Optomeyes Blog

• Susan Sluce

We all enjoy pursuits away from work, and for a large part of the year my chosen diversion is rowing. Having always been a morning person the sunrise over the Derwent River is always spectacular - I wish I could say the same about my rowing technique! The river houses a myriad of moods between the weather changes and the accompanying light variations as well as the birds, the dolphins that play with us or the occasional seal we try to stay away from. The human variety of animal creates more challenges as we need to navigate other rowing crews, other boats small and large and the occasional tanker. It is amazing how busy the river can be by 6am.

As I sit in the bow I am going to be the first person to hit anything and so I have a vested interest in ensuing we avoid all obstacles. My prescription polarised sunglasses are my best friend in ensuring I can see in overcast or bright light conditions, obviously my clear ones are better pre dawn! I am always amazed how little we care for eye protection when being involved in sports and yet being able to see through the bright glare and recognize a crew/ball/hole in the road whatever is heading for us is so important.

Just as effective would be contact lenses and a great set of polarized sunglasses, these need to be meet the Australian standards to ensure the harmful UV rays are stopped and the glare particularly difficult in situations with water are reduced. Having said that I find my polarized sunglass lenses are great for driving too, all the way to lake Barrington and back on a rowing weekend. My fellow crew members have been so jealous of my ability to read the program or fix a loose bolt easily they have converted to contact lenses with sunglasses or prescription sunglasses.

If the mistakes we made today impacted us tomorrow we would all religiously wear good sun protection for our eyes all year round. Unfortunately, human nature being what it is by the time we have developed skin cancers around or on our eyes, cataracts etc it is too late to reverse the damage. So before you venture into this wonderful environment we have in Tasmania next remember everyone needs good sun protection for their eyes. Drop in when you are passing one of our practices and we can demonstrate just how good polarized sun protection can be.

• Leah McClintoch

Rena Shaha is 41, much the same age as me. And like so many people of our age group, she is having difficulties with her near vision. She is finding it difficult to read books, and to help her son with his homework. She is unable to focus on the screen of her mobile phone, and she cannot see to sew. When she drops something on the floor, she cannot see to find it.

But unlike me, Rena lives in one of the poorest countries in the world, Bangladesh, where eye care is neither accessible or affordable for most people. Rena is a widow and has three children to support, however she is fortunate enough to have a job promoting health awareness and distributing medicines amongst pregnant women. The only problem is, Rena has been having trouble reading the labels on the medicines…

A few weeks ago, Rena became aware of the Symbiosis Primary Eye Care Service (SPECS) through a leaflet distribution in her community. SPECS provides mobile eye clinics to many different locations in rural Bangladesh and some urban slum areas. People can receive an eye test and spectacles at very low cost. Rena had her eyes tested and was dispensed a pair of bifocal glasses and is so relieved that she can now continue to work to support her family, help with her son's homework and do household chores like sewing.

Rena would not be able to continue with her work if it were not for the SPECS clinic providing a simple eye test and glasses. The SPECS clinic would not be able to continue with its work were it not for the funding of an organisation called Optometry Giving Sight (OGS), which in turn is made possible by the generosity of Australian optometrists and their patients.

OGS was developed when the global optometric community formed a consensus that optometrists and their patients could make a significant impact by working together to combat global blindness and vision impairment.

The mission of OGS is  "To improve the quality of life of people who are needlessly blind or vision impaired simply because they do not have access to an eye exam and a pair of glasses." A simple aim that has the potential to transform millions of lives.

OGS is currently the only global fundraising initiative that specifically targets the prevention of blindness and impaired vision due to uncorrected refractive error (simply the need for an eye exam and a pair of glasses).  

Optometry Giving Sight funds projects that seek to ensure sustainable, lasting results in three ways:

o       Eye care service delivery - exams, low-cost eye glasses and low-vision devices

o       Human Resources - training of optometrists, eye care personnel and their teachers

o       Infrastructure development - establishment and support of vision centres, eye clinics and schools of optometry.

To achieve these goals, OGS partners with projects in numerous countries across Africa, Australasia and Latin America.

Optomeyes is a proud supporter of OGS. You may have noticed that if you get your glasses adjusted or repaired at an Optomeyes practice, we do not charge a fee for this service, but rather ask that you give a donation to OGS. A $5 donation can provide a basic eye test for someone like Rena.

There are donation boxes on the counters of all our practices where you can contribute to the work of projects like the Symbiosis SPECS project. Donations can also be made online at http://www.givingsight.org/donate-now.html

Take a moment to appreciate the high standard of eye care we enjoy here in Tasmania. We can all access a thorough eye examination, by skilled optometrists, and receive high quality glasses or contact lenses tailor-made to suit our eyes and lifestyle. Let's celebrate our enviable situation and be generous with those who are working to make this a reality for everyone!

