Eye and vision care in Trinidad and Tobago

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How to Mix and Match Glam Eyewear with Your Clothes

5 Tasteful ways to mix and match glam eyewear with your wardrobe

Glam eyewear not only protects your vision health but is a way of making bold and expressive fashion statements. Glamorous eyewear can instantly elevate your look, even the most basic one. By choosing the right eyewear, one can effortlessly add personality, sophistication, and flair to any outfit.

From oversized sunglasses to sparkling cat-eye frames, knowing how to pair glamorous eyewear with different styles is essential for a tasteful mix and match.

Choose eyeglass frames that complement your outfit

Colours play a crucial role in styling your look with glam eyewear. What is the mood and colour palette of your outfit? Understand this first and then choose your eyewear accordingly. Classic shades like black, gold, silver or tortoiseshell look great with almost any wardrobe ensemble.

However, if you choose to go big with your clothing with bold prints and vibrant colours, subtle eyewear helps you avoid an 'all over the place' appearance. If you are going for basic colours on your clothes then statement frames with embellishments or unique shapes and bold colours that pop will attract attention and enhance the simple choice of your clothing.

Eyewear that matches your fashion preferences

The cat-eye frames create a glamourous, feminine style. The round frames bring back the vintage and retro oomph to your attire. The oversized eyeglass frames give you a dramatic luxurious look, and geometric shapes in eyewear create a modern and edgy appearance. Different eyeglass frames create a different aesthetic. Choose the style that you want to experiment with or one that matches your personal fashion preferences.

Balance accessories with eyewear

If you are choosing to go with a super glam eyewear, avoid over-accessorizing with other items. Balance in the key to creating a chic, stylish and classy look, so pair bold eye frames with minimal jewelry and understated handbags to avoid carrying an overwhelming look.

Mixing and matching glam eyewear with your wardrobe is a lot of fun, while putting the look together as well as carrying the look.

Glam eyewear is the fastest way to a fashionable look for both casual and formal occasions, so choose multiple pairs in different shapes and colours that complement your features and add flair and glam to your everyday wear. With balance, colour coordination and a confident personality, you can pull off a glam look with ease!

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Tips for a Smooth Transition to Progressive Lenses

Learn more about how Progressive Lenses work

Progressive lenses are vision correction lenses that are used by people who need vision correction at multiple distances. It's a single lens that combines near, intermediate and distance prescriptions, without the visible line found in bifocal lenses. They offer the convenience of seamless vision correction and are also a cosmetically appealing option. However, many first-time users might find the transition slightly uncomfortable and need some time to adjust to it.

Different zones of progressive lenses for different distance correction

At the initial stages, the wearer will have to learn to position their eyes correctly within the different lens zones for different distances. The topmost section corrects distance vision, the middle corrects intermediate vision and is suitable for tasks like computer work. The bottom section of progressive lenses is for close vision correction and used for activities like reading and knitting. The wearer will have to adjust their head and eye position depending on the task they are performing.

Tips to ease the transition

Some wearers may experience mild dizziness, peripheral distortion or trouble with depth perception when they switch to progressive lenses. However, with time and consistent usage, they overcome this challenge and adapt for a seamless experience. Here's how to make this process smoother.

Wear them consistently – Don’t switch back and forth between old glasses and progressive lenses as wearing them continuously will help your brain adapt faster.

Point your nose toward what you're looking at – This technique aligns your eyes with the right part of the lens and reduces strain.

Practice common tasks – Spend time reading, using a computer and walking around in your lenses to build confidence and visual comfort.

Be patient with the process – Adapting to progressive lenses can take a few days to a few weeks. Improvement is gradual, so don't lose patience.

If you continue experiencing discomfort even after a few weeks of wearing them or if the quality of vision does not improve, speak to your eye care professional to check if your lenses need adjustments. With patience and right guidance, adapting to progressive lenses becomes easier, offering wearers a convenient long-term solution for multi-distance vision correction.

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What is Myopia and How to Deal With It

Read more on Myopia: The Global Epidemic

opia is a refractive error of the eye that makes distant vision blurry. Because of this, it is also known as nearsightedness as it only affects the distant vision while the nearby vision remains clear. Myopia occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved. Due to this, the light rays focus in front of the retina instead of directly on it, making far away objects appear blurry.

