A 19-year-old’s routine eye test ended up saving her life after optician’s found a tumour the size of an egg attached to her retina was pushing against her brain.

Student Alice Walker, from Allestree, Derby, was taken by her father to optician, Phillip Bradley, for a regular check-up after battling nausea and severe headaches for months.

After specialists had studied her retina, the light-sensitive nerve layer at the back of her eye, they were stunned at their discovery.

The back of Alice’s eye was completely swollen and the ‘wrong shape’ which led them to discover a potentially fatal brain tumour last October.

Within hours, she was in the Royal Derby Hospital, where she was diagnosed with a rare type of tumour which had grown to the size of a small egg and had been pressing on her brain.

Alice said: ‘I’d been feeling ill for about six months and had been to the doctors about four or five times.

‘I had an eye test in April and everything was normal. But when my dad took me back in October, it was a very different story – we know something was wrong and I was told my retina was swollen.

‘Instead of it being concave it was convex and my central vision had become poor.

‘I was told that I would be referred. The next day, I was in hospital.’

But as doctors were unable to predict just how much of the tumour needed to be removed, there was a great risk that it could be cancerous and further treatment may be essential.

Robert said: ‘Alice was brave.The tumour was in the ventricle cavity and was attached to the brain.

‘It was unclear just how much could be removed without upsetting anything.

‘At the same time, we knew it was Alice’s only hope.

‘Alice had been feeling quite unwell for the best part of last year.

‘She’d had headaches and episodes of sickness. She was pale and tired and was generally just not herself.’

Alice’s mother, Karen, 46, followed their daughter to the Nottingham hospital and stayed with her until the early hours.

She said: ‘We kept ringing the hospital to find out if she was out of the operating theatre. People die on the operating table – it happens.

‘But finally, we got the news that she was in recovery and she was all right. We were told that the tumour had to be tested and we’d have to wait a week for the results. It was another anxious time.

‘But when we heard that the tumour was not cancerous it was wonderful.

‘After the op, we were told that 98 per cent of the tumour had been removed. Some of it had been attached to the brain and had been impossible to get out.

‘The surgeon didn’t want to damage Alice’s brain and decided to leave it in there.There was a chance, we were told, that it might start to grow again.

‘But it wasn’t cancer and it wasn’t a fast-growing thing.’
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-2332066/Teenage-girl-defies-death-opticians-discover-tumour-size-EGG-pushing-brain.html#ixzz2V9rpVnlt

Aging eyes bring more than crow’s feet and wrinkles. It’s what you can’t see—the health of your eyes—that is the bigger concern, doctors say.

By the age of 40, many people may begin coping with vision problems they didn’t have before. These might include dry eyes and presbyopia, or an inability to focus on objects that are close up, and can leave people feeling fatigued and headachy by the end of the workday. Genetics largely determines how our eyes age. But new research suggests that nutrition and environment can lessen some of the risks to eye health and vision.

As people get older, “The lens of your eye gradually loses the ability to focus in and out the way it used to,” said Julia Haller, ophthalmologist-in-chief at Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia. “Some people refuse to wear reading glasses…and really fight it. They may hold out a little longer but eventually we all succumb to the inevitable.”

While we can’t win against Mother Nature, some strategies can minimize the damage. Avoid self-prescribing with, say, off-the-shelf reading glasses sold at drugstores, says Gary Etting, an optometrist who specializes in vision therapy in Los Angeles. People often select glasses that appear to make things clearest, he said. But this may be a stronger prescription than they need, which can encourage their loss of focus to go faster.

Also, glasses you need for reading may be different than ones you need when using a computer, he said. “So people who wear their reading glasses on the computer can also be encouraging their eyes to weaken faster.”

Scientists have been studying ways to prevent vision problems in young people, which also might help protect eyes as they age. Two studies published in the May issue of Ophthalmology, the journal of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, suggest that spending time outdoors may help minimize or prevent nearsightedness, or myopia, in children. Myopia can be corrected with glasses or contact lenses. But it can also be a precursor to severe myopia in adulthood, which is linked to the later development of eye disorders such as glaucoma and retinal detachment.

One of the studies, involving 571 students in Taiwan, compared changes in eyesight over a year between a group of children that had outside recess and another that didn’t require going outdoors. The other study, in Denmark, compared detailed eye measurements of 235 nearsighted children taken during periods of longer and shorter days.

