Peter Booth Opticians

27/02/2026

👁️ Meibomian Glands

Meibomian glands are modified sebaceous (oil) glands located vertically inside the tarsal plate of both upper and lower eyelids.
They secrete meibum (oily secretion) which forms the outer lipid layer of the tear film and prevents tear evaporation.
🔬 Function
✔ Prevents rapid evaporation of tears
✔ Maintains tear film stability
✔ Provides smooth optical surface
✔ Prevents dry eye

🔢 Number of Meibomian Glands
Upper eyelid: 🟡 25–40 glands (usually more numerous and longer)
Lower eyelid: 🟡 20–30 glands
👉 Upper lid has more glands than lower lid.
⚠️ Clinical Importance
Dysfunction → Meibomian Gland Dysfunction (MGD)
Leads to Evaporative Dry Eye
Can cause Chalazion or posterior blepharitis

25/02/2026

This is very common but treatable and manageable. If you have any eye redness or soreness then please give us a call on 01772747004 to discuss.

The NHS provides a free service to check certain eye problems such as this (this is not an eye test) called a CUES appointment.

Blepharitis Awareness.
Please Like, Share and Follow Optometry skills for more.

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23/02/2026

If you like to be in the sun, please make sure you always wear sunglasses with full UV protection.

Allowing your eyes to be damaged by the sun can cause you to get contains such as this: PTERYGIUM 😎

Pterygium Awareness.
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21/02/2026

Another lovely review. Thank you for your kind words 🥰☺️

21/02/2026

February is Retinitis Pigmentosa Awareness Month - a month dedicated to raising awareness of Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), one of the most common eye conditions in the UK.

Diagnosed with the condition in 2014, Dave is severely sight impaired. Also known as 'The Blind Poet Dave Steele', Dave is an award-winning poet, author, speaker, singer, and advocate for blind and partially sighted people.

We asked Dave, how do you think progressive sight loss can impact a person's fitness journey? He said: “One of the hardest aspects of living with a progressive condition like RP is isolation. As sight changes, confidence can drop, and independence can feel harder to maintain. It is easy to retreat from the world. Fitness, and the gym in particular, gives me a reason to leave the house, stay connected, and keep moving forward. I will be honest, I have not always been consistent, and there have been periods where I have fallen back into isolation. But the gym is something I always try to return to, because I know how vital it is for my wellbeing."

Dave’s story: 👉 https://shorturl.at/keS6R

[Photo credit: Dave Steele.]

[Image description: The image shows Dave wearing a flat cap, glasses, and a dark jacket over a maroon shirt. Dave is holding his white cane in his left hand. The background features an outdoor setting with a field and a cloudy sky, suggesting an open landscape.]

16/02/2026

15/02/2026

Is there any treatment for ARMD?

Currently, there is no cure for ARMD. The risk of developing ARMD can be reduced by not smoking. Studies have given us some evidence that a diet rich in antioxidants and certain pigments (found in dark green vegetables like broccoli and kale) may reduce the risk of progression of the disease process.

LUCENTIS Injections

There is now a NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) approved treatment for wet ARMD called LUCENTIS. This is known as an ‘Anti-VEGF’ agent. VEGF is an acronym and stands for Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor. Lucentis is able to reduce the proliferation of the abnormal blood vessels that grow under the retina in wet ARMD. The drug is administered by injection into the eye. A minimum of 3 injections are required, with the average number of injections required being 7.

LUCENTIS has been shown to significantly improve the final visual outcomes for a large proportion of patients with wet ARMD. However, the treatment only works in the early stages of disease onset, and is not effective once the wet ARMD has caused chronic scarring of the retina.

12/02/2026

What is Macular Degeneration?

Age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) is the commonest cause of vision loss in people aged over 50 years old. The prevalence (number of new cases each year) increases with age. It is caused by degeneration of the macula, the central and most sensitive part of the retina at the back of the eye.

What does ARMD do to the vision?

ARMD affects only the central area of the vision. The condition thus never causes complete blindness or loss of sight.

There are two main types of ARMD often termed ‘Dry ARMD’ and ‘Wet ARMD’.

In dry ARMD, there is the collection of small yellow deposits within the retina called drusen. The dry form is more common, but the wet form is usually more sudden and devastating to the vision.

In the wet form, there is an increase of abnormal blood vessels under the macula. This causes liquid to leak into the layers of the macular and cause them to separate. This causes sudden loss of vision and visual disturbances. Wet ARMD is thankfully treatable.

08/02/2026

Cataracts are extremely common. In fact, the majority of those over 65 have some cataract development. If you have been told you have cataracts, DO NOT be alarmed.

A cataract simply refers to ‘opacity of the lens’ inside the eye. Looking through a cataract can be thought of as a little bit like looking through an old stained piece of glass – instead of a clear new sheet.

Cataracts are commonest in older people. However, they can occur at any age. some children are born with cataracts (congenital cataracts).
Cataract are associated with the sun, other causes include injury, diabetes, certain drugs, and some ocular diseases.

Certain types of cataract can cause glare in bright light conditions. Because cataracts normally develop very slowly, over many years, most people don’t notice the gradual deterioration in their vision until it starts to interfere with their daily activity or indeed, it is spotted by their optometrist.

The most effective treatment for cataracts is an operation to remove the cataract, and replace the cloudy lens with a clear artificial lens implant.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and quickest surgeries performed today. Modern cataract surgery (called phacoemulsification) is usually performed under local anaesthetic as a day case procedure

Here at Peter Booth Opticians

05/02/2026

Meet Rumana. Her experience and ‘bedside manner’ are appreciated by all of her patients. BOOK ONLINE today to see for yourself ♥️🤗 peterboothopticians.co.uk

03/02/2026

One of our previous Saturday girls is studying medicine now and has decided to do a challenge to raise money for Cancer Reasearch. This is a topic close to her heart and one she will deal with daily when she qualifies as a doctor in a few years time. She has asked me to share this with you all incase you would like to give a small donation to help her on her way to her target of £100

Thanks for visiting my fundraising page. I’m doing a 24 hour study-a-thon (Wednesday 25th) and 100 squats a day this February for Cancer Research UK. Please show your support and help fund life-saving cancer research by donating. Cancer affects so many of us, directly or indirectly — and researc...

02/02/2026

Meet Nimesh, another one of our highly qualified and excellent opticians