March is Glaucoma Awareness month.

This month we are reminding everyone of the importance of routine eye examinations. Glaucoma is called the silent thief of sight. It is a sneaky condition, which is entirely symptomless until it is advanced. People with undiagnosed glaucoma have no changes in their vision to alert them to what is underway in their eye(s).

Glaucoma Awareness Month

What can you do? Easy, have routine eye examinations after the age of forty.

Secondly, find out about your family history. If you had a grandparent with poor vision, or eye problems, find out what their diagnosis was.

If you have more questions come and ask us.

Or try Glaucoma New Zealand’s excellent website. This organisation is all about education and resources. There are some fabulous webinars by Kiwi ophthalmologists who really can explain things in understandable language.

Glaucoma New Zealand Webinars

Does your Southern Cross Insurance cover eye care and eye wear?

We offer Southern Cross Easy-Claim. Southern Cross members can claim approved Optical services at their appointment. Optical services covered  under your insurance plan will be paid directly - no need to complete a claim form or wait for reimbursement - easy!

Benefits vary depending on your plan e.g. Health Essentials can claim up to 75% of the cost of an optometrist consultation, and Ultracare accepts claims up to $350 per year.

We can help you see what you are entitled to on the easy-claim website. If you would like to know more before your visit, please get in touch at 09 425 9646.

Warkworth Low Vision Support Group Monday 18 February 1.30pm

For the past four years the Low Vision Support group has met each month at Summerset Retirement Village.

This is a support group for people with low vision, and people who have eye conditions, such as glaucoma and macular degeneration, who may in the future be living with reduced sight. Our group has come together through shared challenges and losses, and celebrated successes when someone has embraced new technology and found solutions which are very helpful.

Blind Low Vision New Zealand are moving away from their physical audio players to Alexa Smart Speakers, and several people now find these devices very useful on a daily basis. Smart phone apps are helpful to read mail aloud.

While some of this technology is hugely helpful, there are still many everyday challenges to overcome when you don’t see well. One recent shared frustration discussed was the three pin plug. Many in this group find doing this very tricky. This is an appeal to anyone out there with a problem solving bent; how can we design a solution for this?!

Three pin plug, can you solve the problem?

We meet the 3rd Monday of each month, 1.30pm. Please join us if you or someone in your family is struggling with low vision.

At our next meeting, Monday 19 Feburary, we are meeting at Summerset Falls. We will be joined by Helena Easton from Blind and Low Vision NZ. She is a great link to all the resources and support on offer. Please join us, all welcome.

McDonald Adams Science Scholarships 2023

It is so lovely to experience prizegiving nights at Mahurangi College and Rodney College. These events have a lovely sense of occasion and celebration.

Mahurangi College student Abby Charlton wrote a lovely email to thank us for her scholarship;

I wanted to express my deepest thanks for selecting me for the McDonald Adams Scholarship. I am truly honored to be chosen as the recipient. Thank you for your generosity and support towards my educational goals and journey. 

Abby Charlton with Sally Adams, Mahurangi College

At Rodney College our award went to Toby Henderson who is choosing between Health Science at University of Otago or Engineering at University of Auckland.

We wish Abby and Toby all the best for their studies in 2023.

Toby Henderson and Claire McDonald, Rodney College

Frames we love - Anne & Valentin

Anne et Valentin continue to be one of our favourite ranges. And we love the origin story of these beautifully crafted frames - Anne et Valentin really started as a love story.

Rama Valentin, the son of Anne et Valentin founders, described his parents as hippies from the south of France. Both with quite artistic backgrounds; Valentin was a playwright and Anne did a lot of visual arts. And at some point they decided they had to get serious about their lives, so Valentin became an optician. He got a diploma and opened their first store in 1980.

They quickly realized that the stores were a success, but they were not fulfilling their creative side. In the 1980's, there was really very little available that satisfied their fashion or artistic sense in the eyewear world. So they created their own brand just for their stores and for their friends.

They would wear their frames to different trade shows, meeting opticians who would say, “Your frames are cool! Next time you make some, please do 50 for me or 100 for me.” Soon they were in the 10 best stores in France.

In 2017 the founder Anne was ready to step back, and made the decision to sell the company. This was challenging because the family part of the company was an essential aspect of the business, which they wanted to retain. Initially they were approached by very large companies before they found an independent optician in France. It felt like they had found someone with the same attitude and a true continuation in what the story is for Anne et Valentin.

The Readers

We have sourced a great range of ready readers, also called hobby glasses. The Readers come in a range of styles and colours, and we like the way the frames fit.

Powers available are +1.00, +1.50, +2.00, +2.50, +3.00.

Ask us if your prescription is a good fit for these reading glasses. They can be a useful back up pair although they do not work for everyone.