The bottom line: Optomap is a screening tool, but it cannot be a substitiute for a dilated retinal examination.

Optomap is an amazing wide-angle camera for the back of your eyes. But sometimes, it doesn’t give us the whole story.
Here’s why we still recommend dilating your eyes for the full picture:

• Fuller view – Dilation lets us see the very edges of your retina, where small tears, holes or detachments can start. Optomap often misses these areas.
• Clearer detail – With dilation, we can examine your retina in natural colour and true detail. Optomap uses lasers to create a picture, which can sometimes miss or distort subtle changes.
• 3D perspective – Looking directly into the eye while dilated allows us to see depth and layers (for example, the vitreous or the optic nerve). Optomap is only a flat image.
• Nothing gets in the way – Eyelids, lashes or cataracts can block parts of an Optomap photo. With dilation, we can move around these and get a direct look.
  
  

To book an Advanced Eye Examination call us on 01279 757767

Encourage Outdoor Activities

Spending more time outdoors has been shown to reduce the risk of myopia progression. Encourage your child to play outside for at least one to two hours a day. Outdoor activities provide natural light, which is beneficial for eye health.

Limit Near Vision Tasks - Not just screen time!

Excessive time spent on near tasks such as screen time, excessive reading is a significant factor in myopia progression. Implement guidelines to manage your child's time on near tasks:

• Set Time Limits: Limit near vision tasks to a reasonable duration each day.
• Take Breaks: Encourage the 30-30-30 rule—every 30 minutes, take a 30-second break and look at something 30+ meters away.
• Proper Ergonomics: Ensure screens, books etc are at a comfortable distance.

Healthy Eye Habits

Promote good eye habits to protect your child's vision:

• Proper Lighting: Ensure your child reads and does homework in well-lit areas to reduce eye strain.
• Balanced Diet: A diet rich in vitamins A, C, and E, along with omega-3 fatty acids, supports eye health.
• Regular Eye Exams: Schedule annual eye exams to monitor your child's vision and adjust their prescription as needed.

Myopia Management Options

Consider advanced myopia management options for more effective control:

• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): Overnight lenses that reshape the cornea and provide clear daytime vision.
• MiSight Soft Lenses: Daily disposable lenses designed to slow myopia progression.
• Myosmart and Stellest Lenses: Spectacle lenses that control myopia progression while correcting vision.

Conclusion

Preventing myopia progression in children requires a combination of healthy habits, regular eye exams, and advanced treatment options. By adopting these strategies, you can help safeguard your child's vision and overall eye health. Contact us today to learn more about myopia management and schedule an appointment.

Academic Challenges

Children with myopia often face difficulties in the classroom. Common challenges include:

• Difficulty Seeing the Board: Blurry vision can make it hard to read from the board, impacting learning and participation.
• Increased Eye Strain: Prolonged reading and near work can cause eye strain and fatigue, affecting concentration and productivity.
• Frequent Headaches: Eye strain from trying to focus on distant objects can lead to recurring headaches, further disrupting learning.

Social and Emotional Impact

Myopia can also affect a child's social and emotional well-being:

• Reduced Participation in Activities: Difficulty seeing clearly can discourage children from participating in sports and other activities, impacting their physical health and social interactions.
• Self-Esteem Issues: Wearing glasses or struggling with vision problems can affect a child's self-esteem and confidence.

Managing Myopia

To help manage myopia and mitigate its impact:

• Regular Eye Exams: Ensure your child has regular eye exams to monitor myopia progression and adjust prescriptions as needed.
• Advanced Treatments: Consider treatments like orthokeratology, MiSight soft lenses, or Myosmart and Stellest lenses to control myopia progression and improve vision.
• Supportive Environment: Encourage good visual habits, such as proper lighting for reading and taking regular breaks from screens.

Conclusion

Myopia can affect many aspects of a child's life, but with proactive management and the right treatments, its impact can be minimized. Early intervention and regular monitoring are key to ensuring your child's academic success and overall well-being.

