Sharing our experience wearing Progressive Lenses

Here at McDonald Adams we have a team who have successfully worn progressive lenses. Read our comments and advice.

Shannon: I wore glasses when I was younger, had LASIK, and eventually needed glasses again. Progressive lenses have made that transition incredibly easy. I love that one pair does everything—reading, computer work, and distance.

Sally: Settle your glasses down on top of your ears and nose, this way you will be getting the best vision through your progressive lenses. Remember to look straight ahead for far away, then just drop your eyes (not your chin) to look down for reading. Practice in front of TV with an easy book in your lap for your first evening or two.

Claire: A quick check revealed I have now tried 22 different progressive lens designs! These range from fully customised lenses through to the most widely prescribed progressive designs. While every person’s experience is unique, I can honestly say I don’t notice that I am wearing progressives. The field of vision is so good now that there is no apparent blur to the side at any distance.

Emmaleen: Progressives are easy. I have a favourite pair for driving. At work with the desktop computer I use a pair of ‘indoor’ progressives, which give me a bigger field of vision on the screen.

Myself Profile Detail is the perfect progressive lens for office use.

Should I go to my GP or see my Optometrist?

A common question — and an important one. Think of it this way: your GP is a general practitioner, and an optometrist is an eye practitioner. If it’s about your eyes, you’ll usually be best starting with us.

Why see an optometrist first?

We often see people who’ve gone to their GP with an eye concern, only to be referred on to us anyway. There’s an (unfortunate) misconception that optometrists are all about glasses. While helping you find the right prescription is part of what we do, it’s usually only about 20–30% of your appointment.

The rest of the time is focused on the health of your eyes — checking what’s happening now, picking up early signs of problems, and making sure your vision is supported long-term.

When to see whom?

Here’s a simple guide:

• Red eye: Optometrist

• Something in your eye: Optometrist

• Tired or achy eyes: Optometrist

• Black spots or floaters in your vision: Optometrist

• Dry / itchy / burning / teary eyes: Optometrist

• Anything to do with your eyes: Optometrist

What we can do for you

It’s not that your GP doesn’t know about eyes — they do. But optometrists are specialised in eye health, and we have:

• Advanced equipment to assess what’s going on accurately

• Training to diagnose and manage eye conditions early

• Qualifications to prescribe appropriate medications (usually eye drops) when needed — meaning you don’t have to visit your GP just to get a prescription

• The ability to refer directly to an ophthalmologist (eye specialist) if that’s required

Our aim is to manage things correctly from the start, so you get the right care and the best results sooner.

If you’ve got an eye problem, bring it to us first. You can book online or phone the practice to make an appointment.

Emily Kamimura - Optometrist

I Need You Reading Glasses

We’ve got a fantastic range of I Need You reading glasses in practice. They’re ideal if you don’t need a customised prescription, or if you’d like a stylish spare pair to keep in the car, by the bed, or in your bag.

Designed by a German optician with a sharp eye for emerging trends, I Need You readers combine fashion-forward styling with dependable quality. Each pair is manufactured to stringent European standards, meeting the high expectations of German customers for comfort, durability, and clarity.

With so many great options to choose from, it’s easy to find a favourite. Pick a shape that suits you, play with fresh colours, and give your everyday look a little update. These glasses are made for people who want their “hobby glasses” to feel like more than just practical — a small fashion statement with a bit of pizzazz.

I Need You frame, Jackie, a stylish classic.

Cataracts? Here is the process for a referral in the public health system.

Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common reasons we refer people to the Eye Clinic. A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye, which causes vision to become blurry or hazy.

The treatment is a surgical procedure performed under local anaesthetic. During surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant. Cataract surgery is usually a highly effective procedure that can fully restore clear vision.

As with any surgery, there are risks involved, so it’s important to consider carefully when treatment should be undertaken.

Clinical Prioritisation Scores

To determine who receives cataract surgery each year, optometrists and ophthalmologists use a clinical scoring tool.

We record your vision (the smallest letters you can read on the chart with your best prescription lenses) along with the details of your eye examination and cataract findings.

The final part of the score comes from your “Patient Impact on Life Questionnaire.” This short survey helps to measure how much your blurred vision is affecting your day-to-day life — in other words, how much it limits your ability to do the things you enjoy or need to do.

Once all these details are entered, the tool calculates a total score.

• For Auckland DHB, a score of 48 or higher means the referral will be accepted, and you can usually expect an appointment within 16 weeks.

• For Northland DHB, the threshold is 54.

In our experience, this system works well. People who are genuinely struggling with their vision due to cataracts are typically seen at the Eye Clinic and go on to have successful cataract surgery.

Cataracts in Both Eyes — Will Both Be Treated?

Cataracts often affect both eyes, although one eye is usually worse. The usual approach is to treat the eye with poorer vision first, then review the results.

For many people, the improvement from the first surgery is so significant that a second operation isn’t necessary — if your vision feels good, there’s often little benefit in operating on the second eye. Each case is assessed individually to ensure the best outcome for you.

If you have any concerns about cataracts or your vision, book an appointment with us. We’ll assess your eyes and discuss the best options for your care.

McDonald Adams Science Scholarships 2025

It is so lovely to experience prizegiving nights at Mahurangi College and Rodney College. These two winners join a long line of local students stretching back to our first scholarships in 2009. These events have a sense of occasion and celebration.

Lucy Ingham with Sally Adams, Mahurangi College

Mahurangi College student Lucy Ingham is heading to study for a Bachelor of Science in environmental science and biology, hoping to work in marine science. At Rodney College our award went to Angel Dai, who is heading to study Pharmacy. Remarkably she has studied chemistry online this year, quite an achievement!

Angel Dai with Claire McDonald, Rodney College

We wish Lucy and Angel all the best for their studies next year.

Fitovers - handy & convenient

Why We Recommend Fitover Sunglasses

Fitover sunglasses are a simple and practical way to add sun protection over your regular glasses. Gone are the days of the bulky, boxy black designs — today’s styles are sleeker, available in a range of colours, and come in smaller fittings for a more comfortable look and feel.

There are three lens options to choose from: Grey, Amber, and Yellow.

• Amber lenses are popular for enhancing colour contrast.

• Yellow lenses are often preferred by people with early cataracts, as they can help improve clarity of vision.

• Grey lenses offer classic, all-round sun protection.

Fitovers are especially handy if you wear photochromic lenses (the type that darken in sunlight). Because these don’t fully activate behind a car windscreen, adding a pair of polarised Fitovers can make a big difference by cutting glare and keeping your eyes more comfortable while driving.

Come in and try on our range of Fitovers — find the style and lens tint that suits you best.