You go on holiday to relax, explore, meet friends and family and have fun. Something that many people find frustrating when they prepare to go away is the hassle of having to pack their lenses, drops and cleaners. Wouldn’t it be great if you could take a contact lens free holiday too…..Well now you can.

If you are really frustrated with the thought of contact lenses on holiday, perhaps you should consider the benefits of life without them.

No packing of lenses, drops and cleaners for the duration of your holiday.
No worrying about having to remove contact lenses before you swim
No irritation from contact lenses when dust and dirt gets in your eyes whilst on safari, quad biking or walking across a windy beach.

Accuvision can take away the problems of contact lenses very simply. We have advanced laser eye treatments that are able to correct eyes with prescriptions of up to -14.00 dioptres of short-sightedness, +8.00 dioptres of long-sightedness and astigmatism. We can also remove dependency on reading glasses too.

If you do want to visit us after reading this blog we will present you with a FREE pair of designer branded shades (worth over £150) as part of your on-going eye care from Accuvision after your treatment. This offer is exclusive to this blog only!

All you need to do is state that you have read our “Contact lenses on holiday” blog when you call us for your FREE consultation on 0330 300 2020 or by email at info@accuvision.co.uk

You can also visit our website www.accuvision.co.uk and complete the Contact Us form. To qualify for the free pair of designer shades you must type in “Contact lenses on holiday” in the further information box at the bottom of the form.

This offer closes on 30th June 2013, (i.e. you must have attended a consultation at Accuvision by this date to qualify).

We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Matt Prior, aged 31 is the first England wicketkeeper to be voted for this prestigious award. His match-saving century in England’s draw against New Zealand probably sealed the votes, along with the seven Test half centuries he completed.

What Matt has shown this year is consistency, and as he admits “That’s something I’ve worked very hard on.”

Matt won ahead of two outstanding team members, batsman Alastair Cook and fast bowler, James Anderson.

New Zealand were denied a series victory in March this year due to Matt’s amazing unbeaten 110 and the efforts of Monty Panesar’s last man stand over the last 5 balls.

“I’ve no doubt the innings against New Zealand is pretty fresh in people’s mind so that’s probably had something to do with it,” Prior admitted.
“It was great to get over the line, a hugely proud moment but from a team point of view we want to be winning Test matches not drawing them. But to save a game for your country is a great feeling and I was very proud.”
Matt Prior plays for Sussex in the County Championship and will be playing tomorrow in the first Test against New Zealand at Lords.

“This series is massive. We had a tough series in New Zealand and we want to put in good performances and get a win. Winning is a habit and you want to get in that habit as soon as possible. Our best preparation whether it be the Ashes, India or New Zealand, is winning Test matches and we want to start on Thursday.”

Matt underwent laser eye surgery at Accuvision in 2007 whilst recovering from a broken thumb. His improved vision since 2007 has helped Matt to sustain a consistent level of performance, making him the preferred wicketkeeper for England in Test cricket.

We wish Matt and England every success in the Test series against New Zealand this week.

Every week we are reminded by visitors to our clinics how different we are to other clinics and how we positively impact patients lives through the technology and treatment plans we are able to offer for laser eye surgery.

Only yesterday we had a gentleman visit our Solihull clinic with a hyperopic prescription of +7.00 in each eye. He told us how he had sought treatment at the various high street clinics with little success.

On visiting Accuvision in Solihull it was like a “breath of fresh air” he said. Not only was our consultant able to advise him that treatment was possible for his prescription but he was also told he would be able to have the surgery completed within the following 2 weeks.

The next day he booked for surgery.

It is no coincidence that more and more patients with higher or more complex eye prescriptions find a laser eye surgery solution at Accuvision. It is not just the clinical team (that provide excellent impartial advice to patients) but also the proven technology that’s able to safely correct these higher order prescriptions.

Here are some key points regarding the Alcon WaveLight refractive surgery technology used at Accuvision that help patients who have high eye prescriptions.

The Alcon WaveLight laser is THE ONLY LASER to have received FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) approval for wavefront-guided procedures where the higher order aberrations were actually reduced after treatment.

Around 90% of Alcon WaveLight procedures are performed with the wavefront-optimized profile as it is all that is required if there are no pre-existent higher order aberrations.

The WaveLight laser has multiple custom treatments (wavefront-guided, topography-guided and asphericity-guided) allowing Accuvision to deliver a truly bespoke treatment plan for each patient.

