A person holding a pair of glasses in front of their face, focusing on the glasses, with the background blurred.

Will glasses make my eyes worse?

The good news is NO!

So why do you find yourself wearing your glasses more and more?
Why have you returned to your optometrist only to find that you need your glasses to be made stronger and stronger?

There can be a few reasons

  1. Presbyopia
    Normal age-related changes to the lens inside your eye make it harder and harder to focus on detail, initially at a close range such as reading and computer screens. This process occurs to everyone. Eventually, the changes will plateau but, in the meantime, our job is to keep you comfortable. We do this by prescribing the best lens to suit your prescription and circumstances.
  2. Myopia progression
    This is a condition that causes distant objects to be out of focus. In some cases, especially in children, short-sightedness can progress. We know a lot more about myopia now and our optometrists are trained in the latest assessment techniques and have access to the very latest technology to reduce the progression of myopia.
  3. Cataract
    A cataract is the term used to describe the changes that occur when the lens inside your eye becomes smokey and cloudy. The changes are caused by age, UV exposure and toxins in our systems over a lifetime. Often lenses cause changes in prescription and can vary from reducing some people’s prescription, inducing astigmatism or increasing their prescription. Ultimately, the lens will be removed to allow for clear vision again.

by Elaine

Woman in a white sleeveless top applying eye drops to her left eye.

What do eyedrops do?

Eyedrops

Eyedrops are designed to help the tear film. The tear film is a thin layer of fluid that covers the entire surface of your eye. It has three separate layers that each perform important functions. The three layers are

  1. Lipid (oil) layer
  2. Aqueous layer
  3. Mucin layer

Which eye drops are good?

This depends on what your problem is.

  • Drops that are excellent for oil-layer difficulties are Novatears or Cationorm.
  • Drops are effective for aqueous-layer difficulties including Hyloforte.
  • If there is a problem with the health of the eyelids, you may benefit from Optimel (Manuka) gel or drops.

For clients with severe levels of dry eye, you will benefit from prescription options such as low-dose steroids or immuno-suppressant treatments.
If you suffer from dry eye symptoms overnight, then a gel or ointment is often prescribed.
Treatments will often be combined to generate the most effective outcome.

How do I put eyedrops in?

  • STEP 1: Face a mirror
  • STEP 2: Pull the bottom lid down on one eye
  • STEP 3: Tipping your head back a little, watch in the mirror to guide the bottle or vial to be nearest to your lid.
  • STEP 4: Allow a small drop to leave the bottle and have the bottom of the drop ‘just’ touch your eyelid. The anatomy of the eye will cause the eyedrop to be drawn into your eyelid.

Do not allow the tip of the bottle or vial to touch your eyelid or eyelashes. This causes microbes to be able to pass back into the bottle, where they can grow and cause infections

by Elaine