Every year the same mantra is chanted, “New Year New Me” but what does that actually mean for our health? Perhaps a new diet and a gym membership, or finally signing up to that fitness class. There are, however, other parts of our health that...
Continue ReadingOn the 16th February Specsavers Opticas launched a campaign to collect 4,500 pairs of unwanted glasses to present to the Lions for their “Recycle for Sight Month” and give the gift of sight to some of the world’s poorest people. The response has been fantastic,...
Continue Reading[caption id="attachment_3709" align="alignleft" width="300"] Specsavers Opticas in Marbella and Fuengirola collaborate closely with their local Lions Clubs[/caption] Specsavers Opticas have just one month to reach their target to collect over 4,500 pairs of glasses for the Lions Clubs International. So far they have collected a little...
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The school term is shortly approaching and it is important to think about your child’s vision as well as all the text books and uniforms. Studies show that one in four children have an undetected visual problem which can affect their learning ability, reinforcing the importance for parents to take their children for an eye test.
All Opticians recommend a yearly eye test for children from three years old, yet a survey by Specsavers Opticas revealed that in Fuengirola only 42% of respondents with children between 6 and 12 years old had taken their children to have an eye test with an optician. This fact is even more surprising as 92% of the respondents felt that poor eye sight could affect their children’s performance at school.
Experts believe that many learning disabilities could be vision related and learning relies heavily on good vision, so it’s crucial that a child’s eyesight is regularly checked and glasses are worn if they need them.
Today World Glaucoma Week starts, a campaign of awareness about this very common condition which is known as “the slient destroyer of sight”. With an estimated 60 million suspected cases of glaucoma worldwide, it’s Specsavers Opticas’ aim to raise awareness of this condition, as often people do not understand the severity of the disease, or who can be affected. To help you spot the signs of glaucoma, here is some information from Specsavers Opticas about one of the world’s leading causes of blindness, please share this with friends and family this week.
What is glaucoma and who is at risk? – Glaucoma is a build-up of fluid on the eye which increases pressure and in turn damages the optical nerve. If left untreated it can lead to permanent tunnel vision and blindness. Often there are no symptoms at all in the first stages, and vision loss usually occurs gradually with symptoms only becoming noticeable when severe damage has been done to the optic nerve. Unfortunately there is no cure for this vision loss, so it’s extremely important to have regular eye tests to diagnose the disease as early as possible.
Those over the age of sixty are more at risk of glaucoma, however babies and young adults can also suffer from the disease. People of African origin are more at risk of glaucoma at a younger age. Other high risk groups include anyone with family history of glaucoma, people who are severely short sighted and diabetics.
How is glaucoma diagnosed? – Although it can be difficult for the patient to identify the signs of glaucoma, an in-depth eye test is all that is required to catch the condition early. There are three ways that opticians look for signs of glaucoma;, through an Ophthalmoscopy (a visual examination of the optic nerve head), Tonometry (a measurement of the pressure within the eye) and Perimetry (a check of the field of vision). Not all eye tests include these elements, so ask your optician.
As the new term approaches it is important to think about your child’s vision as well as all the text books and uniforms. Studies show that one in four children has an undetected visual problem which can affect their learning ability. Experts believe that many learning disabilities could be vision related, so it’s crucial that a child’s eyesight is regularly checked and they are given the right glasses if they need them.
Specsavers Opticas wants to encourage kids to wear their glasses with pride and so they are launching a Cool Kids competition, in association with Euroweekly News, especially for kids who look amazing in their specs. Parents can enter their cool kids into the competition from 17th September. This will be a great way to show the world just how good they look in their glasses and the winner will receive a pair of designer kids’ glasses as well as a 50€ voucher from a shop of their choice.
Specsavers, the UK’s “most trusted” opticians, are advising Costa del Sol residents over the age of 60 to have an eye test at least once a year. Older eyes are susceptible to diseases such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts, which can be detected during an eye test. Early diagnosis can help prevent further damage in many cases. To encourage residents to have an eye exam, Specsavers Opticas in Fuengirola is offering its signature, UK standard eye test to anyone at no cost (no purchase necessary) until 21st May, 2011.
Optician Amrik Sappal of Specsavers Opticas in Fuengirola explains “Some people wait until their vision becomes impaired before having an eye test. This can be risky because some eye diseases have few noticeable symptoms until they reach an advanced stage. Our advice to those over 60 is – Make an annual eye test a part of your normal healthcare routine.”
In a survey conducted by Specsavers Opticas in Fuengirola to establish whether parents were taking their children to have their eyes tested, opticians were alarmed at the low incidence of those that were.
Opticians recommend a yearly eye test for children from three years old, yet the survey revealed that in Fuengirola only 42% of respondents with children between 6 and 12 years old had taken their children to have an eye test with an optician. This fact is even more surprising as 92% of the respondents felt that poor eye sight could affect their children’s performance at school.
Store Director of Specsavers Opticas in Fuengirola Amrik Sappal explains why eye tests are so important “Throughout our children’s early life parents should make sure that their eyes are healthy and that their vision is being corrected if required so they can thrive at school and lead a full life. Regular eye tests can detect problems with your vision and catch treatable conditions early, to protect your eyes and safeguard your vision. This is particularly important with children, as during the first 12 years of their lives, as much as 80% of learning is accomplished through vision, yet one out of every four children has an undetected vision problem that may inhibit their progress. This shows the crucial role that eye tests play in caring for our children’s health and why you should make sure their eyes are tested by a qualified optician every year.”
Specsavers Opticas (the Spanish branch of Specsavers Opticians) released some really interesting statistics today from their survey conducted on the Costa del Sol and Costa Blanca. It showed that 29% of the survey’s respondents found pricing confusing, but a staggering 62% of the vulnerable over 60s age group...
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