Michael was  shortlisted to one of three optometrists from across the whole of the country,  these nominees were chosen for their level of commitment and contribution to the world of optometry.

Michael recently attended the annual Association of Optometrists ball, where the results were given and Michael picked up his prestigious award as pictured.

Michael summed up his feelings after receiving the award - ”I am obviously delighted in being honoured and recognised in this way, but have been humbled by the level of support  people like yourselves have given me. My sincere and heartfelt thanks to you all”.

Think about what sort of look you would like to create? If you want to turn heads, go for bold, strong heavier styles with thicker patterned temples. Fine wire frames, rimless or half-rimmed can give a more subtle or sophisticated look.
Ideally try on as many different styles and colours as possible, even ones that you wouldn’t normally choose as they can look totally different on, than when viewed on a frame rack.

When choosing your new frame think about your face shape. By wearing the right shape frame it can balance your facial features.
Most people fall into one of the below categories, which can be helpful as a guide when choosing your new spectacles:

Square: You have a face which is as wide as it is long, with a square jaw line. Go for softer shaped frames with oval lines, avoiding angular or square shapes.

Oval: You’re in luck! The ideal face shape with well balanced high cheekbones, a forehead that is just slightly wider than the jaw which should be gently curving. Most frames will suit, just make sure the size is in proportion to your head size.

Round: Short in length, with a wide forehead and full cheeks the round face shape should opt for frames that are squarer in shape, and wider rather than deeper. Avoid round frames which will only make the face look rounder.

Long Oblong: Your face is longer than it is wide, with high cheekbones and a long forehead.
Go for styles that are heavier on top, strong square shapes work well for balancing a narrow face but be careful not to choose a frame that is too wide; ideally your eyes should be in the centre of the lenses.

Heart: The heart shaped face is wide at the forehead and cheekbones, but then becomes narrow at the jaw line and chin. Go for slender, rounded or square styles but avoid any that are wider on the top of the frame than at the bottom as this will emphasise the heart shape rather than deflect from it.

Colours of frames should compliment your skin tone.
Cool skin tones have blue or pink undertones and should plump for black, silver, gunmetal, purples, blue or pink frames colours
Warm skin tones have a ‘peaches & cream’ or yellow cast. Frame colours that suit best include bronze, gold, copper, red, orange and khaki.

Be aware that when opting for ‘Transition’ lenses- (these are lenses that are clear indoors but darken in the sun,) that they should match the frame colour when lenses are both clear and dark.

The procedure is painless and non-invasive, and involves the optometrist taking a digital photograph of the back of your eye.  The image is then stored on computer for future use and is invaluable to refer back to, and monitor changes in the health of your eyes at subsequent examinations.

To promote the benefits of retinal photography we are offering this for *£10 instead of the usual price of £15.

Please mention at the time of booking your appointment if you would like to take advantage of this offer.

*offer available until 31/08/11

Modern day coatings now incorporate anti-scratch and hydrophobic properties, resulting in a lens that has a prolonged life, is repellent to water and easier to clean.

Perfect for everyday use, these lenses are colourless indoors and at night, making them suitable for night time driving. They offer 100% UV protection from the sun’s harmful rays; reducing the risk of Cataracts and Macular Degeneration. Upon exposure to UV light the lenses automatically darken down to give increased visual comfort and reduce eye strain.

Available in single vision, bifocal and varifocals,  and in hi-index options for  thinner, lighter lenses with a choice of brown or grey lens colour.

Transitions and the swirl are registered trademarks of Transitions Optical, Inc. © 2011 Transitions Optical, Inc.

Michael Offord Optometrists have opened the doors to their brand new premises, celebrating 30 years in business.

Michael Offord Optometrists are an established independent practice dedicated to giving over 8,000 loyal patients outstanding eyecare in a friendly and relaxed environment.

We offer Private and NHS eye examinations provided by qualified professionals using some of the most up to date equipment available, enabling them to offer patients the best in personal eyecare. In addition to clinical services, they have a large range of frames to choose from to suit all budgets, as well as the very latest in Contact Lenses.

