Optomeyes Blog

• Susan Sluce

I have just returned from a contact lens conference in Sydney. The presentations centered on the newer silicone hydrogel materials, i.e. the "second generation" extended wear lens materials. These materials have been shown in our practice and also in studies presented at the conference to improve comfort, and when matched with the correct solution for disinfection the improvement is even better.

All these are now available in most prescriptions and for those not wanting to have contact lenses for wearing every day due to business or laziness the daily lens options have improved. (ie astigmatism can now be corrected with a daily lens). The outlay initially on daily lenses may be more if you are wearing them every day but even then the convenience of no solutions (or cost of those) and the no cleaning appeals to the lazy part of my nature.

There are much better visual solutions for my age group also i.e. the over 45yrs (you are not getting any more information than that!) in terms of contact lens styles. There has been another increase in the number of multifocal lenses on the market and better blended vision options. The daily lens has also branched out into the multifocal range allowing us to wear cls out just for the odd occasion when we wish to read a menu in poor light, or for that visit to the gym etc when specs just fog up too easily. These options are still a compromise on the vision that can be obtained through glasses for us over 45s but the advantages of having the spec free freedom is tremendous. 

So when next you are in seeing one of our optometrists ask for more information and a trial of the new improved lenses.

Regards,

Sue Sluce

• Heath Davis

Now that the weather has turned cold and a little wetter, it's a good time to stay inside, stoke the fire and reflect on the passing of summer and also the trout season that was.  Sadly, I am a fly fishing tragic.  I blame Rob Sitch and Tom Glisner.  They produced an incredible series of short films under the title of A River Somewhere.  I was hooked after the first series.  And, similar to the sentiment of the series and also because I don't catch a lot of fish, for me the sport is all about getting out there, roughing it, being at one with nature.  The romance.  The story behind the story.  That sort of thing.  I take solace in the words of a one of the earliest Tasmanian trout guides who no longer fishes.  Being able to find a fish takes far greater skill and knowledge than landing it.  It's not because I don't see the fish that I can't land them, it's my complete lack of finesse and talent that takes care of that.  Finding the critters is made much easier by wearing a pair of polarised sunglasses.  Even better, is a pair of photochromatic polarised sunglasses.  Enter DriveWear.  I know it sounds odd, but DriveWear are fantastic for driving, but are even better on the water.

Ok, here's the technology bit

DriveWear brings together two leading lens technologies, NuPolar polarisation and Transitions Photochromic Materials, to create an entirely new category of lens.

Although standard polarised lenses do a good job of blocking glare, often they are too dark to meet the range of conditions encountered in driving, fishing and other outdoor sports (think of those overcast days); and while traditional photochromic lenses have worked well for people moving between outdoors and indoors, they do not darken significantly behind the windshield of a car (since the windshield blocks the ultraviolet (UV) light that activates the photochromic material.  These lenses are different, reacting to blue light).  Nor did the photochromic lenses offer polarisation, which is the only way to block blinding glare off reflective surfaces like roads and water.

What you get when you combine the 2 technologies is a lens that adapts to the conditions it's in.  They're perfect for just about anyone looking for a more versatile lens and particularly good for….

• Seniors - enhanced vision in varied conditions is perfect for ageing eyesight
• Outdoor enthusiasts, walkers or bike riders - will give clear vision under trees, in tunnels and in strong outdoor light
• Golfers - perfect for following the ball in the air and seeing it clearer on the green
• Fishermen - ideal for reducing glare on the water's surface, so you can find the fish, you know that skilled part I was telling you about.

Try It

This is truly impressive lens technology and there is simply nothing else like it on the market.  The effect of the lens in blocking glare is best demonstrated by actually trying on the lenses in person, so feel free to ask one of our friendly dispensers for a demonstration at one of our 12 practices around the state.

For more information on DriveWear™, check out their website at: http://www.drivewearlens.com/home.php.

Wishing you clear and healthy vision! 

Heath.

• Andrew Eastaugh

Hi there and nice to be driving the new blog,

As you may have read about in our Eye Disease page, macular degeneration is an eye disease and Australia's leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss.

Recent research shows an alarming number of Australians are unaware of the importance of diet and lifestyle in reducing their risk of developing this disease.

As an optometrist, I have to say this is a concerning finding.

The Macular Degeneration (MD) Foundation is running Macular Degeneration Awareness Week during 24-30 May, and I'm urging all of my patients to use this as an opportunity to become better educated about this disease.

There are some simple guidelines you can observe to keep your macula healthy.

For a start, eating a healthy diet containing lots of fish and dark green leafy vegetables is critical. These foods include nutrients such as omega-3 and lutein that help promote eye health. The MD Foundation also advises that having your eyes tested by an optometrist is also essential to ensure any problems are detected early and to have an accurate historical record of the retina. You can find out about Digital Retinal Photography here.

In addition to this, not smoking, reducing your overall intake of fats, exercising regularly and maintaining a healthy weight can also play a part in reducing the risk of developing MD. Essentially the rules we all know already for keeping the entire body healthy apply to eye health as well - not complicated, but easy to overlook.

A healthy lifestyle can also assist those who already have MD. Supplements may slow the progression of the disease but you should always ask your eye health professional which is the best one for you to take.

I trust this information was helpful and if you have any questions or concerns about the health of your macula, please don't hesitate to call in to see me or any of the team at Optomeyes for a thorough eye exam.

Best regards,

Andrew Eastaugh - Optomeyes Burnie & Somerset

Welcome to our blog!

Join us on a journey into the fascinating world of your eyes, of eyewear fashion, and for a behind the scenes look at what makes Optomeyes tick. Over the coming year, we will also be sharing the latest developments in our field that we think will be of value to you - so that you can continue to See Life Differently with us.

By now you would have seen that we are passionate about what we do. We also hope this blog will be an opportunity for you to get to know our team of optomestrists as people, to come to see why it is that we find our profession exciting and stimulating.

On this blog, you will also have the opportunity to pose questions to our professional optometrists via our Enquires Page and have answers posted online. If its a question about your vision, a fashion question, or anything else vision-related- please write to us and we will respond.

There may even be the occasional optemetric joke. Or, if you know Andrew Hogan from our Macquarie St Practice, the odd Batman reference!

It gives me great pleasure to open this forum and open it up as a dialog bewteen you, our valued clients, and ourselves so that we can understand and service your needs better. I'm look forward to seeing you online and doing the virtual introductions!

Kind regards,

David Miklos

(Blog Administrator)