Understanding eye care


A lot of people think going to the opticians is just about correcting your vision; perhaps getting an eye exam, changing your glasses, or trying out contact lenses.

At Bayfields, we certainly do all that. But there’s also so much more we do. We can also detect problems with your eye health and with your general health. The sooner any problems are spotted, the sooner you can take steps to protect your eyes, your vision and your overall wellbeing.

The key to it all is a really thorough Bayfields eye exam. It’s just 45 mins of your time, and most people only need one every 2 years. But remember: eye tests need doing even when your eyes feel fine. Neglecting the health of your eyes can in some cases lead to the development of serious problems and even blindness.

Find out more about our eye care technologies
 

Diagnosing eye problems
 

A thorough eye exam does more than check your vision. It looks for early signs of glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), cataracts, keratoconus, detaching retinas, CMV retinitis, inflammation, swelling, and more.

Find out more

 

Diagnosing problems with your general health

 
Eye exams can reveal health problems elsewhere in your body, too. These can include diabetes, high blood pressure, autoimmune disorders, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, aneurisms and more. Besides being a concern in themselves, some of these disorders can affect your vision and your eye health.

5 ways we take care of your eye health

 
1. By hiring only the best people
And ensuring that our optometrists and opticians get the highest standards of ongoing professional training.
 
2. By listening carefully
We’ll get to know you, taking careful note of your unique lifestyle; how you feel about your vision; and what you’re looking for when it comes to glasses or contact lenses.
 
3. By offering outstanding eye exams
Even our standard eye exam lasts 45 minutes (at most opticians’, it’s 15-20 minutes), and many of our practices offer extended exams involving sophisticated retina scans, for a small extra charge.
 
4. By using the best diagnostic equipment
We use award-winning, cutting-edge technology for superior exams and eye care.
 
5. By staying alongside you
We’re always here to explain things, answer your questions, offer advice, and address any worries – whether it’s your vision or a loose arm on your glasses.


Optometrist providing a Bayfields eye test

How to look after your eyes

 
• Have regular eye exams  – because they can detect eye problems sooner, and can also indicate problems elsewhere in the body
 
• Eat a healthy, balanced diet – green and yellow/orange vegetables, egg yolks, fish and whole grains can help to prevent certain eye diseases
 
• Take enough exercise – to help prevent health problems which affect the eyes, such as high blood pressure and diabetes
 
• Stop smoking – smoke contains toxic chemicals and reduces oxygen delivery to the retina, both of which can cause eye damage
 
• Rest your eyes – avoid eye strain by taking breaks from intensive work every 20 minutes (such as using a screen or doing a lot of reading)
 
• Be aware of any risk factors – you may be at a higher risk for some eye problems; for example, because of your family history or eye colour
 
• Protect against harmful UV rays – wear sunglasses or clear lenses with UV protection when outside


• Never look directly at the sun - especially during an eclipse!

 • Take children outside – natural daylight helps the eyeball to develop properly, thus helping to avoid short-sightedness (and going outdoors helps prevent excessive screen use)

• Keep your fingers away from your eyes – our hands can carry surprising amounts of bacteria

• Keep your contact lenses clean – or even try daily disposables

• Replace eye make-up regularly – it can harbour bacteria which can infect and inflame your eyes

• Wear eye protection – for example, when swimming or doing DIY or certain gardening jobs

• Be aware – watch out for any changes in your vision or how your eyes feel

• Talk to us – whenever you have any concerns, just pop in or pick up the phone!

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