Essilor Polarised Transition Lenses

Posted on July 11, 2022September 15, 2022 by Sokada

The Essilor Polarised Transition Lenses are the latest addition to the Essilor range of lenses. They are fantastic for patients wanting automatic sun protection and glare reduction. Transitions™ XTRactive® Polarized™ lenses combine an exclusive multi-layer matrix with new Transitions™ XTRactive® broad-spectrum dyes. This innovative lens has allowed for more darkness and new ultra-fast dichroic dyes for polarisation.

What are Photochromic lenses by Transitions?

Photochromic lenses give constant protection against harmful UV light. This allows for light to be tolerable and safer for those who are extremely sensitive.

Overexposure to sunlight has been linked to several eye conditions. By offering the right sun protection to you, we can help reduce the risk of you developing these conditions in later life.

Transitions are one of the most popular brands of photochromic lenses here in the UK. With 4 different types to choose from, Transitions photochromic lenses have something to suit every lifestyle and vision need. From the Transitions Signature range offering the latest technology in photochromic lenses to the Transitions XTRActive lenses that will darken behind a car windshield. You will definitely find the right collection of sun protection lenses for your needs.

What the Research Says

The latest research in eye health continues to reinforce the importance of light protection and the impact of light on our vision. It shows that 9/10 people are light-sensitive and a huge 3/10 are very light-sensitive. To combat this, Essilor has introduced a new Transitional Lens. To meet the need for extra light protection, their new lenses are chockablock with all the new cutting-edge technologies.

Why You Should Be Excited!

These lenses are excellent at reducing the amount of glare. These new lenses help improve your visibility by up to 33%, compared to non-polarised sun lenses. This anti-glare technology protects your eyes and will also greatly improve your quality of life. If you have become used to the way you see the world, you might not be fully able to understand what it is you’re missing out on. A visibility increase of 33% is huge; truly a life-changing difference.

On top of this, a quantitative study evaluating the visual benefits of the polarisation properties of lenses carried out by Prof. Nicholas Roberts found that the lenses also alter the colours we see. The properties of Transitions™ XTRactive® Polarised™ lenses actually make the world 30% more colourful, due to the unique polarisation technology. This technology reduces glare outdoors, providing a better visual experience with sharper vision, a larger field of view and bright vivid colours.

Looking for Essilor Polarised Transition Lenses

If you’re looking to find out more information about Essilor Polarised Transition Lenses then we highly recommend contacting us. You can fill out our contact form. Alternatively, you can contact us directly by calling 01323 442 062 or email info@focuseyecentre.co.uk. We’ll be sure to get back to you as soon as possible.

Minishades – Polarised Sunglasses for Children

Posted on June 21, 2022June 23, 2022 by Sokada

Here at Focus Eye Centre, we understand how important it is to look after your little ones whilst out in the sunshine this summer. As parents and carers, we are particularly good at applying sun cream. However, one thing we are not prepared for or even had a solution for was protecting their eyes!

The World Health Organization suggests that 80% of your lifetime UV exposure occurs between birth and 18. So it’s especially important for children to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the short and long-term damage of UV light.

Minishades are 100% UV polarized sunglasses for children compliant with British Standards offering complete UV protection to your child’s eyes. Meaning that they are more than fit for duty protecting your little ones on the front line.

We all know how stylish we like to feel when we wear glasses. So why should children not feel the same? The Minishades we offer come in a range of different colours. Luckily for everyone, they are made from a virtually indestructible rubber material, BPA-free and super comfortable. This means they’re perfect for even the most extreme play and will last as long as they fit!

No matter how old your little one is we have a perfect fit size for them. Minishades come in 3 sizes; 0-3 years, 3-7 years and 8-12 years.

These sunglasses also have a special hide-and-seek loss warranty. This means you’re ready for the worst-case scenario. After purchasing and registering online if they are damaged or lost you are able to claim a free replacement on 1 pair. All claims have a processing and shipping fee of £4.99 which is payable at the time of the claim.

For more information please contact Focus Eye Centre on 01424 442062, fill in a contact form here or pop into the practice to purchase your pair.

