This eye pun couldn’t be any cornea! Bad puns is how eye roll. I could keep going as I am a bandit for a good pun but we have some serious eye stuff to discuss.
You see, I always wanted to wear glasses (purely for fashion reasons) and I was always told that when you turn 40 years old your eyes do start to need assistance with the art of seeing. It happened at 42 for me. One day I noticed it was really hard to read small print on a my cosmetic and shampoo bottles. Then I was finding I would get a headache from straining my eyes reading or working on my laptop.
I was quietly stoked when optometrist Steve Hammond of Hammond Optometry suggested I was ready for my first pair of reading glasses. What I didn’t like hearing was that the loss of near vision was because the lens of my eye is starting to lose elasticity and getting a bit lazy in my 40s (much like my skin). I do so much to look after my skin but what am I doing to look after my eyes? I realised I wasn’t doing much so I asked some local eye experts to share their knowledge with the aim of encouraging you all to be better to your eyes – they need some loving too. So I have done the research people! I went to the best in the biz Hammond Optometry and Options Eyecare
According to the Eye Experts our eyes have different needs as we age. Vision changes are a normal part of aging so what can we expect of our eyes as we mature.
In your 20s and 30s you may be lucky enough to not need corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses. But it’s never too early to start preserving your eye health and during this stage of life, prevention is key. Be sure to protect your healthy eyes from harmful everyday elements, like cigarette smoke and UV rays (invest in fabulous sunnies). Be aware of occupational hazards, like long hours in front of a computer , which can lead to eyestrain and Computer Vision Syndrome (it’s a thing!). Digital eye strain may present itself in the form of headaches, blurred vision, eye strain, neck and shoulder pain and dry eyes. Schedule an annual eye exam to keep your prescriptions up-to-date and avoid any long-term damage. Also eat well for healthy eyes – foods with zinc, vitamin C and beta carotene are beneficial and include fish, seeds, nuts carrots, sweet potatoes and leafy greens are very good eye hear!
In your 40s vision changes are highly likely as its a natural part of the aging process. Presbyopia may happen to you (it happened to me) – it’s a decline in your ability to focus due to the hardening of the lenses in your eyes making it more difficult to see while reading or doing close work. In its earliest stages you can simply adjust the distance between your eyes and your reading material. When this fails to fix the problem you will need corrective lenses, such as reading glasses or multifocal contact lenses. PS: why do companies make the print on cosmetic and hair care products so bloody small anyway? Optometrist Maria Pettersonn-Peddie of Options Eyecare adds that we may also suffer dry eyes in our 40s. Get your optometrist to assess your eyes and your tear film then they ca give advice on strategies for helping the eyes feel less dry, gritty and weepy.
In your 50s you are at risk of contracting a number of age-related eye diseases-such as glaucoma, cataracts, and macular degeneration (yay to aging). Have your eyes checked regularly especially if you notice any changes to your vision. While there is no cure for macular degeneration, healthy habits like taking multivitamins and eating foods rich in lutein (green and yellow veges) and antioxidants (berries, kale and dark chocolate) can help slow the process down.
In your 60s and beyond you may get cataracts and it will happen to all of us if we live long enough. Optometrist Steve Hammond of Hammond Optometry says “this impairment of the lens is caused by tiny clumps of protein molecules, which block light and dim your vision”. If cataracts start to impair everyday activities you may need cataract surgery in which your natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens, is a safe and effective way to restore your vision.
So what next?
If you need reading glasses the hardest decision is colour and style (this is also my fave thing about ageing – selecting the specaroonies). Deb Hammond at Hammond Optometry hooked me up with a pair that I felt suited my style and made a statement.
Next I went to the stylish Frame Consultants Lee Coyne and Di Schultz at Options Eyecare to suss out what is hot in eye wear right now and how to choose the perfect pair. The ladies say there a no rules or guidelines. Once they work out what shape suits your face, they look at colours that compliment your skin tone, a style that suits your personality and make sure they fit properly.
In regard to eye trends they say that one of their most interesting brands right now is a London based, family owned company called Kirk & Kirk. They are changing the game with bold, bright colours and shapes. Using acrylic materials which enables the colour to last longer and adjustments to hold their shape. Options Eyecare are one of the only stockists in Queensland.
Eye wonder what you think about my latest blog. Comments welcome (and recommendations on awesome frames for future reference).
Eye’ll catch ya later!
World Of Wacker 