Few activities are more demanding on your visual acuity than aviation.

That’s why Pilots generally need comfortable, sharp vision in three visual zones:

• Distance vision for observing the runway, air traffic and geography
• Intermediate vision for viewing instruments and controls
• And Reading vision for charts, logbooks and other near work

For pilots of light aircraft above the age of 40, Multifocal lenses are typically recommended by our Optometrists, allowing for comfortable vision in the three visual zones.

For pilots of larger aircraft, an additional vision zone would be necessary to accommodate the reading of overhead instrumentation and control panels which the traditional multifocal does not have. Torga Optical’s Flexivue Pilot lens is designed with the Commercial Pilot in mind and includes a revolutionary 4th reading zone at the top of the lens to allow for comfortable vision for overhead panels which the Optometrist can customize the location and strength of the reading zones based on your particular cockpit configuration.

The lenses are available with photochromic (darken when exposed to light), sunglass tints, anti-reflection coatings, and other lens enhancements.

Expert fitment is required. Clients in the Gauteng area are recommended to make an appointment with Optometrist Mr. Andries Janse van Rensburg at Torga Optical Mall@REDS Centurion for more information on eye testing and the dispensing of Torga Flexivue Pilots Multifocal Lenses you can contact him on 012 656 8952 

Torga Flexivue® Pilot Multifocal Lenses allow comfortable vision while reading, viewing instruments both below AND overhead, and wide comfortable distance vision.

Which rays do the sun emit and how much are we exposed to?

The sun emits different light components that consist of visible light, infrared light and ultraviolet radiation. Ultraviolet radiation is what we need to protect ourselves from, especially Ultraviolet A (UVA) and Ultraviolet B (UVB) as they do manage to reach the earth’s surface unlike Ultraviolet C (UVC) rays. Though the atmosphere does its best to protect us - we too have to do our part. 

How can the sun affect our eyes?

Just as much as we protect our skin from too much exposure to the sun that can cause sunburn, skin cancer and even wrinkled dull skin, our eyes are equally affected. Too much exposure to UV rays can increase our risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Research has confirmed that UVB light is directly related to the development of cataracts. Furthermore, it can cause tissue elevations on the surface of the eye called pinguecula and pterygia. AND yes! Eye sunburn is real - officially called photokeratitis where the cornea and conjunctiva are affected, it presents with symptoms of eye pain, redness, blurry vision, watery and gritty eye sensation. Too much UV exposure can also cause skin cancers of the eyelids. 

The below image is showing a pingecula, which presents as a yellow sometimes transparent raised tissue on the white part of the eye due to excessive and prolonged exposure to the sun.                                                                       

_{(Image sourced from wikipedia.org)}

The above image is showing a pteryguim which is a tissue growing towards the cornear due to excessive and prolonged exposure of UV rays.

_{(Image sourced from wikipedia.org)}

How can we protect our eyes from the sun? 

Sunglasses, sunglasses, sunglasses!!! Just as you protect your skin with sunscreen, sunglasses work just the same especially because you can’t apply sunscreen on your eyes right? Your eyes are even more delicate, so sunglasses with UVA and UVB protection would be life-changing for anyone. Wrap-around sunglasses or sunglasses with side panels can help block almost all rays from the sun. 

As an FYI, you are still exposed to UV rays even on a cloudy day as they can penetrate through so avoid looking directly into the sun or exposing yourself more than necessary. 

In summary, investing in a quality pair of UV protective sunglasses is also investing in a healthy pair of eyes. Sunglasses offer sun protection while keeping you cool and styled up as a bonus. Or you can get Torga Optical UV420 blue light protection glasses at a discounted rate.

https://www.torga.com.na/uv420-blue-light-protection-voucher-2 use this link to redeem your voucher to use in store!

This blog post was compiled with information provided by Nonhle Nxumalo, a qualifed and registered optometrist.

First, what are Bifocals?

These lenses have two different prescriptions in the same lens. A small portion in the lower part of the lens contains the power required to correct your near vision which is generally beneficial for reading and the top part of the lens is for distance vision.

Why no-line (blended) bifocals are better? 

Unlike the normal bifocals where you can see the line on the lens separating the two powers, the new technologically advanced bifocal lenses are smoothened out so that the line is no longer as visible to yourself and people you are interacting with. Some Bifocal wearers feel that the visible Bifocal line creates an appearance of "looking old", so invisible Bifocals can contribute to a younger look. 

What is the difference between no-line bifocals and multifocals?

No-line bifocals allow visual correction for only two distances (far and near). 