To mark this celebration, Michael Offord collected his first ever patient, Elsie Wearn, aged 70 from her home in Westerhope and brought her to their new premises to be the first through the doors once more. This time for a guided tour and her routine eye test. Once there she was greeted by Michael’s friendly team and presented with flowers and champagne. Elsie was then told to choose whichever spectacles she wanted “on the house”.

Elsie tells her story “Michael popped in for his lunch one day, while he was busy getting the new practice ready for the opening. I said I need to have my eyes tested so Michael said to pop in the following morning. So I nipped in on my tea break and was his first ever customer”.

Elsie added “I’ve had my eyes tested by Michael every 2 years since. The staff are lovely and welcoming and I always feel like I am getting good value for money and not being sold something for the sake of it. Michael is a lovely man.”

Michael says “We take pride in treating each and every one of our patients like we would do our own family and over the last 30 years we have treated generations of families in the local surrounding communities. New technology has enabled us to provide more thorough examinations for patients with medical conditions. Some of the equipment you see today you might have only seen in the hospitals 30 years ago.”

As well as sponsoring local community sports clubs and teams, Michael is also very passionate about the work he does with Vision Aid Overseas. He is off on his travels to Burkina Faso in January 2011 to continue examining patients and dispense recycled spectacles for those who do not have access to such services.

The retina is made up from special cells called rods and cones which line the back of your eyes. Light enters your eye and passes through the lens which focuses the light on to the retina. Messages about what you see are then passed from the cells in the retina to the optic nerve, and on to the brain. There are many tiny blood vessels next to the retina which take oxygen and nutrients to the cells of the retina.

Diabetic Retinopathy and how it occurs

The term ‘retinopathy’ covers various disorders of the retina, which can affect vision. Retinopathy is usually due to damage to the tiny blood vessels next to the retina. Retinopathy is commonly caused by diabetes, but is sometimes caused by other diseases such as very high blood pressure.

Over time if the diabetes is not controlled, constant high blood sugar levels can weaken and damage the tiny blood vessels next to the retina resulting in the following complications:

• Small ‘blow-out’ swellings of blood vessels (microaneurysms).
• Small leaks of fluid from damaged blood vessels (exudates).
• Small bleeds from damaged blood vessels (haemorrhages).
• Blood vessels may just become blocked. This can cut off the blood and oxygen supply to small sections of the retina.
• New abnormal blood vessels may grow from damaged blood vessels. This is called proliferative retinopathy. These new vessels are delicate and can bleed easily.

The leaks of fluid, bleeds and blocked blood vessels may damage the cells of the retina . In some severe cases, damaged blood vessels bleed into the vitreous humour (the jelly-like centre of the eye). This can also affect vision by blocking light rays going to the retina.

How do we treat Diabetic Retinopathy?

An eye examination can detect early signs of eye disease caused by diabetes, and digital imaging (photographing the back of the eye) is an accurate way of checking and monitoring any retinal changes from one examination to the next.

Serious eye problems are less common if the diabetes is controlled in the early stages.

Most sight-threatening diabetic problems can be prevented by laser treatment if it is carried out early enough. It is important to realise, however, that laser treatment aims to save the sight you have – not to make it better. The laser, a beam of high intensity light, can be focused with extreme precision to seal the blood vessels that are leaking fluid into the retina. If new blood vessels grow, more extensive laser treatment may be needed.

There are two types of AMD: the ‘dry’ form and the more severe ‘wet’ form. Dry AMD is the more common, develops gradually over time and usually causes only mild loss of vision. The wet form accounts for only 10-15% of all AMD but the risk of sight loss is much greater. Because macular degeneration is an age-related process it usually involves both eyes, although they may not be affected at the same time.

What are the symptoms?

AMD is not painful and never leads to total blindness because it is only the central vision that is affected. This means that almost everyone with AMD will have enough side (or peripheral) vision to get around and keep their independence.

