News and views!

A couple of links that we have been supplied this time -have a look!

www.newscientist.com/mobile/article/mg20827806.000-scratched-glasses-give-perfect-vision-for-any-eyesight.html

www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine/-11285011

I spent a few days in Paihia in the Bay of Islands two weeks ago for our NZAO conference - a beautiful venue and lovely weather for a break, as well as a lot of education, fellowship and socialising. One of the more unusal sessions we attended was a workshop on the Treaty of Waitangi, hosted by the staff of the treaty grounds. We learnt the history of the treaty as well as some marae protocols, and everyone was impressed and enthused enough to go over to the treaty grounds (free entry for NZ residents).

The Cornea and Contact Lens Society of NZ is having its bi-ennial conference in March 2011, in Queenstown. It focuses on the anterior surface of the eye (the clear surface of the eye is the cornea) as well as new designs and materials and care systems of contact lenses. Not all contact lenses are created equal, and your optometrist will prescribe - not suggest, sell or recommend - a lens material, design and care system that is the best for your eyes as well as your prescription. This is one of the reasons that most optometrists are happy for you to buy contacts over the internet as long as you are getting the exact same lens as has been prescribed - your optometrist can predict how it will work for you and ensure that the lens will not cause eye damage. Chopping and changing solutions and lens materials can interact badly leaving you wioth sore eyes, red eyes or (worst) a damaged cornea. I have had a patient recently who bought a lens "recommended" by an internet provider which was totally unsuited for her eyes - luckily she kept her routine exam with me a few months later and I said that I was surprised at how the lens was functioning on her eye...she them fessed up. Honesty - always the best policy! And she is back in the best lenses for her - prescribed by me, but bought over the net.

Exactly the same as buying your meds on-line...what are you actually using?