Comprehensive eye exam include:

• Determining refractive values for distance and/or near vision correction
• Colour vision testing
• Basic visual field screening
• Glaucoma screening
• Basic eye health screening

OCT is the latest technology imaging of the eye that takes pictures and also produces a scan of the retina. This is done with a special camera that takes high-resolution pictures of the retina.

Child Vision Care
Testing children for visually-related reading and learning problems, requires a more detailed examination that is more intensive and needs more time. Eye focus, eye movement, as well as visual perception are assessed in detail. Visual therapy and/or spectacles are prescribed where necessary.

*Variety of frames AND Sunglasses from R720

Lens Materials: 

In general lens materials can be divided into glass and plastic lenses. The word plastic is misleading, as the material that these lenses are made of is in fact highly specialised, optical quality polymer that produces outstanding image quality. Although glass is more scratch resistant than plastic, it is almost double the weight and less impact resistant than plastic.

Plastic lenses are therefore more comfortable to wear due to the reduced weight and also do not break as easily when dropped. Protective coatings are applied to plastic lenses to make them more durable. Some top-quality coatings on plastic lenses offer almost 90% of the scratch resistance of glass materials. We prefer using plastic lenses for both the comfort, as well as the safety aspect.

Lens Design:

Lens designs can be classified under single vision or multi-purpose lenses. A single vision lens can only be used for a fixed distance, for example reading lenses that can only focus at a set reading distance, but causes distance images to blur. Multi-purpose lenses however, have more than one focal strength.

The traditional bifocal lens that shows a distinctive line in the lens is nowadays used in limited numbers. The top of the lens is set for distance vision, while the lower insert on the lens is set for reading work. Multi-focal lenses on the other hand, show no dividing line and have a gradual increase in focal power from the top (distance vision) to the middle (intermediate vision) and down to the bottom (reading vision).

Modern digital technology has revolutionised multi-focal lenses and has made it the lens of choice. It is not only more versatile than single or bifocal lenses, but also aesthetically more appealing. The top of the range multi-focal lenses are individually designed taking into consideration the fit of the chosen frame, as well as the lifestyle requirements of the individual. This optimises image quality and visual comfort for the wearer. We use the award winning Hoya iD Mystyle lens for this purpose, and with great success. However, there is a wide range of other multi-focal lenses on the market that offer good vision at a reasonable price and we strive to offer the perfect combination of value and vision for every client.

Office Lenses:

Because reading spectacles can only focus at a set distance, they are often very impractical in general office environments. Lens designers have created lenses to cater for the specific demands of office workers by having the top of the lens focus at an intermediate distance (mostly between two metres and four metres) and the bottom of the lens at the reading distance. These lenses afford the wearer far more flexibility by allowing the wearer to address fellow workers further than reading distance without having to take the spectacles off. The reading area in the lens is typically wider than that of the multi-focal lens.

Lens Treatments:

Lens treatments not only enhance the durability of the lenses, but also enhance the image quality. Glass lenses can be either heat hardened or chemically hardened to decrease the chances of breakage and to change the fracture characteristics of the material in the event of breakage.

Plastic lenses are resin coated to improve scratch resistance. This treatment comes highly recommended as uncoated plastic lenses scratch easily. Anti-reflective coatings are specialised metal vapour applications to lens surfaces that minimises the reflection of the lens surface. Image quality is greatly enhanced as less light is lost through reflection off each lens’s surface and disturbing surface reflections are minimised.

Top-quality, anti-reflective coatings are also hydrophobic, as well as anti-static and repels water and surface dirt. We use the High Vision Long Life (HVLL) coating, by Hoya, that offers extreme scratch resistance combined with outstanding image quality. Fixed tinting of spectacle lenses is possible, but is mostly applied to plastic lenses. Very light tinting often softens bright light exposure that causes eye strain like computer terminals or fluorescent lighting, while not affecting general vision. Darker tints are used for sunglasses and blocks bright light. Polarised filters can also be added to sunglasses and eliminates surface glare and secondary reflections off surfaces. This provides the wearer with very comfortable vision under bright light conditions and comes highly recommended.

Photochromatic lenses change colour according to exposure to ultraviolet light. Because this wavelength of light is mostly absent indoors, these lenses are clear indoors. However, outdoors the lenses will darken to provide protection and comfort against bright light. Plastic lenses have advanced in the recent past and today offer more effective colour changing abilities as compared to the old glass lenses. Locally, grey coloured lenses are most popular, while the brown lenses are preferred in other areas of the globe.

Drive-wear lenses are specifically designed for the person who drives for extended periods of time. This technology incorporates all the best features of standard sunglasses and photochromic lenses. Drive-wear lenses are polarised to eliminate bright surface reflections from the tar surface, but also reflections from the inside of the windscreen and windows of the vehicle. The elimination of these reflections facilitates comfortable vision. Because lighting conditions vary, drive-wear incorporates photochromic technology and the lenses change colour according to the prevailing light intensity. In overcast conditions or during dawn and dusk the lenses take on a yellow-brown colour that enhances contrast vision. While inside the vehicle, bright light conditions cause the lens to change to a rich brown whereas, outside the vehicle the lenses will turn to a deeper brown colour.

