At the start of spring I can't wear my contact lenses comfortably as my eyes itch - why is this?
You are probably suffering from an eye allergy. Spring often brings about more sneezing and increased pollen counts along with all the daffodils. Certain susceptible individuals will experience a reaction in the eyes and an allergic conjunctivitis results. The itching is usually confined to the upper and/or lower lids and possibly the corner of the eye closest to your nose. If you wear contact lenses, the best thing to do is switch to spectacles for the duration of the allergy and buy a small supply of daily disposable lenses so that you can use them for a few hours out in the evening if you are desperate. Daily disposables would be the best lens type if your allergies are fairly chronic and you refuse to wear glasses. For relief from the itching certain anti-histamine containing drops can be bought from your local pharmacy. Most cannot be used in conjunction with contact lenses. Other types of drops can be used over a sustained period of time to strengthen the membranes of the cells that cause the symptoms of allergy. These drops have a longer-term effect and are called mast-cell stabilizers. The active ingredient is usually sodium cromoglycate. Ask your Optometrist or pharmacist for more information.
 
What should I do if my contact lenses feel dry?
It is always wise to carry contact lens comfort drops in your handbag or back pocket. The preservative-free single use drops are best recommended and may be used as and when required for extra comfort. Environments to watch out for are smoky and dusty places, gyms, where working out causes your body temperature to rise and eyes to dry out as a result, air-conditioned and heated offices, especially when coupled with staring at a computer all day and long-distance driving. Take care to only use drops specified for use with contact lenses and ask your Optometrist if you are unsure.
 
What is glaucoma?
There are two types of adult-onset Glaucoma and both refer to an increased abnormal pressure within the eyeball. The rarer form is when an acute attack occurs. Symptoms include a painful, red eye and possible light sensitivity and nausea. The most common form of Glaucoma is the preventable chronic type. Sight is adversely affected if it is not picked up early, the long-term effect being progressively worsening tunnel vision. It is essential to have your eyes screened for glaucoma once you are over the age of 40 years as the relative risk increases from this point. Other factors increasing the risk of glaucoma are diabetes, high levels of short-sightedness, age and family history.
 
How soon can I get contact lenses?
At OPTX, our stock range allows us to fit and supply most established contact lens wearers in an hour. If you are new to contact lenses then more time is required in order to teach you how to insert, remove and take care of the contact lenses. Our patient contact lens fitters will spend all day with you if necessary, so do not feel pressured and take your time as you are introduced to the new world of contact lenses.
 
Something is definitely not right about my new specs - what do I do?

Perhaps you are aware that your specs are not right even after trying them for 3 weeks. Before booking a retest with the Optometrist, you should do the following:

  • Step One: Visit our Spectacle Collections team bringing in your new specs as well as any old specs if you feel that they seem better.
  • Step Two: Our team will check your new spectacles to ensure that all the measurements required are correct and as per the optometrist's specification. Any errors found will be rectified instantly, if this is possible.
  • Step Three: Assuming the measurements are correct, our team will then recheck your frame adjustment to ensure that they fit your face in a visually optimal way.
  • Step Four: At this stage you may already feel better and simply need to readapt to the new fitting. If you still feel uncertain and suspect the prescription to be at fault, then you would be advised to see your optometrist for a reassessment. It is generally better to see the same optometrist that consulted you initially, so an appointment may be required should that optometrist not be present on that day.
 
 
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Glossary


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P

There are 16 entries in the glossary.
Pages: 1

Term Definition
PresbyopiaAs our eyes grow older the ability to focus clearly on anything close-up starts to diminish. This occurs because we lose our ability to accommodate or make the lens of the eye fatter in shape. One popular way of explaining how this happens likens the natural lens of the eye to a pillow with feathers inside. The lens contains many fibres (feathers) which grow throughout life in the same way that hair and skin continues to grow. This is not surprising considering that these tissues all come from the same founding cells. When the lens is younger and has fewer fibres it is more flexible and can change its shape more easily just as a pillow with fewer feathers can. When the lens is older and has many more fibres this flexibility is obviously lost which causes the near vision to blur.
 
presbyopicAs our eyes grow older the ability to focus clearly on anything close-up starts to diminish. This occurs because we lose our ability to accommodate or make the lens of the eye fatter in shape. One popular way of explaining how this happens likens the natural lens of the eye to a pillow with feathers inside. The lens contains many fibres (feathers) which grow throughout life in the same way that hair and skin continues to grow. This is not surprising considering that these tissues all come from the same founding cells. When the lens is younger and has fewer fibres it is more flexible and can change its shape more easily just as a pillow with fewer feathers can. When the lens is older and has many more fibres this flexibility is obviously lost which causes the near vision to blur.
 
Progressive flat-topsThese lenses change power gradually as the eye moves down through the near segment allowing a range of ten inches to ten feet. One visible line divides the distant power prescription to the intermediate and near prescription.
 
Progressive no linesAdvanced technology allows these lenses to gradually change in power from the distance segment to the near vision segment Your specific prescription is ground from a series of custom lens designs and powers.
 


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