At John O’Connor Optometrists, a new high-tech machine is helping us protect and improve Aucklanders’ eye health. Our OCT (Optical Coherence Tomography) machine helps our optometrists spot eye diseases and conditions early, so they can treat them before they worsen. And that’s got to be good! What is an OCT Machine? An OCT machine uses light waves to take detailed pictures of the different layers of the retina, the light-sensitive tissue at the back of your eye. It’s like an ultrasound, but instead of sound waves, it uses light waves so we can see what’s going on inside your eye
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Archives for Eye Health
How hay fever affects the eyes
Sneezing, sniffling, stuffy nose, itchy throat and itchy, red, dry eyes: Auckland hay fever sufferers know all too well what comes with springtime. Hay fever can really ruin your day. But, with a bit of planning, and some of our help, you can win the battle and get relief. Seasonal allergies are caused by high pollen levels released by trees, grass, outdoor moulds and weeds. For many, about 20 per cent of us, this means suffering through months of misery. But there are things you can do to ease your symptoms and get relief. How do allergies irritate eyes? Allergies
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Eye Tests for Children: When is the Best Time to Have One?
Did you know that one in five school-aged children has an undiagnosed vision problem? This is why it’s important to take your child for an eye test at the earliest opportunity. After the last few years of more learning-from-home and increased screen time, it’s more important than ever to remember to get your children’s eyes tested by a reputable optometrist. Close work and increased time in front of a screen can lead to digital eye strain and myopia (short-sightedness). Even if your child isn’t complaining of specific eye issues, it’s still important to take them for an eye test. Young
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Catching Glaucoma Symptoms Early
See us straight away If at any time you suffer from symptoms, such as ‘fogs’ and pressure in either eye, flashes, headaches or loss of vision, please see one of our experienced team immediately and we will carry out a comprehensive assessment of your eyes. Spotting glaucoma symptoms early can make the world of difference to your sight. What is Glaucoma? Glaucoma is no laughing matter. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide, but early diagnosis and modern treatment mean glaucoma can be well managed. Glaucoma damages the optic nerve and leads to vision loss. The pressure inside
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Kids’ eye care
Looking after children’s eye health at school Research shows that around 20% of school-aged children have an undiagnosed vision problem. For your child to develop to their full potential both at school and socially, good eyesight is key. The eye is still developing throughout early childhood so if problems are treated early, it can make a lasting difference. It’s never too early to have a sight test and visiting an optometrist will mean you can spot and manage vision problems that may affect your child’s development. How do I know if my child has an eye problem? Some eye conditions
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Summer allergies
The summer season is upon us; it’s the perfect time for a break away from work, exam stress, or even just the stuffy confines of the indoors. However, it can be difficult to relax and enjoy yourself if you’re suffering from itchy eyes from hay fever. Along with beautiful weather, comes the blooming of flowers and trees sending pollen flying through the air. Warm, dry, and windy days and early in the morning when pollen counts are high can wreak havoc for people with seasonal allergies. What causes itchy eyes? Allergies occur when our body’s natural defence over-react to harmless
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Children’s vision changes after lockdown
Eye doctors had planned to celebrate 2020 as the year of vision (as in seeing 20/20). Instead, thanks to Covid-19, it will be known as the year that worsened the world’s vision for decades to come. Some optometrists across New Zealand are noticing a spike in children’s vision problems as we emerge from COVID-19 lockdowns. We are seeing even more new cases of nearsightedness, or myopia in children recently, and as has also been reported internationally, some children who were already nearsighted now seem to experience worsening vision at a faster-than-expected rate. Distance learning up close and personal When schools
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Eye health during lockdown
For many of us, living through a Covid-19 lockdown has meant many of our habits have changed and we’re spending a lot more time staring at a screen than we did before the pandemic. So this month’s blog is again reinforcing just how important it is to look after our eyes when we’re in front of computers and devices during lockdown and about giving our eyes a rest. Lockdown and tired eyes One of the more common questions our optometrists are being asked is about tired eyes, and what we can do to make eyes feeling less strained when we’re
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Covid lockdowns and myopia in children
Children’s reliance on screens during lockdown makes the battle for digital-free time even tougher Covid-19 certainly doesn’t seem to have helped the running argument in many NZ households: children demanding more screen time, parents wanting less. And it seems parents are right again: studies have drawn a link between lockdowns and childhood myopia. A study from the Chinese University of Hong Kong found the eyesight of some children who were already near-sighted worsened more quickly than expected during lockdowns, while other children developed myopia at a greater rate than optometrists had seen prior to 2020 and Covid-19 changing our worlds.
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Treatment for dry eye
Do you suffer from dry eye syndrome? Horrible, isn’t it? Treatment for dry eye includes cleansing, massage and heat and our team can help improve your outlook on life. Dry eye syndrome is a debilitating, common condition. Although it can develop at any age, it is more common amongst older people. The good news is that it can be easily treated. Help for dry eyes Our Auckland optometrists specialise in treatment for dry eye. Between our Henderson Optometry practice and our optometrists in Newmarket our staff has dedicated over 35 years’ helping dry eye sufferers. We offer an effective in-house
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Blepharitis, dry eyes, Eye diseases, Eye Problems, Itchy Eyes, and Treatment.