Top 5 Reasons to wear Sunglasses

Here at James Doyle Opticians in Wilmslow, we are always ready to advise our customers about the reasons to wear sunglasses with high quality lenses.

We know that it is very tempting to think that all darken lenses are pretty much the same, but really they are not.



We are exposed to far more sunlight than we realise.

You should always choose polarised sunglasses that block out between 99% and 100% of UVA & UVB radiation, to ensure that your eyes are properly protected.

Ask your Optician about prescription sunglasses, which will help to protect your eyes and eliminate glare while you are outdoors or driving.


1. UV Protection

The sun's harmful UV rays can lead to serious and in some cases long-term health issues, including photokeratitis (sunburn of the eye's surface), pterygium (growths on the eye), cataracts and macular degeneration.

It is important to realise that sunglasses that do not provide UV protection can cause more damage by shading the eye - causing the pupil to dilate and allow in even more harmful UV rays.

2. Skin Cancer

5% to 10% of all skin cancers occur around the eyes.  Always wear quality, protective sunglasses when outdoors - whether working, driving, running, playing or watching sports.

3. General Eye Comfort

The sun's brightness and glare interfere with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly, causing squinting, eyes to water and possibly headaches.

4. Dark Adaptation

Spending even a relatively short time in intense sunlight can hamper you eye's ability to adapt quickly to night time or indoor light levels, and make driving at night difficult and even hazardous.

5. Blue-Light Protection
(HEV: high-energy visible radiation)

use outdoor lenses that absorb the HEV as accumulated exposure has been associated with AMD (age related macular degeneration)













Please call in to our Wilmslow Practice to view our extensive range of Sunglasses, so we can ensure that you look fabulous and keep your eyes safe.

How to take care of your eyes

Good eyesight is vital to a full and happy life, imagine being without it, unable to see the face of a loved one, or a beautiful sunrise. So it makes sense that you want to keep your eyes in tip top condition, here at James Doyle, Opticians in Wilmslow, Cheshire we have complied this series of eye care tips, which we hope will help you keep your eyes in great shape.

Don’t take up smoking.

You probably already know that there are many serious dangers related to cigarette smoking. One of the less-known dangers is developing Age-related Macular Degeneration(AMD). Several scientific studies have shown that the patients who did smoke were much more likely to develop AMD than those who didn’t smoke. Just another reason not to start smoking or to quit today.

Are you already a smoker ?

If so, stop. Smoking increases the chance that you will have problems with your eyes, like cataracts and other degenerative eye conditions. It can be hard to quit, but never stop trying, the latest e-cigarettes have proved very effective for those who have tried and failed to quit in the past, so, even if you’ve failed before, you still have a good chance of being able to quit in the future.

Choosing the best eye Doctor

When selecting an eye care professional, do not skimp when it comes to doing your homework on each prospective doctor’s qualifications. Check their educational background, certifications and licenses to ensure that everything is as represented. Doing these things will help you feel confident when it comes to entrusting the health of your eyes to someone new.

Build healthy eyes from the inside

What you eat is very important to the health of your eyes. A diet that is rich in vitamin A and omega-3 fatty acids is helpful in maintaining good eyesight. Many vegetables like carrots, sweet potatoes and broccoli are rich in vitamin A. Fish and nuts can provide you with the omega-3 that you need.




Contact lens wearers

If you wear contacts, you must follow your eye doctor’s instruction carefully. If your eyes feel irritated when you put them in, it can mean that your contact lenses are damaged. Another reason could be that you are suffering from an eye problem that is just beginning to form. We would always recommend that you see your eyecare professional right away to prevent a more serious problem.

 


Stay hydrated

If you want your eyes to look and feel their best, drink lots of water. The more hydrated you are, the less you will suffer from dark circles. Hydrated skin doesn’t allow the blood vessels to show, ensuring that your raccoon eyes (dark circles) become a thing of the past.

Screen time

If you use a computer often, you should understand that it can impact your eye health. Try and build in 10 minutes in every hour when you come away from your screen.  If you feel your eyes becoming dry, blink more frequently and mention your screen usage to your Optician during your regular eye screening. You can also try to reduce the amount of glare on your monitor. You can also purchase an anti-glare computer screen. Keep the monitor at the same level as your eyes. Your eyes should look down the screen.


If you would like any further help with your eyes, please contact us on 01625 548848 to book an appointment, or visit our website.

Take great care of your eyes and they’ll last a lifetime!

State of the art equipment arrives at Wilmslow Opticians

Here at James Doyle Opticians in Wilmslow Cheshire, we have recently installed the most up to date scanning equipment for your eyes, an Ocular Coherence Tomographer or OCT for short. 

We are one of the first opticians to have this technology in the North West of England, until now OCT have been primarily used in macular clinics within eye hospitals.

As you will appreciate, this it will enable us to take our patient care to the next level.  

OCT  is a painless, non-contact, non-invasive imaging technique, used to obtain high resolution cross-sectional and three dimensional images of the retina, cornea and anterior chamber of the eye.

It is effectively ‘optical ultrasound’, imaging reflections from deep within the eye tissue to provide high quality cross-sectional images.

Using our OCT equipment will enable us to see below the surface of your retina and pick up on changes long before they become problems, meaning patients will be referred for treatment at the earliest stages of a condition, leading to the best long term prognosis.

We would recommend OCT scans for the following groups of people

• If you are over 60
• If you are over 40 and shortsighted
• If you have high blood pressure
• If you have diabetes
• If you have any retinal abnormalities
• If there is any family history of eye problems

Of course, anyone can have a scan even if it is just for your own interest


Remember up to 80% of vision impairment and blindness can be prevented by early detection.

The scan only takes a few minutes and can usually be done during your eye examination. It is totally safe, as the OCT uses visible light to scan the retina. Anyone can have an OCT scan done. It is totally safe, painless and nothing touches your eye.


Here are just some of the conditions OCT screening as part of your eye examination can help us monitor

• Macular drusen [dry AMD], 
• Wet macular degeneration, 
• macular hole, 
• vitreous detachment, 
• epiretinal membrane formation, 
• corneal thickness, 
• anterior chamber angle, 
• retinal naevus, 
• retinal nerve fibre thickness.

AMD is the most common cause of blindness in the over 50 age group in western society. Wet AMD can cause sudden loss of sight over a matter of days, fortunately it is less common than Dry AMD which is often described as “wear & tear”.
 
OCT can not only identify which type of AMD is present but can monitor progress, for example if you are undergoing treatment.

Macular holes are fairly rare but if caught early can be treated successfully. If untreated they affect the very centre of your vision.
OCT clearly shows even very early macular holes when they are invisible with conventional viewing techniques.

So, to summarise, here are the reasons that an OCT is recommended

• The opportunity to have the most advanced technology screen the most important part of your eye.
• Early detection of preventable changes.
• Accurate comparison of your eye health from one year to the next.
• Improved referral if necessary.

For more information or to book your appointment today please call 01625 548848 or contact us by email via our website at James Doyle Opticians, Wilmslow.