Factors to Consider

• Lifestyle: Consider your child's daily activities and preferences. Active children may benefit more from ortho-k, while those comfortable with daily lenses may prefer MiSight.
• Age: Younger children may find glasses more manageable, making Myosmart or Stellest lenses a suitable choice.
• Severity of Myopia: Consult with our optometrist to determine the best option based on the degree of myopia and overall eye health.
  

Conclusion

Choosing the right myopia management option involves considering your child's lifestyle, preferences, and specific needs. Consult with our specialists to find the most suitable treatment for your child’s myopia and ensure their long-term eye health.

How Orthokeratology Works

Ortho-k involves wearing specially designed rigid gas-permeable contact lenses overnight. These lenses gently reshape the cornea while the child sleeps, allowing them to see clearly during the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses. The effects are temporary, so the lenses must be worn every night to maintain clear vision.

Benefits for Children

• Slowing Myopia Progression: Studies have shown that ortho-k can significantly slow the progression of myopia in children, reducing the risk of high myopia and associated eye health complications later in life.
• Daytime Freedom from Glasses/Contacts: Children can enjoy clear vision throughout the day without the need for glasses or contact lenses, making it easier to participate in sports and other activities.
• Improved Quality of Life: With ortho-k, children experience fewer visual limitations and greater confidence in their daily activities.

Conclusion

Orthokeratology offers a safe and effective solution for managing myopia in children. Its ability to slow myopia progression and provide clear vision without daytime glasses or contacts makes it an appealing option for many families.

Contact us to learn more about ortho-k and schedule a consultation for your child.

Causes of Myopia

Myopia develops due to a combination of genetic and environmental factors. If one or both parents are shortsighted, there's a higher chance their children will be myopic. Environmental factors, such as prolonged near work (reading, using digital devices) and limited outdoor activities, also contribute to the development and progression of myopia.

Symptoms of Myopia

Parents should watch for signs that may indicate their child has myopia. Common symptoms include:

• Squinting to see distant objects
• Sitting too close to the television or computer screen
• Complaints of headaches or eye strain
• Difficulty seeing the board in school

Treatment Options

There are various treatments available to manage myopia, each with its unique benefits:

• Orthokeratology (Ortho-K): This non-surgical treatment involves wearing specially designed contact lenses overnight to temporarily reshape the cornea. It provides clear vision during the day without the need for glasses or daytime contact lenses and can slow myopia progression.
• MiSight Soft Lenses: These daily disposable contact lenses are designed specifically for children and have been shown to slow myopia progression while providing clear vision.
• Myosmart and Stellest Lenses: These innovative spectacle lenses incorporate technology to control myopia progression and provide clear vision correction.

Conclusion

Early detection and management of myopia is essential to prevent it from worsening. Regular eye exams and exploring advanced treatment options like orthokeratology, MiSight soft lenses, and Myosmart and Stellest lenses can help manage myopia effectively.

Schedule an appointment today to discuss the best myopia management plan for your child.

Sunglasses with UV protection can help protect your eyes from the damaging effects of UV radiation, which can cause cataracts, macula degeneration, and other eye issues.

Take Screen Breaks: Staring at a computer screen, tablet, or phone for long amounts of time can cause eye strain, dry eyes, and headaches. Taking pauses and turning away from the computer on a regular basis will help reduce these symptoms.

Utilise Appropriate Lighting: Whether reading or conducting close-up work, using correct lighting can assist reduce eye strain. Avoid reading in low light or direct sunshine, which can generate glare and make vision challenging.

Adopt a Healthy Diet: Consuming a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, and omega-3 fatty acids can help avoid eye issues such as macula degeneration and cataracts.

Smoking increases the chance of getting age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, and other eye issues. Smoking cessation can help minimise this risk.

Daily exercise can assist increase blood circulation, which is important for eye health. Exercise also lowers the chance of acquiring obesity and diabetes, both of which can contribute to vision difficulties.

Maintain Good Hygiene: Maintaining excellent hygiene, such as routinely washing your hands and avoiding touching your eyes, can help prevent eye infections.