The WaveLight Refractive Suite is the fastest excimer laser available today. And we know that faster treatments lead to better outcomes.

Sophie Kinsella’s latest book is coming out this week on 25th April. Entitled ‘Wedding Night’ it tells the tale of Lottie and Ben who made a pact in years gone by to marry if they were still single at thirty. Lottie decides to take her chances with Ben after a number of failed long term boyfriends much to the concern of family and friends.

Sophie Kinsella recently visited Accuvision laser eye clinics to receive laser eye surgery for her myopia (shortsight), replacing it with blended vision for distance and near vision.

Sophie says ” I cannot be more delighted with my vision following laser eye surgery at Accuvision and I’m really looking forward to my book launch and a summer without having to worry about contact lenses or glasses.”

We wish Sophie’s book ‘Wedding Nights’ every success this summer! You can find out more about it at www.sophiekinsella.co.uk

Matt Prior managed to hit an unbeaten 110 runs to secure an unexpected draw against New Zealand and save England from defeat in the Test series. Hero of the match and the Test series for England,vice captain Matt Prior batted for four and a half hours and faced 182 balls. He was joined by Stuart Broad in the later stages and Monty Panesar for the final overs. The odds were stacked against the England team going into the final day, with a mountain to climb and only 4 wickets remaining. However Prior, along with the tail-end managed to play out the day and in doing so scored a record 110 for only the 7th time in his Test career.
Matt’s fortunes have significantly changed since 2007, when he visited Accuvision to receive Laser Eye Treatment, and he has now risen once again in esteem and respect among his team mates and the cricketing world in general after his dogged performance in New Zealand.
If you think Accuvision can help you reach your potential in sport, contact us today where one of our clinicians would be happy to answer any questions you may have on 0330 300 2020. You can see the full article of Matt’s success here

Back in 2007, after an error-strewn tour of India and a media backlash to forget, Matt Prior was seriously considering his ability at Wicket Keeper for both club and country. At the end of a winter tour in Sri Lanka he was dropped from the team and a period of serious introspection occurred.

Nursing a broken thumb, Matt used this rest time to correct his vision through laser eye surgery at Accuvison.
And with the help of Alec Stewart he decided to have one last go. Identifying the need for sharp hand-eye coordination, improved reflexes and significantly improved unaided vision Prior’s fortunes began to turn.

By the end of the next year, he was recalled to the Test squad and starred with bat and gloves in the 2009 and 2010-11 Ashes tours, and also aided England with a score of 271 to topping the Test rankings by beating India 4-0.

He is now currently ranked fourth on the all-time wicket-keeping list, with the highest batting average and quickly climbing. Currently lining up for a three test series in New Zealand, Matt’s fortunes have really changed since his Accuvision laser eye surgery in 2007.

For more information please see the full article here.

Keratoconus is a disease that is present in the eyes of children and adults. Recent studies on data collected between 1997 and 2010 have highlighted the differences as to how keratoconus develops among children compared with adults.

A retrospective keratoconus study in France using data obtained between 1997 and 2010 found that the keratoconus disease is often more advanced in children than adults and that the rate of advancement is faster among children than adults.

Over 200 keratoconus patients were studied; 49 below or equal to 15 years, and 167 patients aged 27 years or over at time of diagnosis, who were seen within 2 years of the diagnosis.

The study found that keratoconus in children was significantly more severe at diagnosis. Ophthalmoscopic signs were more frequent in the children and minimum keratometry as well as simulated keratometric astigmatism were higher.

After the diagnosis the keratoconus did not evolve more frequently in children compared to the adults. However where there was progression, it did progress faster in the children compared with the adults.

The study concluded that keratoconus among children does need to be monitored and managed very carefully.

Accuvision have been involved in the diagnosis and treatment of keratoconus among adults and children since 2004.

The Care Quality Commission have given special permission to Accuvision laser eye care clinics to diagnose, , monitor, manage and treat patients from the age of 12 years at their clinic in Fulham, London.

To find out more information on keratoconus and the treatment options available for adults and children, just contact Accuvision here.

Just as the body changes with age, our eyes also undergo some changes.As the eye ages, eyelid muscles weaken and skin becomes thinner and looser. This can cause the upper lid to droop or the lower lid to sag.

