Now that we’re deep into the summer season, as a nation we must collectively confront that ever-present threat: the sun. 

And our sun is particularly potent. It’s estimated that two out of three Australians will have to reckon with skin cancer over their lifetime. Those are terrifying numbers, but thankfully we have a plan. A plan punctuated with a punchy five word slogan: Slip, slop, slap, seek and slide.

But recently the “slip, slop, slap” part of this equation has come under scrutiny. After ĚÇĐÄVlog sunscreen testing found that 16 out of 20 sunscreens we tested failed to match their SPF claims, over 20 mineral-based sunscreens have been removed from sale. The most common question we’ve heard at ĚÇĐÄVlog this year has been, “Can you trust sunscreens?”

We say yes. Any sunscreen is better than no sunscreen. But there are other ways to protect yourself, and sunscreen shouldn’t be your only line of defence. It should always be used in tandem with other forms of sun protection. Because of this, ĚÇĐÄVlog has undertaken testing that investigates other consumer products designed to protect Australians from the sun.

First we wrote a guide on sun shelters, now we’re investigating the products related to the “slide” part of the slogan: sunglasses. They’re worn by young and old and a single pair can cost up to hundreds of dollars – but are they giving our eyes the protection we think they are?

The testing

We set out to test the UV protection claims of a range of sunglasses from a variety of brands for both adults and children. We looked at glasses from designer brands such as Versace and Prada that cost hundreds of dollars, glasses from familiar surf brands such as Oakley and Ray-Ban, and budget options from Kmart, Big W and online marketplaces.

Using a specialist lab, ĚÇĐÄVlog tested 19 pairs of sunglasses to the Australian/New Zealand standard, which checks, among other things, the construction of the sunglasses, and their ability to filter UVA and UBV radiation. We also measured how much light is filtered out, made sure both lenses were identical and a host of other things.

We tested each pair of sunglasses according to the specific claims made on their packaging. All sunglasses sold in Australia must be tested and labelled according to the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1067.1:2016. 

All sunglasses are ranked by the following categories.

• Lens category 0: Fashion spectacles
  These are not sunglasses and have a very low ability to reduce sun glare. They provide limited or no UV protection.
• Lens category 1: Fashion spectacles
  These are still not technically sunglasses, but provide limited sun glare reduction and some UV protection.
• Lens category 2: Sunglasses 
  These sunglasses provide a medium level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection.
• Lens category 3: Sunglasses 
  These sunglasses provide a high level of sun glare reduction and good level of UV protection.
• Lens category 4: Sunglasses
  These are special-purpose sunglasses that provide a very high level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection.

Most of the sunglasses we tested claimed to be in lens category 3, providing a high level of sun glare reduction and a good level of UV protection

The results

Often when we do testing like this, the news is bad. Thankfully, this is one of those occasions when the news is positive. Almost all of the sunglasses we looked at in this round of testing complied with the Australian Standard/New Zealand for their claimed category. A nice surprise after the issues discovered earlier in 2025 during our sunscreen testing. 

The products that didn’t meet their category requirements failed mostly based on labelling issues, not on the quality of the glasses themselves, and definitely not on their level of sun protection. Essentially, these glasses functioned correctly but had little to no labelling.

The sunglasses that failed on labelling issues were:

• Sojos Small Round Classic Polarized for Women Men Vintage Style
• Womens Fashion Red Brown Purple Frames Polarised Lens Wrap Style 
• Quay Australia Good Time Sunglasses 
• One for Men and Women 
• Babiators Original Aviators.

In addition to the labelling failures, the Sojos sunglasses we bought from Amazon also lacked the side shielding that’s mandatory for category 4 lenses. 

Responses from the brands

Amazon, Shein and eBay have since removed the sunglasses that failed our testing from their sites. 

We have yet to receive a response from Quay Australia or Babiators.

