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Contact lens care

Contact lenses are very popular among people with active lifestyles or outdoor jobs and today’s leading ranges can provide crystal-clear vision at varying distances.

While early contact lenses were produced in the Victorian era from glass, most modern contact lenses are made with softer materials like silicone hydrogel. These allow plenty of oxygen to reach the eye’s surface. These wafer thin lenses should be treated with respect, but looking after them can be very straightforward.

Disposables

Daily disposable contact lenses represent the ultimate in no-fuss vision correction, since they can be binned after a single use. They’re supplied in individual blister packs and inserted in seconds, though it’s essential to have clean hands
and to apply makeup after rather than beforehand.

Removing daily disposables becomes second nature, even for children. Many people favour reusable lenses, which are stored overnight in small circular containers. These cases should be regularly sterilised and air-dried and we can  recommend which cleaning solutions can be used to care for the cases and the lenses.

Cleaning

A gentle rub between thumb and forefinger may help to remove any surface impurities from contact lenses, though some cleaning solutions will take care of this by themselves. It’s also advisable to keep a bottle of eye drops handy to counteract any dryness or irritation.

Aftercare

Don’t forget to visit your Optometrist at regular intervals. This allows us to a) check on the condition of your eye, especially the cornea and b) the condition of your contact lenses.

Book an appointment today online or download your own IoS or Android App or call VisionCare Optometry on 01904 784040 (York) or 01977 282100 (Castleford).

Cry me a river

Although we only usually shed tears in extreme circumstances, our eyes are constantly being lubricated by tears. These droplets of moisture normally reach our eyes and then drain away virtually unnoticed. However a number of eye conditions make our eyes water uncontrollably and this blog post explains possible causes and treatments.

A leading cause of watering eyes is blepharitis, which typically is sen as swollen, dry and itchy eyelids. This is often caused by a bacterial infection or an existing skin complaint, acting on either the outside or the inside of the eyelid. Where excess sleep builds up VisionCare Optometry can use the BlephEx treatment to clean away the debris.

With blepharitis, sufferers are likely to have recurring attacks, however this is not a severe condition. It is suggested that contact lens wear and make-up are avoided as treatment takes place. This normally involves the use of antibiotics together with rubbing the eyelid edges with a cotton bud or a wipe containing a mild cleaning agent. At VisionCare Optometry we also recommend using a warm EyeBag.

Our eyes can also overflow with tears if our tear ducts are blocked or if a medical condition such a hayfever is stimulating excess tears. Sometimes ‘dry eye syndrome’ can also trigger excess watering. Young babies and the over-60’s are often prone to watery eyes. Physical irritations, such as ingrowing eyelashes, ingrained dirt, grit or an inflammation such as conjunctivitis also causes excess tears.

Good hygiene is vitally important for prevention and development of eye conditions. We recommend an early appointment at our PEARS (Castleford) or LES (York) clinics, where you can neatly avoid delays at your local NHS clinics and where we can provide an early primary care diagnosis.

Call VisionCare Optometry on 01904 784040 or 01977 282100 to Make an appointment.

Driving up standards

Driving represents a real feat of multitasking and it places considerable demands on our eyes. From refocusing between distance and near objects (such as the dashboard or SatNav) through to peripheral vision, our eyes need to process a great deal of information. You won’t be granted a driving licence if your vision is poor, so that regular eye tests are essential even for occasional motorists.

There are dedicated options which can help your driving vision, such as the polarised Drivewear lens and the recently launched Rodenstock ‘Road’ lenses which with dedicated optical properties can improve our visual driving experience. Thin frames can also help improve our peripheral vision at road junctions and roundabouts. Anti-reflective coats (MAR) can reduce glare and the dazzle of oncoming headlights.

Of course, effective car maintenance makes a surprisingly big difference to your levels of vision and even dirty windscreens may cause headaches. Replace worn wipers, keep the washer fluid topped up and immediately replace faulty headlight bulbs. Windscreen cracks should be replaced to maintain clear sight lines and windows cleared of mist or frost.

Did you know?

