Blog, News & Offers

Don't suffer with allergy's this summer, try new Hycosan Duel

Posted on Friday, June 24, 2022

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Our product of the month for July is Hycosan Duel

It not only relieves dry eye symptoms but contains 2% Ectoin to help combat symptoms caused by allergy's

Ectoin has outstanding cell-protecting properties and is often described as "the natural anti-stress molecule". Ectoin is a natural ingredient that also protects the membranes in the eye from the harmful effects of allergens, fine dust and dehydration.
This makes it ideal for hay fever and other allergy sufferers

This product is now in stock across all of our practices. Our ocular hygienists will be happy to assist in any way.

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React to light contact lens, Its the future!

Posted on Friday, June 24, 2022

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The Contact Lens That reacts to sunlight!

We are delighted to announce that we now offer the amazing new Acuvue Oasys with Transitions (Photochromic) Contact Lenses! This first-of-its-kind lens seamlessly adapts to balance the amount of indoor and outdoor light entering the eye, including filtering blue light and blocking harmful UV rays. Less stress on your eyes means less squinting when subjected to bright light as well as reducing glare at night. These are truly ground-breaking contact lenses, particularly good for patients who do a lot of sports or outdoor activity's. This summer why not try something new as an innovative contact lens solution.

Photochromic is when a lens reacts by changing from clear to a sun spec tint when UV light activates a change in structure. This means when you walk outside your contact lenses would change to a dark, tinted contact lens.

The reaction takes a matter of seconds with them being fully tinted within 45 seconds.
The reaction speed of back to clear, is slower, much like a spectacle lens so they do have their limitations in that way, as when you go back inside they will gradually go back to clear over 2-3 minutes rather than seconds when going dark in the first place.

These lenses only come in a reusable format so not daily disposable at present. Watch this space. Sadly they are not available in toric form so if you have an astigmatic prescription these are not available yet. The current range of power is -12.00Ds to +8.00Ds

If you already wear Acuvue Oasys lenses from us just call your practice and they will arrange a free set for you to try. If you wear other lenses or would like to try contact lenses for the first time we can book you in for a free trial.
Furthermore if you purchase a 3 month supply before the end of August you will be entered into our free prize draw to win a pair of designer sunspecs.

Here are some frequently asked questions about these new lenses.

How does it look on my eye? Does it get dark?

The lenses become darker when activated by UV and/or HEV light. They were specifically designed to provide patient benefits while minimizing the change to the appearance of the eye. While outdoors, the level of activation is always changing in response to the light, so in most situations the lens isn’t in the darkest state. These lenses also fade back to clear quickly when you come inside.2



Is this new lens offering a sunglasses replacement? Can you use them with sunglasses?

ACUVUE® OASYS with Transitions™ are not intended to be used as a replacement for sunglasses. However, they can be worn with non-prescription sunglasses. While these lenses do provide UV protection to the areas they cover, other parts of the eye and surrounding areas are still exposed to UV light. Sunglasses help to protect the entire eye.



Does the lens activate in indoor light or only outdoor UV light?

The lens activates in both indoor and UV light. Even when this lens appears clear, it is working and adapting to different lighting conditions.



Does it work behind the windshield?

While photochromic lenses react to UV light, car windshields block nearly 100% of UV light. It is important to note that ACUVUE OASYS® with Transitions™ are not a replacement for sunglasses, but they can be worn with non-prescription sunglasses.

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Top Gun Maverick, Ray Ban Aviator

Posted on Tuesday, June 7, 2022

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Aviator sunglasses are back, well for us they never really left, with the release of Top Gun: Maverick last month, so don’t lose that loving feeling and fall in love with vintage aviator sunglasses all over again.

But what are the frames history and why are they infamous in aviation?

During World War II the military procured glasses for pilots that enhanced vision and reduced glare at altitude. There’s some debate about who was first to design aviator sunglasses. American Optical (AO) supplied essential goggles to US military pilots.
The US Army Air Corps enlisted another eyewear master Bausch & Lomb who developed the iconic Ray-Ban Aviator in the 1930s. They hit the mainstream in 1950s and then had a surge of popularity in the 1970s and 1980s with the release of Top Gun. Since then they have created hundreds of colour and shape variations from the original design.

The frame is a large tear drop shape which is needed to reduce glare getting on over the top and from the sides but the real tech was in the lenses, Glass G15.
Unlike other lenses especially plastic, Glass Rayban G15 sun lenses contain ferrous oxide which absorbs infra-red light, there is an increased amount of IR light at high altitude, so this makes G15 an ideal lens for protection for pilots. G actually means Green, the colour of the tint, many RayBan lenses are Green as standard especially those with glass lenses. 15 means that 15% of light is transmitted through the lens with the other 85% cut out to eliminate glare. 15% light transmission is the legal limit for driving and flying.

Many classic RayBan frames still have glass lenses in today.
At Colin Lee opticians we are Authentic RayBan stockists and can dispense prescription RayBan lenses, so you can get the frames you have seen on the silver screen, in prescription complete with logos and markings so no one will know the difference. Furthermore you can have any frame made to your specifications of size, colour and all the trimmings so you can either get the exact same as worn on film or a completely unique design just for you.

Not just for pilots we love aviator sunglasses as it’s such a classic timeless look that will never date.

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