In the early stages of AMD, central vision may be blurred or distorted and things may look an unusual size or shape. This may happen quickly or develop over several months, although if only one eye is affected it may not be noticed. People with AMD may become sensitive to light or find it harder to distinguish colours. The macula enables people to see fine detail so those with the advanced condition will often notice a blank patch or dark spot in the centre of their sight. This makes activities like reading, writing and recognising faces very difficult.

Who is at risk from AMD?

The cause of AMD is unknown but several factors appear to increase the risk. These include smoking, a high-fat diet and excessive sun exposure. Risk also increases with advancing age and may be more common in those with a family history of AMD. The incidence is higher among women and those with light skin or eye colour.

An eye examination can detect and monitor AMD by examining the macula for signs of the disease. It may be necessary to have drops put in your eyes to widen the pupils to enable a better view of the retina.

How do we treat AMD?

The optometrist will advise you whether you need to be referred to a GP or hospital for medical advice. If your vision is affected, you may be given stronger spectacle lenses or special magnifiers to help you see more clearly.

There is currently no treatment for dry AMD but the wet form can be treated in several ways. Various forms of laser treatment may be used to halt or slow the progression of abnormal blood vessels and prevent further sight loss. These are simple procedures that can be carried out on an outpatient basis. Drugs are also becoming available for treating wet AMD, whether in the early or late stages.
There is evidence that improving your diet by eating fresh fruits and dark green, leafy vegetables may delay or reduce the severity of AMD

Who is at risk of Glaucoma?

People aged 40 and over are at an increased risk of glaucoma, with the risk increasing with age.
Those with a family history of glaucoma (close relatives) are at greater risk, as are those of certain ethnic groups.
People who are diabetic or are very short-sighted are also considered to be more prone to glaucoma.

How do we check for Glaucoma?

Most new cases of glaucoma are detected during a routine eye examination. Optometrists are highly trained to recognise the first signs of glaucoma. In addition to the eye examination the GDX Laser scanner is a highly developed scanner that can detect glaucoma in the early stages.
• Ophthalmoscopy – checking the appearance of the optic disc (where the optic nerve joins the eye) using an ophthalmoscope, a special torch for looking into the eyes.
• Visual field assessment – testing the field of vision using small points of light to check for blind spots.
• Tonometry – measuring the pressure within the eye, either using an instrument that emits a small puff of air onto the surface of the eye, or placing a probe against the eye after it has been numbed with anaesthetic drops.

How do we treat Glaucoma?

If detected early enough, glaucoma can usually be treated. In most cases eye drops to reduce the pressure in the eye will be prescribed, although in some cases an operation is needed. To aid detection of glaucoma, the College of Optometrists recommends an eye examination every two years, or more frequently if there is a family history of the condition.

If glaucoma is suspected, your optometrist will advise you whether you need to be referred to a GP or hospital. Once treatment is underway, you may be referred back to your optometrist for monitoring.

Glaucoma sufferers and certain close relatives are entitled to a free eye examination provided by the NHS. Those diagnosed as being at risk of developing glaucoma are also eligible.

Cataracts can form at any age, but most often are a natural consequence of getting older. They develop slowly and are painless. In younger people they can result from an injury, taking certain medication, long-standing inflammation, or illnesses. There is evidence to suggest that over exposure to UV light can also be a cause.

What are the symptoms?
Common symptoms may include the following:

• Blurred or hazy vision
• Colours not so distinctive
• Sensitivity to light
• Change in prescription, resulting in new spectacles being required
• Poor night vision
• A ‘halo’effect round lights

How do we treat Cataracts?

In the early stages of cataract, even a change of prescription can help, but as the symptoms and cataract progress then the most common form of treatment is surgery.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common types of surgery and is usually performed under a local anaesthetic without the need for an overnight stay.
The surgery involves the eye’s natural lens being replaced with a plastic intra ocular lens implant (IOL).
Usually 2-3 weeks after surgery your optometrist will examine your eyes and new spectacles will be needed after you have been given your final check-up at the hospital.

Michael Offord is an Independant Optometirst practice in Newcastle. If you would like to discuss this in more detail get in touch or leave us a comment.

Michael.