Many people who wear multifocal glasses or only require glasses for reading, often don’t realise that they could be wearing contact lenses.

Just like multifocal glasses, multifocal contact lenses are designed to give you clear vision at all distances. If you find your multifocal glasses annoying or hard to adjust to, if you work in a job where you need to see clearly but your glasses get knocked around and scratched, or perhaps sometimes you would just like to take a little break from your multifocal or reading glasses while you socialise or play sport, then you may want to consider trying multifocal contact lenses.

There are various designs of multifocal contact lenses to suit your lifestyle and vision needs. While some emphasise near vision with a boost for distance, others emphasise distance vision with a boost for near. There is no distortion or motion sickness feeling that you might experience with multifocal glasses, particular early on.

In terms of getting used to multifocal contact lenses, your relationship with your contact lenses is a little like a burgeoning friendship. You might not initially love them, but with time as you adapt to them and understand how they work you will start to build trust with the multifocal contact lenses, enjoy their company with clear vision at most distances, and likely develop a good friendship over time. This can sometimes take several weeks so don’t give up and quit the game too early! Maybe you have been unsuccessful with contact lenses in the past because they were uncomfortable, however like most things, the technology of contact lenses is always improving, and today’s lenses are much more comfortable than in the past.

You are never too old to wear or try contact lenses. Patients have become happy multifocal contact lens wearers in their 70s. There is no cost involved in trialling contact lenses at Hansen Optometrists Parkes. If you would like to give it a try, book in today and become part of the growing number of happy multifocal contact lens wearers.

We have all heard the adage that carrots are good for our eyes but why is that exactly and what other foods can improve the health of our eyes?

Carrots are high in beta carotene that our bodies can convert to vitamin A which is important for the light detecting cells of our retina.

Other important nutrients for our eyes are the antioxidants Lutein and Zeaxanthin which naturally occur in our retina as well as Vitamin C, Vitamin E and Zinc. These antioxidants may help protect against free radical damage in diseases like age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataracts.

You will be able to get a good supply all of these in your diet if you incorporate dark green vegetables like spinach, kale, broccoli and peas; bright coloured vegetables like corn, capsicum, sweet potato, squash; fruits like oranges, grapes, kiwifruit and berries and healthy nuts and seeds like almonds, sunflower seeds and peanut butter. Finally, red meat, whole grains, baked beans and eggs will assist with getting your zinc quota.

Omega 3 fatty acids have shown in some studies to help with dry eyes. This may be because omega 3 fatty acids decrease inflammation and improve the makeup of our tears. If you suffer with dry eye disease, try to incorporate non fried, cold water fatty fish like salmon, tuna or sardines two to four times per week. Choosing grass fed over grain fed meat sources will also increase omega 3 intake.

Good nutrition at all ages is important for overall health and wellbeing including that of our eyes. Come in and see one of our optometrists if you have any concerns about your eye health. Contact us at Eyecare Plus Parkes, 267A Clarinda Street or call us on 6863 5577.

A rural generalist surgical clinic has been re-established at Parkes Hospital and is run by Dr Angus Brown.

A rural generalist surgical clinic has been re-established at Parkes Hospital that will improve access to high quality surgical care for communities across the Lachlan Valley. 

The reinvigorated clinic is being delivered by Dr Angus Brown, a rural generalist with advanced skills in general surgery, endoscopy and emergency medicine, and offers pre and post-operative care for a range of procedures. 

“Through the rural generalist surgical clinic, Dr Brown provides public consultations throughout the surgical process to help patients understand their procedures and coordinate any care required afterward too,” said Professor Damien Limberger, Acting Clinical Director of Lachlan Health Service. 

“Dr Brown has been providing services to the region for over a year. The reinvigorated clinic continues the work of local GP surgeon Dr Stephen Morris following his retirement.” 

Rach Ellem, Health Service Manager of Lachlan Health Service, which includes Parkes and Forbes Hospitals, said the clinic currently operated only at Parkes Hospital on Tuesdays once per month, but there was scope to expand. 

Contact the rural generalist surgical clinic on 68612455 or WNSWLHD-Admissions@health.nsw.gov.au 

Students and staff at Parkes Hospital.

The Parkes Hospital played host to a group of health-focused students from regional areas in support of their studies. 

Seven students across a range of disciplines, including medicine, nursing and allied health, from Charles Sturt University and the University of Wollongong, and two work experience students from Parkes High School who focused on physiotherapy, gained valuable insight from experienced clinicians during their visit. 

Rach Ellem, Health Service Manager of Lachlan Health Service, said it was exciting to support the development of students in a local healthcare environment with practical knowledge and skills. 

“It’s incredibly important that we continue to provide these learning opportunities for students to support their growth and showcase how rewarding it can be to work in a regional area.” 

Associate Professor Kerrie Stewart, Head of the Charles Sturt University Central West Clinical School and local Parkes GP and visiting medical officer, said: “We know that students studying in rural areas already have a commitment to our communities and region, so by supporting them locally we can help students build their skillset and develop important professional relationships.” 

Professor Damien Limberger, Associate Dean of the Charles Sturt University School of Rural Medicine, said supporting students during their formative years would not only benefit them, but the entire community. 

“Involving students at local sites and facilities won’t just provide them with a taste of what rural healthcare can offer, but will also continue to help our workforce.” 

Last week was education week, with this year’s theme being “creating futures”. 

Did you know that a staggering one in five children in Australia have an undiagnosed vision problem? The widespread effect of this on education can’t be understated, since vision is the preeminent sense when it comes to how a child learns. As parents, we need to be aware that not all vision problems will present as we might expect with complaints of blurred vision, sore eyes or headaches. Rather, it can often be much more subtle such as loss of concentration or a lack of motivation to read or do schoolwork. There is more to vision than simply seeing something clearly. Focusing, tracking, eye coordination and visual perception are important vision skills that also impact reading and learning. 

To catch these undiagnosed vision problems that are slipping through the cracks we must ensure that we get our children’s eyes tested by an optometrist, once before starting school and then ideally every year thereafter. 

To find out more, come in and talk to one of our eyecare professionals at Hansen Eyecare Plus in Parkes. #localscaringforlocals 

https://www.hansenoptom.com.au/

Anne Norton and Sherree Rosser (third and fourth from the left) with Izzy, Grace, and John from Royal Far West on Manly.

After a few visits from Royal Far West (RFW) to Parkes, two Project Sprouts representatives paid a visit to Manly last month. 

Project Sprouts Working Party Chairperson Sherree Rosser and Co-ordinator Anne Norton took a trip to Sydney to meet with staff and clinicians who work with Parkes Shire children via telecare in occupational and speech therapies. They also discussed Project Sprouts’ future directions with RFW. Telecare time for five Parkes children was allocated during the visit. “It was a wonderful capacity building and contact creating few days for us both,” Sherree said. 

Project Sprouts has been working with RFW since 2020 to offer early intervention screening of three to five years old children through their Healthy Kids Bus Stop. 

Established in 1924, Royal Far West has a rich history of innovation, dedication, and determination to improve the health and wellbeing of children who live in rural and remote communities, connecting them to the care they need but cannot otherwise access because of where they live. 

Project Sprouts, a community-led initiative, was launched in October 2020 to develop a referral service linking families and educators to service providers and enabling children to have the best beginning available.