For Your Eyes Only

After 33 years, Henderson Vision Centre is on the move! Our new expanded office will offer greater convenience and state of the art equipment for a one stop shop to serve all your eye care needs. Wearenowconvenientlylocatedat Unit1B-1439HendersonHighway southoftheChiefPeguisTrailandadjacenttoSafeway. Newlocation! Accepting NewPatients 204-582-2308 www.hendersonvision.ca APictureisWorthaThousandWords–Ourretinalcameraand OCT(opticalcoherencetomographer)aretwonewinstruments tohelpdiagnose,documentandmonitoreyediseases. WhereFashionMeetsFunction–Ourexpandedoptical boutiqueoffersover1200framestochoosefromincluding thelatestdesignereyewearandsunglasses,anddigital freeformlenses-thenewestinlenswear.It'slikeseeing theworldinHD! SunglassCove–Wealsoofferalargeselectionof sunglassesinourSunglassCovesection. TryThemToday–OurexpandedContactLens departmentallowsustocarryanextensiverange oftrialandretailcontactlenses. We'reHereForYou!–Ourexpandedhourswere createdforyourconvenience.Weareopen Thursdayeveningsuntil7pmandnowalsoopen onSaturdaysfrom9-3. Dr.M.Reiss Dr.S.Mundle Dr.I.Mestito-Dao Dr.M.Chow Dr.L.Melo Dr.L.Zimmer Optometrists an and nt nts Opt Weare excitedto welcomeyou toournew office! specs in sTyle for kids by Holli Moncrieff FOR ThE FREE PRESS THese aren'T yoUr grandparenTs' glasses. k ristin Kliewer, Manager of Grimard Optique, says children's eyewear has become so stylish that kids actually want glasses. "It's not as bad as it used to be, when children dreaded it," she said. "I find that having glasses is more popular now. Kids actually want to have them. The options are more fun." A lot of children's frames are designed to look like their parents' glasses, although the kids' version is usually available in a lot of fun colours, said Kliewer, who is also a licensed optician and contact lens fitter. "There are lots of bright colours available in frames, but we have some nice neutrals too. They're stylish now. All the eyewear companies are making kids' versions of adult frames," she said. "I just fitted a young girl for glasses, and she seemed really happy. Kids are excited about glasses now." Most children who need eyeglasses are either nearsighted or farsighted. Depending on the degree of visual correction necessary, the child's eye doctor will prescribe glasses for full- or part-time wear. Some kids can take their eyeglasses off for schoolwork, while others will need to wear them all the time. It's easy to fall in love with a pair of stylish frames, but comfort is key. If a child's prescription calls for strong lenses that are likely to be thick, it's important to keep the frames as small as possible to reduce the final lens thickness. Smaller lenses usually have fewer complex vision errors near the edge of the lens, so there is less risk of blurred or distorted peripheral vision. One of the difficulties of choosing suitable frames for young children is that their noses are not fully developed, so they don't have a bridge to prevent plastic frames from sliding down. Metal frames are usually made with adjustable nose pads so they fit everyone's bridge. Most manufacturers recognize this difficulty with plastic frames and design their bridges to fit small noses. Each frame must be evaluated for fit. If any gaps exist between the bridge of the frame and the bridge of the nose, the weight of the lenses will cause the glasses to slide, no matter how well the frame seems to fit before the lenses are made. An optician is the best judge of whether or not a frame fits properly. "It helps to have the assistance of a licensed optician to make sure the frames fit properly," Kliewer said. "We're trained to help you find the perfect pair." Glasses used to be a drag for athletic children, but Kliewer said that has changed. "We have some sporty frames by Nike. Flexibility in the arms is helpful for kids who play sports," she said. Plastic frames used to be a better choice for children because they were more durable, less likely to be bent or broken, lighter in weight and less expensive. But now manufacturers are making metal frames that incorporate these features as well. While both plastic and metal frames can be suitable, Kliewer recommends polycarbonate lenses over glass for active children. "Polycarbonate lenses are more durable and not as likely to crack. Kids are more rough-and-tumble with their glasses, whether they play sports or not," said Kliewer. "If you go with polycarbonate lenses, we recommend a protective coating, as polycarbonate lenses are more likely to scratch." Sunglass options are a great idea for children who spend time outdoors. "We have photochromic lenses that turn darker in the sun so you don't have to think about it. This is important for eye health," Kliewer said. She's happy to see that many parents are making eye exams part of their children's back-to-school routine. "This is the time of year to think about it. Eighty per cent of what kids learn is through their eyes. Lots of school divisions are making an eye exam mandatory," said Kliewer. "Making sure your kids can see clearly will help them learn their best." Manitoba health covers eye exams for children until they reach age 19, and most opticians offer back-to-school specials in August. Grimard Optique is offering a 30 per cent discount on their kids' frames this month.

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