Tag: ermelo

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April is Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month

History of Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month

Vision impacts all aspects of life and women have a higher risk of eye health and vision problems, that can affect their quality of life, than men.

Many eye diseases and conditions can be treated and possibly prevented if detected early. An eye doctor can also diagnose other health problems like high blood pressure and diabetes during a comprehensive eye exam. However, women often put themselves last when it comes to health care.

Prevent Blindness, a volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight, has declared April as Women’s Eye Health and Safety Month. This observance is designed to raise awareness about women’s eye health, the importance of regular eye exams, and what can be done to help prevent vision loss.

Why women’s eye health matters

Two-thirds of people with vision issues and blindness are women.The good news is that nearly 80% of visual impairment and 25% of blindness can be treated or prevented.

One of the main reasons women have more vision problems than men is because they typically live longer. Many vision issues occur with age.

Hormone fluctuations are another reason why women are more likely than men to develop vision issues. Hormone changes can occur during:

  • Pregnancy – Fluid retention caused by hormone changes can lead to . This and other pregnancy-related vision changes usually disappear after a woman gives birth.
  • Menopause – Women also experience significant hormonal changes during menopause. Dry eye is common among peri- and postmenopausal women.

Common eye conditions affecting women

Most eye health problems and vision issues affect both men and women equally. However, women are at a higher risk for developing some eye issues, including:

Dry eye syndrome – About 3.2 million women in the U.S. have dry eye syndrome. Symptoms include itching, burning, irritation, blurry vision and sensitivity to light. Dry eye syndrome can damage the front of the eye and lead to vision impairment.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) – AMD is an eye condition that causes the loss of central vision. It’s the most common cause of vision loss in people age 50 and older.

Autoimmune diseases – Some autoimmune diseases can affect the eyes and cause eye problems, including lupus , thyroid eye disease , rheumatoid arthritis and multiple sclerosis.

Cataracts – This clouding of the eye’s natural lens can cause hazy or blurry vision.

Glaucoma – Glaucoma is a disease that damages the optic nerve in the back of your eye. It’s often called “the silent thief of sight” because there are no symptoms in its early stages.

Low Vision – Low vision is a vision impairment that can’t be completely corrected with glasses, surgery or medical treatments.

Eye health tips for women

Making your eye health a priority is the best way to protect your vision. Here are some habits that can help maintain your eye health and lower your risk of eye disease:

Get routine comprehensive eye examinations – Women ages 18 to 64 should have an eye exam at least every two years. If you’re 65 and older, you should have an eye exam annually. Your eye doctor will tell you if need to be seen more often.

Eat a healthy diet – Eat foods that are good for eye health, such as fish, lean meats, whole grains, brightly colored fruits and dark leafy greens.

Stay active – Exercise is a good way to keep your eyes healthy because it reduces your risk of diabetes and other health problems that can affect vision.

Wear sunglasses – The sun emits ultraviolet (UV) rays that can damage your eyes even on cloudy days so wear sunglasses whenever you’re outside. Make sure your sunglasses block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

Quit smoking – Smoking can damage your eyes and raise your risk for eye health problems such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Women often juggle many responsibilities, including work and caretaking, along with many other activities. Getting regular eye exams can help ensure your eyes are healthy and that you can see clearly.

The investment in your health can pay off today and in the future.

Source: allaboutvision.com

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Rohto® Eye Drops – Japanese Excellence

We have recently been inundated by requests for over the counter eye drops and introduced an old stalwart of Japanese Eye Care to our practice. With their unique approach to everyday eye problems, they bring a blend of conventional ingredients with novel ingredients like sesame oils, menthol and castor oil. These benefits are well known to western medicine. The feedback from our patients has been phenomenal! We are delighted to give you a brief description of the products.

A brief history

For over 100 years, Rohto has been creating eye drops and developing new formulations and containers for everyone’s eye care needs. Whether you’re looking for dry eye relief, redness relief, or digital eye strain symptom relief, there’s a Rohto eye care product that’s right for you.

The very first Rohto eye drops were developed back in 1909, after the end of the Russo-Japanese War. The demand for eye drops was increasing fast, due to an outbreak of trachoma, an eye disease caused by bacterial infection. A growing class of teachers, doctors, and office workers were also demanding eye drops.

An option for every need

There is no need to suffer from dry, red and tired eyes. The ultra-cooling formula of these eye drops immediately clears and brightens while offering relief from irritation and redness. A unique blend containing menthol, its like a mint for the yes!

Gentle lubricating eye drop to immediately moisturize and soothe dry eyes. Assists in retaining moisture and improve quality of tears. The ideal companion for contact lens wearers.

ROHTO DRY AID is an advanced dry eye treatment claiming the relief of 8 symptoms of dry eye. The advanced formulation focuses on dry spots which appear on the surface of dry eyes. TEARSHIELD TECHNOLOGY protects, hydrates & restores the natural tear film of the eye. It breaks the dry eye cycle and offers relief for up to 12 hours.

Contact us to discuss which product suits your needs.

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The 17 Key Visual Skills – Parents take note!

Did you know that there are 17 essential skills for success in reading, writing, sports, and practically all of your daily activities?