Get Enough Sleep: Sleep is critical for general health, including eye health. Sleep deprivation can result in eye discomfort and dry eyes.

Drink enough of water: Water is crucial for general health, including eye health. Keeping hydrated aids in the prevention of dry eyes and keeps the eyes moist.

Finally, doing these basic behaviours will help you maintain good eye health and avoid visual disorders. Frequent eye exams, wearing sunglasses, taking breaks from screen time, utilising correct lighting, eating a nutritious diet, avoiding smoking, exercising on a regular basis, practising good hygiene, getting enough sleep, and being hydrated are all important for maintaining the health of your eyes. You may assist maintain good eye health for years to come by implementing these behaviours into your everyday routine.

Blue light lenses, also known as blue light blocking lenses, are a form of eyewear that filters out some of the blue light generated by electronic devices and other sources. Blue light lenses are a popular alternative for those who spend a lot of time in front of screens since they can be added to prescription glasses or purchased as non-prescription glasses.

Blue light lenses function by reflecting and absorbing blue light, preventing it from entering the eye. To prevent blue light, some blue light lenses have a yellow tint, while others have a clear coating that does not change the colour of the lenses.

Blue light glasses can help minimise eye strain and tiredness induced by prolonged screen usage, which is one of its advantages. After gazing at a computer for lengthy periods of time, many people develop symptoms such as dry eyes, headaches, and impaired vision. Blue light lenses, which reduce the quantity of blue light that enters the eye, can help ease these symptoms.

Blue light lenses may also aid in the improvement of sleep quality. Blue light exposure in the evening can disturb the body's normal circadian cycle, making it difficult to fall and remain asleep. Blue light glasses may help enhance sleep quality and promote improved overall health by minimising exposure to blue light, particularly in the hours leading up to bedtime.

While blue light lenses are typically safe and effective, they should not be used in place of basic eye care. Maintaining excellent eye health requires frequent eye exams, optimal lighting and screen posture, and taking regular breaks from screen usage.

Finally, blue light lenses are a popular choice for those who spend a lot of time in front of computers since they can help minimise eye strain and tiredness while also improving sleep quality. While blue light glasses are not a replacement for basic eye care, they can be a helpful tool for preserving excellent eye health in the digital era.

Regular eye exams are necessary for good eye health and should be part of everyone's regular healthcare routine. Eye exams are not just for people who wear glasses or contact lenses; they are essential for everyone, regardless of age or apparent vision problems.

Some of the reasons why regular eye exams are necessary for good eye health are :

Eye Exams Can Detect Eye Diseases Early: Eye exams can detect eye diseases and conditions early, before they cause significant damage to your vision. Many eye diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy, have no noticeable symptoms in their early stages, and the only way to detect them is with a regular eye exam.

Correction of Vision Issues: Many people suffer from vision issues such as nearsightedness (myopia), farsightedness (hyperopia), and/or astigmatism, which can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. Eye exams can help you get the right prescription which will improve your vision and reduce eye strain.

Eye Health Monitoring: Eye exams can track changes in your eye health over time, allowing your optometrist to identify potential problems early and take action to prevent them from worsening.

Eye Exams Can Aid in the Prevention of Eye Problems: Eye exams can aid in the prevention of eye problems by identifying risk factors that may lead to eye diseases or conditions. An eye exam, for example, can identify risk factors for cataracts or macula degeneration, allowing you to take precautionary measures such as adopting a healthy diet or quitting smoking.

Comprehensive Assessment of Eye Health: An eye exam includes a comprehensive assessment of your eye health, including tests for visual acuity, eye muscle function, colour vision, and depth perception. Your optometrist will also check the health of your retina and optic nerve, and screen for conditions such as dry eye or allergies.

Finally, regular eye exams are critical for maintaining good eye health. They can detect eye diseases and conditions early, correct vision problems, monitor changes in your eye health, prevent eye problems, and provide a comprehensive eye health assessment. Adults should have a comprehensive eye exam every 1-2 years, and children should have their eyes checked by an optometrist on a regular basis. You can help ensure good eye health and preserve your vision for years to come by incorporating regular eye exams into your healthcare routine.

