Low Vision Support Group

For the past year the Low Vision Support group has met at Summerset Retirement Village. At our last meeting Brian Holmes brought his Reveal 16 electronic magnifier to show us. This has a X-Y table making it very user friendly for reading books, or magazines. There were lots of envious comments when we saw it in action.

Brian Holmes and Pam Poole

Brian’s main joy with the Reveal 16 is he can resume his stamp collecting passion. The magnification goes up to 45X. He showed us the level of detail on his Red Boy and Blue Boy 1931 New Zealand Health stamps. The unit has also helped him see coloured detail on his stamps.

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 27 July, we will be joined by Diana Morse from Blind and Low Vision NZ. Diana will demonstrate the Alexa and the Blind Foundation Skill. This user friendly technology enables access to audio books and magazines

Read more about using Alexa - here is a review from a 97 year old crime fiction fan.

Helping you to pay

We offer a number of ways for you to pay for eyewear and eyecare.

You can now use Afterpay with us. Split your purchase into 4 equal installments. You’ll pay your first installment at the time of purchase, and the remaining 3 installments in fortnightly scheduled payments.

We also take the Visa and Mastercard credit cards.

Or you may prefer to pay off your account with prearranged regular payments over three months.

What foods are good for your eyes?

Healthy eating is fundamental to good eye health. Avoiding highly processed foods that are high in fat and sugar and enjoying a diet that includes antioxidants, lutein, vitamin A and omega-3 (found in fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as eggs and oily fish) will benefit not only the health of your eyes but your overall well-being.

Everyday living exposes us to free radicals that can cause cell damage in our eyes. Free radicals are by-products of sun exposure, (poor) diet and environmental pollutants. Along with regular eye exams, a nutritious and balanced diet rich in vitamins and antioxidants may assist in maintaining the health of our eyes.

So what foods are good for your eyes?

Antioxidants

Antioxidants play a key role in the prevention of disease in the eye. Found in fresh fruits and vegetables, antioxidants can help to counteract the effects of free radicals. Choosing vegetables with brighter colours and eating them raw is the best way to obtain their nutrients. Berries, such as raspberries, blueberries and bilberries, are also rich in antioxidants.

Lutein

Dark, leafy green vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and kale contain a powerful antioxidant called lutein that is essential to human vision. Lutein is a natural pigment that reduces the harmful effects of free radicals by protecting the retina.

Vitamin A

There is a bit of propaganda that has led to the universal knowledge that carrots help you see in the dark. In WWII the British Royal Air Force was successful in shooting down many German planes while blackouts were still in effect across the country to minimize the visibility of targets on the ground. Don’t worry, the British government said. If you eat carrots, they’ll help you see in the dark, just like they did for RAF Flight Lieutenant John “Cat’s Eyes” Cunningham. Cunningham was responsible for shooting down 20 German aircraft, and it was attributed to his love of carrots. The British government made this up.

But science has now backed this up- carrots can help your eyes! Loaded with beta-carotenes, carrots, along with sweet potato, squash and cantaloupe, can all benefit vision. Your liver transforms beta-carotenes into vitamin A, which then travels to the retina where it is converted into rhodopsin, the chemical responsible for night vision.

Omega-3

Found in eggs and oily fish like salmon, omega-3 fatty acids are vital for optimal eye development. Omega-3 provides nutrients that allow your eyes to function at their best and in some cases can prevent or lessen the effects of dry eye.

If you have any questions about the best ‘eye’ foods to eat please talk to us.

5 COVID-19 Facts for Contact Lens Wearers

As we see the flattening of our Kiwi CV-19 curve, it is still good to consider hygiene, in particular around your contact lenses. This graphic was produced by The Centre for Ocular Research and Education (University of Waterloo, Canada). A good reminder to make sure you are wearing your contact lenses in a safe way.

MyLens - Keeping you supplied with contact lenses the easy way

When you come to us for your contact lenses, you are trusting us with your eyes and your vision. Our goal is to give you the healthiest, most comfortable contact lens vision correction.

Contacts are pretty amazing technology which we know well, so we’re your perfect choice for both your contact lens exams, and your lens supply.

The best value is to purchase a years’ supply of lenses at once. If you want to spread the cost, choose MyLens and you will be saving immediately. You purchase a three months supply, at the discounted price, then pay with regular automatic payments. We will send your lenses when you need them - couldn’t be easier.

When you order your lenses from us, you get:

• Free courier delivery in NZ

• Free replacements of torn or faulty lenses

• Accuracy assured - the exact lenses for your eyes

• Change in vision - no problem, we'll swap any unopened boxes for your new ones

• Guaranteed genuine lenses - no chance these are counterfeit lenses

• To support a local business in your community

• 20% saving on all your contact lens solutions

• Flexible purchase and payments options to save up to 25%

• Sunglasses discount voucher reward.

Remember you can get your lenses delivered direct to you at home or work. Ask us for a quote on your individual lens prescription.