What we are wearing - Holly's newest glasses

Holly is working through her Optical Dispensing course, and taking the opportunity to experience optics first hand trying different lenses.

Lens: Hoya Sync III 5, 1.50 index material with Sensity Grey and Diamond Finish Anti-reflection Coating

Frame: Lightech 30200L colour NP09 matt black/gold 52 eye

What do you like about these glasses?

Holly: This is my first pair of glasses with nosepads, and I’m surprised how comfortable they are. They are light, and I am enjoying the different look with a metal frame.

The sync lenses have a boost in power at the bottom of the lens. What difference are your noticing?

Holly: Assembling glasses in the workshop is pretty detailed, that extra boost is helpful. I don’t notice a difference compared to my other lenses, which are one prescription over the entire lens - these are just as clear and comfortable for distance vision. The combination of the Sensity tint plus the diamond finish gives me good glare control for screen work - which I am doing more of with my course.

These Sensity lenses go dark in the sun, how do you find this?

Holly: Good for outdoors.

High Visibility for Low Vision

Collaboration between the occupational therapy (OT) community and the Visual Impairment Charitable Trust Aoteoroa (VICTA) is reaching out to people with low vision. Watch this short video describing vis bands and vis sticks. These tools are helpful identifiers for people who are visually impaired travelling in their communities.

Making it easier to book online

Month by month more people are choosing to book appointments online. Sometimes it is easier to consider the appointment time at your leisure. We have included different appointment types. We hope this will add to the convenience. From our website scroll down to see the full list of options.

Eye examination - this is your routine appointment to see us

Contact Lens Examination - your routine annual WOF for safe and healthy contact lens wear

Eye Pressure Check - this is a 10 minute appointment where we check your eye pressure.

Eyelash removal - 10 minute time to epilate eye lashes that rub and irritate the surface of the eye.

OrthoK Consultation - six-monthly-appointment for people wearing OrthoK contact lenses at night

CAA Civil Aviation Vision Assessment - if you are renewing or applying for a CAA licence you can book to see Sally Adams who will give you the full assessment and complete your paperwork.

Telephone Consultation - do you have a concern about your eye or vision? You can book a 10 minute optometrist tele-consultation with us.

Vision Therapy Assessment - these 50 minute appointments are with Sally Adams, who is experienced in behavioral optometry.

Book an Appointment Online

or call us on 09 425 9646

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.