NEWS
Children’s eyecare initiative
Polly Dulley is chair of this national group, run by the Optical Confederation. The aim of the group is to improve eyecare for ALL children. This means trying to get the message across to both parents and teachers that eyecare is vital for all children. In the UK, just 53% of children have ever had any kind of eye examination, and this means that one in five children have an undetected vision problem. Many parents assume that children’s eyes are still checked at school, but this is simply not the case, in many parts of the UK. They also think that a child will complain if they have a vision problem, but many children don’st realise they have a problem, because they have no idea of what is normal.
So far, Polly has written a letter to the head teachers of 23,000 schools in the UK, asking for help from teachers in encouraging parents to get their children’ss eyes checked, and offering help and resources to improve understanding and knowledge about eyes and eyecare.
Many children who come to Aves already have been used in filming and for interviews in both local and national newspapers, telling their own story of why regular eyecare is so important and how it has changed their lives.
If your children haven’st had an eye examination, book them in today. It’s free and it might make a huge difference to your child’ss development. Children who can’st see clearly find it more difficult to learn and play!
Prescription Sunglasses
Protecting our eyes from the sun’ss harmful rays is vital. Eye conditions such as cataract and macular degeneration are both more likely in people who don’st protect their eyes from the sun. Aves stock a wide range of both non-prescription and prescription sunglasses. A complete pair of prescription sunglasses costs as little as £99, so do pop in and have a look. Be ready for the sunshine!
Children’s eyecare initiative
Polly Dulley is chair of this national group, run by the Optical Confederation. The aim of the group is to improve eyecare for ALL children. This means trying to get the message across to both parents and teachers that eyecare is vital for all children. In the UK, just 53% of children have ever had any kind of eye examination, and this means that one in five children have an undetected vision problem. Many parents assume that children’s eyes are still checked at school, but this is simply not the case, in many parts of the UK. They also think that a child will complain if they have a vision problem, but many children don’st realise they have a problem, because they have no idea of what is normal.
So far, Polly has written a letter to the head teachers of 23,000 schools in the UK, asking for help from teachers in encouraging parents to get their children’ss eyes checked, and offering help and resources to improve understanding and knowledge about eyes and eyecare.
Many children who come to Aves already have been used in filming and for interviews in both local and national newspapers, telling their own story of why regular eyecare is so important and how it has changed their lives.
If your children haven’st had an eye examination, book them in today. It’s free and it might make a huge difference to your child’ss development. Children who can’st see clearly find it more difficult to learn and play!
Prescription Sunglasses
Protecting our eyes from the sun’ss harmful rays is vital. Eye conditions such as cataract and macular degeneration are both more likely in people who don’st protect their eyes from the sun. Aves stock a wide range of both non-prescription and prescription sunglasses. A complete pair of prescription sunglasses costs as little as £99, so do pop in and have a look. Be ready for the sunshine!
Glaucoma
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma is the name for a group of eye conditions which cause damage to the optic nerve at the back of the eye. When the optic nerve is damaged the visual information from your eyes cannot reach the brain (see how the human eye works), resulting in permanent sight loss.
People often talk about pressure in the eye when they discuss glaucoma, but glaucoma is not just about eye pressure. All eyes need a certain amount of pressure inside them to maintain the shape of the eye. In some types of glaucoma the pressure becomes abnormally high and it is thought that this pressure directly damages the optic nerve. However, in other types of glaucoma, the eye pressure is normal and it is thought that a weakness in the optic nerve leads to damage and visual loss.
Would I know if I had glaucoma?
In a small number of cases, glaucoma is associated with very high levels of eye pressure. Extreme eye pressure produces significant pain and redness of the eye. People often feel sick with the pain and report seeing haloes around lights at night. This type of glaucoma is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment to reduce the eye pressure.
Sometimes people will have episodes of raised eye pressure before a full blown attack and so it is important not to ignore symptoms of pain and redness in one eye, particularly if associated with haloes around lights.
Most glaucoma however is not associated with very high eye pressure and therefore has no symptoms in the early stages of the disease.
How can glaucoma be detected?
Whenever you have an eye examination, the optometrist is always looking for signs of glaucoma. Having regular eye examinations should mean that glaucoma can be detected at an early stage before significant optic nerve damage has occurred.
Tests for glaucoma include
- Measuring your level of vision
- Measuring the eye pressure
- Examining the optic nerve for signs of glaucoma damage
- Examining the eye for signs that may predispose you to developing glaucoma
- Measuring the visual field for signs of early vision loss
- Optic nerve head photography to help detect subtle changes over time
- Measuring corneal thickness as thin corneas are associated with higher risk of glaucoma
The optometrist will look at the results of these tests and consider any other predisposing factors such as family history to judge whether you may be developing glaucoma.
Your GP will not be able to tell you if you have glaucoma.
Can glaucoma be cured?
Glaucoma cannot be cured but it can be treated in an attempt to minimise the effect on vision. Glaucoma is usually treated by using eyedrops once or twice per day and this treatment must be continued indefinitely. In some cases glaucoma is treated by laser or surgery.
For glaucoma to be successfully treated it is important that it is diagnosed at an early stage before significant loss of sight has occurred.
More useful information about glaucoma can be found at the following websites:
YOU SAID IT
"I have been a patient of Aves for some years now and as a local businessman, never fail to marvel at the remarkable mix of professionalism, attention and welcome you get when you enter the practice. I have urged all of our staff to use Aves and benefit from what is a great team of people committed to delivering a fantastic local service."
Mr G.H.