While multifocals correct for three distances:
Top part - far distance vision
Middle part - Intermediate and/or computer distance
Bottom part - for near vision, also typically used for reading 

What are the benefits of a no-line bifocal?

- There is no ridge or line on these lenses but still work like normal bifocals
- Therefore a better cosmetically appealing lens
- They provide wider fields of vision for both far and near distance
- It has a low image jump compared to normal bifocals 
- They're easy to adapt to and; 
- They usually work well for patients who have been struggling to adapt to multifocals

What products are available at Torga Optical?

Better known as the Digital Bifocal, our no-line bifocal lenses are available at all Torga Optical branches. For a limited time, they are offered at the same price as traditional lined Bifocals.

Book your appointment now https://www.torga.com.na/book it's quick and easy! Enjoy!

How to stop your glasses from fogging up when you wear a mask

Most common challenges with wearing glasses are easily addressed by your optometrist. For example, glare from the sun in your eyes while driving can be reduced with polarised lenses, frames slipping down the bridge of your nose can be prevented with professional adjustments.

But for many spectacles wearers getting fogged up lenses while wearing a face mask is a new challenge.

Why do your lenses fog up while wearing a face mask?

Your spectacles and sunglasses fog up when you are wearing a face mask because the mask redirects your warm breath upward instead of forward, which condenses and forms micro-droplets on the lenses.

Generally the problem can be reduced by increasing the tightness of the fit of your face mask. For example, homemade masks can also be modified to fit better by sewing twist ties into the top so they can be moulded over the nose. Or you can simply make sure that the elasticated strap is as tight as possible (Never adjust the mask so that its main purpose is defeated). Tightly fitted masks can lead to a problem itself if the mask then becomes uncomfortable around the face, leading to need for constant adjustment.

Torga Optical’s solution to prevent your spectacles fogging up

Torga Optical has high-tech Anti-Fog Micro-fiber cleaning cloths available in our practices nationally.  The Anti-Fog cloths contain a special solution that when applied to your lenses immediately reduces the condensation retention of the lenses. So any condensation from your breath on the lenses quickly dissipates in a matter of seconds.

With our Anti-Fog Lens Cleaning Cloth there is no need for additional lens spray or other cleaning compounds.

Our anti-fog lens cleaning cloths are also gentle on your lenses, ensuring streak-free and scratch-free results.

How long does the Torga Optical Anti-Fog Cleaning Cloth last for?

The cloth can be used to clean your spectacles up to 200 times. Make sure you store the cloth in the provided zip-lock bag after use as the Anti-Fog solution will dry evaporate from the cloth if not so protected. Also, do not wash the cloth as this will remove the solution.

What if I need a solution that both cleans my glasses and provides Anti-Fog protection?

Torga Optical also offers a special Anti-Fog and Cleaning Spray. This spray works like a normal spectacles cleaning spray but it adds an additional hydrophobic layer to your lenses providing Anti-Fog protection. You will also need a regular microfibre cleaning cloth to apply the spray across the surface of the lens.

Remember also when using a cleaning cloth that you wipe your lenses from left to right, horizontally across the lens, rather than in a circular polishing motion. This avoids dirt accumulating in the centre of your lenses.

What’s the best solution? Torga Optical’s Anti-Fog cloth or Torga Optical’s Anti-Fog Spray?

Both products work really well. However, we find that the Anti-Fog cloth provides the greatest convenience as you only need to carry one item with you during the day and no spray is required.

Get yours HERE

How to use the Anti-Fog Cleaning Cloth

1.      Remove the Anti-Fog cleaning cloth from its pouch
2.      Gently wipe both sides of each lens in your spectacles to apply the Anti-Fog solution. Hold your glasses up to a gentle light source to inspect your handiwork, and re-apply if necessary.
3.      Replace the Anti-Fog cleaning cloth in its pouch (it will last up to 200 cleans if stored properly). Enjoy your fog free lenses for the whole day. Reapply as necessary.

How to use the Anti-Fog Spray

4.      Clean the lens with our Anti-Fog lens cleaning solution. Apply the spray to the microfibre cloth, not to the lenses themselves. The spray and cloth method are there to keep your glasses clean and assist with fogging to stop.
5.      Dry the lens with ordinary microfiber cloth.
6.      Polish the lens with anti-fog cleaning cloth.

Everything you need to know about Your Vision Over 40

In a world that is obsessed with eternal youth, efficiency and massive workloads, the inevitable deterioration of one’s eye sight at a certain age - *gulp* yes, forty – is a daunting prospect for many!

