Cataracts are an eye condition that I do see on a regular basis. Most cataracts are due to ageing, by the time we are 75 years of age most of us do have cataracts. What are cataracts? It is the opacification of the normally clear crystalline lens.1 What you notice with cataracts is a slowly progressive visual loss or blurring, usually over months to years, affecting one or both eyes.1 Glare, particularly from oncoming headlights while driving at night as well as reduced colour perception can occur.1

It is always exciting fitting a new contact lens wearer, the amazement on their face when they can see clearly without wearing spectacles. There are many do’s and don’ts regarding wearing contact lenses that I discuss whilst fitting and it is very important to follow them to ensure safe and comfortable contact lens wear.

Always wash your hands with a mild soap and thoroughly dry them before handling your contact lenses. Make sure the lens is immersed in solution in the lens case or blister pack before removing. Do not use if the packaging is not sealed.

Clean and disinfect your lenses following strictly the instructions for your contact lens solution, do not use household cleaning products on your lenses.

At The Eyecare Spot we are excited to announce the addition of a frame and sunglass collection from Barton Perreira. The collection embodies elegance and represents the finest quality eyewear, designed in the USA by Patty Perreira and expertly hand-made with the greatest attention to detail in Japan.

I am frequently asked what is the best diet to maintain your best eye health?. Eye conditions such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy can be a result of a poor diet.

Lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients for the macular and are found in particularly high levels in dark green leafy vegetables such as kale, spinach and silver beet. They are also present in peas, pumpkin, brussels sprouts, broccoli, corn and beans. 1 Close consultation with your doctor is recommended if you are on blood thinning medication such as Warfarin as kale, spinach and silver beet have high levels of vitamin K which can interfere with the medication. 1

Omega-3 fatty acids are also important for eye health, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, anchovies, trout and sardines have higher concentrations than other fish and shellfish. Eating oily fish 2-3 times per week is recommended. 1

I attended a continuing education evening recently and the topic was allergies and medications. As a hayfever sufferer especially this time of year I often find my eyes become itchy, red and puffy and I start sneezing, often my wife counts the number of sneezes at any one time, about 3 on average. Allergy to tree and grass pollens is the cause of seasonal allergic conjunctivitis and many may be allergic to certain animal dander such as cat or dog hair, dust and mould to name a few causing allergic conjunctivitis.

Often an oral antihistamine with the advice of your GP does wonders particularly if your symptoms extend past red,itchy eyes with sneezing and a runny nose and I often recommend eye-drops such as Zaditen, write a prescription for Patanol or a low dose topical steroid for those with more severe symptoms.

Being in our 40’s we all start to notice some changes to our body, we are not as fast as we were in our 20’s, we notice grey hair, may have experienced hair loss already and may have gained weight. Our eyes also change and the most predictable change can be the small print becomes hard to read, especially when fatigued and if the lighting is poor.

This eye condition is named presbyopia and it is a natural change in the lens of the eye. This occurs as a hardening of the lens and a reduction in the elasticity of its capsule which is the outer layer of the lens.1

We are also spending more time looking at devices such as your phone, tablet, laptop and desktop and sustained concentration can lead to eyestrain and headaches, particularly frontal headaches.

There are a number of options for vision correction

As the weather warms up and we are enjoying more time outdoors it is once again a reminder to wear a hat, top, sunscreen and sunglasses to protect your skin and eyes from the harmful UV rays. You may remember I wrote a blog one year ago about the importance of wearing sunglasses for reasons such as protection from early cataracts, melanomas and pterygiums.

Since opening the practice in December last year I have had Maui Jim sunglasses on the shelves for very good reasons. They are very well-made frames going through several processes of production with stringent quality control and PolarizedPlus2 lenses to provide not only 100% UVA and UVB protection as well as exceptional clarity and vividness of colours to provide the wearer with the best of vision.

I have been examining children’s eyes for 20 years and at times parents and often the child are unaware that they are having difficulty with their vision. As a child you may think your vision is like everyone else and assume what you see is normal. Placing spectacles on they are often amazed at what they now can see, such as leaves on trees from a distance or clear words on a page or screen.

Having your child’s eyes examined before they go to school is vitally important for them to reach their full potential. Poor vision can affect their ability to learn and play sports.

WOOW is an eyewear collection that I wanted to showcase that is vibrant and playful. Frames are designed in France and hand crafted in Italy with bold designs to accent your personality.

This frame collection is chic with a “trendy London” feel and will speak to all with a sense of humour. The little message inserted in the end of the frame is designed to make the wearer smile first thing in the morning.