The DVLA needs to be notified about significant changes to your vision such as glaucoma or cataracts but only if they affect both eyes.

There are no restrictions regarding colour blindness/ confusion but you must have adequate visual fields. Our Optometrists can test all aspects of your vision quickly to provide that vital reassurance.

Call today on 01904 784040 or 01977 282100 to book your appointment, or alternatively book online

Feedback on Meet our Boss – Ruth Perrott

Dear Ruth,

It was interesting to read your potted biography. What it does not mention is the enormous and exhausting effort you put into the work in Africa!

As the cataract surgery on both my eyes has now been completed I shall have several pairs of specs to donate to the cause once I get the all clear from the hospital to come for an appointment with you. I cannot believe how well I can see now

Best wishes, Frances

Vision & School

Healthy eyesight is way down the list of priorities for two thirds of Britain’s school children. With children back at school and devices such as tablets and laptops now common place in the classroom, eye care experts are urging parents to make eye exams a priority. Around one in five children either don’t have regular eye tests or have never had one, according to a study released by Sight Care, a support network for independent opticians which may well have a negative impact on a child’s ability to learn. The study also shows that only a fifth of children have a simple eye test at school, which is why eye-care experts are urging parents to arrange for their children to be tested.

With 1 in 4 young children now using tablets at home, we can’t get away from the fact that computers form a large part of our children’s developmental learning. Close up digital use as well as traditional white and black boards, means that it’s even more important for children to have regular eye exams. Previous studies estimate around 1 million children in the UK could be at risk of undetected vision problems. Eye exams can also show up various health issues and so are a vital health check for children who wouldn’t necessarily show any adverse symptoms.

Overlooked

VisionCare Optometry believe that making sure children’s eyes are properly tested at the beginning of the school year is a simple task that often gets overlooked:

VisionCare’s Ruth Perrott says that “Eye tests for children are often some way down the list of priorities for busy parents. According to NHS figures, almost 80% of children in the UK visited their dentist between June 2011 and June 2012; yet our Sight Care survey shows that only 50% of children in the UK visit their optician regularly. Eye tests are free for children and they should only need their eyes checked once a year, so there’s no reason not to visit your local independent optician. Good eye health in children is so important.”

Sight tests are paid for by the NHS for all children under 16 and for students in full time education under the age of 19. In addition uncoated lenses for these age groups are free of charge. Call 01904 784040 or 01977 282100 to book your appointments now.

Action stations about vision & computers, why computer screens, tablets & phones can cause visual problems.

Fifty years ago, our working lives generally involved some sort of physical activity. By contrast, many modern careers are office-based and rely heavily on electronic devices. The human body simply wasn’t designed for computer screens.These unnatural environments can induce a variety of minor sight-related issues. These typically range from eye strain and dryness caused by ongoing computer use, through to headaches and fatigue triggered by the subliminal blue light emitted by modern display devices.

Enjoying a healthy working environment requires co-operation from employers. Indeed, they have a duty of care to provide safe and optimised working conditions wherever possible. However, a few personal steps can also improve your wellbeing and eye health:

Optimise posture. To minimise any risk of strains or headaches, acquire a well-padded chair with adjustable height and lumbar support.

Experiment with the relative positions of your desk, chair, keyboard and monitor until you find a good balance.

Use equipment properly. Screens should be kept clean, eliminating any need to squint through a layer of accumulated dust or fingerprints that could induce tiredness or eye strain.

Larger monitors are easier to view than smaller ones, while display settings can be fine-tuned; turn down the brightness and increase font sizes if necessary.

Take breaks. Some people notice their vision deteriorates during the day as their eyes tire, so don’t spend hours staring fixedly at a screen.

Take regular breaks, focusing your eyes on distant objects for a moment so the eye muscles can relax. Try to blink frequently, or apply eye drops a couple of times a day to maintain lubrication of the corneal surface. We can advise on what would be best for you.

Prescription strength. Your eyes will operate very differently when using a computer compared to driving or participating in sporting activities. Appropriately prescribed enhanced reading lenses may be necessary for some intermediate activities such as typing etc.