The good news is that with huge strides in technology comes fantastic advances in lenses and eyewear. In addition to having a plethora of fashion frames from which to choose, lens technology has progressed to a point where the tell-tale signs of ageing eyes (read: those bifocal half-moon lenses) have, thankfully become an almost-distant memory).

The bad news is that no one (yes, sorry, no one!) escapes ageing – everyone’s eyes deteriorate with age. It’s inevitable. It will happen to you. So, if you are having difficulty focussing on that really ridiculously, tiny text on your cell phone, or if your arms just don’t seem long enough when you’re studying that sushi menu, then it’s probably time for a visit to your optometrist.

To ease the pain, we’re going to explain various eye terms and visual conditions, along with potential solutions, so that you will be empowered to make an informed decision when the need for spectacles arises.

What happens to your eyes as you get older?

As the eye ages (i.e. as one nears the age of forty), the muscles that enable the ocular lens to work become weaker. The result is that the focusing ability for near vision becomes more difficult and eventually not possible. This condition is called presbyopia. The youthful flexibility of the lens and the respective muscles allow the eye to change focus from objects that are far away to objects that are close.

Solution:

Eyeglasses, including single vision reading glasses, bifocals and multifocal lenses address presbyopia very effectively.

Multifocal (also known as progressive and varifocal) lenses give you a more youthful appearance by eliminating the visible lines found in bifocal lenses and allow you to focus clearly at varying distances. Bifocal and single vision lenses don’t give you the clear vision at all distances - reading glasses have one focal point and bifocals allow for clear distance and near vision but they aren’t great for intermediate distances, such as computer work.

What's the difference between presbyopia and hyperopia?

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, occurs when light focuses behind the retina instead of on it due to a shorter than average eyeball. People of any age, including babies, can be farsighted. Presbyopia, on the other hand, is an age-related condition in which the lens and muscles of the eye becomes less flexible. You can therefore be both hyperopic and presbyopic over the age of 40.

What is a multifocal lens?

Multifocal optical lenses transition from your distance prescription at the top of the lens to your reading prescription at the bottom of the lens to help you see objects at all distances after you lose the ability to naturally change the focus of your eyes due to age (presbyopia). All Torga Optical multifocal lenses are manufactured using highly sophisticated digital software and German precision lens technology.

What is the difference between a bifocal and a multifocal lens?

Like bifocal lenses, multifocal lenses enable the user to see clearly at different distance ranges through one lens. A multifocal lens (AKA progressive lens) gradually changes power from the top of the lens to the bottom, giving a smooth transition from distance vision (across the room) to intermediate vision (computer, for example) to near (reading) vision. On the other hand, a bifocal only has two main focal points - one for distance vision and one for reading. These, therefore, don’t give the wearer clear intermediate vision – so they aren’t ideal for computer users.

How does a multifocal lens work?

Instead of providing just two lens powers like bifocals (or three, like trifocals), multifocal lenses really are multi-focal lenses, providing a smooth, seamless progression of many lens powers for clear vision across the room, up close and at all distances in between. One is able to see clearly here (close up), there (middle distance) and effortlessly through to the far distance (over there).

Are multifocal lenses good for your eyes?

Yes! Multifocal lenses are often the most effective way to assist those with presbyopia. They alleviate the burden that is placed on your eyes when straining to focus at different distances.

What is the difference between single vision and multifocal lenses?

Having single vision glasses means the lenses offer just one focus for the eyes. This can be for long distances correction, for close-up reading, or for mid-range sight correction, such as for computer use. Progressive lenses, on the other hand, offer a range of vision correction within the same lens.

Are multofocal lenses the best solution?

In addition to cosmetic advantages, progressive multifocal lenses provide a more natural correction of presbyopia than bifocal or trifocal prescription lenses.

We advise that you have a in depth conversation with your optometrist about your lifestyle in addition to your visual needs (once you’ve had a full eye test). Explain to him or her when your eyes are at their most strained. Go into detail about the kind of work that you do, which digital devices you use and how often. Your hobbies and how you spend your spare time is also important to consider when finding a solution to your visual needs. It’s this kind of information together with the actual eye examination that contributes to you finding the best optical correction for your visual comfort.

***Disclaimer***

Always get professional advice from your optometrist.

The above article was written with professional consultation from Claire Wiggill (BOptom (UJ)). 

Stand in front of a mirror and look straight ahead.

• If you have a bifocal lens, the line should sit at the lower eyelid. If you have a multifocal lens, the top line should sit at the bottom of the pupil.
  
  

Look for issues with the temple arms.

• If your eyeglasses appear level on your face but sit crooked when resting on a flat surface, this may mean that one of your ears is higher than the other. The temple arms should be bent to accommodate any differences in ear height.