Why you should wear sunglasses

Repeated exposure to UV radiation can lead to a number of troubling eye conditions like cataracts, pterygiums (overgrowth of tissue from the white of the eye onto the cornea), solar keratopathy (cloudiness of the cornea), cancer of the conjunctiva, and skin cancer of the eyelids.

Sunglasses for kids are particularly important because of the cumulative nature of sun damage to the eyes. If you can, definitely encourage your kids to wear sunnies in their formative years. Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV radiation, so the quicker you make this a habit the better.

Tips for buying sunglasses

• You don’t have to spend a fortune to protect your eyes. Our testing shows that even cheap sunglasses can provide good protection. 
• Don’t be fooled by a dark tint. Dark lenses don’t necessarily provide UV protection, although they can block some UV light. Ensure you check the lens category to ensure maximum protection against UV rays and glare. On the packaging or in the marketing material, this might be listed as a UV400 rating or the Australian/New Zealand Standard certification (category 2 or higher).
• Consider polarisation. If you spend a lot of time outdoors in high-glare situations, for example, driving, at the beach, boating or in the snow, polarised lenses might be helpful. They are usually more pricey, but they do help cut down on glare caused by sunlight reflecting off wet roads, snow, or water.
• Other lens coatings. Depending on where you buy your sunglasses, you may be able to add coatings such as scratch-resistant coatings, mirror coatings (to reduce lens reflection) or blue-light coating (to reduce how much blue light enters your eyes). Some retailers will allow you to add multiple coatings based on your specific needs, however these all come at an additional cost. Shop around to ensure you’re getting the best deal. 
• Comfort and fit. For both kids and adults, it’s important to choose a pair that is robust and fits the shape of your face well. Most sunglasses today are made with plastic (polymer) lenses as they are cheap, lightweight and durable. 

Can you get sunglasses on health insurance?

Many major health funds allow customers to claim prescription sunglasses on their health insurance if you have an Extras policy. It’s worth double checking your eligibility, but if your policy has optical benefits, you should be able get some money back on a pair of prescription sunglasses. 

It is worth noting, however, that a prescription is necessary to take advantage of this, meaning if you have perfect vision, you won’t be able to get subsidised  sunglasses through your health insurance.

But if you’re content with your regular prescription glasses and don’t need a new pair this year, using your optical extras benefit to buy prescription sunglasses instead can be a smart way to get more value out of your policy.

The post Are sunglasses meeting their UV protection claims? appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Australia's most reliable hearing aid brands
• Which type of hearing aid should you buy?

Do you need a hearing aid?

1. Get a hearing screening

Many people start with a hearing screening. This is a short and simple test, which covers any or all of the following:

• Lifestyle questions about situations where you may have trouble hearing.
• A of different frequencies – the most common form of hearing loss involves high frequencies, or high-pitched sounds.
• Your ability to distinguish between .
• Your ability to hear or above a background noise, which could be white noise, a repetitive beat or situational noise (chatter, cheering, traffic etc).

Audiology clinics offer these for free, and they take only a few minutes. You can also do them online – google ‘free hearing test’ and use headphones (rather than the device speaker) for the best results.

2. See a doctor

If the screening suggests you may have a problem, it’s time to see your doctor. They can check your ears for wax build up, and do a general health check-up to make sure your hearing loss isn’t due to illness.

3. See an audiologist

Then you should consult an audiologist at a hearing aid clinic, or one that your doctor recommends, for a comprehensive diagnostic hearing test.

Some clinics offer tests free to everyone, some free to eligible people under the hearing services program, and some may charge you, but waive the charge if you decide to buy hearing aids from them.

At this point, consider getting someone to come with you. You may be provided with a lot of information and/or decisions to make, and it’s useful to get another perspective.

Where should you buy a hearing aid?

There are nine major hearing aid clinic brands (with more than 20 stores), and hundreds of independent stores, or stores part of smaller chains. Then there’s the behemoth Australian Hearing, with over 500 permanent or visiting centres, supplying one-third of all government-subsidised hearing aids.

New disruptor on the block is Specsavers Audiology, which at the time of writing has 56 outlets, with more rapidly rolling out. Even bulk goods supplier Costco provides audiology services and hearing aids.

