Archive for Health & Information
Posted by James on November 17, 2008.
Back in September we wrote a Blog post about D&A offering Free Eye Tests, unfortunately, that offer expired at the end of October. Fortunately, the offer is back on again!
We at SelectSpecs feel very strongly that people should get their eyes tested on a regular bases (at least every 2 years). An eye test is more than just finding out that you need to wear glasses or that your eyes have gotten worse since your last checkup. An eye test can also be a very important health check for many people.
There are a number of high profile cases in which a simple eye test has resulted in the patient’s discovery of an unknown problem with their health or even a cancer, effectively saving their life thanks to the early warnings spotted by the opticians who examined them.
£10 or £20 isn’t a lot to spend once every two years if it could save your life, but thanks to a special offer by Dollond & Aitchison Opticians, you won’t even need to spend that, as for a limited time, they are offering FREE Eye Tests when you book an appointment online. What is more, we are informed that there is no obligation to purchase glasses from them in order to receive the free eye test, allowing you to make even greater savings by purchasing your glasses online at www.selectspecs.com just remember to get a copy of your prescription.
To find out more and get your FREE Eye Test at D&A, click here.
Terms & Conditions:
- Closing date: 31/12/2008
- This voucher cannot be used with an NHS eye test or any other eye test offer.
- This reduction is not dependent on the purchase of a complete pair of glasses (frames, lenses and professional services)
- Only one voucher per order, which must be surrendered at time of purchase.
- Discount only available at the following branches: Spalding (14028), Nottingham Castle Boulevard (27367), Skegness (19143), Peterborough Long (3476), Lincoln (4030), Northampton 73a Abingdon St. (3395), Beaumont Leys (27642), Nottingham Vic Centre (3409), Peterborough 27 Queensgate (23604) and Derby (3247).
- Discount only available to customers who have not had an eye test with D&A in the last 2 years.
- Photocopied vouchers will not be accepted.
Tags: D&A, Dollond & Aitchison Opticians, Early Warning of Potential Cancer, FREE Eye Test, Health Check, Special Offer, Voucher
Posted in Health & Information, Special Offers | Be the first to Comment!
Posted by Chris on September 16, 2008.
We at Selectspecs feel very strongly that people should get their eyes tested on a regular bases (at least every 2 years). An eye test is more than just finding out that you need to wear glasses or that your eyes have gotten worse since your last checkup. An eye test can also be a very important health check for many people.
There are a number of high profile cases in which a simple eye test has resulted in the patient’s discovery of an unknown problem with their health or even a cancer, effectively saving their life thanks to the early warnings spotted by the opticians who examined them.
£10 or £20 isn’t a lot to spend once every two years if it could save your life, but thanks to a special offer by Dollond & Aitchison Opticians, you won’t even need to spend that, as for a limited time, they are offering FREE Eye Tests when you book an appointment online. What is more, we are informed that there is no obligation to purchase glasses from them in order to recieve the free eye test, allowing you to make even greater savings by purchasing your glasses online at www.selectspecs.com just remember to get a copy of your prescription.
To find out more and get your FREE Eye Test at D&A, click here.
Available at any D&A branch nationwide (UK).
Terms & Conditions:
Closing date: 27/10/2008
Special offer available at any Branch of D&A on presentation of this voucher.
This voucher cannot be used with an NHS eye test or any other eye test offer.
Only one voucher per order, which must be surrendered at time of purchase.
Eye test offer is not applicable on contact lense assessments or checks.
Discount available to original recipient only.
Photocopied vouchers will not be accepted.
Tags: D&A, Dollond & Aitchison Opticians, Early Warning of Potential Cancer, FREE Eye Test, Health Check, Special Offer, Voucher
Posted in Health & Information, Special Offers | Be the first to Comment!
Posted by Chris on August 28, 2008.
Patients in England suffering from a disease which causes blindness are to get access to a sight-saving drug.
The Lucentis drug treats ‘wet’ age-related Macular Degeneration, the leading cause of sight loss in the country.
What is Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)?
AMD is a disease associated with aging that gradually destroys sharp, central vision making difficult or even impossible to see objects clearly in common daily tasks such as reading and driving.
AMD affects the macula, the part of the eye that allows you to see fine details. AMD is a painless condition and in some cases, advances so slowly that people hardly even notice the change in their vision. In others, the disease can progress faster and can lead to a loss of vision in both eyes.
AMD is a leading cause of vision loss for people aged 60 and over. It occurs in two forms: wet and dry, the dry form being more common. However, the wet type is more aggressive and is responsible for about 90% of blindness caused by the condition.
(Source: National Eye Institute)
Treatment
The Lucentis drug is already available in Scotland, while Wales and Northern Ireland have said they will fund it.