• Heath Davis

My daughter just turned 11.  She is an expert on dancing, singing, skipping, swimming, clothing, apple technologies, remote controls, one direction and, over the last couple of years, contact lenses.  We first noticed her becoming short sighted when she was 8.  I say "we" meaning mum and dad.  Kids younger than 12 just don't seem to notice they can't see quite as well as they used to.  For the first year she deteriorated from seeing perfectly in the distance to being about 3 lens steps short sighted.   So, we gave her some glasses.  And, because she has a tendency to over-converge, we made them multifocals to give her the best chance to stabilize and not become more myopic.

Six months later, she was 5 lens steps short sighted.  You could argue that making multifocals was a waste of time; after all she became more myopic.  But, we could also argue that she may have changed even more if we made them single focus.  Studies where n=1 are not all that convincing.  Anyway, back to the main story.  While this was all unfolding a trickle of information about contact lenses helping to slow down myopic progression was starting to turn up at conferences and in journals.  Not just any old contact lenses but contacts with specific optics.  Over the last 2 years, the trickle has become a steady stream.  I've pasted some references below if you want to read more.

So at 9 years of age, we decided to fit some myopia control contact lenses.  We started with MiSight contact lenses.  These lenses are not all that well known and are really only available to practices specializing in contact lenses and kids vision.  From memory, our practice is one of only 19 in Australia to fit these lenses.  The lenses are soft and comfortable straight away.  There is no cleaning involved as the lenses are single use.  That also makes them very safe to put in young peoples eyes.  How young I hear you say?  The youngest contact lens wearer that I have fitted was 3 months old.  Not with myopia control lenses but contacts never the less.  The difference with young kids is that mum and dad do all the work.  Kids 10 years and older should be able to do all the work themselves.  Should, but maturity and responsibility varies between individuals and lets face it, some kids are just lazy!  We were lucky with our little one and she was managing the lenses herself by the time she was 10.  So what happened?  Well she slowed down.  Her prescription crept up another step in each eye.  She was a little worse but was not changing as rapidly.  And that's pretty much what the studies say.  There was a significant change in the rate of change.  For some kids it's a complete halt, for others it has little effect.  We don't know exactly why there's a difference but it has a lot to do with pupil size, eye shape, time spent wearing the lenses, genetics, lifestyle and the way the eyes team together…..to name but a few factors.

For me though, even though there we success in slowing the progression, I wanted no myopic progression.  We decided to change tack.  That's when we went to overnight orthokeratology.

Whereas soft lenses are reported to give 70% of wearers a 30% reduction, overnight ortokeratology is closer to 70% reduction.  It's not for everyone but it is a valuable tool in the fight against myopic progression.  These rigid lenses are worn overnight and reshape the cornea so that when they are removed in the morning, the wearer can see clearly without glasses or contacts for at least one day and usually two.  The benefit is that kids don't have a problem with their contacts when you're not around.  They can go to school, play sport, swim, run, jump, bump, and generally be kids like all the other kids without fear of having a problem with the eye.  It also means that they get the benefit of myopic control even if they miss a night of wear.  I'm suspicious that this may make a big difference in controlling myopia - time in corrective lenses.  That's only my opinion though; it's not a fact.

There is a question I'm sure you want to ask.  Why not fit orthokeratology contact lenses for all kids becoming short sighted.  There are a few reasons.  Not all eyes are the right shape.  Not all prescriptions can be corrected.  Not all eyes are healthy enough to support the lenses.  Not all optometrists are equipped or capable of fitting them.  Parents often prefer soft lenses if they are familiar with them already.  And, lets not beat about the bush, they don't feel real comfortable when they first go in.  I can remember sending my daughter to bed the first night, holding her hand and guiding her to her room with tears streaming from her eyes.  I can remember questioning whether or not this was going to be worth it, traumatizing my first-born child.  The question was answered the next morning after a good nights sleep.  After the second lens came out, it was followed by a huge smile and the sentence "I can see".  They don't always feel as uncomfortable was they do the first time they go in.  These days we have to remind her to take her lenses out in the morning.  And, has she changed over the last 6 months; one step in the left and no change in the right.  To me that's a good result.  It means that at this rate she's not going to become moderately or severely short sighted and suffer all the problems that go with it.  It also means that she can live her life and be a real kid without her sight holding her back.  If that happens, it's not a good result; it's a great result.

