Blog
Professional advice from our Optometrist
I see a light flash in the corner of my eye, should I be concerned?
by Elke Smit
The flashes you see in your eye are a type of photopsia or vision disturbance. The light flashes almost seem like “shooting stars” or “lightning streaks.” These flashes of light come from inside your eye and not from any external source.
Retinal detachment is a disorder of the eye in which the retina peels away from its underlying layer of support tissue. In most cases, it is a result of internal changes in the vitreous fluid. The vitreous fluid is a clear jelly-like fluid and takes up a large part of the back of your eye, where 99% consists of water and the rest is a mixture of collagen, proteins, salts, and sugars. Its vital role is to help maintain the shape of the eye and the pressure of the vitreous helps to keep the retina in place.
Anti-Reflective coatings. Worth the expense?
by Elke Smit
An anti-reflective or anti-reflective coating (AR coating) is a type of optical coating applied to a spectacle lens surface to reduce reflections. This coating can make a significant difference in the quality of vision and your face’s cosmetic appearance behind the frame.
Glare or bright light can be uncomfortable and affect the quality of your vision. AR coatings eliminate reflections from both sides of a lens surface. This result in more light that passes through the lens and improves your vision. The lens also appears invisible and draw attention to your eyes and facial expressions. At night, it reduces glare and “halos,” making night driving safer.
What you need to know about blue light exposure
by Elke Smit
Most of us spend most of our waking hours staring at a digital screen. In our every-day lives, the common use of a multitude of devices has increased.
For example, smartphones, computer screens, and energy-efficient lighting. It all increases our exposure to blue light.
From an early stage of a child’s life, they see us engage with cell phones and other devices. This is where they develop a passion for these devices. Dependence on digital devices has become a worldwide phenomenon.
Contact Lens Wear and Coronavirus
by Elke Smit
5 facts you need to know during the COVID-19 outbreak.
Pros and Cons of Multifocal Lenses
by Elke Smit
Keeping track of multiple pairs of glasses can be a frustration. We often forget our car keys on the way to the car as we leave the house. Remembering all the different glasses we need to take is a frustration and impractical. For this cause, people wear multifocal glasses for convenience, or many people use it because they need their focus fields to be clear at more than one distance.
A multifocal lens is an astounding piece of engineer work. It seamlessly combines multiple focus fields in a single lens. As a result, it eliminates the visible lines between the borders of the different focus fields when blended into the lens. It would help if you thought of multifocal lenses as no-line bifocals. This technology enables you to see better in more instances as it corrects near (reading usage), intermediate (computer usage), and distance at the same time. It also makes the transition between prescriptions much smoother.
What’s that in my eye…?
by Elke Smit
Many people living in countries with a harsh dry climate, such as South Africa, may develop a thin film on the white of the eyes. These films grow from the nasal side towards the centre of the eye where tiny blood vessels can usually be seen that run from the base to the tip of the triangle.
Both a pterygium and a pinguecula are abnormal growths that form on the surface of the eye. They may appear similar, have similar symptoms and causes but they are actually different conditions.
A view to a better round of Golf
by Elke Smit
When it comes to sunglasses for Golfers, it is not about looking cool on the fairways. Most golfers do not realise the right sunglasses can help improve your performance. One bit of kit showing up in more and more golf bags these days are premium polarised sunglasses. High-tech sunglasses are equally important as the choice of clubs. With rapid advances in lens technology and lightweight frame material it has become an invaluable tool. After all, the most important tool in any golfer’s arsenal is also the most irreplaceable: eyesight.
Why do my contact lenses feel so scratchy?
by Elke Smit
In a perfect world, we would like our contact lenses to feel comfortable so that we can wear it the whole day. But, it can often feel like sand scratching your eyes.
My Vision is Blurry!
by Elke Smit
“My vision is blurry and can’t see bright colours anymore and need more light at night to read”
These signs are usually due to the formation of a cataract.
How do you select the perfect frame?
by Elke Smit
With so many frames in all shapes, sizes and colours to choose from, picking the perfect frame that suits you best can be difficult.
Your eyes are precious
by Elke Smit
Most people usually ask me what can they do to protect this most precious sense?
The Benefits of Vision Correction with Contact Lenses
by Elke Smit
Being able to see well is a vital aspect of performing daily activities for most people. Good vision contributes to general well-being and independence for people of all ages.
Devices can harm your eyes
by Elke Smit
You may know that on average we look at our smartphones, tablets or TV screens for almost five hours every day. And we glance at our mobile phones as many as 80 times a day! And these figures are set to rise in the future.
My eye is red and looks bloody!
by Elke Smit
“Elke, this morning I woke up with an extremely red eye! It is not painfull but it looks awful! Should I be concerned?”
What are those things floating in my eye?
by Elke Smit
What you notice there, are floaters which are tiny clumps of gel or flecks of protein in the vitreous that fills your eyeball behind the lens. For most individuals the cause of floaters is age-related and may present with different shapes, such as little dots, circles, lines or cobwebs.
Keeping your eyes on target
by Elke Smit
But Ilse, the target I am referring to, is for the adventurous type who look to excel in hunting sport or thrill seekers practising their cross bow skills. They really need to make sure their aim is up to par. For the rest of us, we just enjoy going on game drives.
Tiny grains of sand in your eyes
by Elke Smit
More and more people suffer from dry eyes. However, the condition is more common among older people, as your tear glands tend to become less productive with age. Many people don’t know much about this eye condition known as dry eye syndrome.
