Summer is here and whether you’re fishing, boating, at the beach or just out for a walk, we all know that when living in New Zealand, the first thing we put on over summer is a high SPF sunscreen that protects our skin against UVA and UVB rays. But what about eye protection? Prolonged periods of exposure to sunlight can cause serious damage to your eyes: not only to the cornea, but also the lens of the eye itself. Sun protection for our eyes is extremely important – not only in the summer months, but all year round. At John
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Posts by Rachel
Myopia control for children – Hoya MiyoSmart lenses
MiyoSmart® is a new non-invasive myopia management solution for children of all ages. Now available in New Zealand from John O’Connor Optometrists, MiyoSmart lenses can potentially curb your child’s myopia progression by an average of 60%. What is myopia? Myopia, or shortsightedness happens when the eye grows too long. Very simply put, if the eye is too long, the lens of the eye focuses the image in front of the retina instead of on top of it. People with myopia see things that are up close clearly, whereas far objects are blurry. Myopia causes eyestrain, which can lead to headaches and
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What Is A Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye that, sadly, is an inevitable consequence of getting older. Cataracts usually occur when normal proteins in the lens of the eye break down and clump together, clouding the lens. Because the lens is no longer as clear as it should be, rather than following a usual path, incoming light is scattered. The cataract or cloudy lens blocks the passage of light to the retina in the back of the eye, causing distorted or blurred vision, issues with glare and difficulty handling bright light . Basically, a cataract is a
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iD Lifestyle 3 Progressive Lenses – very clever
Looking forward through glasses New Zealand has a population of around 4.8 million people, and in 2020 the median age was 38. This basically means that half the people in New Zealand are younger than 38 and half are older. If you are in this top bracket, then either you already have, or probably very soon you will begin to realise that reading material is out of focus. You may also realise that moving stuff further away to bring print into focus is no longer working. Presbyopia, also known as the “short arm syndrome” comes from the Greek meaning “trying
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Anti-reflective coatings
Get HOYA in your eyeglasses Anti-reflective coatings for a sharper look and sharper vision Anti-reflective coatings, or anti-glare coatings, improve vision, prolong spectacle life, lessen eye strain and just make you and your glasses look and see better. Look sharp A range of anti-glare coatings can be applied to your eyeglass lenses to eliminate reflections and enhance vision. Anti-glare coatings allow more light to reach your eyes. Because they get rid of any blur and double images that reflected light might cause, they promote sharper vision. Anti-glare coatings also form a smooth surface layer on your lenses, making them water
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Myopia in children
What is myopia? Myopia is blurry long-distance vision, often called short-sightedness or near-sightedness. A person with myopia can see clearly up close – when reading a book or looking at a phone – but words and objects look fuzzy on a blackboard, on television or when driving. Experts across the globe have concluded, with good evidence, that myopia leads to further sight-threatening conditions. Myopia is spreading Research published in the British Journal of Ophthalmology showed 10 million people worldwide suffered from myopia in 2010. By 2050, it is estimated that more than 50% of the world’s population will have myopia,
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Dry Eye Syndrome
Frequently asked questions about dry eye Do your eyes feel sore or watery? Does reading or computer work make your eyes feel gritty and scratchy? If so, you may have dry eye syndrome. Ever suffer from symptoms such as: Eyes feeling gritty Sensitivity to light Sore, stingy or burning eyes Blurred vision Eye redness Watery eyes Tired eyes? Eyes that are not properly protected by tears are vulnerable to dust, debris, and bacteria, leading to eye infections. Dry eye syndrome affects many people, and although it can develop at any age, it is more common amongst older people. Up to
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Eye Conditions and Eye Health.
Blepharitis, dry eyes, Eye diseases, Eye Problems, Itchy Eyes, and Treatment.
Blepharitis, dry eyes, Eye diseases, Eye Problems, Itchy Eyes, and Treatment.
Sun protection & polarised sunglasses
I think it’s fair to say that most us know that long-term overexposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from the sun can lead to eye damage and that sunglasses are an effective method of UV protection, but what do we know about sunglasses? Sunglasses vs. sunglasses In New Zealand particularly, we know how important sunscreen and hats are for UV protection, but good sunglasses are just as critical. Wearing a broad-brimmed hat and sunglasses that meet the Australian and New Zealand Sunglass Standards can reduce UV radiation exposure to the eyes by up to 98 percent. However, not all sunglasses are
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Itchy eyes – again?
Hay fever horrors Rising sea levels, horrendous storms: climate change is hammering the world – yeah right. You can believe it or not, but one thing that about 20% of the New Zealand population can attest to is that the increase in temperatures means longer growing seasons, and higher pollen counts for allergy-causing plants, such as trees, grass, outdoor moulds and weeds. Hay fever brings with it red, watery, itchy eyes. Pollen power Climate change could contribute to longer – and harsher – hay fever seasons. Pollen season, which typically runs from late winter until the end of summer, is
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Keratoconus: causes and treatment options
Keratoconus – Progressive thinning and distortion of the cornea Keratoconus is an eye disease of the cornea: the thin, clear tissue covering the surface of the front of the eye. A normal, healthy cornea is round in shape, but sometimes the cornea can weaken, losing its shape. Instead of a dome, it becomes cone-shaped, preventing clear vision. This is known as keratoconus. It is a progressive disorder that can either progress rapidly or take years to develop. It may affect only one eye but more commonly occurs in both. Causes of Keratoconus The cause of keratoconus is unknown. It is
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