Anstice N, Phillips J. Effect of Dual-Focus Soft Contact Lens Wear on Axial Myopia Progression in Children. Opththalmology 2011, Vol 118:6, pg 1152-1161

Smith, E L.  Prentice Award Lecture 2010: A Case for Peripheral Optical Treatment Strategies for Myopia. Optometry and Vision Science. Vol 88 :9 Pg 1029-1044

Kwok-hei Mokl A, Sin-ting Chung S. Seven-year retrospective analysis of the myopic control effect of orthokeratology in children:a pilot study. Clinical Optometry 2011:3 Pg 1-4 

Swarbrick H, et al. Changes in Axial Length and Refractive Error During Overnight Orthokeratology for Myopia Control. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011;52: E-Abstract 2837.

• Andrew Hogan

We often think of spectacle lenses as things that simply help us to see clearer. But modern technology, combined with new research, means that wearing glasses can do a lot more for our visual system than simply improving sight. This is very clearly demonstrated when you look at the lens options available for children.

We often think of multifocal, or progressive addition lenses (PALs) as something for older people. But PALs, and bifocals before them, have long been used to help young people with various vision problems. Accommodative insufficiency is a focusing problem that affects a child's ability to focus on near objects. Some kids simply can't maintain accurate, comfortable focusing when looking up close. PALs are often used to reduce the strain on their eyes, while still allowing them to see distant objects like the teacher and the board.

Convergence excess is a problem where the eyes try to converge, or turn inwards, too far when looking up close. During tasks like reading, the brain has to make extra effort to control convergence, and this causes eyestrain and blur. PALs are able to relieve the stress on the eyes, but still enable them to relax when looking in the distance.

Accomodative esotropia is a condition where focusing hard up close causes the eyes to go cross-eyed. Often, the eyes will appear straight when looking far away, but when the child starts to read, one eye will turn inwards. Children with this problem need a stronger lens when they read, but a weaker lens when they look far away. PALs are perfect for this.

The newest and most exciting use of progressive lenses is for myopia, or short-sightedness. Studies are beginning to show that for some myopic children, wearing PALs can actually slow down the deterioration in their vision, and result in less myopia in the long-term.

The Correction of Myopia Evaluation Trial, or COMET study, is a long running study into the potential for PALs to slow the progression of myopia in children. It has been running since 1998, and continues today, involving many hundreds of children. It's results have been fascinating. Across the entire group of children, progressive lenses were found to reduce the progression of myopia. However, the reduction was quite small, about 0.25 dioptres on average. So, PALs can reduce the amount of short-sightedness in children, but perhaps it isn't a big enough change to worry about.

However, when they looked at the myopic children more carefully, the study found that certain groups of kids responded to PALs in a much more significant way. Children with poor near focusing response, known as a high lag of accommodation, benefited a lot from wearing PALs. Children with convergence excess, in addition to their myopia, also responded well to PALs. In these groups, the myopia progression was significantly less than for children who just wore single vision lenses.

To quote Dr Mitchell Scheiman from the COMET group -

"The results of the COMET study have demonstrated that in addition to the treatment of accommodative and binocular vision disorders, PALs can be an important treatment option in myopic children with certain risk factors."

As a result of this research, and others, spectacle and contact lens companies have been developing "myopia control" lenses for young people. Carl Zeiss Vision have recently developed the MyoVision lens which uses progressive lens technology and is specifically designed for children with myopia. The contact lens company CooperVision have just released their MiSight lens, which uses progressive lens principles to slow the myopic deterioration.

This is an ongoing area of research, and we still have much to learn about why children become myopic, and what makes their eyes get worse. But it is good to know that, at least for some kids, although we can't stop the increase in myopia, there are options to slow it down.

References:

http://www.revoptom.com/content/d/glaucoma/c/15215/ 

http://www.acbo.org.au/news-views/for-patients

http://vision.zeiss.com/better-vision/en_my/better-vision-with-zeiss/your-individualized-zeiss-lens/myoVision-the-innovative-spectacle-lenses-for-myopia-control.html

http://www.shortsightedcontrol.com/en/patient/

I'm very much looking forward to the Junction Arts Festival kicking off again in just a few days in the big top in Civic Square, Launceston.  It's unfathomably difficult to believe a year has past since last year's festival, where Optomeyes had a great time getting behind the emerging collaborative arts event, sponsoring two projects: "Video Architecture" and our own mini-project "Sight Unseen". Collective fingers are also crossed as we've been entered in the AbaF awards for these projects in September! Irrespective of the outcome there we are completely sold on the enormous potential and wider benefits of collaborative partnerships between the corporate, not-for-profit and arts sectors.

