THIS ISSUE

SERVICES

EMERGENCIES

EYECARE PLUS

Evans and McMahon optometrists are members of the EyecarePLUS network.

EyecarePLUS is a selected group of independently owned practices across Australia. To be accredited, these practices have met stringent membership criteria to ensure that they provide professional eyecare plus quality optometric goods and excellence in service.

EyecarePLUS practices must be up to date with the latest techniques and instrumentation for vision examinations and offer all treatment options. They must also provide a wide range of quality optometric frames to suit all budgets and provide a warranty on all spectacle frames.

EyecarePLUS practices are also inspected on a regular basis to ensure that they maintain the highest standards of quality optometric care and service.

As members, EyecarePLUS practices share resources for staff education, as well as exclusive ranges of good value frames and high technology lenses. We are confident that this will then further improve the services that we provide.

Together with the other optometrists in EyecarePLUS practices across Australia, we will be able to offer the advantages of being part of a large optometric group, yet remain independent and able to provide the personalised optometric service that our patients have come to expect.

WELCOME DEREK

Hi everyone! My name is Derek Armour, the newest member of staff at Evans and McMahon Optometrists.

I began my optical dispensing career in 1974 when I started work at Gibb & Beeman in what was then the Monaro Mall in Civic. It was at that practice that I later worked with Leon and Juliet Evans shortly after they graduated from university.

In 1990 my wife and I and our two young children moved to Tamworth, not because we liked country music, but to further my career and to be near some of my family.

Well after 17 years in the country music capital her I am back in Canberra after Leon and my good friend and former colleague Ian Pyett, who many of you will know from the practice, enticed me to return.

I am really excited to be part of the experienced and professional team at Evans and McMahon Optometrists and alongside of Ian and the rest of the dispensing team I look forward to giving you the very best possible attention, service and advice for your spectacle needs.

EYE SPY WITH MY LITTLE EYE

Vision significantly shapes an infant’s perception of the world so it’s important to be aware of how your baby’s eyesight develops.

Newborns can see only as far as your face when you hold them but they can also detect light, shapes and movement. As their brain develops their range of focus grows steadily month by month.

Within the first couple of months a baby should be able to consistently focus both eyes and follow a moving object. A rattle passed in front of a baby’s face will often transfix them as they explore this newfound ability.

For the next few months they learn to distinguish colours. They will probably prefer bright primary colours so encourage this development by showing them pictures, photographs, books and toys.

At four months babies begin to develop depth perception, which helps with their hand-eye co-ordination. They can manage a task and have the maturity to co-ordinate all the moves needed to accomplish it. You can help them practice by offering easy to grasp toys.

At five months your baby is getting better at spotting small items and tracking moving objects. They also develop an understanding of object permanence, which is why they love to play peek-a-boo. By eight months a baby’s vision has almost matured. They are able to focus on objects that are close and recognise people and objects across the room. Their eyes are probably close to their final colour.

Fortunately, serious eye conditions are rare in infants but eye problems do occur so an eye check-up by your optometrist is an important part of responsible baby care.

Most health funds provide optical benefits based on a calendar year. If you haven’t yet claimed your health fund optical rebate for this year, you could be about to lose that benefit. This is particularly important for people wanting to update the optical prescription for their general spectacles as well as prescription sunglasses. In such cases, it may be more beneficial for you to claim one pair before the end of December, and the other in the New Year.

So, don’t delay, as you might be able to claim for a new or spare pair of glasses, contact lenses, or even prescription sunglasses.

For millions of people around the world, sight can make the difference between a life of poverty and a life of opportunity. According to the International Centre for Eyecare Education, more that 250 million people globally are blind or visually impaired because they do not have access to eye care or spectacles. Often, they are from the world’s poorest countries.

Many of those people are not blind or permanently visually handicapped-they are just very short-sighted and need only a simple pair of spectacles.

With the aid of Optometry Giving Sight, a global fundraising organisation, many people who were previously considered to be blind or seriously visually impaired have received spectacles and can now see. They live more fulfilled lives and can make a productive contribution to their communities.

Funding from Optometry Giving Sight is directed to tackling this tragedy of avoidable blindness. Many optometric practices now encourage patient participation in Optometry Giving Sight with a range of donation options.

You can make a donation at our practices or online at Givingsight.org, or by calling 1300-881-073.

Age-related macular degeneration is a disease that affects the macula. Located in the retina, the macula is responsible for detailed central vision.

Macular degeneration causes the progressive loss of central vision. Macular degeneration eventually affects both eyes. Distortion of straight lines, which appear wavy or bent, and dark patches in your vision are common symptoms. Difficulty in reading, doing activities that require fine vision and distinguishing objects in your central vision may also be experienced. Everyday living becomes a challenge as things become more difficult to see clearly.

Macular degeneration is Australia’s leading cause of vision loss – research shows that one in seven people over the age of 50 years is at risk of developing the condition.

While macular degeneration can lead to legal blindness, early detection increases treatment options, helping sufferers maintain their quality of life.

Tips to reduce the risk of developing macular degeneration:

• Quit smoking

• Exercise regularly

• Eat a well-balanced diet with fish, dark green leafy vegetables and nuts

• Protect you eyes from UV damage

If you have a Seniors’ Card, the ACT Government will pay $35 towards the cost of spectacles. Please ask one of our staff how we can assist you in reducing your cost when providing you with new spectacles.

Many drivers are not aware of the close relationship between good vision and safe driving, particularly at night.

Driving at night is more demanding and stressful than during the day. You need to be able to see in low light conditions and recover quickly from the glare of oncoming headlights.

Eyes are much slower to recover from the intense glare of oncoming headlights after they have been exposed to extended periods of bright daylight. This can occur if you drive home after a long day at the beach or in the snowfields, where glare from sunlight reflected on the water, sand or snow is severe. You can avoid this problem by wearing sunglasses during the day.

A common reason for night time haloes is astigmatism, which is a slight distortion of the shape of the eye. For some people their astigmatism doesn’t bother them during the day but makes them feel like their night vision is significantly worse. A dirty windscreen or scratched or dirty spectacle lenses can also cause annoying reflections and glare. It is a good idea to always clean you windscreen and spectacles before driving at night.

If you are troubled by glare or experience blurred vision during night driving, you may need to start wearing spectacles at night or update you current prescription.

Importantly, slow down - most vision problems are exacerbated by high speeds.

For a birthday or special occasion gift with a difference, we have Gift Certificates available to suit any price range.

Please ask one of our receptionists or dispensers for further information.