Driving at night can be an issue for many drivers especially during the winter months. The days are shorter and nights longer. It's no wonder that many of us lack confidence when it comes to driving at night.

Many of us struggle to drive at night because of one simple reason.... lights. They can come from all directions - headlights, traffic lights and all of these can cause discomfort and lower your ability to focus properly causing glare
As we age, our eyes can take abit longer to react to the changes in the light and glare can play an important part in our road safety at night.
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Driving at night needn't be a chore or something you dread doing. With a few simple steps you can become a more confident driver in no time. 

• Get your eyes tested. Really, we should be getting our eyes tested once every 2 years (more often if you have had problems with your sight in the past). This ensures that we have the correct prescription for our lenses and we feel more confident on the road.
• Ensure you have what you need before you start your journey. Get everything together and organise yourself for the journey ahead. That way you aren't distracted whilst driving.
• Keep to well lit roads/main roads. 
• Make sure your windscreen is clean from dirt or debris. Reflections (both inside and outside of your windscreen) can be a hazard. Ensure you have enough screen wash and that the inside of your window is smear free.
• Invest in night time driving glasses. There are special glasses that you can purchase that really do help with reducing glare from headlights. They are called fitovers are they fit over your current glasses and the name of the brand that we recommend are called Cocoons. The Twilight lens system blocks 100% of harmful UV light and 60% or more of harmful High Energy Visible (HEV) blue light while providing 93% overall visible light transmission. The unique filtering properties of these HEV filters effectively reduce scattered blue light and improve contrast without compromising overall light transmission. The lens system is protected by a one-year scratch resistance warranty and includes an anti-reflective coating to minimize glare and halos created by artificial light sources.
  

​As the UK Supplier of Cocoons, Associated Optical are on hand to answer any questions that you have prior or after purchasing them.
We hope this post helps you. If it has or if you have any questions, please leave a comment below and we will do our best to respond.

Types of Glaucoma
Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG).

• This is the most common form of Glaucoma and is most associated with those who are older.

 
Secondary Glaucoma.

• Secondary Glaucoma can occur as a side effect of certain medications or an eye injury.

Normal Tension Glaucoma

• Some patients may present eye pressure as being in the normal range but can still be diagnosed with Normal Tension Glaucoma.

Acute Angle Closure Glaucoma

• Commonly known as Closed Angle Glaucoma, this is where the eye pressure rises suddenly and can damage the Optic Nerve.

Congenital Glaucoma

• This is also known as childhood Glaucoma and is present from birth.

Who is at risk from Glaucoma?
Anyone can get Glaucoma and if detected early enough, damage from Glaucoma can be prevented
Age is a factor in diagnosing Glaucoma. It is most common in adults over the age of 70.
Research also shows that Ethnicity can  play a part in who may contract certain types of Glaucoma.
 
Spotting the signs of Glaucoma
Usually Glaucoma occurs slowly and unfortunately the symptoms aren’t always noticeable until some damage to the eyes has occurred.
Having said that, some symptoms are noticeable to patients for example someone may experience blurred vision or eye pain.
Other symptoms can include:

• Blurred or reduced vision
• When looking at bright lights, seeing rings around them
• Sudden, intense eye pain. (may also be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, headaches)
• Red eye

Getting a diagnosis
We always suggest going to see an Optician or Optometrist regularly for your routine appointments as Glaucoma is usually diagnosed following an eye test.
When having an eye test, your Optician/Optometrist may well suggest having an eye pressure test. This is where they examine the front part of the eye. During this test, they will see whether there’s any issues with fluid drainage.
During your eye test, you will also have a visual field test to see if there’s any loss of your peripheral vision
If the professional performing your eye test does suspect Glaucoma, then they will refer you to a specialist for further treatment and diagnosis.
Treatment for Glaucoma
The following treatments are available for treating Glaucoma
 

• Eye drops – The eye drops recommended to the patient will improve any fluid damage
• Laser eye treatment – This is a small procedure completed under local anaesthetic to help lower the patients eye pressure.
• Trabeculectomy. This is a surgical procedure. It’s not as commonly used and a specialist will create a new channel within the eye to help improve fluid drainage.

 

​A fitover is designed to be worn over your prescription glasses. Designed for the spectacle wearer, the fitover allows full protection from UV without the need to purchase prescription sunglasses. That said, many consumers that purchase Rx sunglasses also buy a pair of fitovers as a spare pair. Fitovers are particularly useful for driving and sporting activities. 

​Side-shields are such an important element to the performance and level of protection given by fitover sunglasses. Without side-shields, or full wrap lenses you are sacrificing side protection.  In fact you could be exposing the eyes to UV and glare. Cocoons feature patented frame designs to feature large side-shields designed to provide maximum protection & exceptional peripheral vision.