All About Ray-Ban

Posted on June 14, 2022February 6, 2023 by Sokada

Ray-Ban is a timeless, classic brand that produces some of the highest-quality glasses available on the market. Ray-Bans are one of the most well-known and most loved designer brands on the planet. Here at Focus Medical Centre, we stock a wide selection of both sunglasses and prescription glasses from Rayban.

History of the Ray-Ban

Back in the 1930s, the high flyers of the US Air Force needed protection against the harmful rays of the sun. Thus, Ray-Ban was born. They used plastic frames and green lenses that could cut out the glare without obscuring vision. The sunglasses were then redesigned with a metal frame the following year and patented as the Ray-Ban Aviator. This technology expanded quickly to the likes of the police force and conquers of the great outdoors.

Towards the end of the 1950s, Ray-Ban made a turn, focusing more so on everyday fashion. Towards the 1990s Ray-Ban had fully established itself in fashion and pop culture. Style, music and technology were all booming for Rayban, causing them to have another massive surge in popularity. Which is still incredibly prominent today.

Over the years many styles had come and gone, but the Ray-Ban remained. The iconic look of the frames became a true fashion statement, which had an indelible effect on culture for trendsetters around the world.

Why Choose Ray-Ban?

In today’s society, there’s an incredibly long list of well-made and effective glasses available, prescription or not. So why choose Ray-Ban? The fact of the matter is that Ray-Bans are arguably one of the most prominent brands in the world and have been a staple in fashion for decades. Since their directional shift towards fashion, they have been a real hit amongst celebrities and the public alike; it’s clear to see why.

Are Ray-Bans Good Quality?

Their focus on fashion hasn’t meant there was a drop in quality. Ray-Ban clearly prides itself on its ability to design and manufacture frames and lenses of the highest quality. Their frames are durable and well-crafted. If you take the time and properly care for your glasses they will last for years.

Plus, over time this will save you money as you’re no longer having to frequently replace cheaper glasses.

The Way They Make You Feel

Due to the high quality and solid build, they feel like a luxury product. If you’ve ever owned a pair of Ray-Bans you’ll know what I’m talking about. The sense of confidence they give you is unmatched; they always say if you feel good you look good.

No other glasses have had as much of an impact on the fashion and culture of the world as the Ray-Ban. Just look at Hollywood! Ray-Bans are not only the go-to for many actors off the big screen but the characters they play to share their appreciation for a good quality pair of glasses.

Think of the Top Gun movies for example. Your brain likely first goes to Fighter Jets, then to Tom Cruise and his aviators. They’re such an important piece of history and will likely be forever popular.

Get In Touch

If you are looking for Ray-Ban Frames & Lenses and want to find stockists in East Sussex, then come into our store on the High Street in Hailsham, East Sussex and take a look at the many styles we have. And don’t forget, if you love Ray-Bans, then why not buy them as prescription sunglasses or just as standard sunglasses.

Why Do We Blink?

Posted on May 12, 2022June 23, 2022 by Sokada

Blinking is an involuntary reflex that your body does automatically. This means that you don’t even have to think about blinking, your brain simply knows that it’s time to blink and therefore actions it. Well, it did until you read this, so you’re likely now manually blinking. Sorry!

Blinking is an extremely critical bodily function and many people don’t even know the full reasoning behind why almost every creature with eyes, bar fish, snakes and some lizards, have to blink.

Why do we blink?

We blink because of the need to clean and moisten the eye. Small dust particles are common in the air and often land on the surface of the eye. A salty secretion, from the tear glands, is swept over the eye when you blink. This effectively flushes your eyes whilst also lubricating the exposed portion of your eyeball. It prevents any alien substances from affecting your vision in the short and long term.

The number of times we blink depends on several factors including the amount of light, temperature, humidity, smoke and cleanliness of a room. All of these factors change how lubricated and clear our eyes are.

When there is too much moisture in your eyes, the excess ‘tears’ drain through the tear ducts. The tear ducts are tiny holes in the corner of our eyes which lead to our nasal passages. This is the reason your nose gets runny on a windy day or when you cry.

Less known reasons why we blink

People tend to blink more when they’re nervous. This could be why many people can tell when others are lying or in an uncomfortable situation. Scientists found that when Air Force Pilots were in ‘friendly’ territory they found that blinks were far more frequent and lasted longer than when they were in an ‘enemy’ territory.