Symptoms of Myopia:

Squinting

Eye strain

Blurry distant vision

Frequent headaches

Correcting myopia is important to enjoy a clear vision and a better quality of life. Therefore, if you are experiencing any of these symptoms, visit your eye care specialist for a vision screening immediately.

Managing Myopia:

Corrective eyeglasses - This is the most common method of correcting myopia. Based on the severity of myopia, the eye specialist will prescribe corrective lenses which the patient can wear as eyeglasses or contacts. The prescription lenses are designed and developed in a way that helps redirect light to focus correctly on the retina, fixing the distant vision.

Contact lenses - This is the 2nd most common corrective method for myopia. It follows the same concept as prescription glasses with the difference that instead of wearing the lenses as eyeglasses, a thin lens made of special material is directly placed in the eyes. People who want freedom from eyeglasses prefer to wear lenses.

Refractive surgery - Some people opt for a more permanent solution for myopia through refractive error correction surgery like LASIK that can reshape the cornea to improve focus.

Myopia often progresses during childhood and stabilizes in adulthood. Therefore, parents must remain vigilant of their children's eye health, so, if they are suffering from myopia, corrective measures can be implemented on time to avoid its progression.

Lifestyle changes can also play a big role in managing myopia. For example, including eye health promoting foods like spinach, nuts and fish in your daily diet, encouraging children to spend more time outdoors, strictly monitoring their screen time and ensuring their study area is well-lit, all of these support good eye health and slow down the progression of myopia.

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Need Help Selecting Eyeglasses? Here Are a Few Helpful Tips!

A guide to buying your first pair of eyeglasses

Choosing the right pair of eyeglasses is an important decision that affects both your vision and personal style. If you are unsure of the type of glasses you want to purchase, here are a few tips to help you select the best pair as per your needs.

Vision screening and correct prescription

The first thing to do to get yourself the right pair of prescription glasses is to make sure the prescription is correct. Over time, the acuity of our eyesight varies. Before shopping for new eyeglasses, visit your optometrist and get a fresh vision screening done for an up-to-date prescription. This way, the lenses of your new eyeglasses will provide correct vision correction.

Try multiple styles and sizes

Different face shapes work better with certain frame styles. For example, oval faces look good in almost any frame shape but square or rectangular frames can add definition to the face making it more attractive. Round faces are complemented by angular frames. Square faces look great with round or oval frames which helps soften their sharp angles and heart-shaped faces often pair well with frames that are wider at the bottom, such as cat-eye frames.

Take assistance from your optician and try as many eyeglass frames as you can to check which style of frame, size and colour look the best on your face shape.

Picking the material for eyeglass frame

Eyeglass frames come in various materials with plastic and metal being the most common types. Plastic eyeglass frames being lightweight and cost-friendly are more in demand. They come in many colours and styles and are strong and impact resistant, making them a good option for everyday wear. Metal frames are durable and offer a sleek, minimalist and sophisticated look. They are typically more expensive than plastic but are also durable and long-lasting. Only caution you need to take with metal frames is to ensure that they are hypoallergenic in case you have sensitive skin.

Get the fitting right

The fit of your eyeglasses is crucial for comfort as you will be using them every day for long hours. Ensure the frame sits comfortably on your nose and ears without pinching. The arms of the glasses should rest gently against your temples and the lenses should align with your eyes. Your spectacle dispensing service provider will offer adjustments for a custom fit that offers comfortable and clear vision.

Match your style and personal taste

Today, eyeglasses are also seen as an accessory that reflects your personality and taste in fashion. Choose eyeglass frames that align with your style, whether you prefer classic, bold, funky, sophisticated or minimalist.

Lifestyle and functionality

If you lead an active lifestyle, go for durable materials and features like non-slip nose pads. You can also get specialized lenses such as blue light filtering, transition lenses, or polarized lenses as added functionality.

These tips will guide you in your decision when choosing new eyeglasses, so you find a pair that improves your vision, offers comfort and enhances your overall look.

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How Myopia or Nearsightedness can Impact Vision Quality

The Impact of Uncorrected Myopia: Understanding the Risks

Myopia, commonly known as nearsightedness, is a refractive error of the eye that affects millions of people worldwide including Guyana. It occurs when the eyeball is too long or the cornea is too curved, causing light rays to focus in front of the retina rather than directly on it. Due to this, a person with myopia is able to see nearby objects clearly, but the distant vision becomes blurred.

