Eye care

How can you safeguard your sight for poor weather conditions? Invest in a pair of anti-glare driving glasses and sunglasses this winter to keep your vision safe in the cold weather. After a long day, driving home in the dark and murky weather is at the bottom of anyone’s wish list. With the early nights rolling in at 4.30pm, most of us find ourselves driving in the pitch black with the rain striking on our windscreens. All that glare from the artificial lights on the M4 isn’t going to be easy on your eyes. It’s worth considering changing road conditions, as the lights from street lamps and cars will reflect off puddles and any wet surfaces causing extra glare. To make sure you have optimal vision for night driving, we recommend getting some anti-glare glasses. These have a special coating on the lenses that helps reduce glare in all weather conditions and makes your view clearer, making them great for safe driving. And the great news is the anti-glare technology will work with almost all types of regular prescription glasses! Even when walking in the day, glasses can help you as well. The best way for protecting your vision when in the great outdoors during the day, is to wear sunglasses which will work against harsh light from reflections off wet surfaces, puddles and snow. Here at Leightons, we offer anti-glare coating on lots of different stylish glasses for driving as well as top of the range sunglasses – book an appointment with us today and check out the range available at your local Leightons practice. Sunny days While winter doesn’t often bring to mind thoughts of bright sunny weather, the fact is: sunny winter days can make driving especially hazardous. As the sun stays lower in the sky during winter months, this means it is often right in your eyeline making it difficult to see properly. So even though you might have said goodbye to your sunglasses with your summer swimsuit, it’s important to keep a pair in the car to stay safe on the roads. It’s time to think about more than just your driving glasses. Cataracts If you have cataracts, you’ll be more sensitive to light, which can make glare from the sun or car headlamps even more difficult to cope with. It’s extra important for you to wear sunglasses during the day and anti-glare driving glasses at night to ensure your vision is safe on the road. If you’re concerned about your cataracts obscuring your vision, book an appointment with us today and we can advise you on the best course of action. You can book online, over the phone on 0800 40 20 20 or at your local store. Dry eyes Thanks to heating in the home, cold winds and lower humidity, another problem for your eyes during the winter months can be dryness. Dry eyes can be sore and itchy, as well as causing blurry vision and excessive watering, so it’s a good idea to follow these tips to keep them hydrated and healthy: Maintain a healthy diet Drink lots of water Use eye drops Buy a humidifier Stop smoking Drink less alcohol Take breaks when looking at screens Whether you're looking to improve your driving experience or need sunglasses for walks, we’re here to help. Here to help Call us on 0800 40 20 20 to book an appointment with one of our expert optometrists. You can also book an appointment online.

You know the feeling. You’ve been working on your computer into the small hours and it’s left your eyes feeling dry, tired and a little blurry. Well, it’s got a name: DES, or digital eye strain. So how can we avoid it? However hard we try, we simply can’t escape screens. From squinting at spreadsheets at work to being engrossed by our favourite TV drama in the evening, we’re never far from a screen – and that means we’re at risk of digital eye strain (DES). The symptoms of DES include: Dry or watery eyes Tired eyes Redness in the eyes Double vision Vertigo or dizziness Blurred vision Headaches Dry eyes from computer use So what causes DES? Looking at a screen for prolonged periods causes us to blink less, meaning our eyes dry out faster. But, more importantly, using a screen also means our eyes do not change focus for long periods of time. Maintaining a fixed focus at a close distance for a long period of time can tire the ciliary muscles in your eyes, leading to fatigue and ultimately DES. Eye strain relief To beat the pain of eye strain, remember the 20-20-20 rule: every 20 minutes of screen viewing time you should take a 20-second break and look at something around 20-feet away. Your eyeballs will thank you for it. As well as frequent screen breaks and remembering to blink regularly, it’s important to stay hydrated. Drink plenty of water to keep your eyes and body topped up. Finally, be sure to squeeze in a healthy 7-8 hours of sleep each night. You might also benefit from ‘computer glasses’. These spectacles are designed to help keep the focus of the eyes comfortable, specifically when using computer screens, and may incorporate a special anti-reflective coating to reduce glare from the computer screen. Dry Eye Assessment Your optometrist can recommend suitable lubricating eye drops which may help reduce the symptoms of Dry Eye Syndrome (DES), especially if the eyes are getting dry or red. Perfect for when you’re burning the midnight oil in front of the computer. Telly addicts Of course, it’s not only tablets and mobile phones that are to blame. We can also get symptoms of DES while watching TV. To minimise this make sure you are a comfortable distance from the TV. You don't want to be squinting or straining to see clearly. Book your eye test and Dry Eye Assessment If your eyes feel dry or tired, or if you’re experiencing any of the symptoms mentioned above, you might need an eye test. Call Leightons on 0800 40 20 20, head online to book an appointment. We are open by appointment only, with the safety of our patients and practice teams as our top priority. Get total eye and hearing care for just £14 a month Become a MyLeightons member and get complete care for your eyes and ears for less than the cost of a TV licence. MyLeightons membership gives you: An annual Ultimate Eye Examination, including Dry Eye Assessment Discounts of up to 50% off glasses and contact lenses 10% off hearing aids Hearing aid battery discounts And much, much more Find out more about the full benefits of MyLeightons.