International Optometry: OCANZ

As a proud member of the NZAO, I fully support New Zealand optometry supporting our colleagues in other countries, through the World Council of Optometry and closer relations with Australian optometry. In fact, I am the current NZ delegate to OCANZ - the Optometry Council of Australia and New Zealand.

OCANZ meets annually, but of course its work carries on throughout the year. Its job is accrediting optometry schools in Australia and New Zealand, so the courses taught reflect what a graduate optometrist needs to know in a current, western health system. This benefits patients as well as governments, as they can be assured that Australasian-trained graduates are taught to the highest standards. Another facet of OCANZ is providing a path for overseas-trained optometrists to register in the two countires, to ensure that their skills and knowledge are equivalent to those of a local graduate.

Some countries teach their eyecare professionals to a lower level than we do, and in some countrie, what we think of as "optometry" doesn't exist, and eye doctors perform the functions we do, or refractionists provide prescriptions for glasses. So, an overseas person needs to show that his/her course is fundamentally the same as the Australasian courses, then to sit a series of exams to the same level as our graduates do.

It is fascinating to learn how many styles of optometry there are, but what is appropriate in one country might be a stepping-stone to better eye care for its people whereas western health care is expected by its citizens to be of a higher standard. Patients used to ask me why I participated in VOSO trips to the Pacific Islands, giving away free spectacles and being part of a team providing free cataract surgery. And I explained that these people had nothing, so a pair of glasses, donated, and not necessarily new or to their correct script, was better than nothing...but in NZ, they expected to at least make the driving standard!

OCANZ meets in Melbourne on 2 October, and I am looking forward to being there and doing my bit to ensure that the standard of practitioners registering in Australia or New Zealand remains as high as our populations expect.

Overspex Sunglasses

This spring weather! One day summer, the next winter - as one of our patients said this morning, he needed his sunglasses yesterday but to-day, no way!

And one of the best options that you might not have considered is Overspex, no longer the huge clunky glasses that take up half of your face.

I always recommend Transitions lenses for most people, which I wear, and I also have a separate pair of Drivewear as sunglasses - they're brilliant as they are Polarised (so remove glare) and photochromic as well - so they tint from a 50% tint to about 85% in bright light. Great for driving, and I do not need to take them off if I go into a shop as they lighten enough to see well.

But for people who do not want several pairs of prescription glasses, or need to read in the sun but do not want to have a separate clear and tinted pair of readers, or love Polarised lenses but find them too expensive with a script in them, consider Overspex, as they fit well over your own glasses (so you can see) and they give good protection from glare at the front and at the side. Having shields to ptotect yor eyes from glare (and wind!) is a great idea for beach-walking or for anyone who suffers from watery eyes in the breeze.

Optica, a Christchurch company - who survived the quake - supplies several different sizes of Overspex, all Polarised, and in several colours of frame and lenses. Fashionable, practical, good value - come and see our range to-day.

Anti Reflective Coating

With all the talk about new technology, here's a link to "old technology", which changed the appearance of spectacle wearers, especially those with strong lenses, which had many annoying reflections. Both the wearer and the person she was talking to could see these, and they were very distracting, so thank you Saint Dick Whitney......http://www.dickwhitney.net/AOARCoatingsPage.htm


Anti-reflective coatings have improved over the years. The earliest ones were developed for glass lenses, and for plastic and polycarbonate lenses, new minerals and techiques to coat had to be developed. The durability of AR coatings has improved, and even over the last few years, we have seen better-lasting coats. Essilor's Alize 2 stays clean, doesn't wear off and gives really sharp, clear vision. it's simply the best coating to have on your lenses. And the two year warranty gives peace of mind - not that we need to replace a coat of this quality hardly at all!

~ Happy Birthday ~

To celebrate, we are giving away 10 x 10,000 Fly Buys packages, plus an additional 10,000 bonus points on the 10th of September. Plus one lucky winner will receive 10 years of free Eyecare.

