It is important having a great quality frame that you love that fits you perfectly and equally important if not more so is having spectacle lenses that give you optimum vision and comfort whilst wearing in many cases all day. In opening my practice I wanted the best possible lenses to give my patients the clearest wide field of view and that is why I selected Rodenstock as my lens supplier.

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.

As we leave our winter hibernation and spring is around the corner we find ourselves more outdoors especially on Sydney’s gorgeous northern beaches. Whether you like to walk, run, swim, surf, paddle or simply enjoy the outdoors, spectacles can become cumbersome particularly when very active. Contact lenses can be worn whether at work, play and all day, everyday. Contact lenses have come along way since I graduated from Optometry school 20 years ago. There are so many options for soft disposable contact lenses that can fit almost everyone and provide excellent vision correction.

I attended a webinar last night via Zoom as we are all now accustomed to doing so since COVID made our shores. It was hosted by a local Ophthalmologist whom I’ve known for many years and he presented an interesting case of a young woman with diabetic retinopathy who was also pregnant. This case highlighted the need to monitor the retina of both eyes very closely and frequently as changes can occur rapidly and without appropriate and timely treatment vision can deteriorate dramatically.

Prodesign is a Danish eyewear company that celebrates creative seriousness. The frame range represent genuine Danish design in terms of high quality and pure style. Featuring frames in titanium, metal and acetate, Prodesign’s collections are accented with striking designs, innovative materials and vibrant colours. To view the range we look forward to seeing you in store at The Eyecare Spot.

As we get older, the eyes much like the rest of the body have an increased risk of degeneration that can threaten vision. Eye conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration and glaucoma are more prevalent.

BOLD is a frame collection that invites you to overcome fears and take risks. BOLD is colour and rebellion. BOLD is a collection of oversized and irresistible models made with Mazzucchelli acetate, a natural high quality frame material made from cotton and wood for long life.

Top Gun was an iconic film of the 80’s and launched the careers of Tom Cruise and Val Kilmer. The Aviator sunglasses were a feature in this film and with the premiere of Top Gun: Maverick in cinemas our attention is once again on this iconic style.

In the last week I have seen two patients who have presented with either seeing flashes of light in their vision or floaters that have not come from an external source. When a patient presents with either symptom there is always a concern as to whether there is a retinal tear or hole or detachment that has occurred or is progressing.

Over the last 20 years that I have been practicing Optometry I have certainly seen changes in my field and specifically the use of technology to improve diagnosis and treatment of eye conditions. We all have digital devices and are increasingly more technology savvy and look for the newest and greatest.

Having recently completed a further study including a detailed case report of a patient with Glaucoma I wanted to share with you how easily you can lose your sight without being aware of any loss until it’s too late.

We all are familiar with protecting our skin from harmful UV rays with messages over the years of wearing a hat and sunscreen including slip, slop, slap. The eyes and eyelids are also prone to sun damage and conditions…