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| GENERAL |
| How often should I have a Sight Test? |
We recommend that you have your eyes checked once every year, but this may vary depending upon the nature of your prescription. At the very least, you should have your sight checked once per two years. Should you wear contact lenses, a more frequent interval of every 12 months is advised. These recommended intervals assume that you are not experiencing any symptoms of visual change.
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| Will my sight worsen if I start wearing specs or contact lenses? |
Wearing a prescription does not make your vision worse. Often when someone gets spectacles for the first time the visual improvement is so amazing that vision without them seems much worse, especially as time goes by. However, this is simply because the brain can now compare two images directly: one with specs and one without. Prior to this, your eyes had nothing to make a comparison with. Therefore, the vision did not seem quite so fuzzy, when in fact it was. Both nature (your genes) and nurture (life's influence on you) have their roles to play and their interaction will decide the way your eyes will change with time.
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| How long will the eye exam take? |
| This should not take longer than 30 minutes assuming no extra tests or contact lens fittings are required. We Endeavour to have completed our service to you within an hour. |
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| What does the eye exam involve? |
| An Eye Exam allows the optometrist to: |
- Determine any relevant prescription for your eyes (far or near-sighted, astigmatic, presbyopic)
- Check that the muscles of the eyes work together
- Check your Eye Health and screen for any associated general health problems
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| What is the difference between an ophthalmologist and an optometrist? |
Ophthalmologists are sometimes known as eye surgeons or eye specialists as they concentrate on diagnosing and treating eye diseases. They are essentially medical doctors that specialize in eyes and may perform surgery and prescribe medication as they see fit. Some also undertake the prescription of spectacles, contact lenses and recommend eye exercises, although this is quite rare. Optometrists will screen the eyes for diseases and refer to ophthalmologists if necessary. However, optometrists concentrate on spectacle and contact lens prescriptions. Some specialize in eye exercises to improve eye muscle conditions.
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| What is LASIK surgery? |
LASIK stands for Laser in Situ Keratomileusis. It is a form of refractive surgery, which corrects near or far-sightedness and astigmatism. It cannot correct Presbyopia, but treatment is sometimes aimed at leaving one eye slightly short-sighted in order to account for this condition. LASIK can only be performed by an eye surgeon.
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| CONTACT LENSES |
| Do I still need specs if I wear contact lenses? |
Absolutely YES! The key to successful contact lens wear is to allow your eyes a rest without them, at least one day per week. This is why no contact lens wearer should be without a pair of spectacles. Furthermore, an average of 12 hours wear per day is recommended. There will always be times when you cannot wear contact lenses. Examples include: when you have Hay fever causing the eyes to itch; if you have a bad cold or flu; if you have a mild conjunctivitis; if you are taking a course of medication which is not compatible with lens wear or if you are about to take a trip in an airplane. Perhaps you simply need to see your way to the kitchen in the middle of the night in order to grab a glass of water. As a parent of a newborn infant, you will understand the demands placed upon you throughout the night – no time for contact lenses when your baby needs you. Your spectacles should also be updated so that the prescription matches that of your contact lenses. All too often contact lens wearers have spectacles that they cannot see with, as the prescription is so old. In order to overcome any dislike for your spectacles also ensure that you are aesthetically happy with the frames. Look good, see good and feel good!
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| Is it possible to get contact lenses for occasional use only? |
Yes. Many spectacle wearers are happy using their glasses but want the option of contact lenses for certain occasions. Examples include partaking in a sporting activity once or twice per week or weekend or holiday use. At Your Optical Practice Name, your optometrist will help you decide on the best contact lens system to meet your requirements. Generally, daily disposable soft lenses are the best type for occasional wear as they are so easy to use. The responsibility of cleaning them is removed since they are discarded immediately after use.
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| Is my prescription the same for both specs and contact lenses? |
No. A contact lens prescription is only 100% complete when the details of their fit are included. This means that although the powers may seem similar to your spectacle prescription, the powers alone are not sufficient when specifying a contact lens prescription. Additional parameters like lens type, diameter and base curve must also be included.
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| Can my contact lenses get 'lost' behind my eyeball? |
No, this can NEVER happen as the eyeball has a 'safety net' situated underneath both eyelids. This 'safety net' is a membrane called the conjunctiva. The conjunctiva is a continuous membrane enveloping the outer portion of the eyeball as well.
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| Can I use any contact lens solutions or fluids for my lenses? |
No. Always discuss your solutions with your optometrist if you are thinking of changing types. It is quite possible to change from one brand of multipurpose solution to another, however, it is not wise to change from a multipurpose solution to a peroxide type where neutralization is required. Many contact lens wearers have made the mistake of using 3% hydrogen peroxide as a multipurpose solution.
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| Is it okay to sleep with my contact lenses in? |
Unless your optometrist has specifically said that you can, sleeping with your contact lenses in is a no-no. Our optometrists generally allow overnight wear only if you are using a silicone-hydrogel type of lens.