Next generation spectacles?

Today.. There's a new kid on the block..

Called TruFocals

Each TruFocals lens—about three millimeters thick—actually consists of two magnetically attached lenses. The lens closer to the eye is flexible, with a transparent distensible (expandable) membrane attached to a clear rigid surface. The space between the membrane and the clear rigid surface holds a small amount of clear silicon fluid. A sliding lever on the bridge of the eyeglasses is used to push the fluid forward to alter the shape of the membrane and, by extension, the flexible lens.

Full article .. Read this http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=nasa-adjustable-astronaut-eyewear

Maybe this is the face of 21st century eyewear! Since people all develop presbyopia in their 40's (or so), and the baby boomers are all presbyopic, there have been millions of dollars put into research to combat its effects.To be honest, no-one really likes wearing glasses, and all lens types have limitations.I'm sure that this technology can only get better, but good on them for developing a workable first step.

Essilor Visioffice

The world's first universal 3D measuring system Essilor Visioffice now available at Visique Kapiti Eyecare.

The universal measuring system is designed to take you through a personalized dispensing process in a highly accurate and user friendly way.

Also produce high-quality photographs and video to show you how you look with varies type of frames.

When technology gets into the deepest secret of the eye,
superior vision become effortless.

Make an appointment with us today for more information.

Carefully selected to meet the demand of our loyal customers.

Stylishly elegant that compliments the real you.

You have to try them to believe.

Visit us today.

Flybuys Star Deals

Don't miss the opportunity to win 1000 flybuys points.

Winter Sunglasses

We do have some sunny days in winter, and many of these are glarey too. So, it is important to remember to use sunglasses on those glarey days, for comfort. Low sun angles reflecting off puddles on the road can give you "double trouble" when walking or driving.

The other thing that sunglasses can be useful for is as a wind block. Patients often tell me that their eyes water in cold winds (waiting at the railway station, walking on the beach) and a good pair of spectacles (prescription or sunglasses)can block some of this irritation. Watering is one of the few ways eyes can "defend themselves" - it makes sense when they are diluting onion juice in the eye, but not when they are trying to "wash away" a cold wind, but the eyes aren't logical!

Transitions lenses darken with ultra-violet light, which means that they are ideal to use as both a clear prescription pair and sun-protection too. But they respond better (ie go darker) in cold temperatures. So they are great to give comfortable vision on those cold, clear days, but just be aware that they will take some seconds to clear when you come inside into the warm again. Older folk need to be careful with this, as they often need more light to see well than they did when younger, so will be more disadvantaged when returning to a relatively dark room from outside on a sunny winter's day.

Prescription sunwear, Transitions lenses, Drivewear polarised photochromatic and plano sunglasses...all have their place. And not just in summer, too!

Visioffice

We've bought a new toy. The Visioffice, from Essilor, is a dispensing tool, and can help explain the best lens for each person, and helps us take individual frame and face measurements to ensure that your new spectacles are the best you can have.

Essilor installed the machine for us on 14 July, and we have been busy learning the features ever since. The machine demonstrates the features that Essilor lenses have. So, we can easily show patients the difference in weight and thickness by using different lens materials (plastic, polycarbonate, high-index materials) and the distortions that older lens designs have compared to the newer designs.

My favourite features show Transitions and CrizalSun lenses compared with standard tinrs, and the scratch-resistance and loss of glare with Crizal coatings. We know that these are great products, and it is lovely to have a demonstration to share these with patients.

The machine also takes and records many individual measurements of the patient and her new frames. This is quick, but means that he lenses are optimised in the frame for the particular way that each person turns her head or moves her eyes, which is especially important with aspheric or progressive lenses.

Every innovation gives advantages to consumers. And this will let patients see how lens technology can be a benefit to them.

Come in and see our "new toy", and let us explain some of Essilor's innovations and how they can benefit you.

Go to essilor.com.au/services/visioffice to find out more.