Detecting diabetic retinopathy

eye-15699_1920

What is diabetic retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is a complication of diabetes, caused by high blood sugar levels damaging the back of the eye (retina). It can cause blindness if left undiagnosed and untreated.

However, it usually takes several years for diabetic retinopathy to reach a stage where it could threaten your sight.

To minimise the risk of this happening, people with diabetes should:

  • ensure they control their blood sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol
  • attend diabetic eye screening appointments – annual screening is offered to all people with diabetes aged 12 and over to pick up and treat any problems early on

How diabetes can affect the eyes

The retina is the light-sensitive layer of cells at the back of the eye that converts light into electrical signals. The signals are sent to the brain and the brain turns them into the images you see.

The retina needs a constant supply of blood, which it receives through a network of tiny blood vessels. Over time, a persistently high blood sugar level can damage these blood vessels in three main stages:

  • tiny bulges develop in the blood vessels, which may bleed slightly but don’t usually affect your vision – this is known as background retinopathy
  • more severe and widespread changes affect the blood vessels, including more significant bleeding into the eye – this is known as pre-proliferative retinopathy
  • scar tissue and new blood vessels, which are weak and bleed easily, develop on the retina – this is known as proliferative retinopathy and it can result in some loss of vision

However, if a problem with your eyes is picked up early, lifestyle changes and/or treatment can stop it getting worse.

Detect diabetic retinopathy at Henry Smith and Hamylton

We can detect early signs of diabetes with our advanced Retinal Imaging tests- Retinal digital photography, Optomap in our Leicester city centre and OCT in our Peterborough practice. It’s important to have regular eye examinations (at least every 2 years or more often) because we don’t always experience symptoms when there are eye problems. Early detection helps to keep the eyes healthy and vision clear.

 

 

Source: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diabetic-retinopathy/

2017
11/13
CATEGORY
eye health
Leicester
Peterborough
photography
TAGS






















Leave a comment

5 optician tips to make your glasses last longer!

brillenmode-fashion-eyewear-current-trends-news-for-cool-geek

You would never think that many of these simple habits are actually damaging your eye glasses over time. Cleaning the lenses with the wrong products can create tiny scratches on the glass and removing your glasses incorrectly can eventually bend the frame.

We have put down 5 easy tips that will help you taking care of your glasses:

 

  • Never clean your lenses with your shirt, paper or dirty pads, the tiny dust particles in these fabrics will scratch the lenses rather than clean them. Always wash the lenses with cold water and delicate soap, you can dry them after with a microfibre cloth, even better, you could get a specific lens cleaning spry from your optician. If you don’t have any of these products with you, try to blow on the lenses instead!

 

  •  Try not to take your glasses off with one hand, this will bend the frame over time, always use two, but If you are first compelled to take your glasses off with one hand, then you should do it from the center of the frame where the bridge is and not pull on one side.

 

  • Leaving them on your car dashboard is not a good idea, especially if it is really hot outside. The heat can in fact damage plastic and acetate frames.

 

  • Take your glasses off when opening the oven, draining pasta or vegetables: the hot steam can damage your frame and lenses.

 

  • Protect your glasses when using hair spry, perfumes or other chemicals that could damage them.

 

We hope you will find these tips useful! Remember you can always come and visit us at any of our HSH practices to get your glasses professionally cleaned and to adjust or replace your nose pad, all free of charge! 🙂

2017
07/26
CATEGORY
glasses
Leicester
Peterborough
tips
Uncategorized
TAGS









Leave a comment

Contact Lenses were invented 500 years ago

leonardo-da-vinci-camera-obscura

The first known sketches of contact lenses were apparently produced by italian architect, mathematician and inventor Leonardo da Vinci in 1508.

Although Leonardo da Vinci never actually produced a physical model of contact lens, many believe that his ideas eventually led to contact lens development more than 130 years later .

The early contact lenses were entirely made of glass, and they covered the whole eye, including the sclera, the white part of the eye, hence they were very heavy and reduced the oxygen supply to the eye. For this reason they could only be tolerated for a few hours only so did not become very popular.

As the years went by, new materials such as plastic were developed, in 1936, New York optometrist William Feinbloom  introduced scleral lenses made of a combination of glass and plastic that were significantly lighter than older glass-blown contacts.

Later on in 1948, California optician Kevin Tuohy introduced the first contact lenses that resembled modern gas permeable (GP) contact lenses of today. These all-plastic lenses were called “corneal” contact lenses because they were smaller in diameter than previous contact lenses and covered only the clear front surface of the eye (the cornea).

Perhaps the biggest event in the history of contact lenses was the invention of the first hydrophilic (“water-loving”) hydrogel soft contact lens material by Czech chemists Otto Wichterle and Drahoslav Lim in 1959.

Wichterle and Lim’s discovery led to the 1971 launch of the first FDA-approved soft contact lenses in the United States — Bausch + Lomb’s “SofLens” brand contacts.

From that moment on contact lenses technology improved significantly until the latest introduction of silicone hydrogel contact lenses.