Skiing is a popular winter sport that millions of people around the world participate in. While skiing is exciting and enjoyable, it can also be hazardous to your eyes. Snow and direct sunlight can cause both short-term and long-term vision problems. Here are some tips for skiing eye protection:

Wear Goggles: The most important piece of eye protection for skiers is goggles. They shield your eyes from the elements such as wind, snow, and UV rays. Choose goggles with 100% UV protection and lenses that are suited to the lighting conditions you will be skiing in.

Wear a Helmet: Helmets protect not only your head but also your eyes. They protect your eyes from wind and snow and reduce the possibility of debris getting into your eyes. For added eye protection, make sure your helmet has a visor or attachable shield.

Use Anti-Fog Products: Fogging is a common issue when wearing goggles, especially during high-activity periods. Anti-fog products, such as sprays or wipes, can aid in preventing fogging and maintaining clear visibility on the slopes.

Take Regular Breaks: Take regular breaks to allow your eyes to rest and prevent eye strain. Long periods of staring at bright sunlight and reflecting snow can cause temporary vision problems, such as snow blindness. Taking breaks in a shaded area can help prevent these problems.

Wear a Hat: A hat can help protect you from the sun's harmful rays and reduce glare. A wide-brimmed hat or visor can also help keep the sun from reflecting off the snow and into your eyes.

Avoid Wearing Contact Lenses: In cold and windy weather, contact lenses can dry out and irritate your eyes. Consider wearing prescription glasses or goggles instead.

Keep Hydrated: Dehydration can cause dry eyes and make them more prone to irritation. Stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water throughout the day.

Use Eye Drops: Cold and windy weather can cause dry eyes, which can cause irritation and discomfort. Using lubricating eye drops while skiing can help keep your eyes moist and comfortable.

Finally, protecting your eyes while skiing is critical for maintaining good eye health. Wearing goggles, wearing a helmet, using anti-fog products, taking breaks, wearing a hat, avoiding contact lenses, staying hydrated, and using eye drops are all important precautions to take while skiing. You can enjoy the slopes while keeping your eyes safe and healthy by incorporating these tips into your skiing routine.

Cut out the cigarettes
Smoking doubles your chances of developing cataracts and can treble the risk of age-related macular degeneration, which causes severe impairment of vision. Your wider eye health is also likely to suffer unless you can kick the habit.
 
Serve and protect
No matter whether you’re an amateur tennis player or a professional builder, your eyes should be protected against flying objects and dirt. Glasses, goggles or masks will prevent eye-related injuries and avoid any build-up of damage over time.
 
Stay in the shades
Sunglasses don’t just look stylish, they also filter out invisible (yet harmful) ultraviolet rays that damage retinas and corneas. Anti-reflective coatings and polarised lenses reduce sun glare, which can dazzle you and damage your eyes.
 
Never drink to excess
A few pints might make your vision a bit wobbly, but excessive alcohol consumption can also damage the optic nerves. Heavy drinking increases the risk of cataracts and AMD by reducing the liver’s ability to process important vitamins.
 
Reduce screen time
We’re not meant to stare at computers or phones for hours on end, and our eyes can easily become tired. Give them hourly breaks by focusing on distant objects, to avoid eyestrain that may cause headaches and loss of clear sight. We can also advise about glasses that are optimal for regular computer use.
 
Eat healthier
A plate of vegetables is a feast for your eyes. Many fruits and vegetables contain vitamins A, C and E, which all provide us with vital antioxidants, while lutein in peppers and berries reduce the risk of eye diseases.
 
Friday takeaways are fine as a treat, but studies around the world show that carb heavy diets increase the risk of cataracts.
 
Make up and mend
Removing any make up in the evening gives your eyes the chance to recuperate from time spent beneath a layer of chemicals. A good nightly cleansing routine is highly recommended, including both hypoallergenic wipes and soothing eye creams.
 