These become increasingly necessary, as our accommodation (ability to focus close up) decreases with age. If you would like any advice or more information on this topic please make an appointment and we’ll be happy to help.

Specialist coatings. Many lenses now have specialised ‘coatings’ incorporated as an integral part of the lens, making them more effective and longer lasting.

Anti-reflective lens coatings are now particularly beneficial in modern offices, and a pair of work glasses could be just as well-suited to reading the paper and browsing the internet at the weekend as they are to making your work tasks clear and comfortable through the week.

Did you know? Cathode-ray computer monitors were pioneered in the early 1960s, although it took almost two decades before standard office equipment could display colours and graphics.

Vision & Brain Injury

Vision is the dominant sense in the human species. It is the process of deriving meaning from what we see. It is a complex, learned and developed set of functions, that involve a multitude of skills. The ultimate purpose of which, is to arrive at an appropriate motor and/or cognitive response.

There is an extremely high incidence (>50%) of visual and visual-cognitive disorders in neurologically impaired patients (Traumatic Brain Iinjury, cerebral vascular accidents, stroke, MS, Parkinsons, hemianopia etc), with the majority of individuals recovering from TBI having binocular function difficulties in the form of strabismus, phoria, oculomotor dysfunction, convergence and accommodative abnormalities.

For a full vision assessment, reports and recommendations for treatment options, contact us today or visit:-

Vision & Brain Injury

Is your child smart at everything other than school? Have you heard of Convergence Insufficiency? Look at the attached press advert for an answer. Thank you.

ci-advert

What is the Independents’ Code (IC)?

IC is the quality mark by which Independent Optical Practices that deliver excellent eye care can be identified in their local communities. In due course also throughout the UK.

Why have we subscribed to the IC?

VisionCare Optometry has subscribed to the IC because the Code logo will fast become the quality mark by which the public can identify the best providers of long term eye health care for their patients. By way of example of the provisions of IC, subscribers will always ensure that patients have as much time in the consulting chair as they need and will not try and sell optical products that patients don’t need. The principals of IC and the eye care services provided by VisionCare are fully aligned.

What does this mean for our patients?

By becoming an IC subscriber, VisionCare Optometry is demonstrating to its patients that it delivers the highest quality eye care services as recognised by the only not for profit professional body for Independent optometrists (the Association for Independent Optometrists and Dispensing Opticians – AIO).   By subscribing to the IC, we sign up to the IC Oversight Board (ICOB) which independently regulates IC by conducting audits and independent in-practice evaluations of compliance of subscriber practices. IC is not simply a badge; it is a living quality mark by which all subscribers must operate day in and day out. Our patients can have peace of mind that they are being looked after by the very best in the world of opticians.

What does it mean for new patients?

New patients can be confident in their decision to come to VisionCare, as only the best Independent optician practices will ever be IC subscribers. We are the only practice in Castleford and York which is an IC subscriber and this sets us apart from all other opticians and Optometrists in this area.

New patients can be assured that they will get as much time in the consulting chair as they need and that we will not try and sell them any spectacles or contact lenses that they don’t need. Simply, we have your long term eye health care at the centre of everything that we do. We aspire to form long term relationships with our patients and for them to recommend us to their family and friends.

What does it mean for health care providers?

Health care providers can be confident that IC subscribers will conduct extensive eye examinations and that they can be trusted as primary eye health care providers. As an IC subscriber, not only will we refer on patients as appropriate for any detected eye condition, we will also refer on patients in any case that symptoms of other potential health problems are identified. Similarly, we can be relied on to expertly treat referrals from local GPs who believe an in depth eye examination is necessary for any of their patients.

How do we know IC is not simply a badge?

The Independents’ Code is independently regulated by the IC Oversight Board (ICOB), which is run by a board of directors, consisting of two public interest directors and one practitioner director. ICOB is responsible for ensuring that all code subscribers are complying with the provisions set out in the code and can take sanctions in respect of any subscriber that is not. Please click here for a copy of the IC document. If you have any questions about what our subscription means for you, please do not hesitate to contact the practice on 01904 78 40 40 (York) or 01977 28 21 00 (Castleford).