Check out the list below to gain a better understanding of how each visual skill is necessary for functional vision. 

  1. Eye Movement Control is the ability to move both eyes together, to focus on an image, or path. Each eye has six muscles that work together to control eye movement and position.
  2. Binocular Coordination is the ability of the two eyes to accurately work together, at the same time, as a team. If one eye is weaker than the other, the child may develop a lazy eye.
  3. Saccades are quick, simultaneous movements of the two eyes between two or more focus points. This skill is essential for reading words and sentences across a page.
  4. Pursuits are smooth movements of the two eyes between two focus points. This skill is required for moving between paragraphs on a page. Even looking up at the teacher and then back down to the class notes.
  5. Convergence is the ability of the two eyes to work together as a team, to turn in towards the nose and focus on a book or computer screen. This skill is essential for academic success.
  6. Accommodation Flexibility is the ability of the eye to continuously change its focus between near and distant objects.  This skill is needed for simultaneously seeing the blackboard clearly and then quickly changing focus to be able to read your class notes.
  7. Accommodation Endurance is the ability of the eyes to maintain focus for reading and other close vision tasks over extended periods of time. This skill is required for homework and for using a computer or laptop for many hours.
  8. Visual Memory is the ability to remember information such as words or images that have been seen in the past. Poor short-term visual memory can cause difficulty copying notes from the board and spelling difficulties.
  9. Visual Thinking, (also known as visual/spatial learning or picture thinking), is the ability to think and analyze what you have seen. This skill is needed for comprehension and math abilities.
  10. Central Visual Acuity is the ability to see clearly and accurately. This skill is measured with the term 20/20 vision, the benchmark measure for “perfect” vision.
  11. Peripheral Vision (Side Vision) is the ability to see objects around us without having to turn our heads.
  12. Depth Perception is the ability to discern whether objects are closer or further away, in relation to one another. This skill is especially important for both academic and athletic performance.
  13. Color Perception is the ability to discriminate between colors. This skill is important for accurate interpretation of color-coded materials (such as charts and graphs).
  14. Gross Visual-Motor is the ability to move through space using your visual information to guide you. Preventing you from bumping into things. This skill is essential for playing sports.
  15. Fine Visual-Motor is the ability to engage in close-up activities with accuracy by using your visual information (i.e. reading, writing, sewing, texting, etc.)
  16. Visual Perception is the awareness of your environment and what is going on around you in your visual field (what you can see). This skill measures your total width of vision.
  17. Visual Integration is the ability to combine your vision with your other senses, to perform complex tasks (i.e. copying, reading while walking on a balance beam, threading a needle, tying shoe laces, catching or hitting a ball, etc.)

If you think you or your child may be presenting with signs of reduced visual skills, schedule an appointment for a comprehensive examination here.

Source: optometrists.org

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20 Year Anniversary

In August 2004 a very young and ambitious optometrist, myself, opened a practice in Ermelo. Not growing up in the town I knew no one and set my sights on winning over the confidence of the community one eye examination at a time. Certainly a laborious process and a bit naïve in hindsight, but as Tony DeLorger writes in his poem : ” -naivety, an innocence without being encumbered by tainting experience or learned biases that subjugate balance
and create confusion and limitations.”

Word spreads fast and soon I was overwhelmed by the support from not only Ermelo and surroundings, but patients from all over South Africa. We relocated twice to more favourable locations and settled in our current location in the centre of town in 2010. I have been blessed with wonderful staff since the start and my first two employees, Ms. Tharina Coetzer and Ms. Miranda Ntlatseng, are still part of my practice a whopping 20 years later! Congratulations to them and a HUGE THANK YOU. I am privileged to have witnessed and partake in immense changes in our profession. Long gone are the days of reading a couple of letters on an old dilapidated eye chart or peaking into eyes with a small little light only to see a tiny view of the back of the eye.

A very young and ambitious Hannes in 2004
Tharina Coetzer and Miranda Ntlatseng

We have state of the art equipment that enable us to look at cross sections of the retina allowing views of individual layers only a couple of micron thick. With all equipment having a digital foundation, patients can see everything that we see inside the eye and information can be shared with colleagues across the globe in a second. Contact lenses exist now which reshape your cornea while you sleep, allowing you to see the next day without glasses.

Multifocal lenses, that used to take two weeks to manufacture, can be manufactured in-house within an hour. Having diagnostic- and therapeutic drug privileges, our practice can diagnose and treat many eye conditions establishing us as a true primary eye care provider. These are but a few advancements in the past 20 years and we can’t begin to fathom what the next 20 years may bring.

Blessed in abundance, I would like to thank:

  • my loyal patients over the years for entrusting me with their most valuable sense, sight!
  • my exceptional staff. I am very appreciative of each employee who tirelessly devoted his/her time , at present as well as in the past, building a trusted and respected eye care practice.
  • my wife Izelde, for always entertaining my sometimes overzealous endeavours, must be exhausting at times.
  • God, for granting me the grace, wisdom and means, to run a successful practice.

Today 20 years later, older and wiser, I am still as passionate as ever about eye care and I look forward to welcoming you as part of my practice soon!

Hannes Zwarts

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