Major Opticians Blog

Christmas Budget 2009 and PRSI

Phil Major — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 11:15:23 +0000

Well, the government have gone and done it.

From the first of January 2010, the government is taking the money that people have paid into as part of their PRSI contributions for optical and dental benefit and is no doubt using it to give to some fat cat banker.

From that date, people who are eligible to claim on their PRSI will be allowed testing only, with no contributions towards frames and/or lenses. Now, last year, optics under the PRSI cost in the region of just €15 million for the whole country for the whole year. Why not sell the government jet and provide proper eyecare?

Common sense, it seems, never seems to matter to some politicians as long as they’re all right.

Research and the fruits of research

Phil Major — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:57:55 +0000

Here are a couple of links. This first one is about eye research that could bring vision to the severely visually impaired.

This second one shows how amazing the human spirit is, as an urban artist who became totally paralysed uses his eyes to create art. Aided by an open source collaboration, now he can at least do one of the things that he always loved to do.

‘Transitions’ contact lenses

Phil Major — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:26:00 +0000

Here’s a link to a Singapore company that are doing research to produce contact lenses that react to light, so they darken in sunlight and lighten indoors.

They hope to have a commercial product within twelve months. Another link here.

Applications include general purpose use, as well as sports applications.

Sun lenses for sport

Phil Major — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 10:28:54 +0000

Essilor, the largest supplier of lenses in the world, have a range of sun lenses designed specially for different sports. You can download/view a PDF by clicking here.

These lenses are tailored for different sports – for example, the best lens tint for sailing might be different for shooting. All of the lenses block out at least 90% of harmful blue light and comply with European standards for seeing road signs, without altering the colour perception of the wearer and reducing glare.

Anyone involved in sports, or just those wanting the best tint for their own particular needs should consider Essilor SPORTS SOL-utions.

ASDA and Specsavers are fighting

Phil Major — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:52:27 +0000

Specsavers in the UK has warned ASDA to stop their current advertising, because they feel that ASDA are infringing on trademarks with the slogan ‘Be a real spec saver at Asda’.

Oops – went to Specsavers, didn’t find a dispenser there and had to pay extra for a reglaze. Should have gone to Major’s Opticians

Shrimp eyes could help develop new technologies

Phil Major — Mon, 26 Oct 2009 22:34:18 +0000

Mantis shrimps have amazing eyes, able to see more colours than humans can, and also able to see circulalrly polarised light. Studying how these eyes work could have lots of benefits for future technologies.

Interesting Patient – Usher Syndrome

Phil Major — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:21:48 +0000

Recently we had a gentleman visit us who has the rare condition, Usher Syndrome.

You can read more about it here, and here, but it is a rare genetic condition that can cause deafness and blindness. He had been trying to get lenses that would aid his vision and was recommended to us by a colleague of his.

The use of an orange lens which had the ability to change from light to dark and back from Bolle Optical was just the answer.

He is delighted with these lenses, which filter out harmful light and reduce glare significantly.

Bionic Eyes

Phil Major — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:38:42 +0000

Helping the visually impaired to see better, or to enhance the natural vision of the unimpaired using technology is an amazing science that is in its infancy, but huge strides are being made in this fledgling discipline.

Here are some links to more information.

Bionic Eyes
Bionic eyes benefit the blind
First look at ‘bionic eyes’
Vision Quest

Eye Stuff For Kids

Phil Major — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:31:59 +0000

We’ve just added some links on our main website specially for younger people to learn more about eyes and also to have some fun while they are doing it.

Have a look here!

Interesting Eyes

Phil Major — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 10:29:55 +0000

Here are a few links to websites with photos about eyes. If you want to see some sciencey ones, then have a look at our main webpage and click on the Zeiss Retinal Atlas on the menu to the left. These are more for fun!

Interesting Eyes has lots of people photo’s but there are also some neat things done with eyes by some of the photographers.

This one is just way out there!