How to prevent eye infections

As the second most complex organ in the human body after the brain, our eyes are a remarkable feat of nature. However, they’re prone to infections caused by viruses, bacteria or spores. These tend to be transmitted by other infected people, just like colds and flu, and they could affect almost any part of the eye.

Eye infection symptoms vary, but common warning signs include blurred vision and discharge, pain and discomfort, red eyes and swollen eyelids. Following these simple steps should minimise the risk of an eye infection developing:

• Wear goggles in swimming pools, to prevent bacteria washing into your eyes. Prescription goggles are advisable instead of contact lenses.

• Wash your hands before handling contact lenses, to ensure germs can’t come into contact with your eyes.

• Always remove make-up before bed, to prevent it drying out and trapping bacteria. A good night’s sleep also helps the eyes to rest and recuperate.

• Stay hydrated. If your body can’t produce enough tears, it’ll struggle to moisten the eye’s surface to wash away contaminants.

• Fruits and vegetables supply our eyes with nutrients and vitamins vital for resisting infections, as do nuts, seeds and dairy produce.

Our optometrists are better placed than pharmacists/GPs to identify conditions like conjunctivitis, a stye or blepharitis. We can also recommend to you any effective treatments.

If you notice any possible signs of an eye infection, call us immediately for advice and to make an appointment

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Long-term outlook

Newborn babies have eyes which are already two thirds of their full adult size, and they can track and identify colours by six months of age. The pace of development slows down at this point, although our eyes continue to evolve as we grow up and get older.

As the eye grows it can often develop myopia (shortsightedness). Presbyopia naturally happens to all of us once we’re in middle-age, as the lens in each eye becomes less elastic, making it less able to focus on near-distance objects. This may be a good time to consider varifocal lenses, though there’s no lower age limit for varifocals.

Our team will explain all options which would work best for your unique prescription, and we’ll also be able to discuss options in response to emerging conditions like cataracts, such as photochromic lenses which will darken in sunny conditions.

The ageing process can often lead to minor issues like increased dryness, which can easily be offset with eye drops. Regardless of how your eyes develop over time, we are happy to recommend solutions – in every sense!

Regular eye tests
are vital to monitor vision levels and ensure overall eye health is kept at an optimum level

Perfect partnership

As well as choosing glasses to complement your facial features and match your budget, an optimal pair of spectacles features frames and lenses that suit each other. The ideal combination depends on your sight levels, prescription strength and peripheral vision requirements – there’s lots to think about...

Stronger prescriptions require thicker lenses, which could rule out slender, frameless or semi-frameless spectacles. We can thin lenses down, but they will still be thicker in the centre or at the edges depending on prescription. For higher myopic prescription strengths, we recommend chunkier frames, that help disguise thicker lens edges. Always ensure your eyes are near the centre of the lenses when trying on frames and check if they feel comfortable. Do they sit nicely and complement your facial shape, skin tone and eye colour?

Bigger frames with larger lenses allow you to see a wider picture. That’s important if you need good peripheral vision for sporting or leisure activities, and larger lenses offer superior UV protection too. When choosing photochromic or tinted lenses, make sure the frame colour complements the lenses at their darkest.

Our team can offer advice about perfectly paired lenses and frames, giving you the time and information needed to make the right choices.

Key eye terms explained

Our friendly staff will always explain eyecare procedures and services to you in the clearest possible terms. However, eyecare is still a science, and these are some of the technical terms you might come across:

Ocular. A nice easy one to start – ocular simply means related to your eyes!

Optometrist. A medically qualified professional who is trained to test for, diagnose and treat vision problems and eye-related health conditions.

Snellen chart. A chart containing rows of letters in descending size from top to bottom, developed by a 19th century Dutch professor.

Acuity. This is the term for how sharp or clear your vision is. Optimal sight is often known as 20/20 vision.

20/20 vision. If you can clearly read a Snellen chart from 20 feet away, you benefit from having 20/20 vision.

Myopia. Also known as shortsightedness (or nearsightedness), myopia describes a condition where the eye struggles to focus on distant objects.

Astigmatism. An eyeball is usually spherical, but sometimes it’s shaped more like a rugby ball. A third of people have significant astigmatism.

Prescription. A written record of the power needed to correct your sight and muscle balance between your eyes.

Retina. A layer of nerves lining the back of the eye, where light signals are detected and passed to the brain.

Peripheral vision relates to anything outside your central point of focus such as movement, colours & shapes