs painlessly injected directly into the eye by a skilled surgeon) can preserve vision.

Good diabetic control is the best way to prevent diabetic damage to the eyes.  Sometimes this is not enough and Dr Hay-Smith can use a range of tests to determine if treatment is required.  He may recommend the regular use of intravitreal drugs or argon laser photocoagulation.  For more information follow this link.

Age related macular degeneration is a disease that affects the back of the eye (the retina).  Initially vision becomes distorted and then central vision is progressively lost.  The loss of central vision can be very visually disabling.

There are two types of age related macular degeneration: dry and wet.  There is currently no treatment for dry changes but fortunately the more rapid wet changes are now treatable.  Intervention at the early stages of the condition get the best results.

A new class of drugs, called anti vascular endothelial growth factor agents (anti VEG-F) have transformed the treatment of wet AMD.  These are injected into the eye by Dr Hay-Smith using tiny injectors and is usually totally painless.

The complication rate for the treatment of AMD is very low.

For more information from Dr Hay-Smith on AMD follow this link.

If a blood vessel in the retinal circulation gets blocked than a retinal vein or retinal artery occlusion can occur.  This can result in sudden painless loss of vision.  There can also be serious long term complications such as cystoid macular oedema (CMO or CME) and neovascular glaucoma.  These conditions can be treated with injections of Anti Vaso-Endothelial Growth Factor (Anti VEG-F) drugs including Aflibercept (Eylea) or Ranibizumab (Lucentis) or intravitreal steroids such as Dexamethasone (Ozurdex) implants.

These are injected into the eye by Dr Hay-Smith using tiny injectors and is usually totally painless.

Uveitis is the inflammation of the uvea, or the lining of the eye.  It can range from mild and self limiting to severe and sight threatening.  Much uveitis is ideopathic (unexplained) but some uveitis is connected to systemic disease such as infections and auto-immune conditions.

see also: http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/Uveitis/Pages/Introduction.aspx

Most uveitis can be treated with eye drops.  Some, especially posterior uveitis, is associated with systemic auto-immune conditions and can be difficult to treat.  These conditions are best managed by an ophthalmologist with a special interest in inflammatory conditions of the eye, sometimes in collaboration with a rheumatologist, neurologist, chest or other physician.

Dr Hay-Smith one of the few doctors in Queensland who has had specialist training in this area.  Uveitis is discussed separately – follow this link.