If someone is tired then they tend to blink more frequently and for longer than someone who is well-rested. Both of these imply that a person’s emotional state affects blinking.

Research has also shown that we tend to blink less when we are focused on a task. When we’re watching tv or reading we are prone to blinking less. On average people blink 3 times a minute when focusing, which is much below the healthy limit.

You likely need to blink more!

It is likely that when you’re sitting watching TV or playing video games you are blinking far below the healthy amount. This can have damaging effects on your eyes, especially if they’re for long periods. If focus on it, then you can get yourself into a habit of blinking more frequently.

One exercise that is great at keeping your eyes fresh is to close them, pause a moment, squeeze your eyelids, and then open them again. We also always recommend the 20-20-20 rule to help people’s vision. For every 20 minutes, you spend focused on a task you should spend 20 seconds looking at something that is 20 feet away. This keeps your eyes from focusing on a single thing for too long. To keep your eyes healthy you should be following the 20-20-20 rule and ALSO doing blinking exercises. For more info on the 20-20-20 rule click here.

People who wear contact lenses should also be blinking more, to avoid drying the lenses.

Need Any Help?

If you feel as though you don’t blink enough or suffer from dry eyes then you might want to consider getting a professional examination of your eyes.

We’re an award-winning local opticians based in Hailsham, East Sussex, so if you’re in the area and want an eye test, or have any questions about the health of your eyes, then please call in and see us!

If you’d like to book an appointment with us, click here, or call us on 01323 442 062.

Do VR Headsets Damage Vision?

Posted on April 13, 2022 by Sokada

In the last few years, VR headsets and the introduction of the innovative technology of virtual reality have been taking over. If you’re anything like us you are concerned about wearing one of these headsets for long durations and whether or not these VR headsets damage to vision.

What is VR

VR (Virtual reality) is a computer-simulated experience that can be similar or completely different to the real world. VR is an extremely versatile tool and is now often seen being used in education, entertainment and business. However, new applications are regularly emerging due to advancements in technology. Essentially through the use of sensory stimulation this technology ‘tricks’ the eyes and brain to perceive the virtual environment to be reality.

VR’s effects on your eyes

Due to the recent introduction of VR headsets, the effects long term are still to be discovered. However, studies have found that staring too long at a VR screen can lead to eye strain and fatigue. This comes back to the fact that we tend to blink much less when using a device with a digital screen.

Motion sickness is also extremely common among early VR headsets. This has led to trouble focusing with your eyes, headaches, lightheadedness, nausea and even vomiting. However, as the refresh rates and pixel density increased the hazy image that we saw was dramatically improved.

The issue isn’t with the screens being so close to the eyes; as you might have thought. Instead, it’s that we’re not allowing the muscles in our eyes to relax, causing us to strain them.

What Oculus says about VR headsets and vision

Oculus, the largest manufacturer of VR technology states in its handbook that 1 in 4000 may suffer from”dizziness, seizures, eye or muscle twitching.” It recommends to users suffering with these symptoms, to discontinue using the headset and see a doctor.

Oculus also said that the reaction is more common in children and young people. They recommend that anyone experiencing these symptoms should take off the headset and visit a doctor.

What we recommend

Here at Focus Eye Centre, we recommend that you take regular breaks when you’re using the headset for extended periods of time. In many blogs, we talk about the 20-20-20 rule, which you can read about here. It describes an excellent method that helps prevent eye strain whilst using digital screens.

If you have suffered from eye strain or have developed a new condition since using a VR headset we do recommend that you seek advice directly from a professional.

If you’d like to book an appointment with us, click here, or call us on 01323 442 062.

Can Glasses Cause Headaches?

Posted on April 5, 2022June 23, 2022 by Sokada

Headaches are something that all of us will have experienced at some stage in our life. With so many common causes such as cold/flu, stress, or even bad posture, it’s no surprise that so many of us regularly get them.

Eye strain is another reason why you might get a headache and can be caused by spending too long looking at a computer screen or reading. If you’re supposed to wear glasses, eye strain can occur when you’re not wearing your glasses, because your eye muscles are working harder to focus. But can wearing glasses cause headaches?

Can Wearing Glasses Cause Headaches?