So which one should you choose?

While price is important, remember that you’re not just buying a product – you’re entering into a service relationship. Confidence, trust and rapport with your audiologist are also important, as are more practical issues such as location, opening hours and ease of getting appointments.

At your consultation, your hearing services provider should:

• do an audiogram and explain the results
• explain the benefits and limitations of different types of hearing aids, if aids are recommended
• give you a detailed quote
• agree to a free trial period of at least 30 days
• outline a plan for how to get the best from your new hearing aid and make arrangements for a follow-up visit.

Audiology and hearing aid clinics in Australia

We contacted major brands of hearing aid clinics in Australia – those with access to more than 20 outlets – to find out what they offered in terms of screening and assessments, free trials and satisfaction guarantee and after care.

A free trial can help you discover if you like the feel of the hearing aid – if you’re trying a new style, for example.

But a generous satisfaction guarantee can make a big difference to your hearing aid experience. All the clinics we contacted offered at least 30 days, but some up to 90 days. There is an argument that if you’re not happy in 30 days, you won’t be happy in 60 or 90, which may well be true.

However, the extra time may come in useful if you’re busy, or have to travel a long way to a clinic, and have to fit in a few appointments within that period. It will also give you a chance to try them in lots of different situations – a big wedding or a party on day 35 could be good testing ground.

Which is the best brand hearing aid?

The main brands available in Australia are:

• Bernafon
• Oticon
• Phonak
• ReSound
• Rexton
• Signia (Siemens)
• Sonic Innovations
• Starkey
• Unitron
• Widex.

There is no one ‘best brand’ for hearing aids. That’s not to say they’re all the same – different brands will focus on different aspects of hearing, so sometimes one brand may suit your needs better than another.

Nina Quinn, CEO of the Neurosensory chain of clinics, says, “In 80% of cases, the brand doesn’t matter. Every brand has a suitable product in its range. What is really important is selecting the right product for the individual and far more importantly, the programming of those devices. A device is only as good as the way it is programmed. However, in approximately 20% of cases, certain brands will better meet niche requirements.”

Our consumer counterparts in the US surveyed almost 20,000 of its members who wear hearing aids, asking them to rate their overall satisfaction with the aid, as well as various features such as ease of changing batteries, ease of cleaning and fit/comfort.

All the brands listed above scored between 65 and 68% for overall satisfaction. Their statistics boffins worked out that a difference of less than four percentage points between any two products meant they were not noticeably different, implying all these brands were rated about the same.

However, this doesn’t take different levels of technology within each brand into account, nor how well the aid is programmed for the individual – a poorly programmed top-of-the-line product won’t be as good as a well-programmed basic model, and that’s regardless of which brand’s involved. This importance of individual tailoring is why ĚÇĐÄVlog doesn’t test hearing aids.

Some outlets have their own brand of product – for example, Costco has Kirkland, while Specsavers has Advance – which are locked to the supplier. If you move to an area where there’s no local Costco or Specsavers, you won’t be able to get them serviced.

Australia’s most reliable hearing aid brands

In 2020 we surveyed 470 ĚÇĐÄVlog members about their experiences with hearing air brands to find out which ones hold up best over time.

The top performers

Most reliable brands: Signia, Oticon, Phonak.

Brands with the highest owner satisfaction: Signia, Oticon, Phonak.

Looking at an eight-year purchase period, the most popular hearing aid brands among the respondents were Phonak (20%), Signia (17%) and Oticon (15%).

In general, all performed similarly in terms of reliability as well as user satisfaction. The differences in scores were not statistically significant.

The majority of respondents (75%) had a Behind The Ear (BTE) hearing aid – much more popular than Receiver In The Ear (RITE) at 12% and In The Ear (ITE) at 11%. 