​Another factor to consider is comfort, without a good fit, fitovers will become uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time. Cocoons feature adjustable temples called Flex2Fit. Once positioned the temple remains in a fixed position. It will only move if it is intentionally adjusted. This helps the fitovers to remain comfortable & secure making it a perfect fit for you!

​A fitover is designed to be worn over prescription glasses. A professional grade fitover will seal off incoming light from above, the peripheral and below the prescription glasses.

Up to 70% of light that reaches the eyes can be reflected off surfaces below the eye-line. If light is allowed to penetrate from below the prescription glasses, it severely diminishes the performance of the fitovers.

​Many fitover frame designs don’t feature underside protection.

The performance and quality of the lens is centrepiece to any sunglass that is designed to be worn over prescription eye wear. Utilisation of an inferior lens material can adversely affect the performance of the patient’s prescription lenses.
Cocoons feature Polaré polarized lenses. The Polaré lens is the highest quality polarized lens available in any OveRx sunglass, including every known competitive product. Live Eyewear is aware that certain competitors may make unsubstantiated claims as to the quality, material and optical performance of their lenses. These claims infer that competitive lenses are the same quality as the Polaré lens. Live Eyewear invests heavily in research and development to insure that we continue to provide our customers with the best lenses available in the world. ICS Laboratories was commissioned by Live Eyewear to test and provide an independent evaluation of Cellulose Acetate (CAB) lenses and the Polaré lens (TAC). All Fitovers Eyewear polarized sunglasses utilize CAB lenses. Test results show the Polaré lens is vastly superior to the competitive lens in strength, scratch resistance, and most importantly, optical performance. It is imperative to Live Eyewear that a lens intended to be worn over prescription eyewear does not adversely affect the performance of the prescription eyewear. Thus, the sunglass lens must be free of distortion, stable and strong enough not to deteriorate during regular usage. A full copy of the ICS report is available upon request.
A simple test you can perform by yourself is to apply a small amount of pressure to the centre of any competitors lens with your thumb. The reaction of the CAB lens is identical to lenses found in mass market, drug store and non-optical retail environments. Live Eyewear does not consider such a lens to have sufficient quality for dispensing by the eyecare professional.

​Sadly, it is thought that about 80% of fitovers are purchased in retail locations such as supermarkets. This unfortunately means that they can be ill-fitting and uncomfortable for the user. Resulting in the user not being able to wear them so off in the drawer they go never to be used again. It is important that you choose the right fit for your glasses.
If you type fitovers into a google search, you’ll see a lot of discounted brands. However, just because a fitover is cheap, it doesn’t mean it is necessarily right for you. 

​Cocoons are available only from professional retailers. This means that when you go to purchase a pair of cocoons, your eye professional will spend time with you going through your requirements and will explain the benefits of Cocoons and how to best use them. They will also be able to tell you the correct size needed to fit perfectly with your prescription glasses meaning you will get the best fit.
Not only will you benefit from this personalised service but Cocoons come with a 1 year scratch resistance warranty and the durable frames are guaranteed for life!
Cocoon Fitovers eliminate up to 70% more light by blocking reflected surface glare and UV. Helping to protect your eyes from direct and indirect sunlight.

Associated optical has distributors in optical practices all across the country. Please contact us for details of your nearest retailer.

A recent study has shown that half of regular drivers are finding that dazzling headlights are affecting their ability to drive safely.
This is because of glare from bright headlights. In fact 91% said that they find car headlights too bright when driving on our roads. A lot of drivers don't realise that their own headlights cause issues for other drivers and that there are steps we can all take in order to help other road users.
For example: Drivers don't realise that they can alter their headlights (up or down) depending on the car carrying different loads and majority of road users keep their headlights in the same position no matter the journey they are making. This is an issue that causes problems for other road users yet is a simple and effective way of doing our bit.


Are you finding glare a problem when driving at night time? If you are, then we recommend the Twilight Cocoon glasses from www.associatedoptical.com 

Similarly, the sun rays are also a big issue with many drivers. Some drivers find that they are unable to drive confidently without the use of sunglasses due to the suns glare.
We recommend a product called Cocoons to help with this issue.

Designed especially with day time driving in mind, the Cocoons eyewear offer a lifetime warranty and  offer UV400 Protection. Their lenses are scratch resistant and customers have found these glasses to be helpful not only with driving but when out and about due to their discrete design.

 Have you noticed that you can't focus on a book or magazine like you used to? maybe the words or images are looking a little blurry or out of focus and you need to hold your book out at arms length in order to read what's on the pages?
If that sounds familiar, then you may be showing symptoms of presbyopia.
Although it's a complicated sounding word, there's nothing to worry about as it's a natural part of ageing.
It occurs when the crystaline lens in your eyes becomes harder & this in turn means your ability to focus on near objects becomes harder for you. This usually happens in our 40's and is a gradual decline - even more reason for us to make regular appointments to see the optician! 

