We recently sat down with Geoff Parker, co-founder of INDEX Eyewear, to chat about the process of getting an eye exam: What's involved? How does it work? and why we should be booking one in every 2 years, at a minimum. Geoff has over 35 years of experience as an optometrist, so sit back and dive into his wealth of knowledge.
My vision has always been a little blurry but I’m used to it now and can function fine, do I really need to wear glasses?
Geoff: The question of “fine” is a very subjective one. I strongly believe in the concept of complete understanding that allows the client and myself to really understand what’s going on. Poor vision (whether you are used to it or not) compromises your visual efficiency and in turn productivity particularly on screen. Put simply, your eyes and brain work far harder than they should for too little benefit. Additionally blurry vision also brings safety concerns on the road particularly at night.
Getting an eye exam always makes me nervous as I never know what to expect, what is the process? How long do eye exams take?
Geoff: A comprehensive and thorough eye exam will take about 50 mins. In that time I’ll initially discuss with the client what their concerns or suspicions are about their vision. From there I have an in depth look at the outside and inside of the eyes using a combination of microscopes and scanners to assess the health of the eyes. After that I then have a thorough look at the clients prescription, tailoring the outcome to what their needs are. I always like to finish with a summary so the client knows exactly where they are at.
Can I use the same prescription for driving, reading and general work?
Geoff: This very much depends on your age. Typically above the age of 45 separate prescriptions for general use and reading are needed. The best solution if you need more than just help for reading is a progressive lens as this will combine all these needs in one lens. Normally up to 40-45 years of age the same prescription can be used for all purposes.
Money is tight at the moment, If I get an eye exam do I have to buy glasses right away?
Geoff: Absolutely not. The eye exam will allow us to understand what the problem is but we can deal with getting glasses at another more convenient time. The key point is to understand what needs to be done.
I’ve heard getting regular exams helps prevent damage, what type of damage do people mean?
Geoff: At a simple level this could refer to putting unnecessary strain on your eyes through not having glasses for things like long screen days. This isn’t comfortable for your eyes and is doing nothing but wearing your eyes out.
At a more serious level this also relates to a number of relatively common eye diseases that left unchecked will lead to full or partial blindness. Diseases like glaucoma and macula degeneration will always have better outcomes if they are detected early and managed sooner.
Does a family history of bad eyesight mean I’m more prone to eye diseases?
Geoff: Not necessarily. There’s a difference between bad eyesight through having a strong prescription which can generally be corrected with glasses or contacts, compared to bad eyesight coming from eye disease. In general terms the two are not related to each other.
Geoff: Looking at the health of the human eye has advanced enormously in the 35 years I have been in practice and in the process become extremely sophisticated and technological. I use a bio-microscope to look at the health of the outside surface of the eye. This would look for things like cataract or sun damage. I then use a combination of two seperate laser scanners to look inside the eye. I’m looking for things like glaucoma, diabetic change in the eye and macula degeneration amongst a host of other things.
Will I get my lenses straight away?
Geoff: No. Because our solution is always a customized one for the individual, the lenses will be ordered typically from overseas and normally be back with you between 5-10 business days.
Any tips I can utilise in my day-to-day to keep my eyes strong and healthy?
Geoff: Good sun protection is vital. Wear 100% UV protective sunglasses when out in the NZ sun and start your kids when they’re young. Most UV damage occurs on the outside of the eye between 0-20 years of age. Kids should be wearing sunglasses too. If you’re putting sunscreen on them, you should be putting sunglasses on them.
A good diet is best for long term healthy eyes. Eat lots of dark green, leafy veges and nuts and berries. Long term this is great for the back of the eye and will keep some of the aging factors at bay.
Book in your eye exam with Geoff today at indexeyewear.co.nz or give us a ring.
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5 Havelock Road,
Havelock North,
Hawkes Bay
4130
06 211 7433