2017
07/21
CATEGORY
Uncategorized
TAGS








Leave a comment

How to take care of your eyes on holiday!

Your summer holiday is getting closer!

Whether you’re going to spend it by the sea or exploring a new city, it’s important to consider protecting your eyes!

We have put together 5 hot tips that can help you take care of your sight while enjoying your holiday :

1) Sunglasses with UV protection: protecting our eyes from the sun is just as important as protecting our skin. The same harmful rays that can cause wrinkles, premature ageing and skin cancer also affect the eyes. UVA and UVB rays can cause damage to different parts of the eye including the retina and lens, which can lead to macular degeneration and Cataracts.

2) Sun cream: It’s not just the eye surface that needs protection, but you should also protect the skin around the eyes should it come into contact with sunlight. A sun cream of the required SPF should be used frequently to help protect from sun damage.

3) Swimming Goggles: Always wear goggles when swimming in the pool, remember that contaminants can have an effect on your eyes, and could potentially cause redness. Also, never wear contact lenses when swimming either in the pool or in the sea, as bacteria in the water can lead to a serious eye infection! You may want to consider investing in prescription goggles if you struggle with no lenses.

4) Preservative Free Dry Eyes drops:  heat, sunlight and dry air can lead to dry eyes – good idea to take eye drops with you!

5) Take a break: A summer holiday is a good excuse to take a break from the computer artificial lights! if you work long hours in front of a computer screen you are increasing your chances of becoming short sighted, according to Californian eye specialists.

If you want to know more on how to take care of your eyes get in contact with our HSH Optical Teams!

2017
07/11
CATEGORY
eye health
TAGS


















Leave a comment

HS+H Opticians raised over £500 for sight loss charity Vista

IMG_2043
Henry Smith + Hamylton Opticians are celebrating their 130th anniversary!
The Independent Family Run Opticians officially partnered with Sight loss charity Vista for a year of fundraising for the charity. 
The charity and Henry Smith + Hamylton Opticians have been linked for many years. Recently collaborating in the introduction of groundbreaking spectacle lenses, designed to improve vision in people with Macular Degeneration.
In celebration of Henry Smith and Hamylton’s 130th anniversary, the family-based opticians Syston practice hosted a Charity Fundraising night for VISTA on Sat June 3rd with live music from Kerry Jean, games, raffle and much more held at the Syston Brookside WMC. Joanne King, a long standing Syston member of Staff & active member of the community organised the Charity event and raised over £500 for the local sight loss charity Vista.

As well as the success from the Syston Fundraising event, “From May until August, each Henry Smith + Hamylton colleague has pledged to walk 130 virtual miles in aid of Vista, which is the equivalent of walking from Leicester’s Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower to Brighton Pier!”
2017
06/23
CATEGORY
Collaboration
eye health
Leicester
TAGS














Leave a comment

How often should you get your eyes tested

The NHS recommends that most people should get their eyes tested every two years.

However in some circumstances, they may recommend more frequent NHS sight tests;
for example, if you:

-are a child wearing glasses
-have diabetes
-are aged 40 or over and have a family history of glaucoma
-are aged 70 or over

You sight test does not only tell you if your sight has got worse, it can also detect some
eye-related pathologies, such as glaucoma, cataracts or retinal problems, and some non eye-related ones such as:

Diabetes
Hypertention
Autoimmune disorders (ex. Lupus)
High Cholesterol
Thyroid disease
Cancer
Tumors

If your doctor notices that the structure of your eye is unusual, you may be referred to a specialist.
Droopy eyelid or irregularly shaped pupils could possibly indicate a neck tumor or an aneurism.

Some of the services at Henry Smith and Hamylton Opticians include:

– Specialist Macular Degeneration Lenses

– Children’s Eye Health

– Dry Eye Clinics

– Cataract Services

-3D Retinal Scan*

-Retinal Photography*

-Glaucoma Screening

-Diabetes Check

-Colour Blindness Check

-DVLA Assessment

 

Get in contact with us and book an eye test today!

HSH Leicester city centre: (0116) 262 7775

2017
06/15
CATEGORY
eye health
Leicester
Peterborough
Uncategorized
TAGS


















Leave a comment

Keep your eyes healthy with food

kale-clementine-and-feta-salad-with-honey-lime-dressing-recipe

Choosing a healthy diet is not only important for general health and a thin silhouette, it is also very important for your eyes.

Carrots and blueberries are very popular when it comes to eye health, although they’re not the only ones! There’s plenty of other foods that may be useful for keeping your eyesight keen as you age.

Vitamins C and E, zinc, lutein, zeaxanthin, and omega-3 fatty acids all play a role in eye health. They can help prevent cataracts and may also help preventing the most-likely cause of vision loss when you’re older: age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Here is a short list of good foods for your eyes:

-Kale, spinach and broccoli

They contains plenty of antioxidants! These leafy greens are loaded with two of the best nutrients for eyes, lutein, and zeaxanthin.