In fact we enjoyed JAF so much we decided to get on board again in 2012, sponsoring "So you think you can interpretive dance", which certainly promises to live up to our tagline of "Seeing Life Differently" and to being fantastic fun.  I'll be heading up from Hobart to personally see the grand opening festivities on Wednesday night and no doubt the tent will be packed.

It's been truly encouraging to have seen the great strides the arts community has made in Tasmania and Optomeyes has taken great pleasure in being able to play our small part.

I encourage anyone who would like to challenge their imagination and have some fun to check out the great line up of projects on offer this year in Launceston, and check out the Junction Arts website at www.junctionartsfestival.com.au/.

It has now been over 30 years since Ron first picked up a paint brush and stepped out into the difficult subject of seascapes. He is challenged by a desire to capture the constant 'change and movement of the ocean, as well as reflection of light'. Today, his subject matter includes seascapes, landscapes, portraits and still life. He has been featured in International Artist magazine and on the ABC program, Stateline, as well as being voted winner of the 'People's Choice Award' at the Royal Hobart Show on four occasions. Ron has also achieved placings in a number of other competitions around Tasmania. This is first time he has participated in the Optomeyes Art Exhibition and we are thrilled to have his work on display for viewing and purchase.

Lorraine Snadden is a Tasmanian water colour artist who finds inspiration for her paintings in the environment and in particular, "from the varying and moody landscapes of the Central Highlands and the Tasman Peninsular". She is a member of the Art Society of Tasmania and The Colour Circle and has exhibited at: LadyFranklinGallery, Not Yet Famous Exhibitions,  School House Gallery, Cosgrove Gallery, The Royal Hobart Show, Eskleigh Combined Societies Exhibition, Hobart City Council Travel Expo and Optomeyes Art Exhibitions. Lorainne won 1^st Prize for Watercolours, Mixed Media and Acrylics at the Not Yet Famous Exhibition 2006 and recently received commendation from the Art Society of Tasmania for her work exhibited at the Society's  Annual Exhibition 2011.

At Spring Beach, East Coast Tasmania- original watercolour

Max Rupert Angus AM (b 1914), is a Tasmanian born landscape and portrait painter, specialising in oils and watercolour; as well as an author, illustrator and commercial artist. He studied under Lucien Dechaineux and Mildred Lovett, 1931-2, then studied graphic design in Melbourne, 1938-41. Joining the army, he was attached to general intelligence headquarters, Brisbane. On returning to Hobart, he studied under Jack Carington Smith and gained a fine art diploma in 1950. From 1956 to 1972 he designed and illustrated ABC Broadcast booklets, and in 1962 he won the Crouch Prize for Watercolour. In 1975 he designed and wrote The World of Olegas Truchanas, and Simpkinson de Wesselow which won the Galley award in 1984. He also published A Salute to Watercolour in 1996. Awarded the Order of Australia in 1978, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (London) in 1988. He has exhibited constantly since 1946, and is represented in Australian gallery collections and overseas.

Max Angus is perhaps best known for his watercolour landscapes of the coastline around Tasmania, of which this piece is one.  

This piece is one of several to be auctioned at the Gala Opening and Preview of the Optomeyes Art Exhibition 2011 at Long Gallery, Salamanca on Thursday 6 October. For all enquiries or tickets to the Gala Opening event, please contact Joy at Hobart City Mission on 62154200.

• Andrew Hogan

Contact Lenses have been around for a long time now. In fact, it was Leonardo da Vinci in 1508 who first sketched and described the concept of a lens placed directly on the eye. But it wasn't until 1887 that German glassblower FE Muller made the first lens to cover an eye, that could be both seen through, and tolerated by the wearer! His lens was made of glass.

An American Optometrist, William Feinbloom, started using plastic contact lenses in 1936. And today, we have ultra high tech silicon materials that are soft, breathable, give great vision, and can be worn continuously, even when sleeping.

There are literally dozens of different contact lens styles available.

Lenses can be made of hard or soft materials. They can be disposable, or kept for a longer period of time. And they can correct long or short-sightedness, as well as the problem of blurry close-up vision, known as presbyopia. There are even contact lenses that will change the colour of your eye, for that special occasion, or every day.

Your optometrist will advise you on which lens is best suited to your eyes.

Some vision problems, such as astigmatism, are slightly more complicated, and require a more advanced lens. Many vision problems can be corrected with a simple disposable lens, which are both comfortable and inexpensive. If you currently wear glasses, and would like to experience clear vision without them, speak to your optometrist next time you have an eye examination.

