FOCUS NEWS ARTICLES

April to June 2011

• What optical shops should be: More than just eyeglasses
• Fun under the sun: Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays

What optical shops should be: More than just eyeglasses

Welcome! After 50 years, it is with great pleasure that we come out with our first newsletter. The first of its kind for Optical stores in the Philippines.

When my father opened George Optical clinic on October 10, 1960, his vision was to give to his patients, clients or customers the very best in eye care service. Today, everybody at George Optical lives with the same vision so let me begin this issue by telling you how we do so.

George Optical today offers our clients "More than just eyeglasses" because we do not only check your prescription but also assess the general health of your eyes. All in all, we are able to do so through our various types of eye examination.

1) EYE EXAMINATION

An eye examination with George Optical on average takes 15 minutes and includes the following although the order may vary:

• HISTORY TAKING: Your optometrist will need to know the purpose of your visit so that he or she can help you. You will also be asked questions about your health and your family as some eye problems can be hereditary. Your daily visual needs and hobbies are important for your optometrist to know as well. Bring with you any corrective eyewear you have so that your optometrist can have a look at them.
• PRE-SCREENING: Initial reading of your prescription will be taken through a computerized refractor.
• REFRACTION: This is a test of your eyesight. Through refraction, your optometrist will be able to determine should you need to have prescription eyeglasses.
• OPHTHALMOSCOPY: This is a procedure that examines the inner health of you eye. Your optometrist will need to dim the lights, use an ophthalmoscope and move close to your eye to examine the inner parts. Through ophthalmoscopy, your optometrist will be able to determine should you have any eye problems, such as cataracts, that can affect your vision.
  
  Consequently, we highly recommend that you visit your optometrist regulary to help detect certain eye problems and diseases before you even notice the effect on your vision. Since early treatment can prevent your eyesight from getting worse.
  
  For children, it is recommended that the first eye exam should be at 4 years old, unless parents noticed any vision problem earlier; then at least once a year thereafter especially for those who are already wearing prescription glasses and those with hereditary eye problems.

2) EYE EXAMINATION FOR CONTACT LENS WEAR

The initial eye examination for contact lens wear takes longer, on average 30 minutes, as it requires the optometrist to conduct more tests to determine your suitability and consequently increase your success rate of wearing contact lenses. It is recommended that contact lens wearers have a regular follow up eye examination once every 6 months in order to check and monitor if there is any effect on your eye's health caused by wearing contact lenses. Additional tests for contact lens wearers:

• SLIT-LAMP BIOMICROSCOPE. This is an instrument that checks the outer health of your eye to determine if you can wear contact lenses or not. For follow-up eye exam for contact lens wearers, your optometrist will be able to check and monitor any effect of contact lens wear as well to check if the fit of your contact lens is optimal.
• KERATOMETER. This is an instrument to measure the curvature of the front surface of your eye called cornea so that your optometrist will be able to determine the correct size of the contact lens for you.

3) EYE EXAMINATION FOR GLAUCOMA SCREENING

In this procedure, we will add the use of a TONOMETER. This is an instrument that will measure the pressure inside your eye. The procedure is absolutely painless, as you will just feel a sudden puff of air on your eye. Patients with family history of glaucoma in particular should be screened regularly with this since glaucoma is a hereditary eye disease that can lead to blindness. Fortunately, because of this technology offered by George Optical, going blind is no longer necessary for as long as it is detected at its early stage. Should your optometrist find you to be a glaucoma suspect, you will be referred to an ophthalmologist.

3) EYE EXAMINATION WITH COLOR VISION TEST

This is a test to screen you of color deficiency. Color deficiency affects the color of the things you see but not your vision. This is also hereditary in nature. Through color vision test, your optometrist will be able to determine which color/s you find difficult to identify. This test is particularly valuable for children so that they may be properly advised already at an early age before they choose their occupation in which normal color vision is a requirement such as sea man, electricians, pilots.

At the end of your eye examination, our LICENSED optometrist will have addressed the purpose of your visit, give you corresponding recommendations, discuss with you your eye exam results and your eye health and advise you of your next appointment. Please do not hesitate to ask questions with our optometrist about any aspect of your eye exam.

Today, besides our practices having licensed optometrists using the state-of-the-art equipments mentioned above, all our optometrists, like with all other doctors, continue to receive continuing education constantly upgrading their knowledge and skills.

So come and have your eyes tested today, whether it be for spectacles, contact lenses or just a routine eye check, and find out for yourself what we mean by "More than Just Eyeglasses".

Fun under the sun: Protect your eyes from harmful UV rays

We protect our skin with sunscreen, but what about our eyes? Most of us are aware of the dangerous effects ultraviolet (UV) rays (specifically UV-A and UV-B radiation) have on our skin, but few of us realize the danger imposed on our eyes. UV radiation, whether from natural sunlight or artificial UV rays, can damage our eyes much like sunburn on the skin.

Effects of UV Radiation

Scientific studies and research have shown that exposure to small amounts of UV radiation over a period of many years may increase the chance of developing:

• Photokeratitis (an inflammation of the cornea). This may be compared to a sunburn of the very sensitive skin-like tissues of the eyeball and eyelids.
• Photoconjunctivitis (an inflammation of the conjunctiva).
• Piguecula (a small, yellowish, non-cancerous nodule or growth on the conjuctiva near the cornea.
• Pterygium (a non-cancerous growth of the clear, thin tissue that lays over the white part of the eye or conjunctiva)
• Cataracts
• Skin cancer around the eyelids
• Cancer of the eye

So how do we protect our eyes from UV Radiation?

It is not yet known how much exposure to UV radiation will cause how much damage, but a good recommendation is to do the following:

• In general:
  • Wear a wide-brimmed hat when working outdoors, participating in outdoor sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.
  • Always wear eye protection whenever you go under the sun, regardless in cloudy days.Wear quality sunglasses that have lenses that block out 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation as well as one that has a wrap-around frame shape that can keep UV rays from reaching the eyes.
• For those with prescription:
  • Wear the following lenses that offer 100% UV protection:
    • Airwear*
    • Transition lenses*
    • Lenses of high index materials*
      *All of these are available in single vision and progressive lenses. Should your preferred lens are not on this list, you may then request from our optical consultants to add UV coating on your lenses.
  • Wear contact lenses that have UV protection:
    • Belcon 60% UV and Slims
    • Belcon Gas Permeable lenses
    • Ningaloo colored lenses
    • Sofclear disposable lenses
    • Acuvue disposable lenses
      *Alternatively, if your preferred contact lens of choice does not come with UV, then wear sunglasses that provide UV protection.

• Issue 2 - July to September 2011
• Issue 3 - October to December 2011
• Issue 4 - January to March 2012