Myopia and distant vision:

Individuals with myopia often struggle to see objects at a distance such as road signs, classroom boards, or faces across a room. If not corrected, it can adversely affect the quality of life, making day to day tasks like driving, participating in sports or enjoying outdoor activities difficult. Children with undiagnosed myopia may experience challenges in school, impacting their learning and overall academic performance.

Myopia and eye strain:

Myopia can also cause eye strain, headaches and eye fatigue, especially when one needs to perform tasks such as reading, stitching, or using digital devices that require prolonged focus on close objects. This constant discomfort makes it harder to enjoy everyday experiences.

Increased risks of serious eye conditions:

In addition to immediate effects on vision quality, myopia is associated with a higher risk of developing serious eye conditions later in life. High myopia can increase the likelihood of complications such as retinal detachment, glaucoma and cataracts. These conditions can further compromise vision and lead to irreversible damage, if not managed.

The top symptoms of myopia are:

Blurry distant vision

Headaches

Eye strain

Eye Fatigue

Squinting

Myopia significantly impacts vision quality, affecting daily activities and long-term eye health. Awareness, regular eye checkups and proactive management are essential for maintaining clear vision and preventing potential eye health complications in future.

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Various Benefits of Eyewear Promotional Offers

Eyewear promotional offers in Guyana

Eyewear promotional offers present many benefits for consumers, making them an enticing option for those in need of vision correction or stylish eyewear accessories.

1. Save money

Eyewear promotions and discounts give access to cost-effective eyewear solutions, allowing individuals to buy high-quality eyewear at discounted prices or through enticing deals such as buy-one-get-one or substantial discounts on contact lenses or eyeglass frames. This affordability factor is particularly advantageous for individuals on a budget or those without vision insurance coverage.

2. Additional perks

Many eyewear promotional offers come with additional perks such as free eye examination or consultations, enabling individuals to access comprehensive eye care services without bearing additional financial burdens. This encourages proactive eye health management, leading to early detection of vision issues and timely corrective measures.

3. Get access to latest eyewear trends

Eyewear promotions often showcase the latest trends and designs in eyewear fashion, giving consumers the opportunity to stay up to date with the latest styles without breaking the bank. Individuals can use this opportunity for self-expression and confidence boost through the selection of eyewear that complements one's personality and style preferences.

Eyewear promotional offers have many benefits, ranging from affordability and access to comprehensive eye care services to fashion-forward eyewear designs and quality products, making them an attractive option for consumers seeking quality yet affordable eyewear solutions.

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How Eyeglasses Can Totally Change Your Look

Eyeglasses and how they can change your look

Eyeglasses are no more just a vision aid but also a popular fashion accessory. They possess the power to completely redefine your entire look. The right pair of eyeglasses can elevate your style while supporting various looks like chic, vintage, geek and more.

Bold frames can make an impactful fashion statement. On the other hand, sleek frames with their minimalist designs create a modern and professional appearance. Eyeglasses come in various colours, shapes and sizes, so wearers get to choose a pair that enhances their facial features and complements their personal style. Whether it's retro-inspired frames exuding a vintage charm or cutting-edge designs showcasing a contemporary look, eyeglasses have the unique ability to effortlessly add a distinct personality to your overall look.

Five points to keep in mind when choosing a new pair of eyeglasses:

Make sure your prescription is up-to-date

Eyeglass frames should feel comfortable on your nose and behind your ears

Consider the shape of your face when deciding the size and shape of the frame

Choose colours that complement your skin tone, eye colour, and wardrobe

Choose frame material as per your lifestyle

Eyeglasses today have become a versatile accessory that go beyond their original purpose of vision correction and have become a key element in expressing your individuality and style.

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Five Glaucoma Prevention and Care Awareness

What is Glaucoma and are you at risk?

Glaucoma is a potentially blinding eye condition characterized by damage to the optic nerve, often resulting from elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). While there is no surefire way to guarantee the prevention of glaucoma, several steps can be taken to significantly reduce the risk and detect it early, when it's more manageable.

Regular Eye Exams: Annual eye exams are crucial, especially if you have a family history of glaucoma. Eye exams like eye pressure tests can detect early signs of glaucoma before the damage becomes too severe.

Know the Risk Factors: Understanding your family history, age, and ethnicity can help you assess your risk. African-Americans, Hispanics, and people over 60 are at higher risk of developing glaucoma.