Contact lens technology moves extremely quickly these days. One of the most common lens fitted today is a 'silicon hydrogel' lens that can be worn continuously for up to 30 days. There are lenses that suit people with dry eyes, or with complicated vision problems. In fact, there is an eye condition known as keratoconus which can only be corrected with contact lenses! If you tried contact lenses in the past, and did not succeed, ask your optometrist if there are new options for you.

There are many reasons to want clear vision without glasses. Sports such as tennis and golf can be easier with contact lenses. Special occasions, like weddings and holidays can be more enjoyable without your frames. You don't have to wear contact lenses every day; in fact, many people only wear lenses once or twice a week. There are single use daily disposable lenses that are perfectly suited to the occasional wearer. Once worn, they are discarded, eliminating the need for storage solutions, cases, or cleaning.

There are very few general health conditions that prevent contact lens wear.

Lots of people with diabetes are also contact lens wearers. As we all know, diabetes is a condition which can affect the health of the eyes. People with diabetes need their eyes examined at least once a year. So do people with contact lenses! In a routine eye examination, your optometrist can check for diabetic retinopathy, assess your contact lens fit, and measure your vision.

Why not ask about contact lenses today?

• Andrew Hogan,
• Russell Todd

Many people, particularly as they get older, worry about getting macular degeneration.  And it's not surprising, with it being here in Australia a major cause of legal blindness, and at less severe levels than that, a major cause of impaired lifestyle, difficulty with reading, blurred vision.  The vision loss in macular degeneration is annoying because it affects the vision that you most want to use - the straight-ahead, line-of-sight, right where you're looking vision that you use to look at people's faces, read from a book, watch TV or drive.

I spend time with people who already have vision loss, trying to help them out with magnifiers and visual aids, and while they can help a little, the look of struggle and frustration on so many faces says that they'd much rather just have their previous good vision back.  The more people that can avoid degeneration of their macula, the better.

Recently there has been some good treatments become available that, for the wet type of macular degeneration, can often maintain or improve vision.  But even then the treatments need to be repeatedly given, so the fear of vision loss can still hang over someone whose doctor is 'very pleased' with the way things are going. (Having said that,  it's far better than just a few years ago where there was very little that could be done.)  In the more common, dry type, there are no mainstream treatments yet. Overall, prevention if possible is the way to go with this condition.

Some of the risk factors aren't modifiable.  You can't change your genetics, or your age, which are two important risk factors.

But you can stop smoking. If you smoke, that will be the single biggest thing you can do to reduce your risk of macular degeneration. (… and although they may not like it much at the time, if you can stop someone else smoking, that will also be the biggest thing you can do to reduce their risk of macular degeneration).  Even if you (or they) have been a smoker for a long time, quitting reduces their risk, so it's not too late to stop.

Other things you can do:

• UV protection: there is some link between UV light exposure and macular degeneration.  Sunglasses, hat outdoors.
• Nutrition : Fats - people with lower overall fat intake have reduced risk. Of the fats you do eat, omega-3 fats (fish and some nuts) are better, and always choose less processed fats over highly-processed.
• Nutrition : Antioxidants - Vitamins A,C,E and zinc were tested in a large scale study and found to be beneficial in reducing the worsening of vision in people with moderate macular degeneration.  Lutein and zeaxanthin, yellow pigments as you'd see in egg yolks and corn, and some of the dark leafy green vegetables like kale, are being tested in the next stage of the study.
• Nutrition: Overall - go for unprocessed foods, go for brightly coloured fruit and vegetables.
• Keep up regular eye examinations, especially as you get older, even if your vision feels fine.  Ask 'how's my macula?' at the end of the appointment, and make sure you get an answer.
• If you notice any sudden vision change, get it checked without delay.

• Ian Abraham

Have you heard about Orthokeratology?  Orthokeratology , or Ortho K, is an advanced form of contact lens fitting that allows you to wear a specially designed contact lens only when you are asleep. When you wake up, you remove the lenses and then see clearly all day without glasses or daytime contact lenses. It is a good choice for active and sports people, particularly aquatic sports like swimming and kayaking as they wont get lost in the water. They are also great for people who experience dry eyes or itchy eyes with regular day wear contact lenses.  Ortho K lenses can be fitted for most low to moderate shortsighted (myopic) people and some low longsighted (Hyperopic) prescriptions. Ortho K is able to be changed if your prescription or visual needs change as it is fully reversible. They are also a great alternative for anyone considering laser corrective eye surgery.  Optomeyes has Optometrists who have completed extra training to enable them to fit these advanced designed contact lenses.

• 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)