Sun Safety

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Written by Tracey Kingston White

From the moment we wake up until we fall asleep again our eyes are hard at work. Yet how many consider the damage the sun could do to their eyes during these daylight hours? Research shows that long term unprotected exposure to the sun’s UVA and UVB rays can lead to damage of the eye’s cornea, lens and retina which can affect the quality of vision.

These effects may take years to develop so it is important that the eyes are protected from an early age to reduce the onset of eye disease in later life. The amount of ultraviolet light reaching the earth has increased in recent years due to depletion in the ozone layer. Fortunately, in the UK the ozone layer is thinnest in spring when the sun is still quite low in the sky and there is plenty of cloud cover. However, eye protection is still important. People exposed to high levels of UV are thought to be 4x more likely to develop cataracts(clouding of the eye’s focussing lens).

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Dos and Don’ts

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Written by Tracey Kingston White

The following are all actually "Do's".  Please do...

• Make sure that if you need glasses to look at a screen, you wear them!
• Blink regularly. When focusing on a screen your reflexes will slow down, tear production will reduce, and you will blink less, causing dry and uncomfortable eyes.
• Remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes, look 20 feet away (six metres) for 20 seconds to give your eye muscles a break and help increase the rate of blinking.
• Keep the distance of the monitor from your eyes between 40 and 76 centimetres (16 to 30 inches). Most people find a distance of 50 to 65 centimetres (20 to 26 inches) comfortable.
• Make sure that the top of the monitor is at a level at or slightly below your horizontal eye level.
• Tilt the top of the monitor away from you at a 10- to 20-degree angle. This will enable you to create an optimum viewing angle.
• Keep your screen free of dust and fingerprints.
• Try and position your monitor so that you do not get distracting reflections (e.g. from a window).
• Use an adjustable chair that enables you to sit at a proper angle and distance from your computer monitor screen.
• If your work involves prolonged data entry use document holders to secure any reading or reference material. Placing them close to the monitor and at the same distance from your eyes as your monitor, will enable your eyes to remain focused as they look from the monitor to the reading material.
• Use a character size that is visible. The character size is an important factor since it determines the distance at which you prefer to view the monitor.
• Make sure your workstation is set up comfortably; avoid poor posture which can lead to neck, back, arm or other aches.

Taken from Lookafteryoureyes.org

A Child's Eye Exam Video

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Written by Tracey Kingston White

This video, produced by the College of Optometrists, shows Robert's trip to the Optician's for an eye exam.

It may be useful to show this video to your child before his or her first visit to us, in order to help them understand what to expect and to learn that we are not at all scary!