As mentioned earlier, it's important you visit your optician. A simple eye test will let you know if your prescription has changed and appointments usually only take 30 minutes or so.
It is also important that you have the right lighting for the tasks you are doing. We have a range of LED lamps and lighting that can help. 
Don't go for the easy option of buying glasses that can be bought without knowing your prescription. Although these are a cheap option, it's important that you get your eyes checked out to ensure you are wearing the right prescription.

Podcasts are extremely popular right now. There's no better way than spending some time on a sunday afternoon listening away to your favourite podcast and spending some time relaxing.
Seeing as they're so popular, we thought we'd check some podcasts that are related to sight and in particular Visual Impairment to see which ones we could recommend for you.
If you have or know of a podcast that isn't on the list, please let us know about it in the comments at the end of this article. 

At the time of writing this post, there hadn't been any updated podcasts but there are more than enough episodes to get you going with this podcast specially designed for the blind and visually impaired.
Learn more and listen here 

This is a podcast that is set like a radio show. It lasts about 30 minutes each week and focuses on topics ranging from general interest to visual impairment
Learn more and listen here

This podcast focuses on how guide dogs are raised and trained. With insights focusing on the work of guide dogs and their owners, this is a really good podcast if you are getting a guide dog or looking into becoming a trainer of one.
Learn more and listen here

A good, well rounded health podcast focusing on topics such as your health to easy to cook recipes. 
As well as interviews with others 
Learn more and listen here

More so now than ever before, we are finding ourselves glued to several screens per day. The work computer, our phones even the television at home, we spend alot of our day in front of some sort of screen.
This is causing many people to suffer from screen fatigue but not really recognising that they may well have it. How do you recognise the signs of screen fatigue? and what can you do about it? read on and make a few simple changes to help your eye health today.

If you've been following us, you'll know that in November Nick, Ian and Stuart are cycling around Costa Rica on behalf of heart UK.

The guys are already working hard on their training. In fact, just 2 weeks ago they managed to complete a 20 mile training session when they all met up for a meeting.

Nick has been working so hard to raise extra funds to help support HeartUK. Recently, Nick and his friends from a band he is part of raised £550 at a charity concert to help support the Costa Rica cycle ride.
We want to say thank you to everyone who attended the concert, to Nick and his friends for all of their hard work and to everyone who has so far donated towards the trip.

Stuart, Ian and Nick are regularly meeting up in their spare time to put more practice in to their training and we're so excited for them .

If you'd like to donate, you can do so HERE

So if you haven't already, please make sure you like our facebook page   
You can also follow our updated over on twitter 
If you'd like to learn more about the amazing work HEARTUK do, please visit their website here

We are only too aware of the damage the sun can do to our skin if we leave it unprotected. Sun burn and skin cancer are just some of the damaging effects from UV rays. However, have you ever thought about the damage UV can do to your eyes if not adequately protected?

The month of May is UV awareness month and with that in mind, here at Associated Optical, we wanted to talk about UV protection and how you can help keep your eyes healthy.

Protecting your eyes from the glare of the sun isn't important just to stop them watering or from you squinting to see, it can also help protect your eyes from long lasting future damage.
Sadly, a lot of people buy cheap sunglasses thinking that they will give us adequate protection. However, this isn't always the case. If sunglasses don't have adequate UV protection, they can trick the eye into thinking it's dark outside. Therefore, the pupil will dilate to allow more light into the eye and that can cause more UV to get into the eye than it normally would.

Even on cloudy days, we should wear adequate eye protection but you should be more aware of protecting your eyes from damage if you...

• Work outside (between 10-3 when the sun is at its strongest)
• Drive long distances without eye protection
• Have lighter coloured eyes
• Have a family history of eye issues (including cancers of the eye)
• Suffer from watery eyes which can cause you to strain your eyes
• Work with water, snow and sand without eye protection

Sadly, our eyes can easily get neglected. In order to maintain good eye health we recommend you:

• Maintain regular eye examinations - Unless you have a known history of eye issues, every 18 months to 2 years should be adequate. If you are over the age of 60, we recommend an eye test every 12 months.
• When outside, ensure you wear sunglasses to protect your eyes and wear a hat for added protection from above
• Ensure your sunglasses offer full protection from UV rays. Your sunglasses should block 99%-100% UV radiation.
• Don't forget little ones. Ensure they carry their sunglasses everywhere with them too and that their sunglasses offer full protection for their eyes.

Some people call them dedicated, some people call them crazy but Ian, Nick and Stuart from Associated Optical love a challenge and when Stuart - Sales Director at Associated Optical saw a charity bike ride being advertised by HEARTUK, he just knew it was the opportunity of a lifetime.

Stuart put the idea to Ian & Nick (Area Sales Managers at Associated Optical) that they should all sign up for the ride and now 6 months on, training has begun!