My Work Experience

It’s my last day of work experience at good looking optics today and I'm going to miss it loads. I've only been here four days but it has been so rewarding; I've learnt so much already. 

Monday was my first day and the first thing I did was have an eye test. I then learnt the basic jobs that have to be done for the day to run smoothly. 
I was taught how to find and fill out patients’ record cards and learnt about the different types of NHS forms and how to fill them out too. Garry also taught me about how the system works – how to look up patients and book/cancel appointments.  

On Tuesday, I was given the task of phoning patients who were due an eye test and making appointments. I was very proud of myself after I managed to book around nine appointments. I found that this really developed my communication skills, which is a vital part of being an optometrist.

 I also got to sit behind the front desk for the first time. A customer came in for a new pair of glasses, so Garry asked me to help choose a pair. I had to call the supplier and order the pair that the customer wanted. 

As well as learning about the administrative side of things, Garry also wanted me to learn more about the eye and how it works. He set me the task of writing a blog a day on the different types of common refractive eye conditions – myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism. The topic for Tuesday was myopia, which is known as short-sightedness.http://allaboutmypoia.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/myopia.html 

 Wednesday was a slightly different day– the shop is open but there are no eye tests. Its mainly just admin work. I was given a variety of different tasks to do throughout the day, including adding hypermetropia to my blog. http://allaboutmypoia.blogspot.co.uk/2012_10_01_archive.html 

For the last hour, Garry left me in charge of the shop floor. Although there were no customers coming in, it was quite exciting to know I was ‘in charge.’ I answered calls(I also learnt, thanks to Dora, that you only use one spoonful of instant coffee however big the cup is!)  

 Work experience here at Good Looking Optics has made me even more determined to pursue a career in optometry. I’d like to thank Garry and Dora for being great supervisors and everyone else at good looking optics, for making me feel part of the team from the very first day! I've learnt so much, and I can’t wait to come back during my next holiday.  

Whether you want to be an optician or not, Good Looking Optics is the place to go for work experience. The people here really do show an interest in your career. And remember to pop in for an eye test when you’re in the area or call 0208 364 4444 to book an appointment.

www.goodlookingoptics.co.uk 

Astigmatism

Astigmatism:  A condition of refraction in which the image of the object is not a single point, but two focal lines at different distances from the optical system. the two focal lines are generally perpendicular to each other. In the eye it is a refractive error which is generally caused by one or several toroidal shapes of the refracting surfaces, or by the obliquity of the light entering the eye, but it can also develop as a result of subluxation of the lens or diabetes.

What is Astigmatism

Astigmatism is common minor eye condition that occurs in nearly everybody to some degree. It is caused by an irregular curvature of cornea and this causes vision to be blurred or distorted. 

The shape of a typical eye is usually spherical so when light usually enters, it refracts evenly to create a clear view of the object. However, in an eye with astigmatism, the eye is shaped like a ruby ball, and so light is refracted more in one direction than the other allowing only part of the object to be in focus at one time making objects at certain distances appear blurred.

Astigmatism is usually present at birth and is often hereditary. It can also be the result of previous eye surgery. Astigmatism can also occur with other refractive errors such as myopia (short-sightedness) and hypermetropia (long-sightedness)

Symptoms of Astigmatism

If left untreated, astigmatism can cause headaches, eye strain and fatigue 

How astigmatism Is Treated

Most cases of astigmatism are actually so mild that no treatment is needed. However, in cases where vision is significantly affected, corrective lenses such as glasses or contact lenses can be used.

Laser treatment can be used to permanently correct astigmatism in adults

Hypermetropia

Hypermetropia: refractive condition of the eye in which distant objects are focused behind the retina when the accommodation is relaxed. Thus, vision is blurred.

What is Hypermetropia

Hypermetropia  is the technical name for long sightedness. If you are longsighted, your ability to see objects that are close up is affected.

So we know that Myopia, (short sightedness) is when the eyeball is too long.

Hyperopia is when the eyeball is too short, so when a ray of light is passed through, it goes past the retina, causing the image to be focused at the back of the eye.

How is Hypermetropia Treated?

Long sightedness is usually treated with corrective lenses such as contact lenses or glasses, as with shortsightedness.

Laser surgery can also be used, but it is not suitable for children as the eye is still growing.

Complications of long-sightedness

Long sightedness also has its complications, however these are usually very rare in adults

In severe cases of  hyperopia the eye may 'over-focus' leading to double vision.  This can lead to either

• crossed eyes (strabismus), where the eyes are not properly aligned with each other and focus on different things
• lazy eye (amblyopia), where one eye becomes dominant over the other

Myopia

My name is Keirisha. I’m in my final year of A Levels, hoping to study optometry at University next year. 

I've wanted to study optometry since quite a young age after visiting the opticians for the first time. Ever since then my interest in how the eye works has been ever growing.

What Is Mypoia?

Myopia: Refractive condition of the eye in which the images of distant objects are focused in front of the retina when the accommodation is relaxed. Thus distance vision is blurred. In myopia the point conjugate with the retina, that is the far point of the eye, is located at some finite point in front of the eye.

Well, its not as bad as it sounds. Myopia is the more medical/technical term for used to describe short-sightedness. It usually occurs when the eye ball continues to grow and gets too long, and so the image is formed before the retina. The typical human eye is about 2.2cm in diameter, but people with myopia would have an eye which is slightly longer than 2.2cm. This causes the image of an object that is viewed from a distance to be blurred.

As we can see in the picture above, the normal eye has a longer light ray compared to the myopia eye. This light ray reaches the retina at the back of the eye to allow the image to be focused. However, the light ray passing through the myopia eye, does not reach the retina, causing distant objects to seem blurred.

Who Is Affected By Mypoia?

Mypoia is caused by a combination of both genetic as well as environmental factors so anyone can be affected by it. However, it is more likely to be developed if it runs in the family. 

Types Of Mypoia

If you've ever seen your prescription, you may have seen some numbers with either a + or - sign in front of them. Well, a - sign indicates short-sightedness.

There are 3 types of Mypoia:

Mild myopia - which has a measurement of between -0.5D and -3D. It is the most common type of myopia. 

Moderate myopia - has a measurement of between -3D and -6D. 
High myopia - has a measurement of more than -6D. 


Can Mypoia Be Treated?

Mypoia can usually be treated  by corrective lenses, such as contact lenses or glasses. The lenses allow light to be focused on the retina rather than in front of the retina

Laser surgery is also another option to correct the defect but it can't be used in children because their eyes are still developing

About Me

My name is Keirisha and I am currently on work experience at Good Looking Optics, Enfiled. I’m in my final year of A Levels, hoping to study optometry at University next year. 

I've wanted to study optometry since quite a young age after visiting the opticians for the first time. Ever since then my interest in how the eye works has been ever growing.