-Grapefruit, Strawberries and Brussels Sprout

Vitamin C is a top antioxidant. These foods are among the top sources of vitamin C. Half a grapefruit and a handful of Brussels sprouts or strawberries (one-half cup) a day and you’re good to go. Papaya, oranges, and green peppers are other good sources.

-Seeds, Nuts and Wheat Germ

Most of us don’t get as much vitamin E, important to keep healthy tissue strong, as we should from food.

Have a small handful of sunflower seeds, or use a tablespoon of wheat germ oil in your salad dressing for a big boost.

Almonds, pecans, and vegetable oils are also good sources.

Below we propose an easy-to-make recipe that is also optician-approved! 😉

KALE, CLEMENTINE AND FETA SALAD WITH HONEY-LIME DRESSING

Colorful raw kale salad made with clementines, radish, avocado and pepitas, tossed in a honey, lime and jalapeño dressing. This salad is gluten free and easily made vegan by omitting the feta and substituting agave nectar for the honey.

INGREDIENTS

Kale salad

  • 1 bunch kale
  • 1 avocado, diced
  • 1 medium pomegranate, arils removed, or a handful of dried cranberries
  • 4 clementines, peeled and sliced into rounds or small strips
  • 4 small radishes, sliced into thin rounds and then into skinny strips
  • Handful fresh cilantro, chopped
  • ⅓ cup crumbled feta
  • ¼ cup pepitas (AKA pumpkin seeds) or sunflower seeds

Honey-Lime Dressing

  • 3 tablespoons fresh lime juice (about 2 small limes)
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium jalapeño, membranes and seeds removed, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons honey (or agave nectar)
  • 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
  • ¼ teaspoon chili powder
  • ⅛ teaspoon fine grain sea salt

INSTRUCTIONS

  1. First, make the dressing by whisking together all of the ingredients in a small bowl.
  2. Prepare the kale by slicing out the stems and chopping out the leaves into small, bite-sized pieces. Transfer the kale to a big salad bowl. Sprinkle a small pinch of sea salt over the kale and massage the leaves with your hands by lightly scrunching big handfuls at a time, until the leaves are darker in color and fragrant.
  3. Drizzle salad dressing over the kale (you might not need all of the dressing) and toss well so the kale is lightly coated with dressing. Add the prepared avocado, pomegranate (or dried cranberries), clementines, radishes, cilantro and feta to the bowl.
  4. Toast the pepitas in a skillet over medium-low heat for a few minutes, stirring frequently, until they smell fragrant and toasty. Transfer the pepitas to the salad bowl. Toss the salad to combine and serve.

NB: this recipe comes from: COOKIEANDKATE.COM

2017
06/13
CATEGORY
eye health
TAGS

















Leave a comment

How you should apply make-up if you wear contact lenses

If you are a contact lens wearer then you should be extra-careful when applying make-up, here you can find few tips:

..Of course first thing you always must do is to wash and dry your hands thoroughly! (don’t wear lenses with wet hands.. very important!)

  • Always put on contact lenses before applying make-up, this way you will avoid the risk of getting bits in your eyes
  • When using eye-liner try and apply it above your lashes line and not on your inner eyelid
  • Keep your eyes closed when applying powder products
  • Never blow on your make-up brush! That will in fact increase the amount of bacteria which may lead to eye irritation (you should also wash your make-up brushes very often)
  • When applying mascara don’t start from the base of your lashes, start from midpoint towards the tips
  • Don’t use mascara with lash-building fibres because it can damage your lenses
  • Don’t apply make-up if your eyes are irritated or swollen
  • Don’t wear false eyelashes. The lash glue can irritate your eyes
  • Avoid sharing make-up. Eye infections can be easily passed between people

Also do you know how often you should replace your makeup? Have a look here!

Get in contact with Henry Smith and Hamylton Opticians for more informations 🙂

2017
06/06
CATEGORY
eye health
TAGS
















Leave a comment

Spotted Kim Kardashian wearing YSL sunglasses

Kim Kardashian has been spotted everywhere wearing this now very popular pair of Yves Saint Laurent sunglasses (SL1).

In case you were wondering where to find a pair.. no need to look too far! Yves Saint Laurent is one of the new luxury brands available at HS+H Opticians, and you can find SL1 model in our Peterborough practice..

Come and visit us anytime if you want to try them on! 😀

2017
05/26
CATEGORY
Exclusive
Leicester
TAGS
























Leave a comment

Taylor Swift inspired look

Taylor Swift is one of the most popular contemporary female singer and fashion icon.

Red lipstick and short skirts are well known as a signature of her style, although not only does she look stunning in feminine and classical outfits she can also pull together great everyday-urban looks as you can see from the photos. We have done some research and found a few sunglasses for a Taylor Swift inspired look! 😀

Please visit HS+H practices if you want to see more models 🙂 our Peterborough practice has a large selection of sunglasses including Chanel which is exclusive to Henry Smith and Hamylton Opticians in Peterborough! 😀

Ray Ban 2140

Chanel 5361

Tiffany 411-B

Chanel 5306-B

2017
05/26
CATEGORY
Exclusive
Sunglasses
TAGS
























Leave a comment

Recent entry

Archive

Category