Some researchers believe the effect could be related to oxygen exposure or the amount of light exposure causing the pupil to constrict. It could also result from children focusing at far distances for extended periods. “I think the conclusion we’re most comfortable drawing is that the jury is still out on that,” said Rachel Bishop, chief of consult services of the National Eye Institute, who wasn’t affiliated with the studies. Other possible reasons, such as greater physical activity when outside or less time spent looking at screens indoors, seem less likely, she said.

‘Why would you recommend us to friend?’

‘My visit for eye test went so well. Please note that Eye Contact is my first opticians since I have started using glasses and I am very happy with your service, especially with Arif Karim who is a very helpful, kind, customer caring and very knowledgeable individual’ 24/05/2013

‘Very professional, polite and knowledge about products they offer. Its a pleasure to have an eye test which is not the normal experience I’ve had. Have used this Optician for a number of years and will continue to do so’ 24/05/2013

‘Optician came across as extremely knowledgable and explained all aspects of the process and resulting prescription excellently. Useful advice also given regarding choosing frames, even if I haven’t quite got there yet’

‘Very professional and efficient service. The optician was very pleasant too’ 24/05/2013

‘I have used many other opticians, and find that the entire service at Eyecontact, in particular Mr Karim’s expertise, is the best I have encountered in my 30 years of glasses wearing’ 14/05/2013

‘Knowledgable staff and competitve pricing’ 14/05/2013

Living colour

Richly coloured vegetables and fruits provide important phytochemical antioxidants to protect the eyes, especially the carotenoids beta-carotene, lutein and zeaxanthin. Dark green and golden coloured vegetables and fruits are good sources. You need healthy fats in your diet to absorb these properly, so avoid fat-free diets and enjoy healthy oils in moderation.

The good oils

The polyunsaturated oils found in fish are protective, so try to eat fish at least twice a week, especially oily varieties such as salmon, sardines, tuna, mackerel and herring. Nuts also contain healthy unsaturated fats and protective nutrients. Snack on unsalted nuts – one handful is a good amount, or add them to stir-fries and salads.

Vitamins and minerals

People with eye disease have been found to have reduced levels of vitamins C and E and beta-carotene in their diet. Some studies suggest high levels of these nutrients as supplements, as well as zinc, can help prevent degeneration worsening. The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) says getting these nutrients from food can prevent many cases of AMD. There are always some risks in taking nutritional supplements, so talk to your doctor before you start. There is no risk in obtaining vitamins and antioxidants naturally from a healthy and balanced diet.

Butt out

The biggest threat to vision is smoking. People who smoke have four times the risk of developing macular degeneration.

Actor Paddy Considine has revealed how tinted contact lenses have changed his life.

The Star of films such as The Bourne Ultimatum and Hot Fuzz, was originally diagnosed with Asperger’s Syndrome in 2010.

However, despite the diagnosis bringing some relief, Considine still struggled in social situations.

His wife Shelley urged him to go to a psychologist, who suggested he also suffered from Irlen Syndrome, which stops victims from processing full spectral light, resulting in further behavioural issues.

Considine told The New Review: “(It had been) driving me to the point of destruction.

“It was causing all this anger and aggravation of my brain.

“It was a nightmare. My brain was telling me to shut down as a result of it. From the minute I opened my eyes, light would hit my eyes and I’d already want to go back to sleep again.”

However, Considine said he had been given a new lease of life since being prescribed the tinted contact lenses.

His friend and Hot Fuzz co-star Simon Pegg also revealed there was a dramatic change in Considine’s personality once he started wearing the lenses while they worked on new film At World’s End – out this summer.

Pegg said: “We could all see Paddy was suffering a little bit (on set). He was having to deal with the condition and also focus on acting. It’s like juggling 20 balls. Once they’d (lenses) arrived it was amazing – he just relaxed.

“There’s an edginess to Paddy which is necessary for who he is, and it empowers him. It just took away the negative aspect of that edginess.”

Taken from the Burton Mail http://www.burtonmail.co.uk/News/Considine-reveals-contact-lenses-changed-his-life-20130508154833.htm

Computer Vision Syndrome affects about 70% of the people in developed countries. They experience eye discomfort and vision problems when viewing a computer screen for more than 2 hour daily. The level of discomfort appears to increase with the amount of computer use.

The most common symptoms of CVS are:

• eyestrain
• headaches
• blurred vision
• dry eyes
• dry, irritated eyes
• double vision
• difficulty refocusing the eyes
• neck and shoulder pain

If any of these sounds familiar to you it’s about time to take care of your eyes.

How to use PYV ?

Switch on PYV every time when your’re going to use computer for more than 2 hour.
Simply go to www.protectyourvision.org website and click “Start PYV”.

