NEWSLETTER

Help for headache
Recurring headaches can be a symptom of an underlying problem. Vision problems that cause eyestrain and associated headache include astigmatism, longsightedness (hyperopia) and poor binocular vision. Eye-related headaches can also occur after extended periods of close work that require intense concentration. Presbyopia, which affects most people from the age of 40 years, can make you more prone to near-work induced headaches.

In cases of uncorrected hyperopia and astigmatism, the eyes’ muscles have to work harder to keep the image in focus. With presbyopia the lens becomes harder and inflexible with age, causing blurriness at near, sore eyes and difficulty changing focus from near to distance. Poor binocular co-ordination means people’s eyes may not work well together, causing strain on the external muscles of the eye and resulting in tired or aching eyes, poor concentration, headaches and blurring of vision, particularly with close work.

Most conditions can be corrected with prescription spectacles or contact lenses and sometimes advice about lighting, glare eduction, eye exercises and computer ergonomics can help. If you experience headaches after reading or using the computer, or after work every day, or feel pain around your eyes, seek an eye examination by an optometrist. Optometrists are trained in headache management and may be able to help alleviate them or suggest where you can look for further assistance.

Progressive lenses
Progressive lenses are multifocal lenses that are used to correct vision in various ways. The lens prescription makes it possible to see objects clearly whether they are far away, at a medium distance or close up. This is done by blending varying lens powers so that the wearer can look through the spectacles at different angles, depending on the type of vision required.

The distance section is used when the wearer looks straight ahead, the close-up section for tasks such as reading is at the bottom and the intermediate vision area is somewhere in between and is suited to actions about an arm’s length away such as using a mobile phone.

The areas at the sides of the progressive lenses are known as the blending zones. Unlike bifocal and trifocal lenses which have lines through them, progressive lenses have no visible dividing lines to indicate that the lens prescription has taken different levels of vision into consideration. The spectacles appear to have clear, unlined lenses but they are actually constructed with a number of curves through which the progression from one area of focus to the next is achieved. The progression is gradual, meaning that the progressive lenses enable the person wearing the spectacles to adjust focus smoothly from one area of vision to the next.

The ease of seeing through progressive lenses has a lot to do with looking directly at the object on which you want to focus. For best results your nose needs to point at the object you want to see. This keeps our spectacles and your progressive lenses centred on the object and maximises your ability to focus. Your near and intermediate prescriptions form a vertical corridor in the middle, lower portion of each lens.

Progressive lenses are cleverly designed to ensure the right part of your prescription is positioned at the right place for your various vision needs.

Relief for dry eye
Healthy eyes generate tears that protect and moisturise the surface of the eye. Changes to the health of tears can result in a change in the quantity and quality of the tears, which can lead to symptoms of dry eye. Dry eye can sometimes lead to more tears being produced, causing a watery eye, but excessive tears are not necessarily good because it can mean the eyes are trying to over-compensate for the lack of healthy tear production.

Tears are composed of three layers. The outer layer consists of an oily film that counters evaporation and keeps the eye moistened. The middle film provides nutrients and proteins that assist in limiting eye infections and the inner coating contains mucous that allows the tear film to spread and remain stable on the eye.

Dry eye symptoms can occur as a part of the natural ageing process, especially during menopause or as a side-effect of Relief for dry eye some medications, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, certain blood pressure medicines and birth control pills. Air conditioning, room heating and a dry, dusty or windy climate can make eyes dry, as do using a hair dryer, cigarette smoke and exposure to wind while running or bike-riding.

Another cause is insufficient blinking, which often occurs when staring at a computer screen for long hours.

Some soft contact lenses are prone to dehydration because they contain water and as the water evaporates from the front surface of the lens, the lenses react by absorbing water from your natural tear film, causing dry eye symptoms. Dry eye symptoms from contact lenses often can be minimised or eliminated by changing lens materials or the water content of the lenses. Your optometrist may prescribe lubricating eye-drops, gels, ointments or natural supplements that may alleviate dry eye symptoms.

Multifocal contact lenses
People are aware of multifocal spectacle lenses but most do not know that there are also multifocal contact lenses. These amazing little lenses allow you to focus clearly on near and on distant objects.

During our 40s, presbyopia develops and near objects become more difficult to focus on yet as they age, people want their vision to continue to be as comfortable and convenient as if their vision had not changed.

For contact lens wearers who require a vision correction to see close objects and have to use spectacles over their contact lenses for reading, multifocal contact lenses can provide good close-up and distance vision without the need for spectacles.

Multifocal contact lenses are available in both soft and rigid gas permeable lens materials and are designed for daily wear, extended (overnight) wear or continuous wear. Soft multifocal lenses can be comfortably worn on a part-time basis, so they are great for weekends and other occasions if you prefer not to wear them all day, every day. For the ultimate in convenience, one-day disposable soft multifocal lenses allow you to discard the lenses at the end of a single day of wear, so there is no hassle with lens care.

Soft multifocal contact lenses can also correct astigmatism by using a toric lens design. New generation silicone hydrogel contact lenses allow more oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye, making them less prone to end-of-day discomfort than traditional contact lenses. Advances in technology have meant that the inconvenience of vision problems has decreased significantly. Multifocal contact lenses come in various designs that work in different ways to give you good vision. Your optometrist can tell you all about them.