• For wireframes, gently bend the arms with small pliers until they are straight. Put the glasses on and observe in the mirror to see if they are correct. Do not use wire cutters. You must use padded pliers or the frames will likely be damaged.
• For plastic frames, the plastic on the lower arm must be heated by a warm air source, such as a hairdryer, to make the plastic pliable. Slowly move the plastic upward with your hands until it is in the desired position. Be careful using the hairdryer as you could melt the plastic.
• Another way to bend plastic frames is to run them under hot water for 15 to 25 seconds before trying to make adjustments. The arm should become pliable enough to adjust, but be careful. The plastic can snap even when heated.

• For wireframes, this adjustment can be made with pliers or even your bare hands.
• For plastic frames, you will need to make the plastic pliable using either heated water or air, before bending the earpiece section of the frames.

Nosepiece problems.

Check for squeezing or slipping.

• Take care not to over-tighten the screws, or you risk damaging the plastic or metal that they are holding in place.

Make minor adjustments. 

Never make huge, drastic adjustments to your glasses all at once. It can often be harder to bend eyeglasses back into a proper position after a repair than it is to make the original adjustment. Make minor adjustments, check the glasses, and continue making minor adjustments until they are corrected.

What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses?

A Feast for Your Eyes

Having healthy eyes is something that many take for granted. But when one doesn’t have it, one’s quality of life is severely compromised.

Just like diet can have a direct impact when it comes to reducing the risk of various diseases, so can diet reduce the risks of developing numerous eye maladies. Many scientific studies have proven that nutrition has a massive effect on vision issues and vision-related diseases including dry-eyes, glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration.

So, in the interests of maintaining good eye health, we’ve made it easy for you by listing the five best food groups that, if consumed healthily, will help to preserve your vision.

1.    Antioxidants, antioxidants, antioxidants!

 Yes, this has been a buzz word for what seems like forever – but, for good reason.

Vitamin C

Found in many easily accessible fruits (think citrus and berries) and vegetables, vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is an antioxidant that shows to significantly lower the risk of developing cataracts. Combine vitamin C with other essential nutrients, it has been scientifically shown to also slow the progression of age-related macular degeneration and the loss of visual acuity.

Vitamin E

Nuts, sweet potatoes and fortified cereals are an excellent source of another powerful antioxidant: vitamin E. Research indicates it protects cells in the eyes from unstable molecules called free radicals, which break down healthy tissue.

2.    Nutrients: Lutein & Zeaxanthin

Lutein and zeaxanthin are important nutrients found in green leafy vegetables (such as kale and spinach) and yellow vegetables, as well as in the yolks of eggs. Many studies show that lutein and zeaxanthin reduce the risk of chronic eye diseases, including age-related macular degeneration, glaucoma and cataracts.

3.    Vitamin D

Do you suffer from dry eye syndrome? Pretty much anyone who uses a digital device will probably experience dry eyes from time to time. Dry eyes are a common symptom of digital eye strain, which has become so commonplace that it's even been given its medical term: Computer Vision Syndrome. When one is reading off of a screen, the eyes have to constantly refocus and reposition to the process content. As a result, one doesn't blink as often. Blinking moisturises the front of the eye. The average person blinks around 16 times per minute. This is halved when using a digital device.

Diet can help to add extra moisture to the eyes to alleviate this modern-day malaise. Just add the following to your diet: fatty fish (like tuna, mackerel, and salmon); foods fortified with vitamin D, like some dairy products, orange juice, soy milk, and cereals, as well as liver, cheese and egg yolks. And of course, drink lots and lots of water!

4.     Essential Fatty Acids

Fats are a necessary part of the human diet. They maintain the integrity of the nervous system, fuel cells and boost the immune system. Research shows Omega-3 fatty acids are important for proper visual development and retinal function. Fatty acids also work very effectively to alleviate dry eyes. Nuts, seeds, soy products, beans, whole grains, and leafy vegetables all contain varying amounts of essential fatty acids.

5.     Zinc

Zinc is an essential trace mineral or "helper molecule." It plays a vital role in bringing vitamin A from the liver to the retina to produce melanin, which is the protective pigment in the eyes. Zinc is highly concentrated in the eye, mostly in the retina and choroid (the vascular tissue layer lying under the retina). So, start adding grass-fed beef and lamb to your diet; oysters are also a good source of zinc; more nuts and luckily lots dark chocolate.

There's no substitute for the quality of life that good vision provides! By just adding a few of the above-mentioned ingredients to your daily diet you can improve your eye health.

Speak to one of the professional Torga optometrists for more insights into the health of your eyes.