You can choose between 3 different modes:

• 20-20-20 – after every 20 min spent in front of a computer a 20 sec break is signalized with a sound alarm and notification. In this time focus the eyes on an object 20 feet (6 meters) away
• 60-5 – after every hour spent in front of a computer a 5 min break is signalized
• Custom – define by yourself break’s frequency and length

Find out which mode suits you.
During the break avert your eyes from a computer screen, close them or do eyes gymnastics.

Enjoy healthy computer use.

The Designer Sunglasses Style Guide

With the weather turning a bit sunnier and glasses being the first thing which is noticed about you, its important to make the best possible choice of sunglasses. Our team has put together a style guide so you dont put a foot wrong: 

Frames MUST LIFT: Specs look best when they lift the cheek and eye area at the bottom outside corners of the frames upwards. If they don’t, your facial features look like they’re drooping which is unattractive. So be wary of the vertical height of the style. It’s awfully unflattering if it’s too high or sags downwards.

Your eyes should be centered within the frames: They don’t need to be absolutely dead center, but thereabouts is good.

Match the scale of the frames with your facial proportions: Bold, oversized frames are dramatic and fabulous, but that doesn’t mean they will work for you. A small person with dainty facial features is overwhelmed in thick, chunky frames. But that person can still wear bold frames if they choose a refined version of a chunky style.

Follow the line of your brows: Choose a frame shape that mirrors the arch of your eyebrows.

Don’t be scared of extra width: Many people wear specs that are too narrow for their face. Their eyes may be centered and the style “lifts upwards”, but the narrow width of the frames constricts the face. You want a shape that “opens up” the face, so add a little width to the top outside corners of the frames. It makes a world of difference, often balancing out a pear shaped face.

Think in three dimensions: You see your frames from the front, but everyone else sees them from all angles. They also catch glimpses of the inside of the frame. That’s why it’s important to pay attention to temple and inside colour detailing. Often, if the colour on the inside of the frames and the temples is different, the overall look is softer and more interesting. My favourite specs are black and white, but they are bright turquoise on the inside which softens the harsh contrast against my pale skin and soft features.

Choose a color that complements your skin tone and eye colour: The operative word is “complement”, not “match”. Bright blue-eyed people shouldn’t wear bright blue specs. But wearing brown specs with blue detailing might be ideal. Do not confine your choice to neutral tones either. Eyewear does not have to match what you’re wearing, but rather go with everything because it compliments your face, not your clothes. You don’t change your face to match an outfit – it’s the same with eyewear. You can absolutely wear an orange or pink top if you wear red specs.

Create the right amount of contrast: If the contrast between the colour of your skin tone and the frames is too strong, you’ll look severe. If it’s not strong enough you’ll look blah. This is not a hard and fast rule, but generally, choose a colour that is different to the colour of your hair and

 Using a computer requires sustained focus at near distance, typically for sustained periods every working day.  For your eyes to focus a clear image at a close distance, the muscles around the eye must work harder (harder than they do for seeing in the distance). As the day goes on, the muscles must work harder and harder to keep the near image in focus. This strain of the muscles or ‘eyestrain’ can cause headache, particularly if you have a problem with your vision.

Headaches are normally experienced as tightness in the temples or behind the eyes. If you do suffer headaches, you should have yours eyes examined at the earliest opportunity. Contact us to book your appointment.

 Dailies Total 1 Contact Lenses – Feel nothing even at the end of the day

Thinking about trying contact lenses for the first time? Or maybe you’d like to return to lenses after a break? Now is the perfect time to do so. Introducing the latest innovation in  daily disposables.

DAILIES Total 1 Contact Lenses are the first water gradient contact lenses featuring an increase from 33% to over 80% water content from core to surface, providing silky-smooth comfort that lasts.

The DAILES TOTAL1 Differences:

• Surface of 80% water, nearly the same as the surface of your eyem provides a feeling of silky soft moisture all day.
• Offer the highest breathability of any daily disposable contact lens. High oxygen is important to ensure healthy eyes and comfort that lasts.
• They feel so comfortable you may forget you are wearing them!

Comfort that lasts throughout the day – or your money back!

Makes wearing contact lenses easier on the eyes

Biotrue is formulated to work like your eyes. By studying how the eye naturally works to clean, hydrate, and keep itself healthy, Bausch + Lomb developed a unique and innovative solution to provide outstanding care for soft contact lenses.

Biotrue goes beyond cleaning by bringing together three bio-inspired innovations:

• Has a lubricant found naturally in your eyes
• Matches the pH of healthy tears
• Keeps certain beneficial tear proteins active

Contact us to order your bottle