Tears are a major protective agent for the eyes. Tear production diminshes as we age and the oily film that tears provide also decreases. These changes can lead to a build-up of sticky mucus, or make the cornea dry, causing irritation or an uncomfortable, gritty sensation.

The sclera,”white of the eye” tends to become more yellow as we age .This may be often due to fat deposit. Calcium deposits in the sclera can lead to patches of greyish translucency, and the cornea can develop an opaque white ring around its edge.

As we get older the lens, which focuses light rays on to the retina hardens and loses its elasticity. Distance vision is usually clear but near near vision is normally lost. This permanent farsighted focus of eye is referred to as presbyopia. Aging can also cause the lens to darken, grow opaque and thicken, causing nearsightedness. Night vision may also get worse.

Over time, the lens inside our eye gradually changes and becomes less transparent. Clouding of the lens is the first indication of a cataract. It may go unnoticed until the cloudiness blocks the central line of sight and impairs vision.

There is a constant flow of fluid that nourishes the eyes. Glaucoma usually develops when this flow of fluid become obstructed and there is an increased build-up of pressure within the eyes. The increased pressure inside the eye causes damage to the optic nerve and can lead to loss of vision before symptoms develop.

Aging causes a general decline in retinal function. The retina sends brain messages describing the objects which we see. An aging retina thins and may grow less sensitive. The macula, a small part of the retina that provides sharp, central vision, is especially prone to deterioration. Age-related macular degeneration can steal a person’s central vision.

To know more about how aging affect vision plz visit http://www.askdoctork.com/how-does-aging-affect-vision-201206272140

Of all senses, sense of vision is considered to be one the most valuable. We would find it hard imagine to live without it. Surprisingly we don’t take care of it as much as we should. As computers have become indispensible the effects of over use has been shown to put significant stress on our eyes. Vision problems and disorders are now very common in today’s workplace. And it wouldn’t be a surprising if younger people experience a greater incidence of impaired vision as a result of today’s computer dominated lifestyle.

Most people enjoy 20/20 vision, but if there is a constant strain on the eyes, vision may be lost quicker with age. And loss of vision (aka macular degeneration) is one of the most common cause of blindness in Americans over the age of 50.

There are many ways to see whether we are gradually losing our vision or not.
Stare At An Object
– Does it look bent, curved or wavy?
– Do you see a dark or blurry spot in the center of your vision?
– When you cover your other eye, is the object a different colour?

This is just a simple test, but if you feel that your eyes are giving trouble in any way ie, in shape ,form etc or if you get frequent headaches or migraines as never before then it could mean that your eyes are suffering from some serious disorder, so try to consult an eye doctor or a physician as soon as you start noticing it.

We can avoid eyestrain by,
–Giving a healthy break to your eyes. Whenever you’re working on something or doing research on the computer, get up and look away from the screen every now and then for a few minutes.
–Close your eyes and keep them shut for a few seconds.
–In addition to closing your eyes every so often, make sure to blink regularly in order to keep your eyes moist.
If you feel your eyes drying up, use artificial tears (not eye drops, unless they’re prescribed to you).

Use an anti-glare screen on the computer in order to protect your eyes from the glare of the monitor.And always Keep your computer monitor 18 to 30 inches from your eyes.If you feel your eyes are strained due to focusing on a computer screen all day, get up from the desk and do any of the following:

– Place a cold compress over your eyes
– Look around the room, and focus your eyes elsewhere
– Blink frequently
– Do eye exercise

Wear Sunglasses
It is proven that UV rays can seriously damage our eyes, but a pair of good sunglasses can prevent this damage. Always wear sunglasses in summer. While buying sunglasses, make sure that they block at least 98% of UV radiation..

Take Vitamins
Vitamins help to keep our eyes healthy. Vitamins such as A, C and E, folic acid, selenium and zinc are highly beneficial for the health of our eyes. So always try to include these vitamin rich foods in our daily diet.

Sleep Sufficiently
Sleep is a great way to recharge and refresh your eyes in preparation for the next day. Make sure to get enough sleep every night (8 hours).Lack of sleep can cause serious health problems.

Go To Your Physician
We might think that our vision is fine or our eyes are healthy, but visiting an ophtalmologist for a comprehensive dilated eye exam is the only way to really be sure. Therefore a regular visit to your optician will help in detecting eye diseases in their early stages.

