Glaucoma: Common in adults over 50, particularly those with diabetes. It can cause severe pain coupled with blurred vision and swollen, tender skin around the eye area. It is a result of excess fluid causing a build-up of pressure in the eye. A doctor should be consulted immediately – he or she may prescribe drugs to relieve the pressure.

Conjunctivitis: Common in adults and children. It’s caused by inflammation of the membrane covering the eye, often because of a bacterial infection, and symptoms include a sticky discharge. Consult a doctor within 24 hours – he may prescribe antibiotic drops. Do not touch the infected eye and remove discharge with cotton wool and water, wiping from the inside of the eye outwards. Make sure that sufferers use separate flannels and towels to prevent infection from spreading to other family members.

Stye: This is a boil-like infection at the root of an eyelash that is common in adults and children. A stye will usually clear up within a week, often bursting or gradually disappearing. If it does, it will need no treatment. But you should consult a doctor if a stye persists for longer than seven days or if it recurs with frequency.

Blocked tear ducts: Common in babies, sometimes from birth. Tears can’t drain away properly, so eyes water. In most cases, tear ducts open naturally by the time a child is one year old, but you can massage the area to help. Wash your hands and use a forefinger to massage the skin just below the inner corner of the eye in a gentle circular motion. Repeat four times a day. If a duct has not opened after a year, consult a doctor.

Foreign body in eyes: Grit or sand in the eye can cause watering, redness and pain. Don’t rub the eye. Try to remove the object with a clean handkerchief (see below). If the eye remains sore for an hour after removal, seek medical help straight away.

Treating eye injuries: Always seek immediate medical attention. If you can clearly see the wound, tell the patient to lie down and place a clean pad (not cotton wool) over the eye without applying pressure. If you can see something floating in the white of the eye, gently ease the eyelid away from the eye and lift out the foreign object using a clean handkerchief. However, do not try to remove any object that appears to be embedded or is stuck in the coloured part of the eye. If chemicals have splashed into the eyes, run cold water over the eyes for ten minutes while waiting for medical help to arrive. Make sure the unaffected eye is kept facing upwards under the running tap to avoid chemicals from being washed into it.

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