Hearing aids appear to be a relatively unreliable category with an overall reliability score of 59%. Of those who bought their hearing aids in the last eight years:

• 37% have never experienced problems with their hearing aids
• 25% complained that conversations were not filtered properly through their hearing aid
• 13% noted that their hearing aids had a low battery life
• 13% felt their hearing aids were hard to clean or accumulated too much ear wax
• owners of ITE hearing aids were the most likely to complain that conversations were not filtered properly (41%; BTE at 24%; and RITE at 20%)
• 43% of hearing aid owners had contacted the brand for service support. Nearly half (46%) of them did so due to a major failure.

While we didn’t ask respondents about the cost of their hearing aids, there were a number of mentions that the hearing aids were expensive.

With a high incidence of problems reported, there were a lot of comments on getting the hearing aids repaired, readjusted or replaced.

A number of hearing aid owners like the Bluetooth connectivity so they can answer calls or listen to music from their phone.

It also appears that owners were more likely to contact the hearing aid retailer or audiologist for repair and service, instead of directly dealing with the manufacturer.

Which type of hearing aid should you buy?

There are several options available in terms of the physical form of the hearing aid and your hearing services provider will help you decide which is the most suitable for your condition and lifestyle.

Going invisible – Lyric and other options

For many people, a discreet hearing aid is important – they don’t want others to notice they have a hearing aid. However, some argue that a noticeable hearing aid isn’t necessarily a bad thing – if others notice you have hearing aids they can modify the way they interact with you accordingly (speaking clearly, not speaking from behind you, not thinking you’re ignoring them and so on).

Invisible in canal (IIC) models are almost invisible – they have a small stick (handle) that pokes out of your canal so you can insert and remove the aid.

Phonak Lyric hearing aids are smaller and worn deeper in the canal than typical IIC models, making them truly invisible. They stay in place 24/7, even while showering, and they’re disposable so you don’t need to change the battery – aids last for around 2–3 months before being replaced with the help of your audiologist.

You pay for them on a subscription basis, rather than a one-off cost, and you can reckon on $2000–2800 per ear, per year. While it works out to be more expensive than other hearing aids, the invisibility and set-and-forget convenience may make it worthwhile for some. Another advantage is that you automatically get the newest technology as it’s upgraded.

But some people might not like the feeling of something permanently in their ear.

They’re generally available on a trial basis, so you can see if it suits you before committing to the program.

Features and extras

Some features can make life with hearing aids even better, but some may not be worth the money.

Rechargeable batteries 

Batteries in hearing aids are small and fiddly, and notoriously difficult to change when people have limited dexterity (such as arthritis) and/or poor vision. And you need to change them often. With rechargeable batteries you simply place the device on a charger each night, and they’ll be ready in the morning. At this stage only BTE or RIC devices are rechargeable.

Smartphone connectivity 

Your smartphone can be used as a ‘remote control’ for your hearing aids, allowing you to switch between listening programs, adjust volume and so on. Your phone can also transmit sound directly to your hearing aids – useful not only for phone calls, but music, podcasts, audiobooks and videos too.

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Omnidirectional microphones pick up sound 180 degrees around each ear, so if you’re wearing two hearing aids, it will be 360 degrees. Directional microphones face front and back, and if you’re in a noisy environment you can switch off the back one so you can hear speech in front of you. More advanced hearing aids have automatic switching, so they detect the noise level and switch between different microphone modes. Adaptive microphones focus on speech, whether it’s behind you (in a car, say) or in front of you.

Telecoil or t-coil 

Used in conjunction with a hearing or induction loop fitted in some public places (such as auditoriums, airports, places of worship, theatres), a telecoil in your hearing aid switches off the microphones and allows you to hear speeches, announcements and so on picked up by the hearing loop – without all the background noise. If you want this feature, it needs to be installed and/or activated by your audiologist.

Tinnitus masker 

Many hearing aids will play a low level white noise to mask the sound of tinnitus.

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Hearing aids made with titanium are smaller than those made with plastic. However, they’re more expensive, and the smaller size may or may not make much difference to you.

