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With so many choices of styles and colours available with fashionlabeld such as Gucci glasses, CAT glasses, Episode frames and glasses now available means you can choose different frames to suit the look you want and suit your shape of face.
Video jug has a great video on choosing glasses for long faces
Daily disposable contact lenses are by many considered to be the most convenient and easiest to use type of contact lenses.
1 day Acuvue contact lenses are a convenient and hygenic way to wear contact lenses. Every day a fresh pair of contacts and no cleaning solutions.
Sight is the sense that nine out of ten people most fear losing, according to the findings of a survey released today (18 April 2008)1. The UK Vision Strategy – developed by a major new eye health and sight loss alliance – is calling for action to prevent their fears becoming a reality2.
Over 650 organisations and individuals, with support from the UK Governments, developed the UK Vision Strategy, launched today, to set the direction for a radical improvement in the eye health of the nation.
Lesley-Anne Alexander, Chair of the group leading the development of the UK Vision Strategy3 and Chief Executive of the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB), said: “Nine out of ten people in the UK tell us that sight is the sense they most fear losing. But, despite being one of the richest nations in the developed world, we aren’t doing enough to protect it. Sight loss increases with age and the UK has an aging population, so the number of people losing their sight is set to double in the next few decades if we don’t intervene now. We’re sitting on a sight loss time bomb!”
“The UK Vision Strategy enables us to build on past progress and the eye health and sight loss sector is committed to working together, with the UK Governments, to improve the eye health of the nation. We all need to take responsibility both professionally and personally – to improve eye health, eliminate avoidable sight loss and enhance the quality of life of people who have lost some or all of their sight.”
Today’s survey, commissioned for the launch of the UK Vision Strategy, also found a shocking lack of awareness of the leading cause of blindness in the UK, with less than one in six people correctly identifying the condition: age-related macular degeneration. Helping people understand how to best look after their sight and prevent avoidable sight loss is one of the key aims of the UK Vision Strategy which calls for increased investment in public awareness campaigns.
Jo Webber, deputy policy director at the NHS Confederation, which represents 95 percent of NHS organisations, added: “Around 50 percent of sight loss in the UK is avoidable or treatable, so we can’t afford to be complacent. Right now as many as 250,000 people in the UK risk losing their sight simply because they don’t know they have glaucoma. Thousands more are struggling to live with such low levels of vision that they would qualify as blind or partially sighted, unaware of the range of options widely available to restore their vision. The UK Vision Strategy sets out a clear way forward to address these problems so we can improve the nation’s eye health and do our best to make sure people do not continue to lose their sight because treatable conditions are going undetected.”
The UK Vision Strategy is a VISION2020 UK initiative, led by RNIB working with partners from all areas of the sector, to develop a unified plan for action on all issues relating to eye health and sight loss, across the four countries of the UK. The strategy was developed in response to a World Health Assembly resolution in 2003, which urged the development of national plans to tackle sight loss. The development has also been supported by representation from all the UK governments.
Nick Astbury, representing The Royal College of Ophthalmologists on the group leading on the development of the UK Vision Strategy, said: “We need to work together to tackle sight loss in this country. We need to create a society where we do look after the health of our eyes and key to this is having access to the right information, appropriate services and the best support. We can increase early detection through regular eye tests which can correct vision with an updated prescription and also detect serious conditions which could lead to blindness if left untreated. We can also build on progress such as reduced waiting times for cataract operations by improving access to timely sight saving treatment for everyone.
“On an individual level, most of us don’t understand enough about our eye health or the lifestyle choices we make that can have a massive impact on our eye health. Simply knowing that giving up smoking and keeping our weight within a healthy range will give us all the best chance of safeguarding our sight and in some cases half a person’s chances of developing a sight condition that could lead to blindness.”
The UK Vision Strategy was launched on 18 April 2008 at a conference in central London. To find out more visit www.rnib.org.uk / or www.vision2020uk.org.uk
The Scottish executive has announced that everyone in Scotland is now eligible for free eye tests, Optometry Scotland chairman Hal Rollason said the “world-class service” would benefit everyone in the country.
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen said: “People throughout Scotland will now be able to access an eye examination which will be more comprehensive than the current eye tests most of us are familiar with.
The scheme is part of Vision 2020 which aims to get rid of avoidable blindness by 2020.
