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Protecting Your Eyes in the Sun

Protecting Your Eyes in the Sun

Now that the summer months are slowly creeping up on us, it has never been more important to be cautious when relaxing in the heat. Similar to your skin, your eyes can be easily damaged when in contact with the sun for long periods of time. As there is no such thing as ‘eye sun lotion’, we have created a short guide for you, giving you some top tips on how to protect your eyes in the sun: 1. Wear Sunglasses When shopping for the hottest sunglasses trends this summer, make sure that you look for a pair that transmits no more than one per cent of ultraviolet radiation – these are the sun rays that are proven to damage your

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Signs You May Need an Eye Test

Signs You May Need an Eye Test

It may seem as although you have had your prescription glasses for a number of years, that your eyesight is still the same. You may be able to see just fine through your old glasses, but there could be an issue with your vision that you haven’t been paying attention to. We recommend that you update your prescription every two years, but we have compiled a list of potential symptoms that may indicate it’s time for a new eye test: Headaches People often associate their headaches with more serious illnesses, even though this is one of the most frequent symptoms for people to get when experiencing eyesight issues. It is caused by your brain over-compensating for the slight change in

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Top Tips to Help You Choose Your Glasses

Top Tips to Help You Choose Your Glasses

With so many new brands and styles available to you, it has never been more important to weigh up the options and find a pair of glasses which are a perfect fit for you. Choosing the right eyewear means getting the right balance of aesthetic and function – making sure that it looks good, as well as feels good. That is why at Harrold Opticians, we have created some top tips to remember when you’re selecting your next piece of eyewear: 1. Check your prescription Making sure that your prescription is up-to-date should be the main priority when getting a new pair of glasses. It is recommended that you check your prescription every 2 years to ensure that you are using

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Is Screen time affecting your eyesight?

Is Screen time affecting your eyesight?

The reliance on electronic devices such as computers and mobile devices for work and social purposes is getting more and more prominent. Everyone’s heard the myths your grandparents use to tell you about your television making your eyes go square – but what effects does too much screen time actually have on your eyesight? Spending too much time on your devices can result in your eyes becoming sore, heavy and tired, and can later be accompanied by headaches and nausea. ‘Dry eyes’ is also a common symptom of screen over-use, which could potentially become more serious later down the line if it’s not treated correctly. Finally, too much screen time can also cause myopia, which is a near-sighted condition where

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Your Eyes and Stress

Your Eyes and Stress

Stress is known to affect the whole body in many different ways, but studies have now shown that stress can now potentially result in vision loss and eye conditions. Although many stress-related eyes problems are not permanent, you may start suffering from some of the following symptoms: Photophobia – This causes your eyes to be sensitive or intolerant to sunlight and fluorescent light increasing the need to squint your eyes. Photophobia is usually accompanied by headaches and commonly occurs in females between 30-39 years old who suffer from stress and/or anxiety. Dry Eyes – Some medications taken for stress can result in dry eye. If you experience sore, dry and irritated eyes then visit your optician. You may be advised to use

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Top Tips for Travelling with Contact Lenses

Top Tips for Travelling with Contact Lenses

We understand that it is most people’s dream to travel to new and exotic places. Although contact lenses come with a vast array of benefits for doing this, it is important to remember to take good care of them whilst doing so – ensuring a good quality of safety and hygiene. We have compiled a handy guide on how you can make sure that your contact lenses are kept clean and hygienic during your travels: 1. Maintain Quality Eye Hygiene Like with everything, ensuring that your eyes are clean and healthy is vital whether you are travelling or not. It is important to have quality eye cleanliness to eliminate the risk of catching infections in your eyes – causing symptoms

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Top 10 Trends for 2019

Now that we are getting in to 2019, some trends for the year are starting to emerge across Instagram and fashion magazines. 2019 is quite an eccentric year for glasses, with trends such as clear frames and blending being huge, we are sure to see a wide range of styles in our branches! Here’s the top 10 trends this year: Clear/Transparent Frames This understated style is chic and modern, matching any outfit possible! Adding a subtle frame to your face and a classic twist on traditional glasses, these frames are normally made from a durable acetate material. Available in a variety of shapes, try this style in 2019 to update your look. We recommend a traditional shape such as these Nike wayfarer

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How contact lenses can improve your day-to-day life

How contact lenses can improve your day-to-day life

Now that contact lenses are becoming more and more popular, the question starts to be asked: “are they worth it?” – and the answer is yes. Contact lenses can change the way that you live your life in many ways. We have compiled just a few of the reasons why you should follow the herd and start using contact lenses today: 1. You Can Lead A Healthier Lifestyle Wearing your glasses all the time can become a bit of an inconvenience and taking part in casual sporting activities and exercise can become annoying if you have to wear glasses at all times, e.g. in sports that require physical contact. Contact lenses give you the ability to focus more on your

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What is Glaucoma?

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a common but serious eye condition. It can affect people of all ages but is most common in adults in their 70s and 80s. In most cases, it is caused by fluid building up in the front of the eye which results in increased pressure inside the eye. If it isn’t diagnosed and treated early it leads to loss of vision and eventually blindness. Glaucoma doesn’t usually come with any symptoms in the early stages. It commonly progresses over the years and can affect the peripheral (outer edge) of vision first. Like lots of other eye conditions, it can be easily treated or monitored if it’s picked up early. Treatment usually involves daily eye drops or sometimes laser

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