Blue Light May Cost You Your Sight

What you may know about age-related macular degeneration (AMD):

A common eye condition that's the leading cause of vision loss for people age 50 and above. It's a disease that damages the macula, a small spot near the centre of your retina - the fragile tissue needed for central, sharp vision and for seeing objects straight ahead. Research has found that smoking and genetics are high contributing risk factors and now, there is a new focus on blue light and its correlation to AMD.

What is blue light?

Light enters our eyes in various wavelengths along the visible spectrum, containing many colours such as red, green and blue.

Where does blue light come from?

Blue light is everywhere! Sunlight emanates 25 to 30% of it, and the rest comes from items we interact with throughout the day such as TV and computer screens, digital devices (smartphone and tablet screens) and fluorescent LED lighting.

What happens when blue light meets your eyes?

The high frequency wavelength of blue light means it reaches deeper into our eyes, cumulatively damaging the retina over time as our eyes' melanin - natural filters - aren't enough protection against it. That eye strain, blurry vision, dry and irritated eyes and headaches you feel after working on your computer or smartphone for long stretches? That's Computer Vision Syndrome, which has now overtaken Carpal Tunnel Syndrome as the number one computer-related complaint. As we grow older, we lose melanin and usually by age 65, half the protection is gone, which leaves us even more vulnerable to AMD caused by blue light.

Some blue light is good!

Only certain wavelengths of blue light have detrimental effects on the eye - blue-turquoise light is essential for vision and pupillary reflexes. It's also beneficial to general body health and it helps regular our biological clock (circadian rhythm) which controls certain hormonal releases and our sleep cycle.

How do we protect our eyes from blue light?

Our easiest and most comfortable way blue light defense is to wear lenses with special coating that filters out these harmful wavelengths, preventing a great amount from reaching the eyes. The option to add on this anti-blue light coating is available for all ophthalmic lenses from good lens companies, such as Essilor's Crizal Prevencia coating or Hoya's BlueControl. Even if you do not need vision correction, plano (no prescription) lenses with anti-blue light coating can be dispensed by a licensed optician or optometrist with a frame of your choice or simply buy off-the-shelf frames with anti-blue light coating lenses.

Highlight your interest in such lenses to your eye health professional so they can further educate you on the product and may have a demo set for you to try. While the subject of the best protection for your eyes is on your mind, you may also consider getting UV protection coating on ophthalmic lenses, together with the anti-blue light coating.

During AMD Awareness Week from September 5-12, get an AMD screening for just $5 at any of our locations, including our boutique The Eye Site (Parkway Parade #B1-99/100). The screening includes a Visual Acuity test, Amsler Chart reading to detect aberrations in central vision, subjective refraction, and referral to ophthalmologist if necessary. Click for more details!

Through September 30, 2015, we're offering free BlueControl coating with all our free upgrades to premium Hoya LifeStyle progressive lenses. Click for more details!

Written by:

Dr. Dion Koh - Bachelor of Medicine/Bachelor of Surgery, Monash University; Diploma in Optometry, Singapore Polytechnic

With Silhouette Eyewear, You'll See The Lite!

For 51 years, Austrian eyewear designers and makers Silhouette have revolutionised the industry with innovative materials, latest technologies and compelling styles, gracing the faces of Tom Cruise, Cate Blanchett, Patrick Dempsey in Grey's Anatomy, the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra, Queen Elizabeth II and even Barbie, the doll.

Pioneering metallic eyewear with coloured rims in the 1970s, Silhouette frames remain one of the lightest in the universe, constructed with special titaniums and plastics and without the usual cumbersome details of screws and hinges.

As founders Arnold and Aneeliese Schmied have always said - Silhouette remains a privately held family business to this day: "We wanted to make eyewear more than just a visual aid. Our goal was to make it an accessory for seeing better and looking better."

5 Fun Facts: Senior Optician Leslie

Senior Optician Leslie Goh has been a Lens Man for 13 years, and Parkway Parade regulars know that he can solve almost every technically complex eye care issue, from tough vision prescriptions to frame adjustments and repairs. Customers have said they've never had a prescription feel comfortable or completely correct their vision until Leslie worked his magic on them. Get to know the father of two better with these 5 Fun Facts in his very own words!

"I've always had a good memory from young, so I can remember lots of faces and names, although I think not as well as our managing director Peter! It's a different feeling when so many customers also remember me - I feel like I've served them well and done my job."

"There's no standard way to solve service issues with frames - I always innovate and try new and different means to help customers troubleshoot as far as possible. It's all about years of hands-on experience."

"The Lens Men is an ideal environment because it's so family-focused. We use our initiative to get the job done, and there's flexibility to do our best for customers."

"These days, off days are truly rest days but I still play monthly soccer games with old friends."

"I was born with six fingers on my right hand, but my extra finger had to be removed a few years ago because of an infection. Although it's less distracting without it, I'm still a bit sad it's gone. Customers used to identify me with it - 'I'm looking for the guy with the six fingers!'"

Support Local Design! Presenting... Owlet

Most of our independent collections come from artisan eyewear makers in Europe, Japan and the US, so we're extremely proud to present Owlet by Eu Gene, a Singaporean designer who draws from 10 years of expertise and inspiration in the local optical industry. 

Once representing major brands such as Swissflex, Adidas and Masunaga, Eu Gene now focuses on small yet crucial details, workmanship and high quality materials, crowning each of his frames with unique vintage and contemporary touches. 

Knowing that many Asian spectacle wearers face issues with bridge sizings and frame shapes that don't rest well, Eu Gene combines the best looks he's uncovered from his travels with careful attention to fitting and a luxurious comfort. 

We love how Eu Gene combines vintage feels with modern technology in every Owlet frame. Check out these innovative touches:

Just a sample of our Owlet collection, available at our Jem (#01-27) and Compass Point (#02-14) locations.

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Willing Hearts, Shining Eyes

Can you believe that one man single-handedly manages the cooking of almost 5,000 meals a day, which are then distributed all over the country to needy Singaporeans?

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His name is Tony Tan, and since 2005, his Willing Hearts organisation has served 90,000+ meals a month and other support services to the underprivileged and marginalised members of society. Now, in the soup kitchen's new premises in Eunos, Tony is opening up a medical hub providing basic and important health services to all who can't afford these on their own, with clinics for dentistry, traditional Chinese medicine and yes... primary eye care!

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We are so honoured to be running the eye care department of Willing Hearts' medical hub, and proud of our fantastic team of optometrists and opticians who give their time to help us help others. Not only will we provide vision tests (visual acuity and subjective refraction) and eye examinations where necessary, we'll also donate glasses for those who require them. We kicked off our contributions on October 17 with seven patients who urgently needed their eyes checked. 

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And none too soon! Optometrist Shawn Loh detected a congenital ptosis (drooping eyelid) on this nine-year-old patient, whose school sent her to us because she had extreme difficulty seeing in school. After several tests, Shawn diagnosed amblyopia (lazy eye) in both eyes, a rare condition, caused by extremely high dioptre ("high degree," in Singaporean layman terms) and high astigmatism. She has been referred to the Singapore National Eyecare Centre to be treated with visual therapy to improve her visual acuity. We are hoping very hard that this will work as she has already passed the critical age of seven. Another reason why it's imperative for kids to go for eye examinations every year.

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We're continuing to ramp up our eye care community service operations at Willing Hearts, and whole-heartedly thank Tony for letting us be a part of his very deserving organisation. And thanks to all of you for supporting us, which in turn allows us to give back to the community. Stay tuned for more news and if you'd like to find out how you can help, please contact Desiree Koh at desireekoh@thelensmen.com.