Maintain a Healthy Lifestyle: A balanced diet combined with regular exercise, and controlling conditions like diabetes can reduce your risk of developing glaucoma.

Protect Your Eyes: Eye injuries can increase the risk of glaucoma. Make sure to wear protective eyewear when you are in a high-risk environment.

Quit Smoking: Smoking can contribute to glaucoma development, so avoiding or quitting cigarettes altogether is advisable.

While glaucoma prevention is not always possible, early detection and proper management can help preserve your vision. Therefore, it's essential to prioritize eye health and follow adequate preventive measures to protect your eye and vision health.

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Important Contact Lens Safety Measures

Contact lens FAQs

While contact lenses provide convenience and clear vision, improper use and neglect can lead to serious eye problems. If you are a contact lens wearer, the following essential safety measures can help prevent potential eye issues and ensure a safe and comfortable experience with your lenses.

Hygiene: Always wash your hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling your contact lenses. Avoid using scented or oily soaps as they can leave residues on your hands, which may transfer to the lenses and cause discomfort or infections.

Cleaning and Disinfection: Clean and disinfect your contact lenses daily using the recommended solution. Never reuse the old solution, and always use a fresh solution in your lens case. Never use water or saliva to clean your lenses, as they may contain harmful microorganisms that can get transmitted into your eyes and cause injection..

Lens Case Care: Regularly clean and replace your contact lens case to prevent bacterial build-up. After wearing your lenses, rinse the case with fresh solution, and allow it to air dry. Replace the case every three months or as recommended by your eye care professional.

Avoid Prolonged Wear: Follow your eye care professional's instructions regarding the wearing schedule for your contact lenses. Avoid wearing them for longer than the recommended time frame as this can increase the risk of eye infections and oxygen deprivation to the cornea.

Avoid Sleeping with Lenses: Sleeping with contact lenses can hinder oxygen flow to the eyes, increasing the risk of corneal infections and other complications. Always remove your lenses before sleeping, even for short naps.

By adhering to these contact lens safety measures, you can enjoy the benefits of clear vision without compromising the health of your eyes. If you experience any discomfort or notice any changes in your vision, promptly consult your eye care professional for guidance and assistance.

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Whether for studies, sports or any other extra curricular activity, children need good eyesight and clear vision to perform well in school. Not being able to see clearly will not only affect their performance, but can also negatively impact their level of confidence.

Good eyesight is required for all school activities such as reading, writing, hand-eye coordination while playing sports and other recreational activities. When a child is unable to see properly, they will feel left behind. School should be a great experience for kids and poor vision should never come in the way of learning. Therefore, your child's vision health must be on top priority.

If you find your child squinting a lot and stressing his or her eyes to see objects at a distance or while reading and writing, this could be a sign of poor vision. When you notice such signs, take your child for vision screening and eye examination.

Children these days are also exposed to digital devices like smartphones and tablets that pose a threat to vision health due to blue light overexpose. To protect their eyes from blue light, limit their screen time and encourage them to participate in other fun activities that keep them away from digital screens. If your child is not performing well in school, one of the reasons could be poor vision. By regularly taking your child to an eye care specialist, you can protect their eyesight and enhance their overall experience in school.

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Are you regular with your eye examinations? If not, then this is something you must put on high priority. There are many reasons to visit your eye care specialist for regular eye check-ups. A comprehensive eye examination usually consists of:

Vision screening

External eye examination

Internal eye examination

Eye pressure test

These tests are essential to pick up early signs of eye diseases which could otherwise go unnoticed until they get worse. Our current modern lifestyle subjects our eyes to digital screen overexposure. This has further increased our risks of developing eye conditions such as dry eyes and age-related macular. Regularly visiting your eye care specialist for eye tests will ensure that your eyes stay in best shape.

An additional benefit of regular eye examination is that it can also detect other underlying health conditions such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure and multiple sclerosis. An eye examination does not take more than 20 minutes and is worth investing in for the safety of your eye health and for long lasting vision. Here are a few frequently asked questions about eye examinations.