The answer is yes, if your eyes are still working particularly hard whilst wearing your glasses, you can still be straining your eyes and causing a headache. It could be a sign that your prescription is perhaps too strong or too weak. If you haven’t been to the opticians in a while, it might be worth paying us a visit to make sure your prescription is up-to-date. Be sure to mention the headaches to your optometrist.

However, if you’ve recently started wearing your glasses, or your prescription has changed a lot, it might be that you’ll experience eye-strain related headaches in the first few days or weeks of wearing your glasses. This is because your eyes are having to adapt and the muscles are forced to work differently.

To combat this, it might be worth ‘breaking in’ your new glasses, like a pair of new shoes! Wear your new glasses as much as you can and your eyes will soon adjust. To help relieve your eyes in this initial stage, you might also want to rest your eyes for a few minutes a day by taking your glasses off for a short time.

What if my headaches don’t go away?

If you’re still experiencing headaches from your new glasses, be sure to book an appointment with your optician to get it looked at again. It might be that your prescription isn’t quite right and might need updating. At different ages, our prescriptions can change fairly quickly so you need to be aware of this and act accordingly. At the end of the day, your glasses are supposed to help with your vision and well being, so if you believe your glasses are causing a problem, it’s best to book an appointment with an optician.

If you’re looking to book an appointment with an optician; get in touch with us at Focus Eye Centre today. To book an appointment with us, call 01323 442062 or email info@focuseyecentre.co.uk. You can also fill in a contact form here.

What is the 20-20-20 rule?

Posted on March 2, 2022March 17, 2022 by Sokada

The 20-20-20 rule is a method that is said to prevent eye strain from looking at digital screens for extended periods of time. We have spoken quite a bit about this ‘rule’ in many previous blogs but we thought we’d take this opportunity to explain in detail how it actually helps.

What Causes Eye Strain?

There are many factors that can affect the strain your eyes are under. Here are just a few examples:

If you have prolonged time on a single task then your eyes can get tired after continual focus. This applies to both digital and physical tasks.
Sitting too close or too far from a screen.
If the environment you are in is too bright or dim then your eyes may become tired and strained. A good way to test if a room is not lit properly is if you have to squint to see what you’re doing.
Finally, if you have existing poor vision or recently were given a new prescription of eyewear then it’s likely that your headaches could be due to your eyes working in a new way.

New Prescriptions

Headaches can occur when wearing new prescription eyeglasses. Usually, these go away in a day or so as your brain and eyes adjust. It’s important to remember that wearing accurately prescribed glasses are going to be incredibly helpful for your vision in the long run.

Wearing new glasses changes how your eyes function. You essentially have to wait for the muscles to catch up and adapt to the new frames. These headaches are not permanent and will disappear as soon as your eyes have adjusted. However, you should get in contact with your doctor if this is not the case and your headaches don’t dissipate within a week. Or you are showing any of the following symptoms:

sudden vision changes
nausea
vomiting
dizziness
severe eye pain

Normally, however, all that is needed is a slight adjustment to the frame or lens of the glasses to make them more comfortable to use.

What Is The 20-20-20 Rule?

The 20-20-20 rule refers to when you take a 20-second break to look at something 20 feet away after 20 minutes of screen time. Sounds nice and easy, which it is!

If you’re going to try the 20-20-20 rule then you need to think about how many screens we expose ourselves to. It’s much more time than you might initially think. Every digital screen that you look at is classed as screen time. This includes the TV, phones, laptops, tablets and computer monitors.

Every 20 minutes you spend looking at any of these screens you need to take a 20-second break looking at something 20 feet away. It can be something as little as looking out the window across the street.

Why 20 Seconds?

The reason you need 20 seconds is that that’s how long your eyes take to relax. This prevents your eyes from being focused at a single distance for too long which can cause strain in your eyes.

How To Remind Yourself

There are many ways you can do this. Eventually, it will become a habit and you won’t even have to think about it. However, until that day there are many alternatives. You can set a timer on your phone that will pop up every 20 minutes. There are also free apps such as ‘relax your eyes’ or ‘Donald Korb Blink Training’ that can help. The apps are as easy as clicking start when you begin looking at a screen. The app handles everything else and reminds you.