Never…
Eyewear technology is moving on at a great pace and lenses are now thinner, lighter and more comfortable to wear. Light sensitive lenses and special coatings means spectacles can be enhanced for wearer specific environments and improved vision.
Spectacle lens technology has over the years, developed to produce thinner, lighter lenses, special coatings and light sensitive lenses – all designed to improve your vision and make spectacles more comfortable to wear.
Single vision lenses are the simplest form of lens. They are often found in reading spectacles which correct near vision and are used for close up activity. These spectacles can cause blurred distance vision resulting in the spectacles being removed whenever you look further away. If you have good distance vision you could choose ‘half eyes’ – shallow frames with lenses for close up work that you look over the top of for distance vision.
Bifocal lenses have a prescription for near vision in the lower half and a different prescription for distance vision in the top.
Varifocal lenses progress gradually from distance strength at the top to reading strength at the bottom. Unlike bifocals, they do not have a distracting dividing line. A more modern and cosmetically appealing option the varifocal lens is the lens of choice for most professional, business and active spectacle wearers.
Dispensing opticians supply, fit and sell glasses and contact lenses to a prescription provided by an optometrist (ophthalmic optician). They do not perform eye tests, but give advice to clients on the best type of glasses for their particular need.
Dispensing opticians supply and fit spectacles according to the prescription provided by an optometrist (ophthalmic optician). They measure the face and features of the patient precisely, in order to place the lenses at the right angle and ensure that the spectacle frame is comfortable and stable. They then prepare detailed instructions for the technicians who make the lenses.
If any external sign of injury, abnormality or disease of the eye is spotted, dispensing opticians have an obligation to refer the patient to a doctor or optometrist for further attention.
Dispensing opticians advise clients on the choice of spectacles, which may involve aspects such as colour vision, problems of lighting and eye safety in industry. They must know enough about the relative merits of glass, plastic, laminated, coated and reinforced lenses, to help the client choose a lens appropriate to their needs (bearing in mind their job and leisure interests). They must also understand how lenses are made and the theory underlying the prescription.
Some experienced dispensing opticians specialise in the dispensing of contact lenses, optical aids for the partially sighted, or the fitting of artificial eyes.
The Scottish Parliment have finally actioned it, free Eye Tests for everyone in Scotland
Free eye checks for everyone in Scotland are now clearly in sight.
Agreement has been reached with Optometry Scotland on the composition and fee for undertaking the eye examination, which will be available to all by 2007.
Deputy Health Minister Lewis Macdonald said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce today that we have moved a huge step closer to delivering on our commitment of free eye checks for all.
“The new eye examination, as agreed with Optometry Scotland, will allow patients to receive, free of charge, an appropriate health assessment of their whole visual system.”
Deputy First Minister Nicol Stephen commented:
“This was a key Executive commitment in the Partnership Agreement, and I am delighted such excellent progress is being made. The fact that people will benefit, free of charge, from a full assessment, not just a basic sight test, is even better news.”
Chairman of Optometry Scotland Hal Rollason said:
“Together we have reached agreement which will provide the cornerstone for eyecare in Scotland. Everyone in Scotland will benefit from this service and will be able to access eyecare appropriate to their needs in a setting as close to their home as possible.
“This is a defining moment for optometry in Scotland which will provide fundamental improvements to how eyecare is delivered. Optometry must rise and embrace this challenge. With it we will have a service that is truly world class.”
Mr Macdonald added:
“In all areas of the health service we want patients to be able to access appropriate treatment as quickly as possible – eye care is no different.
“We want optometrists to be the first point of contact for eye problems and we want eye examinations to be performed that are appropriate to patients’ symptoms and needs. These new arrangements will significantly reduce inappropriate referrals to secondary care.
“Under the new agreement a wide range of common conditions will be able to be treated in the community, which is in line with the Kerr Report published earlier this year.”
Mr Macdonald also announced the publication of the eyecare review interim report. He said:
“We want a patient-centred, multi-disciplinary approach to be taken to all eye care.
“The publication of the eyecare review interim report underlines our commitment to improving eyecare services across the country.
“The report shows work is progressing on a number of fronts including the establishment of a local model of integrated medical and social support for those with a serious sight impairment as well as a study of services for children.
“I look forward to receiving the views of all stakeholders on the interim report and to the final report being published in due course.”
