We offer expert advice on common vision-related questions…
Q. I have colourless blobs and lines moving around in my vision. They tend to follow my eye’s movement, but I can’t focus on them. Should I be worried?
A. What you’re seeing are known as floaters or spots. Millions of people have them, and they’re largely harmless. Our eyeballs are filled with a thick vitreous gel. Thinner strands of gel detach from the retina and float harmlessly around, responding to movement but continuing to drift after your eye stops moving. They’re most noticeable in bright conditions, however, if you notice a sudden increase in floaters, seek advice as soon as possible.
Q. I bought a pair of sunglasses on holiday, but I get headaches when I wear them on sunny days. Is there something wrong with them?
A. The sunglasses in our practice are sold with in-built protection against the ultraviolet light that can damage the sensitive corneas, lenses and retinas in our eyes. However, both cheap or imitation sunglasses probably won’t have much UV protection to filter out these harmful rays. All our lenses are to a full optical standard, so even our non-prescription sunglasses have the same high-quality lenses as our prescription lenses. We’d always recommend avoiding sunglasses bought from overseas markets, even if they’re authentic-looking and temptingly priced…
Q. I’ve just started a new job that involves lots of driving. I wear contact lenses, but do I need to change how I wear or look after them?
A. The simple answer is no. Today’s contact lenses are extremely comfortable and practical, and more of our patients are choosing to wear them throughout the day as an alternative to glasses. If you’re going to be behind the wheel for long periods, we can recommend some lubricating eye drops to use with your contact lenses, which you can keep in your glovebox. Take regular breaks from driving, and try to focus on objects at different distances for a few minutes. Finally, speak to us about investing in a pair of good sunglasses, to reduce the discomfort of low sun or glare on wet roads.