What The Research Says About The 20-20-20 Rule

There is no research that the screens we spend hours looking at each day are necessarily damaging our eyesight. It can cause an unpleasant feeling of strain and tiredness.

Blinking is a very important action for our eyes. It helps keep our eyes lubricated, prevents irritation as well as tiredness. The frequency at which humans blink is around 15 times a minute. This number is significantly decreased to a half or sometimes a third when we stare at screens.

In a study published by the Nepalese Journal of Ophthalmology, researchers examined computer use and its effects on the eyes of university students in Malaysia. Almost 90 percent of the 795 students had symptoms of CVS after just two continuous hours of computer usage.

Taking frequent breaks to look at faraway objects during screen time significantly lessened their eye strain symptoms. In other words, the 20-20-20 rule works.

Need Any Help?

If you’re starting to find it difficult to look at a digital screen for long periods, then you might want to consider getting a professional examination on your eyes. Getting glasses for use with your computer might help to relax and protect the health of your eyes.

If you’d like to book an appointment with us, click here, or call us on 01323 442 062.

Super Sale – Up To 50% Off Many Designer Frames

Posted on February 24, 2022June 23, 2022 by Sokada

We are very excited about our latest promotion, offering enormous savings on designer brands you know and love!

The sale is already running and will continue while stock lasts. You will be able to take advantage of up to 50% off many of your favourite styles and frames. This sale includes high-end designers such as Hugo Boss, Jimmy Choo, Tiffany & Co, Woow, Ralph Lauren, Lindberg and many others.

So act quickly if you want to make the most of these huge savings!

Woow 25% off

Lulu guineas 25% off

Jimmy Choo 25% off

Hugo boss mens 25% off

Tiffany 50% off

Safilo mens 50% off

Get In Touch

Please either pop in to our practice in Hailsham High Street and take a look or give us a call on 01323 442062 if you need to arrange an appointment to see us. You may need a sight test before purchasing a pair so please let us know.

Are Designer Glasses Worth It?

Posted on February 8, 2022 by Sokada

If you ask anyone who wears glasses the question ‘are designer glasses worth it’ the vast majority will give a similar sort of response. If you intend on keeping your glasses for an extended period then, of course, designer or luxury brands are a must-have. Cheaply made off-brand glasses simply won’t always last the test of time.

Over recent years, styles and trends in fashion have led to larger more clumsy looking frames being pushed out of the limelight. With more sleek and minimalist frames taking centre stage. Whatever your style is, however, you’ll be able to find exactly what you’re looking to suit your aesthetic here at Focus Eye Centre.

Why Are Designer Glasses Worth It?

The important thing to understand is that you’re not just paying a premium price for a brands name or logo to be printed onto the frame. The higher price tag ensures that there has been better craftsmanship in the design, higher quality materials used that have been constructed in a more superior way. You’ll find that these typically last longer and are more durable. Furthermore, you’ll often find that these brands come with a warranty – which is usually uncommon with cheaper brands.

How It Makes You Feel

Of course, we all want to look good. A beautiful new pair of Hugo Boss, Lindberg or Ray-Ban glasses can make a face more interesting, add depth as well as making you feel great whilst wearing them. This makes designer glasses worth it in itself. The confident feeling you get when your wear a new pair of designer glasses is priceless.

Putting It Into Perspective

If a pair of glasses cost you £500 and you can make them last only four years that equates to £125 a year. This is only just over £10 per month to look and see great. Obviously you do need to take into consideration if your prescription changes though!Glasses are most definitely a worthwhile investment – you most probably use them every waking hour of your life. When you compare this figure to other monthly expenses then you’ll quickly realise how much value you should be placing on your spectacles.

Form And Function

By their nature, designers focus not on just aesthetics, but also the engineering of these products. Many options are taken into consideration with quality designers including how they sit on the face, comfort around the ears for example. These highly engineered glasses are of noticeable better quality, particularly when they are worn for extended periods of time.

Here at Focus Eye Centre, we help you every step of the way with choosing your next frames. We ensure that your glasses suit your face shape, lifestyle and are most importantly comfortable.

Lens Quality

With the higher price tag comes better quality lenses from trusted names like Essilor. This means that you are always confident in the fact that you have the best technology; with the peace of mind of a warranty and excellent after-sales services.

