The Fred Hollows Foundation has launched an in depth online guide to eye health in the hope that it will give everyday Australians important information they need regarding various eye conditions.

The new guide on The Foundation's website provides information about the causes and treatments of various eye diseases as well as the anatomy of the eye, how it functions and why certain conditions occur.

The site was authored by Dr David Moran, a friend and colleague of the late Professor Fred Hollows. Dr Moran said the guide is a good reference for anyone concerned about their own eyes or those of a loved one.

"Most Australians, at some stage of their life will develop a problem with their eyes", said Dr Moran. "Whether it's cataract, glaucoma, macular degeneration or refractive error, diseases which threaten someone's sight can be a challenging, but people should know that most of these diseases are preventable or treatable. "The Fred Hollows Foundation asked me to put together this simple, easy to understand guide to eye health and eye diseases. There is a lot of information available on the internet but it is helpful to have some good, concise material, from a trusted and impartial source like The Foundation, which is becoming well known as a authority on eye disease globally. "The eye care section of The Foundation's website is certainly not a replacement for medical advice. It is a starting point for a broader information source on preventable eye conditions and other related eye-health matters which will appear on the website gradually over coming months." "We also try to take a position at The Fred Hollows Foundation which reflects the importance and impact of these conditions in poorer countries, not just the wealthy ones like ours," said Dr Moran. The site also details other common eye problems including diabetic retinopathy and onchocerciasis, also known as River Blindness.