Night time eye lubrication

Many dry eye sufferers find using an eye lubricant at night is the key to comfortable eyes when they wake up during the night, or in the morning. Gels and eye ointments are thicker textures and will stay on the eye for longer than an eye drop. The disadvantage, vision will be blurred once the gel or ointment is on the eye - best applied immediately before going to sleep rather than before you pick up your bedside book.

Here are our favourites:

Polyvisc Ointment - preservative free and lanolin based, this comes in a small tube 3.5gm tube and is safe to use for up to 4 weeks after opening.

VitA-Pos Ointment - a smooth preservative free ointment with healing Vitamin A, VitA-Pos can be used for 6 months after opening.

Viscotears Gel - as the name suggests this is a gel which is less thick than the ointments. Available in a 10ml tube, which can be used for 4 weeks after opening, or now available in convenient individual minim dose units.

Systane Gel Drops are a thicker formulation of hypromellose, the soothing ingredient in Systane Hydration eye drops. The gel comes in a 10ml bottle and can be used for up to 3 months after opening.

Gels are applied like an eye drop, just a more viscous version. The ointments are thicker and it can be easier to apply with the finger tip to the lower eye lid rather than directly from the tube.

If you would like more information on any of these products please get in touch.

Thank you

We want to take this opportunity to say thank you, for all your support. The last year has had some uncertain times! As our appointment book continues to be busy, as we continue to dispense glasses and sunglasses, and to help people who bring their eyecare concerns to us, we just want to acknowledge we do appreciate your support. Here’s how we see it. When you come to McDonald Adams:

• You take advantage of our knowledge

• You keep money in our local economy

• You purchase from experienced, trained, eye care experts

• You help us create local jobs

• You choose products we understand and know work

• You support our small business

Thank you.

Magnifier - Use Your Phone!

Here is a handy tip about your phone - you can use it as a magnifier.

After a year of scanning the Covid QR code we are used to having our phones at the ready. So next time you are at the supermarket without your glasses, trying to read the fine print on a label give it a go.

For people with good vision, enlarging things is not a vital need. But knowing how to access a simple tool can be handy to share with people who may be struggling. Many of the excellent digital devices available to help people with Low Vision can be tricky to master if and when you actually can’t see well. Using Siri on your phone is another example of helpful technology. Setting up to call family members on a verbal instruction can be helpful if you struggle to see the number on a phone. For an older person who is not familiar with using a smart phone mastering the technology to begin with can be a barrier.

So there’s no time like the present to give it a try. Look under Settings in the Accessories folder to install the magnifier.

Priya Patel - Extern Optometry Student 2021

Priya, a final year optometry student is completing part of her Auckland University externship in the practice during June. We invite you to make an appointment with Priya. Claire and Sally will be supervising and reviewing Priya’s clinical findings. 

Please allow an hour and note the examination fee will be reduced to $70. We are delighted to be able to mentor and support final year students.

Sharing Our Experience and Tips for Progressives Lenses

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

Alison: I love my progressives - from my very first pair I just put them on and wore them comfortably. I love not having to change between two pairs of glasses, and find today’s coatings very beneficial - especially the anti-reflection and blue coating for digital work (I look at a screen most of my work day). Highly recommend progressive lenses - they make wearing glasses easy!

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 17 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.

Katrina: Progressives are easy, even with my challenging prescription. They cater for all ranges of vision from driving , looking at the speedo and then working on the computer! I have found that the elite customised designed lenses give me maximum clarity though all areas of the lens..

Guidelines for children and screens

Most of us probably think that small children spending a lot of time looking at screens is probably not a good idea. But is there any evidence to back this up? Frustratingly little. But there are very helpful guidelines available, and we should be promoting these recommendations.

As optometrists, we are often asked by parents, what are the implications of screen time on vision development. Now we can refer to the WHO recommendations.

At a glance these recommendations say infants less than one years of age should have no screen time. For one year olds, sedentary screen time (such as watching TV or videos, playing computer games) is not recommended while for those aged 2 years, sedentary screen time should be no more than 1 hour; less is better. Older children of three-four years are recommended to have no more than 1 hour of sedentary screen time; and again less is better.

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Children under 2 years of age No screen time. Excessive screen time reduces language development and increases the likelihood of childhood obesity.

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Children 2-5 years Children who are toddlers and pre-schoolers should have a maximum of 1 hour of screen time a day. Higher rates of screen time are associated with less play, poorer social skills, slow language development and increased risk of obesity.

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Children 5-17 years Should be limited to 2 hours of recreational screen time per day. Children are now using screens more during their education, so limiting screen time during entertainment is important. When families pay attention to their media consumption and parents monitor their children’s digital access, the amount of screen time reduces along with positive improvements in sleep and school performance.

The recommendations made by WHO are echoed by New Zealand’s version: Sit less, Move More, Sleep Well: Active play guidelines for under-fives.