Lynne Fernandes Optometrists this month

What else is happening at Lynne Fernandes Optometrists this month?

At the other end of the age range to those that will benefit from our “free macula risk assessment” are children. We feel part of our remit as a community practice is to educate. With this in mind we’ve had the pleasure having our Bishopston practice filled with 30 small children on regular occasions with our “Year 1” school visits. We’re getting fairly experienced at this now with five schools visiting or due to visit this year. We even were given an award by one class for their favourite trip! These are relaxed visits with the classes split into 4 groups alternating between learning about different aspects of eyes, vision, glasses and their manufacture. We hope to encourage all our local children to be confident in having regular eye checks, also to reinforce the benefits of accurate vision (and if appropriate vision correction) to education. My hope is when these kids meet Optometrists through work or socially they will have a different view to my interviewer.

AMD

I was at a meeting last night being interviewed as a suitable candidate for a community group I help with. One of the interviewers, on hearing I am an Optometrist, said “don’t say anything about my glasses…my wife’s always saying I should have a sight test…but I can see perfectly well with these…”

I let that one go. Was I right? I’m passionate about eye care, but there is a time and a place. At Lynne Fernandes Optometrist we think the semantics are important. We call our service an examination because we look at vision and health. Even if my interviewer can “see perfectly well” they should still have an eye examination. In my role in the new patient clinics at Bristol Eye Hospital I see too many people who waited until they were symptomatic before having an eye examination. Let me say this loudly “Eye diseases rarely give obvious symptoms in their early stages”. This is particularly true of glaucoma which is well screened for in most opticians and Optometry practice, but also for age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This month at Lynne Fernandes Optometrists in our Bishopston practice on the Gloucester Road we are delighted to be able to a free risk assessment for your macula.

Let’s consider some facts on AMD

* AMD is Britain’s leading cause of blindness in those aged over 65.
* AMD affects some 500,000 people in the UK today, principally those aged 65 years of age or older.
* Risk factors include poor diet, smoking, any family history of AMD and age.
* There are two distinct types of AMD (Wet and Dry)
* Wet AMD: can be treated if diagnosed early and referred urgently
* Dry AMD: it is possible to reduce your chance of developing it and slow its progression.

We can give you guidance on how to minimise the likelihood of developing the condition and we urge anyone in this higher risk group to make an appointment.

Reading glasses

"...reading glasses...where do I start...
....here's what Michael McIntyre thinks....

...but really if you do one thing next year: if you ever think you might need reading glasses...then you do..."