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| Is it okay to use saliva or tap water to clean or re-wet my contact lenses? |
Absolutely not! Always carry a travel-size solution pack with you if you can. If you are not able to do this then pop a few strips of contact lens comfort drops or your contact lens container filled with fresh solution into your back pocket. Tap water and saliva are extremely unhygienic sources of fluid and many dangerous bugs can find their way to your corneas if they are used with your lenses. Don't forget to wash your hands before handling your contact lenses.
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| Can I wear contact lenses? |
Yes - in most cases you will be able to use contact lenses. Certain individuals with unusual prescriptions or poor eye health may not be suitable. Ask your optometrist to advise on the options available.
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| How long can I wear my contact lenses in a day? |
You should never exceed an average of 12 hours of lens wear per day. If you require longer wearing times because of your lifestyle, speak to your optometrist about lenses that allow more oxygen to your eyes. Some individuals mistakenly believe that it is okay to wear one pair of lenses for some of the day and then change over to another pair for the rest of the day and so extend their wearing time. The suggested 12 hour wearing period is not specific to one pair of lenses. It means that in a day your eyes should never have more than 12 hours of lens wear irrespective of how many pairs you choose to wear!
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| SPECTACLES |
| How thick will my spectacle lenses be? |
This depends on your prescription, the type of lenses you choose, and your frame. The higher the prescription the thicker the lenses, but this can be minimized with high index lenses. In the lower prescription ranges, the type of lens does not matter as much. Ultra-thin Hi index plastics are now available which make plastic lenses much more feasible in more moderate prescriptions. As a general rule, the smaller the frame the thinner the edges of a lens for short-sighted individuals. Smaller frames always mean fewer lenses, so significant weight advantages are gained when opting for something smaller. Ask your dispenser about smaller diameter lenses. This means that the original lens size is smaller and the overall thickness is therefore less. Long-sighted individuals can have thickness reductions by asking to have their lenses “met zed” (Minimum Edge Thickness reduction).
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| What are the advantages of glass lenses over plastic lenses? |
Plastic lenses are lighter and have 3 x the impact resistance of glass while glass lenses are thinner.
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| Does the price on the frame include the lenses? |
No, the price on the frame relates only to the frame. Lens prices vary depending on the material and design of the lenses required. Ask your optometrist or dispenser to advice on the most suitable lens type for your prescription.
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| How difficult is it to adapt to Multifocals? |
The first time any spectacles are worn some adjustment time is required mainly because the new, clear vision needs to be accepted by your brain. Once it has learnt to recognize the images seen through the spectacles and become familiar with them, the initial “WOW” effect should have worn off. Multifocals are slightly trickier than single focal specs since they change in power as the eyes look from the top to the bottom of the lenses. Your eyes need to learn which parts of the lens to use when looking close-up, far-away or in-between. Your optometrist can advise you on tricks to help you get started and in no time you should be well on your way to successful multifocal wear. A few individuals may struggle with these type of lenses simply because they cannot tolerate the changes in power which is inherent in the design of these. We advise that a period of 2 weeks be allowed before deciding that Multifocals are not for you.
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| My new specs make me feel slightly odd even though my vision is clearer - why does this happen? |
The brain is amazing. When your vision was blurry before getting your specs, you may not have been 100% happy with it, but you were comfortable. Your brain adjusts to cope with any visual situation to the best of its ability. Suddenly when new spectacles are worn, the brain is 'surprised' by this new, clearer way of seeing and it takes a few days to learn to recognize the new image. Certain individuals who are prone to vertigo, motion-sickness or are simply highly sensitive may take longer to adjust. Often you feel that the floor is either nearer or farther than before. This is because prescriptions produce changes in magnification and magnification is associated with the perception of distance. This means that even if the distance of the floor is the same, if it is seen as smaller, it will be understood to be further away. Likewise, something larger will be perceived to be closer. The best advice is to persist with your new spectacles and 'wear them in'. If you are still feeling odd after 2 weeks of wear then please let us know. Steps to take in this instance are outlined below. See Something is definitely not right about my new specs what do I do?
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| I feel odd in my new spectacles even though they are made to the same prescription as my old ones - is this normal? |
A change in your prescription is not all that causes a new pair of specs to feel weird. The frame change requires adaptation as you may be looking through a smaller or larger viewing area and the lenses may be closer or farther from your eyes compared with before. The lenses may also be tilted at a different angle in the new frame and perhaps the frame does not wrap your face as much or as little as it did previously. The type of lens design in the new specs will also influence your vision. For example, thinner, flatter, aspheric high index lenses often seem less clear when looking through the extreme periphery of the lens. Perhaps the centers of the lenses are higher or lower than before. This can also influence your initial comfort. Perseverance is the key to adaptation, but after 2 weeks without improvement, please see our spectacle collections team for further assistance.
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| 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 2 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 theprescription 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,
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| What are polarized lenses? |
These are special tinted lenses that polarize light as it passes through. This means that light from only certain planes is allowed to pass through while the rest is eliminated. Visually, the effect would be to get rid of unwanted stray light. This can be quite useful for the avid fisherman, for example, who wants to see just beneath the surface of the water without having to worry about distracting reflections from the surface. They can be made with or without prescription, but may take slightly longer to put together as they need to be ordered.
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If you have any other question feel free to ask Optometrist
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