U2's Bono, glaucoma and the need for regular eye tests

Bono, the U2 frontman, has revealed that he wears dark glasses all the time because he suffers from glaucoma. The star said he has had the condition - a build-up of pressure in the eyeball, which can damage the optic nerve and lead to blindness if not treated - for around two decades.

Many had assumed his ever-present sunglasses - even indoors - were a rock star affectation, but he explained during a recording of the Graham Norton Show for BBC One that they are to help with his vision problem.

Presenter Norton asked whether or not the singer ever removes his shades, to which Bono replied: "This is a good place to explain to people that I've had glaucoma for the last 20 years.

"I have good treatments and I am going to be fine."

He added: "You're not going to get this out of your head now and you will be saying 'Ah, poor old blind Bono'."

Glaucoma can make the eyes more sensitive to light, causing sufferers to use dark glasses to alleviate difficulties.  It is more usual in people whose parents have had it and those deemed 'at risk' are given free eye tests every year after the age of 40.

However, as Bono himself has demonstrated, the condition can occur much earlier than people expect (even in the 20's).  More worrying, there are no physical indications such as pain or discomfort.  Usually the only way of knowing you have it is to have an eye test...or when the condition itself starts robbing you of your eyesight.

If caught early, the condition can be easily treated with regular eye drops.  However, once progressed the damage caused can not be repaired and blindness can result.

Why we do 30 minute eye tests

Many first-time customers of Specs2U are surprised at how thorough and detailed our eye tests are - and also the length of time they take to complete.  We have 30 minute eye tests (often some opticians have 10-15 minute eye tests).  It is no surprise that most people say it is the best eye test they've ever had. Our view is that an eye test should not be rushed.  It is important to spend time getting the test right and ensuring that everything we need to look at is done in-depth and correctly.

One way to look at it is like an MOT for your eyes.  Its important, should be done regularly and by a qualified and experienced person.  If your garage told you they'd done your car's MOT in under 10 minutes would you think that they'd done a really good job?  Or that they'd checked everything thoroughly? We feel the same way about an eye test.

Which is why Specs2U will continue to provide full half-hour eye tests for our customers.

An arrow to the eye!

A referral today from one of our customers was to recommend a friend of theirs to come and see us for an eye test. They had suffered a very serious eye injury.  The person is involved in historical reenactments and had to have eye surgery after literally taking an arrow in the eye.  Although blunt, the arrow still penetrated the eye sufficiently to damage the lens which has had to be replaced.

The person involved has to wait another 4 weeks to allow the healing process to finish before having the eye test - and will have a radically different prescription as a result.

We'll find out when he does come in if he was on the Saxon or Norman side.

Blueshield coating makes PC use easier

A new addition to the Specs2U specialist coatings is the Blueshield.  Computers, mobile phones and tablets all emit 'blue light'  Too much exposure to this type of light can cause eye strain, fatigue and can even disrupt your sleep. Blueshield coatings have been developed to block this harmful light and therefore reduce eye strain and fatigue.

If someone you know works on a computer for a considerable amount of time - especially if they complain about eye strain, fatigue or tiredness at work - then tell them to give Specs2U a call.

Specs2U Warrington has moved!

We've moved our Warrington branch to join with our Widnes branch! Any queries from previous Warrington patients about their glasses, prescription, MOT or next eye test should be directed there. The same services will be available to you in Widnes as they were in Warrington, and you'll still see Hannah and I there every day. Our shop in Widnes is located at Unit 7 St Michael's Industrial Estate, Oldgate, Widnes, WA8 8TL, and the phone number is 0151 420 0007. We're still open from 9AM to 5PM, Monday to Saturday. By moving the branch to Widnes, we can provide our patients with an even better level of service, including direct access to our lens laboratory, faster turnaround of new glasses and more available testing days.

We apologise for any inconvenience this will cause, but hopefully you’ll soon see the benefits of our move.

I hope to see you at Specs2U Widnes!

Claire

An eye test testimonial

Met a man called Doug last night. Finding out that I work for Specs2U he said that he and his wife had been for an eye test at Specs2U and he told me it was the most thorough and detailed eye test he'd ever had. Considering Doug has worn glasses all his life and is over 50, that means he's had a lot of eye tests in his life. So to say ours was the best he's had is some compliment.

