Short days, long sight
Autumn and winter are synonymous with darkness and the cold weather and it’s natural to adopt a different lifestyle once BST gives way to GMT. Out go wide-brimmed hats and suncream, and in come reading lamps and quilted jackets.
It might surprise you to learn that your eyes need the same protection against UV and other dangers in the depths of winter as they do during the height of summer.
Sunglasses are associated with summer beach holidays more than winter commuting, but low sun can still cause us to squint and develop headaches.
In the absence of bright summer sunshine, a full spectrum lamp simulates the serotonin-boosting effects of natural daylight. Yet these depression-banishing lamps still have value on a cloudy autumn afternoon, in terms of providing clear white light for reading and enjoying hobbies.
As well as improving vision, effective indoor lighting reduces the risk of accidents.
Cold weather does pose some unique issues, such as glasses fogging up as you move from chilly environments to warm ones. However, the same year-round principles apply in terms of lens maintenance. Gently clean condensation off lenses with a microfibre cloth, avoiding abrasive materials.
You can read related tips in the ‘Caring for your glasses’ article further down the page.
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Your guide to Presbyopia
Presbyopia is a natural part of ageing. The word translates from the Greek phrase ‘old eye’, since people over 40 often find it harder to focus on close objects as the flexible lenses in their eyes become more rigid. The painless onset of presbyopia may continue until your mid-60s, and it’s highly inconvenient if you need to hold objects at arm’s length to see them clearly!
In bygone years, bifocal glasses provided the most common solution to presbyopia related blurriness. Their distinct horizontal lines and twin prescription strengths have since given way to varifocals, which are far more discreet and capable of supporting vision at varying distances simultaneously.
As we explain in the article below, prescription varifocals provide far clearer vision than any shop-bought off-the-shelf reading glasses.
Presbyopia often represents the first time many people need to wear glasses. However, the comprehensive array of frames stocked in our practice reflects ongoing advances in both modern comfortable design and lightweight materials.
Are you reading comfortably?
Reading is one of life’s great pleasures, and it’s important that it doesn’t begin to challenge you. From small-print books to the miniature text on our phone screens, there are many instances where reading feels challenging as your vision changes over time.
Achieving the optimal prescription strength across all your glasses and contact lenses means avoiding cheap ‘ready readers’ from newsagents or general stores. These flimsy, mass-produced reading glasses have fixed magnifications that take no account of your specific prescription, or variations between each eye.
By contrast, we can supply bespoke prescription reading glasses, fitted in comfortable and durable frames that house lenses tailor-made to each eye’s precise prescription strength. You might also want to consider varifocal lenses, providing equally clear sight for close-up and distance.
Also, it helps to increase font size on computers and mobile devices, often achieved by pinching and zooming. Finally, regular eye tests will identify any prescription changes that might be diminishing your ability to read comfortably.
Caring for your glasses
Collecting your new glasses from our practice gives you the opportunity to enjoy crystal-clear vision through lenses which are free from any scratches or marks. These are some of the things you can do to ensure they remain in as-new condition for many months to come…
- Always wash your hands before handling glasses to prevent dirt, grease, bacteria and dust reaching the lenses.
- Add protective coatings. Our team can advise on scratch-resistant coatings and other durability-boosting improvements.
- Rest your glasses sides-down when not in use, to prevent the lenses being dragged across hard surfaces.
- Regularly clean each lens using a microfibre lens cloth and a dedicated cleaning spray, preventing dirt build-up.
- Avoid temperature extremes, such as resting glasses on radiators, which might warp them or damage temperature-sensitive coatings.
- Wear wraparound goggles for activities like DIY, where fragments might bounce off the lenses and cause micro-scratches.
- Don’t clean lenses with alcohol-based products or anything containing ammonia, which can damage the lens surfaces.
- Never dry wet lenses with abrasive or scratchy materials like tissues, kitchen roll or cotton clothing.
Please pop into our practice for a complimentary spectacle spruce up
in a protective case overnight. We stock a variety of soft and hard-shell cases to keep your glasses as good as new