Wind noise reduction 

This feature is found on more advanced hearing aids, and if wind is blowing across one hearing aid it reduces amplification of low frequency noise. It’s a useful feature if you spend a lot of time in the outdoors, hiking or playing golf, for example.

Hearing aid technology levels and prices

Hearing aids range in technological capability from simple amplification in quiet situations to highly sophisticated sound processing that separates speech from background noise in complex environments.

Each brand carries one or more series with a range of models at different levels of technology within each series. The names of technology levels may vary, and just to confuse things, terms like ‘basic’ and ‘essential’ can mean different levels in different clinics. Descriptors like bronze, silver, gold, platinum and diamond may also be used.

The series/models included here as examples are among the most popular – they’re not necessarily recommended as being the best.

We’ve also provided a price range for each technology level. Note that prices are indicative only and will depend on where you buy, whether service is included and if there are any additional features, such as rechargeable batteries, titanium casing, TV connectors, remote controls and so on.

We haven’t included the Costco and Specsavers brands, but they’re substantially cheaper than label brands – their respective premium models cost $1899 and $3495 per pair, compared to $6000–8000 or more for mainstream brands.

Is lifestyle really the best criterion for hearing aid level?

For each level, we’ve listed examples of hearing aids that may help in particular lifestyle situations, but they’ll also help in less challenging situations. So hearing aids that will help you at small social gatherings will also help with one-on-one conversations at home, or when talking with a few people while visiting friends and family.

It’s commonly followed in the industry that the more ‘active’ your lifestyle, the more advanced – and more expensive – the hearing aid should be.

But not everyone agrees with this practice, such as audiologist Grant Collins, president of the Independent Audiologists Australia and principal of the Clarity Hearing + Balance chain in Queensland.

He says, “More often than not it isn’t lifestyle which determines what technology level you would benefit from. It’s more functional elements, such as the severity of hearing loss, configuration of hearing loss, speech discrimination, hearing in background noise, dexterity and eyesight, cognitive capacity, and outdoors vs indoors lifestyle, to name but a few things.”

As an example, Collins explains, “If you have a severe to profound hearing loss with no functional hearing in the high frequencies, your ability to be able to understand speech is going to be limited – so it doesn’t matter how much you spend and what features you have.

“On the other hand, you could have a mild to moderate hearing loss with excellent speech discrimination and auditory processing, and could have just as good an outcome with a cheap personal amplifier as a premium hearing aid – no matter what your lifestyle.

“The key is to be properly assessed so you understand your hearing loss and know what devices may be able to provide the best benefit.”

Christo Fourie of Value Hearing agrees, adding that while ability to distinguish speech in noise is one of the most important determinants of which hearing aid technology is right for you, it’s often overlooked in testing.

“Instead, it’s just assumed that everyone has ‘average’ difficulty [hearing] in noise. This leads to hearing aids being selected based on this assumption that you’re ‘average’, and you’re offered hearing aids based on your lifestyle, activity level and age,” he says.

Are premium hearing aids actually much better?

The higher end hearing aids add very little – if any – benefit over the more basic models for most people, according to Grant Collins. He says they start most people with the entry level or basic model, which is free for eligible people.

However, Christo Fourie says, “Hearing aids are priced based on the features they have. More expensive hearing aids have lots of features, but can also clean up the speech from noise better.”

Start basic and upgrade if necessary

Rather than plunge in at the most expensive end of the market, take advantage of the free trial period offered by hearing aid retailers, starting with a more basic model and upgrading if it’s not up to the task. Having then tried a higher level aid, you can decide whether the difference, if any, is worth the extra cost.

Much of the technological capability in higher end hearing aids is due to software, rather than the hardware – so the programming, rather than the physical aid itself. With Unitron hearing aids, you can buy a base model and pay your audiologist to ‘unlock’ or enable enhanced capabilities if you decide you need them.

Give them a chance to work

Unlike glasses which correct vision impairment, hearing aids won’t restore your hearing to ‘normal’. It will take you and your brain time to get used to them – and, where devices are capable of learning from your behaviour, for them to get used to you!