The drug is administered through injections which are described as a modern wonder in science. Almost 20,000 people per year are diagnosed with wet AMD in England, it is the leading cause of blindness in the UK.
Treatment however, is expensive at £10,000 per eye for a two-year course of injections. As a result, the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), the body which assesses drugs for the NHS had originally said patients should wait until they went blind in one eye.
The NHS will fund 14 injections, with the cost of any more being met by manufacturer Novartis in a scheme dubbed “dose capping”. It means that the torment faced by elderly people, forced to either spend their life savings on private treatment or go blind, is over.
Cheaper Alternative
Eye surgeon from Manchester Royal Eye Hospital, Michael Lavin, has been using the cheaper alternative drug Avastin to treat wet AMD since 2005.
He says as a doctor he is happy to use either drug, describing their effectiveness as “probably equivalent”.
But he adds “As a tax-payer, I want to know why the NHS is going to spend 30 to 50 times as much on a drug when there is a cheaper alternative.”
Further Information
For more information on this story or the condition, please follow these links: -
Tags: Age-Related Macular Degeneration, AMD, Avastin, Blindness, Lucentis, National Eye Institute, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, NHS, NICE, Sight-Saving Drug
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Posted by Chris on August 28, 2008.
We are becoming more conscious than ever of the damaging effects of the sun on our skin; excessive UV radiation can be life threatening, this is the leading cause of skin cancer, however a new survey has shown that only 7 per cent of the UK population are aware that Ultra Violet Rays can damage the eyes.
The survey, undertaken by Transitions Optical found that 88 per cent of people regard their vision as their most valued sense above hearing, touch, taste and smell. The survey also found that 8 out of 10 people consider the eyes to be the first part of the body they notice when they meet someone.
One in four people who took part in this research admitted they had never had their eyes examined and more than half who wore spectacles or contact lenses said they avoided eye examinations due to the high
costs involved with new eyewear.
It is sensible to protect your eyes against the cumulative effects of long term exposure to UV radiation. Thankfully there are various lens types, such as SelectSpecs own standard lenses, Hi-index and Photochromic lenses (Transitions), which provide up to 99% of UV block without having the dark tint as most people would expect with sunglasses, providing you with the protection needed.
At SelectSpecs.com there is absolutely NO CHARGE for UV treatment as we believe this is essential on all prescription glasses and sunglasses. Don’t forget, when you buy prescription glasses from SelectSpecs.com Standard Prescription Lenses are included with UV Protection and Anti-Reflection Coating absolutely FREE.
Tags: Anti-Reflection Coating, Free at Selectspecs.com, Hi-index, Photochromic lenses, Standard Prescription Lenses, Transitions, Transitions Optical, Ultra Violet Rays, UV Protection, UV Radiation
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Posted by Chris on August 11, 2008.
A new EU legislation passed in the EU Parliament in 2006 will require new EU driving licences to carry details of a driver’s eyesight including their prescription (Rx) details. Coupled with compulsory eye tests, it is hoped that the move will dramatically improve road safety in Europe by reducing the number of accidents caused by drivers with poor vision, which can result in slower reaction times in an emergency. It is expected that the legislation should start to be introduced from January 2011.
President of Euromcontact, Helmer Schweizer (a leading figure in influencing the EU legislation) said that drivers would be required to have their eyes examined every five years for a commercial licence and every ten to fifteen years for private licences.
Regular eye tests are as important as going to the dentist and can actually help with early detection of cataracts, glaucoma and other disorders; in fact, we at SelectSpecs recommend that patients have their eyes tested every 2 years irrespective.
The coded requirement for vision correction on a driver’s licence will mean that anyone stopped by the Police will be identifiable as needing glasses or contact lenses.
Schweizer said, “Politicians do not like introducing unpopular legislation and they will not want to be accused of ‘stealing’ their vulnerable voters’ driving licences. We, in the optical profession, can help them by promoting the positive benefits of screening and better vision. We have all seen the effects of compulsory safety belts, lowering alcohol limits and prohibiting the use of mobile phones. Improving drivers’ vision should be viewed in the same light”.
Aside from the health benefits of having frequent eye exams and potentially fewer road accidents, motorists could also be rewarded with lower insurance premiums as a result.
A recent study in France by ASNAV (Association Nationale de L’Amelioration de la Vue), revealed that 20% of motorists recognised that their vision was inadequate. Betrand Roy of GIFO France said “From this study, and from our numerous screenings, we know that more than 1 million drivers in France would fail the driving test tomorrow because of poor vision and that 8 million would pass, but would benefit from better corrected vision. We believe that 10-12% of accidents could be avoided with the right vision correction”.
Tags: cataracts, EU Driving Licences, Eye Examinations, Eye Test Results, glaucoma, health, Helmer Schweizer, lower insurance premiums, Regular eye tests, Road Traffic Accidents
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