September 2016 - Vision Care

If you are a wearer ,to be able to see well you should ensure your spectacles are cleaned daily. Cleaning your spectacle lenses the correct way ensures that they will last longer, reduce lens scratches, and it will give you better vision.

For optimal cleaning tips, follow these simple steps. They can be applied to all types of spectacles including sunglasses, sports eyewear, and safety glasses.

Cleaning your glasses daily will help you see better and prolongs the life of your specs

How to Clean your Glasses and Prevent Lens Scratching

Wash your Hands

Before you start cleaning your glasses, ensure you wash your hands thoroughly. Anything that is on your hands transfers to your glasses and impairs their effectiveness at helping you see. Wash your hands in lotion-free soap or dishwashing liquid, and clean your hands using a lint free towel.

Rinse your Spectacles under Luke Warm Water

Hold your spectacles under a gentle stream of lukewarm water. This removes dust and debris which has a habit of causing scratches. Do not make the water too hot as this can damage lens coatings.

Apply lotion-free Dishwasher Liquid to each Lens

Using a drop of dishwasher liquid to each lens, clean your glasses ensuring you cover the frames as well as the lenses with the liquid. Concentrate on the area where the lens meets the frame as this is prone to debris build-up. It is very important you use a lotion-free brand, and you will only need a drop, literally a drop on each lens.

Once you have cleaned your eyeglasses rinse away all traces of the dishwasher liquid under lukewarm water as you did before.

Shake and Clean your Spectacles

Once you have rinsed away the last traces of dishwasher liquid inspect your lenses to ensure they are clean. If you can see areas that are still affected by debris then repeat the cleaning process. If you are satisfied they are clean, use a towel to dry gently dry them. It is important that the towel has not been washed with fabric conditioner and is lint free.

A clean, lint-free towel that is used to clean fine glassware is perfect for drying your glasses.

Inspect your lenses

After you have dried your lenses inspect them to ensure they are clean. If you spot smudges clean them off using a microfiber cloth. You can get lint-free cloths from your opticians and photography shops.

Tips for Looking After your Specs

These tips will help you look after your spectacles and keep them in good shape:

Use specialist cleaning wipes if you’re travelling and can’t get your hands on dishwasher liquid or have access to running water. Ensure you use wipes which are dedicated to cleaning your glasses and are compatible with your lens coating. Other wipes can be incorrectly formulated.
Consider using spray eyeglass cleaners. There are several different types. Always ensure they are compatible with your lens coating.
As scratches cannot be repaired ask your optician about applying scratch resistant lens coating and ask if there is a warranty you can purchase. Always store your glasses in a case, and never place them on a table or counter on their lenses.
If your lenses are in good shape but other parts of your glasses are deteriorating, take them to your optician for professional repair

Book an Eye Exam

Click here and book an eye examination if you are in the London area.

Dr. Mosley BBC Medical Journalist Believes Certain Foods May Help Eyesight

Dr. Mosley underwent an experiment which proves diet contributes to healthy eyesight

Dr. Mosley underwent an experiment on how diet can contribute to healthy eyesight

Dr. Michael Mosley best known as a BBC presenter of television programmes on biology and medicine, recently conducted an experiment to see if his eyesight could be improved by changing his diet. He has worn spectacles for most of his life, and recently underwent a series of tests at the City University in London.

The tests measured his perception of different colours, small objects, and night vision. The tests also focused on the macula and the level it protected him from UV light.

The tests discovered that his perception of yellow and blue colours was poor; the professor conducting the tests said this was probably a result of his brush with diabetes, and his night vision and detail perception was also not the best compared to young people, although consistent with his age.

Doctor Mosley as part of his experiment for the Trust Me I’m a Doctor program subsequently started taking lutein and zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin supplements. He states he does not like taking supplements, so he used a smoothie recipe devised by a team in the US that contained the key chemicals. The smoothie contained kale, kiwi fruit, milk, and wheat.

Twelve weeks later

Twelve weeks later and Dr. Mosley retook the tests. To the surprise of the professor, significant improvements to his eyesight had occurred. His blue and yellow perception had improved to normal levels, and his night vision was better. His macular pigments had also improved.

Dr. Mosley’s experience is a shared one. Research in Ireland found similar results with a study sample of 100 people.

Evidence from other quarters suggests this may slow or halt age related macular degeneration although this is hotly contested.

What foods contain lutein, zeaxanthin, and meso-zeaxanthin?

Lutein can be found in green vegetables such as green kale, spinach, and the yellow yolks of eggs.

Zeaxanthin this can be found in corn, yellow bell peppers, and saffron spice.

Meso-zeaxanthin is made by your body from lutein. It can be found in some fish skins, and in supplements containing marigold extract. Dr. Mosley points out this ingredient may not be listed on some labels.

Although more research needs to be performed it is good to know that by changing our diets we can potentially improve our eyesight.

Image credit and for further information visit: BBC

Month: September 2016

How to Clean your Glasses and Prevent Lens Scratches