A Partnership for a Better Scotland: Partnership Agreement high level commitment to introduce free eye checks for all before 2007. This means:
* Changes to the scope of general ophthalmic services which will result in new contractual arrangements
* Move away from the current sight test (which includes a refraction; a test to ascertain whether or not the patient needs to wear or use an optical appliance) to an eye examination which includes broader health aspects
* The current service provides for opportunistic “health” checks
* Under the new service everyone will be entitled to a free eye examination, including sight test (refraction), where required.
* New eye examination will include an eye health assessment appropriate to a patient’s needs and symptoms and will include set procedures as well as patient-specific proceduresApproximately 40 per cent of first outpatient department visits for patients requiring eye treatment are considered inappropriate at present.
More than £10 million is to be made available to improve eyecare services in Scotland following last year’s review, the first Scottish Optometric Conference was told today in Glasgow.
A total of £8 million capital funding will be distributed to optical practices providing NHS eye examinations to enable them to buy new digital cameras. This will help develop the area of digital imaging to improve free eye examinations.
And a further £2.6m will be split between health boards to help make service improvements as identified by the review which aimed to encourage the development of integrated eyecare services and ensure patients receive good quality and efficient services, in a convenient setting without undue wait.
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:
“I am delighted to be able to announce £10m of funding today which will make a real difference to the quality of eyecare services available in Scotland.
“I recognise that the findings of the eyecare review pose some challenges to optometrists and I am confident that the capital funding I have announced today will go a long way towards meeting those challenges.
“In my short time as Minister for Public Health I have been very impressed by the optical profession’s commitment to improving the health of the nation and the desire to expand the services which you provide on behalf of the NHS. I look forward to continuing to work with the profession in the future to ensure that the people of Scotland benefit from the best eyecare services possible.”
Frank Munro, chairman of Optometry Scotland, which represents more than 1000 registered optometrists and 300 dispensing opticians, said:
“The pump priming for improved services for those living with visual impairment will help NHS Boards establish networks of care.
“Optometry will be key to the success of these networks and Optometry Scotland looks forward to further involvement in taking this forward.
“The additional grant for optical equipment demonstrates the Government’s commitment to the ongoing development of the optometric service. The principal aim will be to establish an effective preventative eyecare service that will be recognised as the most advanced in the world.”
Optometry Scotland was established in March 2003 as the organisation to act as a single coherent voice for representation on all issues regarding optics in Scotland.
Details of the funding allocations for boards are:
* Ayrshire & Arran – £150,000 to develop an integrated children’s eyecare network. £114,000 to integrate services for adults, develop a network of community optometry practitioners for low vision services, appoint a part-time optometry advisor and a full-time RNIB worker to undertake home vision pre-assessments.
* Lothian – £98,600 to re-establish and expand the optometry network and improve access to eye care services for ethnic minority groups. £94,897 to establish a co-ordinated inter-agency service for children.
* Shetland- £140,000 to develop inter-agency services to support people with visual impairment needs.
* Forth Valley -£114,150 to develop adult and children’s low vision clinics.
* Dumfries & Galloway – £159,994 to develop low vision workshops, map patient pathways and build capacity within the low vision service.
* Grampian – £219,500 to: hold eyecare Healthfit across Grampian; recruit a project manager to take forward healthfit work streams; set up reference group to support service redesign; provide support from current service delivery to re-designed services; provide low visual aid kits and support;set up a training fund.
* Western Isles – £77,150 for a range of measures to improve children’s services.
* Fife – £155,000 to: Integrate patient centred information for children and adults; develop electronic data collection and sharing; improve services for children and adults; improved services for the identification and assessment of older people with dual sensory loss; carry out an evaluation of the service changes and to review through the integrated low vision group.
* Borders – £74,065 to develop child-centred refraction clinics, develop an eye movements service; provide additional resources used by teachers for visually impaired children, develop low vision clinics at Borders General Hospital.
* Highland – £181,500 to develop an eyecare network for adults and redesign and improve children’s vision impairment service.
* Lanarkshire – £159,600 to provide a low vision and functional vision service for children and integrate community eyecare services for adults.
* Tayside – £75,000 to improve children’s services.
* Greater Glasgow – £760,000 to develop community based eyecare services for adults, improve services for children, set up a pilot project to determine the effectiveness of eyecare provision for ethnic minorities
* Guide Dogs for the Blind – £36,620 to offer visually impaired people assistance in the immediate period after diagnosis of uncorrectable sight loss.