Ask the experts
If you notice anything unusual about your vision call us for an appointment. We can help resolve any minor issues before they start to become more serious.

This is a condition of the eye where light focuses behind, instead of on, the retina. It causes close objects to be blurry while far objects may appear normal. As the hyperopia increases objects at all distances can be blurry. The cause is an imperfection in the eye size often when the eyeball is too short or if the lens cannot change shape enough, causing the eye to not have enough power to see close or nearby objects.

Short -sightedness -

This is a condition of the eye where light focuses in front of, instead of on, the retina. It causes far objects to be blurry while near objects may appear normal. The cause is an imperfection in the eye size often when the eyeball is too big. Other additional underlying causes are believed to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Risk factors include performing work that involves focusing on close objects and greater time spent indoors.

Astigmatism -

Astigmatism is an optical defect in which vision is blurred due to the inability of the optics of the eye to focus a point object into a sharp focused image on the retina. This may be due to an irregular curvature of the cornea, lens or both. The two types of astigmatism are regular and irregular. You can be hyperopic or myopic with astigmatism.

Presbyopia -

Presbyopia is a condition associated with aging, such that the eye exhibits a progressively reduced ability to focus clearly on an object close to the eye. The first signs of presbyopia are – eyestrain, difficulty seeing in dim light, problems focusing on small objects and fine print – usually first noticed between the ages of forty and fifty. This change is likely to be due to the reduced elasticity of the lens and therefore an inability to change shape readily.

For all these defects there is a solution, sometimes several solutions to suit your lifestyle. If you would advice on your options visit our practice.

The study has found that nearly one in five teenagers in the UK are now myopic, or short-sighted, and that children with one parent with myopia are at least three times more likely to be myopic than those without a myopic parent. This increases to over seven times more likely when both parents are myopes. It has also shown that myopia is most likely to occur between the ages of six and 13 years.
The study’s key findings include: 

• Nearly one in five teenagers in the UK are myopic.
• Myopia is more than twice as prevalent  among UK children now than in the 1960’s (16.4% vs 7.2%).
• Prevalence of myopia in white children in the UK is similar to that of white children in other countries.
• Prevalence of myopia in white children in the UK is much lower than in Asian countries where the majority of school leavers are myopic.  For example, in South Korea, 96.5% of 19 year old males are myopic.
• Myopia is most likely to occur between six and 13 years of age.
• Children with one myopic parent are almost three times more likely to be myopic by age 13 than a child without a myopic parent. This increases to over seven times more likely when both parents are myopes. 
• Children are becoming myopic at a younger age in the UK than in Australia. However, at ages 18-19 years, the prevalence of myopia in Australia and the UK is similar. 

Ulster University’s Professor Kathryn Saunders, lead investigator of the NICER study said: “These results give us a clear picture of how children’s eyes are developing, and ultimately could enable us to inform how optometrists practice and give advice to parents to help them protect their children’s precious eyesight, such as recommended ages for eyesight testing or specific risk factors that should indicate a sight test is needed”. 
Mike Bowen, Director of Research for the College of Optometrists, said: “From this research we are seeing a clear increase in the prevalence of children with myopia. We would encourage parents to ensure that their children’s eyes are tested by an optometrist, particularly children of parents with myopia, as we see in this research; they are likely to inherit the condition. Research suggests that early intervention can help slow down further increases in myopia, so sight tests in children at most risk of developing myopia are very important.” 
Dr Susan Blakeney, Clinical Adviser for the College of Optometrists, said: “In some areas, children will have vision screening in their first year of school, aged four to five.  If this doesn’t happen in your area, or if you have concerns about your child’s eyes (whatever their age), take them to your optometrist for a sight test.  This is paid for by the National Health Service. Children do not have to be able to read to have a sight test.  Your optometrist will then advise on when your child should be seen again.” 
Researchers in other countries have shown that spending time outdoors protects against the onset and progression of myopia, but to date the NICER results do not support this but it is something they will continue to investigate. The NICER study researchers are currently re-testing the original two groups of subjects nine years after their original test date. 

from the College Of Optometrists

Bijou Collection
This collection is taken from the wonder Coco Chanel had with diamonds. Her love for creating free flowing sparkle turned the industry on its head. With the eyewear collection this sparkle is highlighted by the baguette diamantes set within the metal arms. This collection is truly spectacular.