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Our eyes are fragile and need care in order to stay healthy. If proper care is not given, our eye health deteriorates overtime and our eyes become susceptible to various eye conditions that affect our vision and therefore the quality of our life. There are few simple steps we can follow to protect our vision. Let's take a look. 1. Follow the 20-20-20 rule of looking away from your digital screen every 20 minutes at a distance 20 feet away for 20 seconds 2. Don't forget to blink when in front of a digital screen 3. Wear blue light protection lenses 4. Always wear sunglasses when you are outdoors during the day. Even when the sky is overcast 5. Include healthy nourishing foods in your daily diet 6. Stay active. Exercise These simple measures will go a long way in protecting your eyes from damage and will keep your vision from weakening. It's also important to go for regular eye check-ups to pick any early signs of eye conditions. Learn more!

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The digital era has made it impossible to go about our daily lives without depending on our digital devices. Laptops, tablets, smartphones etc have become an important part of our day-to-day activities. This also means that our eyes are constantly exposed to blue light that emits from our digital devices.

Blue light is present everywhere with sun being its natural source. Blue light has many benefits too such as: It helps in memory and cognitive functions, boosts alertness and even improves our mood. However, the continues exposure of blue light directly into our eyes can be extremely detrimental to eye-health. To protect our eyes from blue light that is emitted from digital devices we must:

Limit digital screen time

Use protective tools like screen shields for laptops and mobile phones

Use anti-reflective lenses and blue light blocking eyewear

Take frequent breaks from digital devices

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There are many different types of eye conditions that can affect our vision. Some of these can be easily corrected with corrective lenses and/or a laser eye surgery. For example, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism. There are other types of eye conditions that are more serious and if neglected can lead to permanent vision loss. Examples of such eye conditions include - Glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Sometimes certain eye conditions progress slowly and show no warning signs till it gets severe. Therefore, a regular eye examination is a must, especially for people who have a family history of eye conditions or are above 60 years of age.

The increase in the use of digital devices in our day to day lives too has put for eye health at a higher risk of developing vision related issues. Along with regular eye exams, healthy lifestyle choices such as a well-balanced diet, regular exercise, meditation etc. will support your eye and vision health. Learn more about various types of eye conditions here!

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Sometimes an eye problem may be more than a matter just eye health. Eyes can tell us a lot about our overall health status. This is because our eyes are connected to the rest of our body via an intricate system. Therefore, sometimes a blurry vision is a warning sign of an oncoming stroke or uncontrolled diabetes. Yellow Eyeballs could mean you have jaundice which is the result of inflamed or damaged liver. And, blood shot eyes usually occur when small delicate blood vessels dilate in response to irritation or infection. These vessels can also leak and cause a haemorrhage.

All of these conditions require urgent medical attention as they are warning signals of a bigger underlying health condition that is yet to be diagnosed. A regular eye examination therefore is necessary not just for the sake of eye health, but also for peeking into our overall health status. Many such potentially dangerous health problems can be picked up in their early stages via a comprehensive eye examination. So, if you haven't already, schedule an appointment with your eye care professional for a complete eye health check-up.

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Refractive errors of the eye such as Myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness) are some of the most common eye disorders. With the increase in the use of digital devices, the cases of refractive eye errors are on the rise. This calls for extra care when it comes to our eyes and vision health. In many cases, we are unable to understand the onset of these refractive errors of the eye because the change in vision is very mild. However, if corrective lenses with right prescription are not used early on then the condition of our vision can worsen further.

There are certain warning signs which indicate that you require corrective eyeglasses. Eye strain, frequent headaches, difficulty seeing at night are all signs that you may require vision correction glasses. If you are experiencing any discomfort due to your eyes, book an eye and vision health check appointment with your eye care specialist. Learn more!

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Once your vision screening is complete and you have the prescription for your glasses, the next step is to find and choose the right eyeglasses with right type of frame and lenses, that are most appropriate for your vision, lifestyle, and personal taste. A spectacle dispensing optician is a trained professional who can assist you with this task. Eyeglass frames as well as eyeglass lenses come in different material to fit different lifestyle and budgets. For instance, people who are into sports and outdoor activities should opt for lenses made of polycarbonate because it is an impact-resistant lens material and can provide adequate protection to eyes from fast-moving objects.

For eyeglass frames, the trend has shifted towards acetate (plastic) frames. They come in a variety of distinct colours, shapes and sizes. A spectacle dispensing optician will help you try them in various options so you are able to find the right pick for your face type and your profession. Many professionals and executives go for a more conservative blacks and browns with traditional metal frames while students and young adults opt for brighter bold colours and shapes. Learn more about spectacle dispensing services at Courts Optical eye care store in Guyana.