He also told me that his glasses were turned around in just a few days (they bought 4 pairs between them) and that he was really happy with everything we'd done git them. He's already recommended us to people he knows.

It is nice to get these unsolicited comments from our customers - and shows that what we say we do we aim to deliver.

Happy customers at Specs2U

We recently did a new pair of glasses for a lovely lady who unfortunately had a stroke and relies very much on her glasses to read the paper, do crosswords and the like. She was struggling with her old glasses (from another opticians) as the reading area on her bifocals was quite small. We gave her much larger round segment bifocals and upgraded her distance as well (especially so she can see the TV better). She wasn't even wearing her old glasses when she came in. We put the new ones on and immediately her face lit up! She smiled as she looked around the room - and continued smiling as we tried the reading chart. She could read a much smaller typeface than before and found reading much easier. She was delighted and - significantly - insisted on wearing them straight away.

Incidents like this really help us feel we're helping people out. 

The best varifocals ever

Not our words - but those of a recent customer of ours at Ellesmere Port branch. Having worn varifocals for many years, she'd struggled with many different pairs (and opticians). But as soon as she put on a pair of our Premium varifocals (in a Lipsy frame) she was delighted to find they suited her perfectly.

Its time for sunglasses!

We haven't seen much of it recently but sunshine seems to be making a comeback. Forget snowdrops and buds on the tree - the first sign of spring seems to be sunglasses making an appearance.

Driving a car, walking to the shops, taking the dog for a walk...all of a sudden the sun seems to be in your eyes all the time.

Our range of sun protection lenses is wide and varied to meet all eventualities. We offer Transitions photochromic lenses - some of which stay dark behind the windscreen of the car (most photochromic lenses don't, by the way). Or UV protected tints and lenses to turn virtually any frame into a pair of sunglasses.

We also provide polarised lenses and mirrored lenses (if that's your preference).

All can be made to your prescription and to your specification (including distance glasses, reading glasses for the beach, bifocal and varifocal sunglasses....).

So if the sun is starting to get in your eyes, then give us a call.

Not being pushy is the best policy

A customer came into the Ellesmere Port branch the other day. He'd had an eye test in October last year and been told that although his prescription hadn't changed much he could benefit from new varifocal glasses and sunglasses. He decided not to buy them at the time but after seeing our advert in the paper he thought he'd try us out After around 15 minutes discussion he left having only ordered his sunglasses.

Did we disappoint him in some way? Not at all. We had a long talk about his glasses, how he uses them and what he needs them for - and what his priorities were.

He was quite happy with his existing pair of varifocals and he thought they could last him the 6 months until his next eye test. But he needed the sunglasses for his holiday in June (and was also finding driving difficult now that the sun has finally made an appearance).

Other opticians may have been pushy with him - insisting on having both pairs there and then. But we try to do things differently. By spending more time discussing the customer's needs we can better assess how best to look after them.

So we're making his sunglasses now - and he's coming back in October to sort out his varifocals. He told us that he found our 'non-pushy' approach quite refreshing and would also recommend us as a result.

So while we may have (temporarily) missed out on one sale, what we have hopefully gained is a happy customer for life.

So not being pushy is - for Specs2U - the best policy.

Is it time to get your eyes tested?

Its got to be said that most of us, despite best intentions, put off doing things.... Clearing out the loft? Starting a diet for the New Year? Cleaning the car?

You can see the loft needs tidying, that you are slightly overweight or that your cars dirty. I'd like to say its the same for your the health of your eyes. The bad news it isn't!

Most people will notice the vision going worse because their arms aren't long enough or squinting at night to see road signs. That's only part of the story though. Many eye diseases either effect your vision very slowly (and the brain adapts= no symptoms) and others, in particular chronic Glaucoma, have no symptoms until a large part of the vision is affected.

Glaucoma affects 2% of people over the age 40 in the UK.  In many cases the first time they find out is during a routine eye test.

As part of our Specs2U brand we make sure that customers are given as long as is needed in an eye examination. We will check vision, health, discuss your visual needs  and of course screen you for Glaucoma.

We'd love to see you at Specs2U, but if you can't make it then please support your local optician.

For further information on eye health please visit www.eyecaretrust.org.uk