Part of the Quilting collection features a unique technology fusing quilted goatskin leather and rubber to create a marvel of comfort, function and aesthetic brilliance.

Chain Collection
Again inspired by the 2.55 the chain originates from the freedom Coco Chanel wanted to create from having to carry her handbag. Inspired by the straps found on soldiers’ bags she added thin straps and introduced the resulting design to the market in 1929. Today this is celebrated by the metal 2.55 arms on the eyewear pieces and embellished with lacquer and interlaced lambskin leather.

All of these collections are ready to view at Martin Reynolds Opticians.

If you want to know the science behind Crizal® Prevencia™ then the following is a good watch!!

UV radiation is the main factor responsible for skin cancers, including basal cell carcinoma (BCC), squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and possibly melanoma. In fact, the World Health Organization has identified broad spectrum UV as a human carcinogen.

While the solar UV spectrum is continuous, it is a scientific convenience to describe the light within three specific wavebands - UVA, UVB and UVC - classified according to their wavelength. They differ in their biological activity and the depth to which they penetrate into the skin and eyes.

UVA is long wavelength (320-400 nm) UV and accounts for up to 95 percent of the solar UV radiation reaching the Earth's surface. It can penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin and has for years been thought to play a major part in skin aging and wrinkling. Importantly, recent studies strongly suggest that it may also initiate and exacerbate the development of skin cancers. UVA rays are present during all daylight hours and throughout the winter months. Although UVA rays are less intense than UVB rays, they are present all year round and depending upon the time of the year, can be 30 to 50 times more prevalent than UVB rays. Furthermore, UVA radiation can penetrate glass and clouds. Thus, we are exposed to large doses of UVA throughout our lifetime.

New research suggests that UVA exposure may be as damaging to the skin as UVB. Although scientists have known for several years that UVA penetrates more deeply into the skin than UVB, they believed that less of it was absorbed by DNA, causing fewer dangerous mutations. However an Australian-US study shows that UVA causes more genetic damage than UVB in skin cells where most skin cancers arise - the keratinocytes in the basal layer of the epidermis. UVB tends to cause damage in more superficial epidermal layers.

UVB is the middle-range of UV with wavelengths between 290-320 nm. It responsible for burning, tanning, acceleration of skin aging and plays a very key role in the development of skin cancer. The intensity of UVB varies by season, location and time of day. The most significant amount of UVB hits the U.K between 11 AM and 3 PM in the Summer. UVB rays do not penetrate glass.

UVC  is the shortest and highest energy UV with wavelengths less than 290 nm. However, since it is filtered by the ozone, these wavelengths do not reach the earth's surface and do not contribute to skin damage in humans.

While the differences between UVB and UVA need to be explored further, it's proven that exposure to the combination of UVB and UVA is a powerful attack on the skin and eyes. Protection from these rays is the only way to avoid these problems.

The Solution:

Wearing lenses with UV protection helps shield your eyes from ultra-violet radiation. As well as sunglasses, you can also opt for clear lenses which also protect against UV. Some lenses offer a higher level of protection than other, and as I have mentioned already we have been providing this service for a number of years. Significant UV exposure for spectacle wearers also comes from the rear lens surface and this is also protected by a UV filter. So when you next look for a lens choose one which protects from both the front and rear surface of the lens like Crizal UV at Martin Reynolds Opticians.

If you have a prescription and want to see to be seen then we can do this too! With Essilor's new e-mirror UV coatings you can look good and protect your eyes from harmful UV radiation.

Call us on 01279 757767 for more info or call into the practice and we will be happy to help.