Over 550 Frames to choose from! Our wide range of spectacle frames boast well-known brands, such as:

Our range of Kid-Brands:

In most cases soft contact lenses are the lenses of choice. The lenses are very comfortable and this aids in lens adaptation. Most modern soft contact lenses are disposable lenses that are manufactured from a highly specialised silicone compound. The oxygen permeability of these lenses is very high and the cornea is therefore never deprived of much needed oxygen. Monthly disposable lenses are very popular and are worn daily, removed every evening and then disposed of at the end of a month’s wear. Special cleaning solutions are used to store and disinfect the lenses.

Daily disposable lenses are also available and offer excellent comfort and hygiene. It is worn only for a single day and is disposed of at the end of every day. Because of the higher costs involved in daily disposables, these lenses aren’t used as much as the monthly disposable lenses. It is, however, very convenient for occasional wear in situations where cleaning solutions and lens cases are cumbersome, like when a person is camping or travelling. Also persons with allergies and sensitivities to preservatives are good candidates for daily disposable lenses.

Hard contact lenses offer fantastic optical quality images. They do, however, require a more specialised fit and are also less comfortable as compared to soft contact lenses. Irregular shaped corneas with high degrees of astigmatism or keratoconus that distort images with spectacles or soft contact lenses will ideally be fitted with these lenses. A small corneal lens was always the lens of choice, but in recent years the popularity of scleral lenses has grown due to advances in lens materials. The scleral lens does not ride on the cornea, but rather on the sclera (white of the eye). Because it vaults the cornea, wearing comfort is greatly increased, while still delivering excellent image quality. People with extremely dry eyes and corneal distortions due to injury or surgery are also good candidates for scleral lens fitting.

Coloured contact lenses are available for those who choose to dress up their eyes with colour. Sample lenses are kept in our practice and can be fitted first in order for a client to assess which colour is most desirable.

Contact lens care is a very important aspect of lens wear. Specialised cleaning and conditioning solutions are used to sterilise and preserve the contact lenses during their lifetime of wear. Only the prescribed cleaning solution should be used at all times, as other fluids like tap water contains many pathogens that can cause infections and even blindness.

• Tear supplement eye drops and gels
• Eye vitamins for protection against macular degeneration
• Omega 3 capsules for the relief of Dry Eye Syndrome, mybomian gland dysfunction and the improvement of general eye health
• Contact lens cleaning solutions and accessories
• Chords and chains to hang spectacles around one’s neck
• Sunglasses
• Spectacle cases
• Stick-on bifocal sections for non-prescription sunglasses

Common eye conditions

• One of the most common eye conditions is Dry Eye Disease. Although it seems trivial, it is in fact a medically recognised, chronic inflammatory condition of the external surface of the eye. Less serious cases only suffer from gritty and burning sensations, but the condition can also escalate to serious scarring and permanent damage of the eye if left untreated. The condition is exacerbated by prolonged exposure to air conditioning and fans, as well as long hours of computer work. Treatment includes artificial tear supplements to replenish the tear layer, eyelid heat bags to treat deficient Mybomian glands, as well as oral Omega 3 tablets to improve tear quality and lower eyelid inflammation.
• The lack of proper eye hygiene often leads to infections, because pathogens are introduced to the eyelid margin and eye lashes. This commonly occurs by eyelid rubbing when pathogens that accumulated on the hands by multi-surface touching are deposited. Special products for eyelid margin cleaning are available on the market.
• Styes and mybomian gland infections are the cause of opportunistic infections of the oil glands in the eyelid margin. Although minor infections are often successfully cured by heat compression of the eyelid with a heat bag combined with an eyelid massage, more serious infections of these structures might need surgical drainage and antibiotic treatment.
• Blepharitis is a common condition of the eyelid margin causing irritated, burning eyes and can also lead to eye infections. Only careful examination with a bio-microscope will reveal its presence and it is therefore often overlooked.
• Allergic conjunctivitis is caused by allergens such as grass, pollen, pet dander and many others. The mucous membrane covering the inside of the eyelids and the white of the eyeball swells up and causes irritation and itching. Although the hallmark sign of acute allergic reactions is severe itching, other milder forms of perennial allergies might only cause burning and discomfort. Very effective eye drops are available for the treatment of this condition.
• Infective conjunctivitis is caused by a myriad of opportunistic organisms like bacteria and viruses. Viral forms that are commonly known as “pink eyes” are very contagious and often needs specialist treatment. Common signs of these conditions are painful, red eyes with a watery secretion that is light sensitive. Bacterial conjunctivitis normally presents with a red, irritated eye with a pussy discharge.
• Proper eye care should start at a young age. Parents are encouraged to have their toddlers tested at the age of three years to eliminate any early conditions that might interfere with the normal visual development of the child. This should be followed up with an eye test at six years before the first school year. Thereafter bi-annual eye tests are recommended. Later in life many age-related conditions need to be identified early on and therefore a test interval of one year is recommended after 50 years of age.