Glasses and Designer Frames from Focus Eye Centre

As an award-winning local optician based in Hailsham, East Sussex, we’ll make sure you get the right treatment for your eyes. This post may be asking whether designer glasses worth it and we definitely agree they are. However not everyone can afford these price tags so we have also carefully chosen other ranges of high quality frames that will also treat you well but won’t break the bank. We’ve got an extensive range of both classic and designer frames, so you’re sure to find a pair of specs that will suit you down to the ground.

To book an appointment with us, click here, or call us on 01323 442 062.

How blue light can affect your eyes

Posted on January 19, 2022June 23, 2022 by Sokada

Eye strain is always such a big topic, with all the hours spent on different devices. If you ever have felt any eye strain whilst working on a digital screen, then you may have heard about ‘blue light’ and scared yourself by doing a quick Google Search. Maybe even coming across the increasingly popular blue light glasses, due to their bold claims of being a protective shield for your eyes. But do they really work?

What is blue light?

First off, blue light is a part of the visible light spectrum; which is a fancy way of saying what the human eye can see. It has the shortest wavelength and operates at the highest energy. We are exposed to this light from many sources; the biggest being the sun. however, many man-made sources have caused blue light to gain its notoriety due to its link to digital screens.

Some of the most notable blue light emitters are bulbs, LEDs, flat-screen LED televisions, computer monitors, smartphones and tablet screens. With all of these devices becoming more and more popular the amount of blue light we are exposing our eyes to is going up. The amount of time people spend using these devices and the proximity of these screens to the eyes has also caused some concern about the potential long-term effects of this light on eye health.

Does it damage your eyes?

Some experts have suggested that too much exposure to this light can damage the light-sensitive cells in the retina. Whilst there is little research to support this, the short wavelength of the light makes it very easy to penetrate the eyes.

However, a study by O’Hagan JB, Khazova M & Price LL found that the level of blue light we expose ourselves to from screens is significantly lower than that of natural daylight – and neither levels approach eye safety limits.

What are blue light glasses and do they work?

Blue light glasses contain lenses that are designed to reduce the amount of blue light that reaches the eye. This prevents the waves from actually penetrating the eye. There is also a setting on your PC that can help reduce blue light and make your eyes a little more comfortable when working on a screen.

However, there is no research backing that these lenses can protect eye health at all. Essentially, there is no scientifically proven benefit to wearing these glasses.

It is just maybe more about ensuring a bit more eye comfort.

Are they effective against eye strain?

Eye strain is not necessarily caused by the blue light emitted by the screen. It is more likely that your eyes are straining to have to concentrate on a single screen for too long. Your eyes are having to constantly refocus when you’re looking at a screen, which can be fatiguing. Other factors such as the distance you sit from your screen or if the environment you are in is too dark; can affect eye strain. Many factors have an effect on how much your eyes strain; some that blue light glasses will be ineffective at preventing.

Need Any Help?

We are an award-winning local opticians based in Hailsham, East Sussex, so if you’re in the area and want an eye test, or have any questions about the health of your eyes, then please call in and see us!

If you’d like to book an appointment with us, click here, or call us on 01323 442 062.

What are Photochromic lenses by Transitions?

What the Research Says

Why You Should Be Excited!

Looking for Essilor Polarised Transition Lenses

History of the Ray-Ban

Why Choose Ray-Ban?

Are Ray-Bans Good Quality?

The Way They Make You Feel

Get In Touch

Why do we blink?

Less known reasons why we blink

You likely need to blink more!

Need Any Help?

What is VR

VR’s effects on your eyes

What Oculus says about VR headsets and vision

What we recommend

Can Wearing Glasses Cause Headaches?

What if my headaches don’t go away?

What Causes Eye Strain?

New Prescriptions

What Is The 20-20-20 Rule?

Why 20 Seconds?

How To Remind Yourself

What The Research Says About The 20-20-20 Rule

Need Any Help?

Get In Touch

Why Are Designer Glasses Worth It?

How It Makes You Feel

Putting It Into Perspective

Form And Function

Lens Quality

Glasses and Designer Frames from Focus Eye Centre

What is blue light?

Does it damage your eyes?

What are blue light glasses and do they work?

Are they effective against eye strain?

Other solutions

Need Any Help?