Fire last saturday

Its lovely to be back in the practice today after all the drama on saturday. We're all still in shock over the fire last saturday, it all happened so fast and was so dramatic. I was based in the Well's practice and was shocked to hear all the tales from the gloucester road team. It seems everything was normal one moment and the next there was thick black smoke bellowing up gloucester road. Over safety concerns the practice had to be evacuated which mean't we had to close the practice for the rest of the day on saturday. Happily we're back to normal today (normal opening hours).

National Eye Health Week

This week is National Eye Health week. Vision is one of our most vital senses and one that we fear losing the most yet very few people realise the importance of regular sight tests. Sight tests are not just about prescribing glasses anymore they are vital health checks as well. It is essential to pick up any problems as early as possible as it is often easier to manage in the early stages.

 It is important for everyone to have a sight test at least every 2 years but it is even more important if you are:

-         under 18yrs old

-         over 60yrs old

-         diabetic

-         family history of glaucoma

-         someone with a learning disability.

The national screening committee recommends that all children should have a sight test at age 4-5yrs to assess their vision and future requirements.

You should always visit your optician if you have any concerns about your vision at any stage.

If you’re not able to go to the opticians due to a physical or mental illness they can come to you.

Some people are entitled to help from the NHS towards their sight test and cost of spectacles. For further information look at http://www.nhs.co.uk/.

Grand re-opening of Lynne Fernandes, Gloucester road.

Saturday May 7 was buzzing.
Our Gloucester Road practice held an open day to celebrate it's new look and it's gorgeous new collection of frames.
We had over 500 people visit and enter 3 competitions....and the response to the new look was fantastic
Roger Owen the original optometrist, also popped in. Actually he was so excited and proud of the way the practice has been developed he stayed all afternoon exuding his well loved charm and reminiscing with long standing patients.
Gerard Fernandes, director said: " It's a delight to be able to show off our teams hard work to the local community. We're positive Lynne Fernandes Optometrists will continue to the place for eye care on the Gloucester Road and today will show our community how we will find and display spectacle designs that are as unique as our amazing Gloucester Road community"

Grand re-opening

Grand re-opening of Lynne Fernandes Optometrists, Gloucester road this saturday (7.5.2011). Come along and see the beautiful new store. Food and drink available on the day.
Goody bags for everyone who books an appointment or purchases a pair specs on the day. There will be a raffle on the hour and at the end of the day with the chance to win a pair of designer sunnies. There will also be a number of other competitions running throughout the day. For anyone who orders a pair of spectacles they will receive 10% off their purchase.

THE BIG FIT!

THE BIG FIT is happening tomorrow in our practice on gloucester road. Every thought about wearing contact lenses but not sure if you would get on with them well now is your chance. Come along to our practice on gloucester road tomorrow and give them a try. We are open from 9am to 4.30pm.

Sun protection for young eyes

Research conducted over the last 30yrs has shown that many serious eye conditions associated with aging are in part a result of cumulative exposure to UV over a lifetime. Children are especially at risk because of the time the spend outdoors, large pupils, and a clear crystalline lens. For example 75% of UV is transmitted through the crystalline lens of a child under 10, but only 10% is transmitted by the crystalline lens of someone older than 25yrs.

We always ensure that children wear adequate sunscreen but few children wear sunglasses to protect their eyes as the risks of ocular damage from UV has not been as adequately communicated.

What you can do to help protect your child from the sun:

• Never let them look directly at the sun
• Always wear good quality sunglasses that are marked with CE or BS EN1836:2005. We have a number of suitable sunglasses in the practice suitable for young children and teenagers.
• UV has been implicated in a number of eye conditions later in life such macula degeneration, pinguecula, pterygium and development of cataracts.
• It is important to make sure your children wear their sunglasses both during the summer and the winter.

The wearing of sunglasses is especially important will children are involved in water and snow sports because of the increased exposure to UV.

March

Its almost a whole week since we had lots of little people coming to explore our lovely new practice on Gloucester road. And just like the last time the most exciting area was the instore lab which the kids found absolutely fascinating - seeing how glasses are made. Its reassuring to see that over half the kids have had sight tests but it also shows we have a way to go to ensure that all children have a sight test before they even start school and continue to have one every 1-2yrs. It was also interesting to see that about 2/3 of the children wear sunglasses, so parents are becoming more aware of the damage that sun can do to young eyes.

We can't believe its almost a month since the lovely new Gloucester road practice re-opened, it looks so lovely and bright now.