For more information on how to maintain your eyesight plz follow http://www.askmen.com/money/how_to/43_how_to.html

Eyes are delicate and precious organs. In order to enjoy a life time of good vision, whatever your prescription, we must take Proper care & maintainance of our eyes. Here are some tips for maintaining good eye sight.

1. Get the Best Nutrients for Good Vision

Eating a well-balanced diet can keep our eyes healthy. Studies have shown that nutrients such as omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc,folic acid ,vitamin C, A and E are highly beneficial for the health of our eyes. Age-related vision problems such as macular degeneration and cataracts can be reduced to great extent by including these essential vitamins and nutrients in our daily diet.

Regular consumption of following foods can help to maintain good eye health.

Green, leafy vegetables such as spinach, kale, and collards
Salmon, tuna, and other oily fish
Eggs, nuts, beans and other non-meat protein sources
Oranges and other citrus fruits or juices

2. Quit the Habit of smoking for better eyesight

Smoking increases the risk of developing cataracts, macular degeneration and optic nerve damage. Quitting smoking will have a positive effect on you eye health, as well as your overall health.

3. Wear sunglasses for good vision

Wearing sunglasses prevents injury to the eyes, vision loss and potential blindness from eye trauma. The right kind of sunglasses help to protect our eyes from the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. Too much UV exposure increases the risk of getting cataracts and macular degeneration. While choosing sunglasses make sure that they block 99% to 100% of both UVA and UVB rays. Wraparound lenses help protect your eyes from the side. Polarized lenses work well to help reduce glare when driving.

Contact lens wearers have the option of using contact lenses that offer UV protection. There are two types available. One works for intense sun exposure, such as in the mountains or on the beach. UV protecting contacts are a reasonable option, but may not be a substitute for large wrap-around sunglasses. It is always best to wear sunglasses even if your contact lenses offer uv protection.

4. Use safety eyewear at home, at work, and while playing sports

If yo work with hazardous or airborne materials ,always try to wear safety glasses or protective goggles. Safety eye wear protects our eyes from injury, vision loss, and blindness. Certain sports such as ice hockey, squash, and lacrosse carry the risk for eye injury. By Wearing a protective face masks or sports goggles with polycarbonate lenses, eyes can be shielded from a flying puck, squash ball or swinging lacrosse stick.

5. Look away from the computer for good eye health

Computers have become the most indispensible piece of office equipment. A high usage of computers may result in, vision problems and disorders which are very common in today’s workplace. Computer vision syndrome (CVS) is a condition that occurs from frequent computer use. It can cause eyestrain, blurry vision, difficulty in focusing at a distance, dry eyes, headaches, neck, back, and shoulder pain etc.

Inorder to overcome these the following points can be taken into consideration:-

(a).Make sure that your glasses or contact lens prescription is up to date and adequate for computer use.
(b).Position your computer so that your eyes are level with the top of the monitor. This allows you to look slightly down at the screen.
(c).Try to avoid glare on your computer from windows and lights. Use an anti-glare screen if needed.
(d).Choose a comfortable, supportive chair. Position it so that your feet are flat on the floor.
(e).Remember to blink often, which can help prevent dry eyes.
(f).Rest your eyes by looking 20 feet away for 20 seconds every 20 minutes. Every two hours, get up and take a 15-minute break.

6. Visit an optician regularly

A regular, comprehensive eye examination can help to protect our sight and ensure that we are seeing at our best. Depending on our eye health, we can see either an optometrist or an ophthalmologist for a comprehensive eye exam. Ophthalmologists are medical doctors who specialise in eye care. They provide general vision care, treat eye diseases, and perform eye surgery. Optometrists have had four years of training after college. They provide eye care and treat some but not all eye diseases, but they do not perform eye surgery. As we age, the risk of getting eye diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataract increases which have no symptoms. So by having regular eye exam eye problems can be detected and treated at its earlier stages.

A comprehensive eye exam may include the following:

Personal and family medical history
Near and far vision tests to see if you have nearsightedness, farsightedness, astigmatism (curvature of the cornea that causes blurred vision), or presbyopia (age-related vision changes)
Tests to see how well your eyes work together
Eye pressure and optic nerve tests to determine if you have glaucoma
External and microscopic examination of your eyes before and after dilation
You may have other tests as needed. For example, if you wear contact lenses, you may need additional procedures.

For more information you can also visit http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/good-eyesight