Five fascinating eye facts
Your eye blinks over 10,000,000 times a year
The human eye can distinguish up to 500 shades of grey
You generally read text on a computer screen 25% slower than text on a page
Babies' eyes don't produce tears until the baby is six to eight weeks old
It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open
First aid for eyes
When eye injuries occur, knowing how to deal with them can mean the
difference between minor eye damage and permanent injury, or even
blindness. Here are some first aid suggestions for eye injuries.
However, please remember, these suggestions are only first aid. It is
important for you to contact your Optometrist as soon as possible for
any eye injuries.
If you have a foreign object in your eye, don't rub it.
Lift your upper eyelid outward and gently pull it down over the lower
lash. This causes tears to flow and will often wash the object out of
your eye. You may have to repeat this several times. If the object does
not wash out, contact your Optometrist. Do not try to remove a particle
that is embedded. You can cause more damage. If you are wearing contact
lenses, remove the lens and clean it thoroughly before putting it back
in your eye. If discomfort persists, remove, clean again and reapply. If
discomfort continues, remove the lens and call your Optometrist.
For chemicals splashed in your eyes immediately flush your eyes with
cool water for at least 15 minutes. If possible, hold your head under a
slowly running faucet, or pour water slowly from a glass or clear
container. Seek professional attention immediately. If you are wearing
contact lenses, remove them immediately. Then flush your eyes and seek
professional help as described.
A blow to your face resulting in a black eye can be treated with cold
compresses for about 15 minutes every hour. Your eye should be checked
by your Optometrist for internal damage. If the blow breaks your contact
lenses, try to remove pieces of the lens immediately. Rinsing with
water will help. Then call your Optometrist.
Do not try to treat a cut, laceration or penetrating eye injury.
Do not flush the eye with water or put any medicine in the eye. If you
are wearing a contact lens, don't try to remove it. Gently cover the eye
with a bandage or gauze pad and go directly to your doctor or a nearby
hospital.
Remember, the best way to treat eye injuries is to prevent them from
happening in the first place. Don't forget to be aware of potential eye
hazards and wear appropriate eye protection.
Eye disorders
Colour blindness is the inability to differentiate between different colours.
The most common type is red-green colour blindness. This occurs in 8
percent of males and 0.4 percent of females. It occurs when either the
red or green cones are not present or not functioning properly. People
with this problem are not completely unable to see red or green, but
often confuse the two colours.
This is an inherited disorder and affects men more commonly since the
capacity for colour vision is located on the X chromosome. (Women have
two X chromosomes, so the probability of inheriting at least one X with
normal colour vision is high; men have only one X chromosome to work
with).
Eyewear technology
Eyewear technology is moving on at a great
pace and lenses are now thinner, lighter and more comfortable to wear.
Light sensitive lenses and special coatings means spectacles can be
enhanced for wearer specific environments and improved vision.
Spectacle lens technology has over the years, developed to produce
thinner, lighter lenses, special coatings and light sensitive lenses –
all designed to improve your vision and make spectacles more comfortable
to wear.
Single vision lenses are the simplest form of lens. They are often found
in reading spectacles which correct near vision and are used for close
up activity. These spectacles can cause blurred distance vision
resulting in the spectacles being removed whenever you look further
away. If you have good distance vision you could choose ‘half eyes’ –
shallow frames with lenses for close up work that you look over the top
of for distance vision.
Bifocal lenses have a prescription for near vision in the lower half and
a different prescription for distance vision in the top.
Varifocal lenses progress gradually from distance strength at the top to
reading strength at the bottom. Unlike bifocals, they do not have a
distracting dividing line. A more modern and cosmetically appealing
option the varifocal lens is the lens of choice for most professional,
business and active spectacle wearers.
Flattering lenses
As well as giving you clear vision, modern lens designs and materials
make a big contribution to the smart appearance of today’s spectacles.
Highly advanced plastics have meant that lenses can be made thinner and
lighter than ever before, even for higher prescriptions.
A popular option for all lenses is an anti-reflective coating which will
virtually eliminate distracting reflections on both sides of the lens.
If you drive at night or use a VDU you will welcome the suppression of
reflections in your line of sight and, when people look at you, they
will see your eyes and not a reflection of the window!
Most lenses can be supplied to order in a wide range of tints and you
may wish to consider photochromic lenses which darken automatically in
bright light.
These days, photochromics are available in lightweight plastic as well
as glass. Ask for details of different lenses for different needs.
Graeme Gentles Opticians have access to one of the largest selections of
quality lenses in the country, all at very competitive prices. We will
be pleased to discuss your requirements in more detail and demonstrate
the various lens types for you.
Eye tests
Your sight is invaluable but can sometimes be
taken for granted. Your eyes will capture countless images in your
lifetime and it’s extremely important you keep them in great shape and
working for you as effectively as possible. Your eyes also offer a
glimpse into aspects of your overall health and some diseases and
infections can be picked up by a simple eye-test.
Why are regular eye tests important?
Most sight loss from diabetic retinopathy can be prevented. But it is
vital that it is diagnosed early. You may not realise that there is
anything wrong with your eyesight, and so regular eye checks are
extremely important.
An eye examination will include the required tests to not only determine
your sight levels but to check for eye conditions such as cataracts,
glaucoma, macula degeneration and retinal detachments.
A vision of good health
Smoking
Smoking not only damages your lungs, but it can also seriously affect your eyes. The chances of suffering from age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts are doubled for smokers. Some of the 4,000 chemicals in cigarette smoke may damage the macula, the most sensitive part of the retina, resulting in irreversible damage and possibly loss of vision. Nicotine slowly poisons the optic nerve so another side-effect is impaired colour vision. Smokers also have a higher likelihood of developing cataracts - one of the most common causes of blindess and visual impairment worldwide- than non-smokers.
Sunglasses
Ultravoilet rays not only harm skin, they can also damage your eyes. The sun's UV rays contribute to several eye conditions, including cataracts and age related macular degeneration. It is important to remember than UV rays are not just a risk on sunny days, as although they are stronger when the sun is bright, they are present all the time during daylight. It's essential to invest in a good pair of sunglasses that carry the CE mark, which means they comply with the European safety standards. Wraparound styles help prevent the sun getting behind your sunglasses and damaging your eyes. Also, don't forget your children. Young eyes are very vulnerable to the damaging effects of UV rays, so they should wear sunglasses from early on, as well as a wide-brimmed hat or peaked cap.
Healthy diet
Good nutrition is important for both general and eye health. Certain foods can help safeguard vision. For example, vitamins C and E may help prevent or delay the progression of cataracts, while eating leafy green vegetables, such as spinach, kale or green beans, is believeed to play an imporant part in preventing age-related macular degeneration. Fresh fruit and veg contain antioxidants which are known to fight the damaging effects of free radicals on the body.
Good light
Reading or doing any close work in dull light puts unnecessary strain on the eyes. Reading or writing in a good light is very important as it allows lots of light to flood into the retina and form a clear picture. Always ensure you have a good reading lamp.
NHS ENTITLEMENT
Glasses - Vouchers are available toward the cost of glasses or contact lenses for the following:
Under 16
Age 16-18 (if in full time education)
You receive :
Income based Jobseekers allowance.
Income support
Pension Credit Guarantee credit
Universal Credit
Income Related Employment Support Allowance
I am named on a current HC2 or HC3 certificate
You or your partner have NHS Tax Credit Exemption certificate
You require complex lenses or powerful glasses with at least one lens
which has a power in any meridian of + or - 10 or more dioptres or
is a prism- controlled bifocal lens