It may be frustrating at first, and possibly disappointing if you were hoping to have your hearing back to ‘normal’. It can take a few weeks – possibly up to 12 weeks – for your brain to adapt to the new sounds it’s getting. That’s why it’s important when you first get them to wear them often and test them out in challenging situations.

How to get a good deal on a hearing aid

Hearing aids range in price from around $2000 a pair, up to $10,000, and sometimes more when extra gadgets are included. If you’re no longer working, that’s a significant financial hit, and given that hearing aids only last around five years, an expense you’ll likely experience again.

Many people are eligible for government assistance with hearing aids, either through the Office of Hearing Services or the National Disability Insurance Scheme. The tax offset for medical expenses is unfortunately being phased out, with 2018–19 the last year it’s claimable.

Office of Hearing Services – Hearing Services Program

Hearing aids aren’t covered by Medicare, but the Australian Government’s helps people on low incomes most likely to struggle with hearing aid costs. Eligible people, including children, Indigenous Australians, most pensioners, part-pensioners, veterans and some other groups, are entitled to a free hearing assessment, hearing rehabilitation and hearing aids or assistive listening devices.

Around 80% of hearing aids sold in Australia are fully or partially subsidised under this program.

Most of the free devices are basic, but they often have features such as automatic directional microphones, noise reduction, multichannel function, telecoils, wireless connectivity and basic remote controls.

If you’re after aids with higher-technology features, you’ll have to pay your provider the difference between the cost of these ‘top-up’ aids and that of appropriate aids that could be fitted free.

Private health insurance

Many health insurance extras policies will contribute to the cost of hearing aids, and depending on the policy, up to $1600 per person. In fact we’ve found some policies which cost less than the hearing aid rebate. 

Shopping around for a good deal

If you don’t have health insurance and aren’t eligible for government assistance, you can still save on hearing aids by shopping around.

If an audiologist recommends a certain hearing aid for you, get online and look at prices. Just make sure you’re comparing apples with apples – you need the exact model name, and keep in mind any extras included, such as charging station, titanium, remote controls, batteries. Some retailers have a price-matching guarantee, so if you see it cheaper elsewhere, try to bargain.

It’s not always clear what the price includes, and many audiologists argue you’re not just buying a device, you’re buying a service. This includes the services of a highly qualified health professional, such as testing, education, rehabilitation and ongoing service and support for the life of the device – as well as the device itself.

Some retailers, such as Clarity Hearing + Balance, aim to help consumers by making their pricing transparent and displaying prices online, and they unbundle the cost of the device from the cost of professional services as much as possible. So experienced users, for example, may choose to buy the device without any included service, and then pay extra for service if it’s needed. This ends up being substantially cheaper than buying a device which includes service, and if the service isn’t needed you shouldn’t be paying for it. On the other hand, new users, or people with complex needs who may need to make numerous visits for testing and adjustment, can buy service packages of various levels.

Get the technology level right

Don’t be talked into buying something more expensive than you need. If in doubt, start with cheaper technology, make use of the satisfaction guarantee/free trial period and only upgrade if you feel it’s necessary.

The post How to buy the best hearing aid for you appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Using your hearing aid with the TV
• Can you connect a hearing aid to the TV?
• Can you use headphones with a hearing aid?
• Can you use headphones in place of a hearing aid?
• How to activate Bluetooth on your TV
•  What if you have hearing loss but your partner does not?

Our guide outlines various options so you can pick a solution best suited to your budget and TV set-up. If you wear a hearing aid, we suggest you speak to your audiologist before buying anything to make sure it matches your specific needs.

Using your hearing aid with the TV

Bluetooth is the most common method for connecting your hearing aid to your TV. It’s built into almost all modern TVs and wireless headphones as well as many digital hearing aids. 

Bluetooth audio ‘dongles’ are available for older TVs that don’t support the technology. These connect via outputs such as RCA, auxiliary and optical (also known as TOSLINK). Make sure you select a Bluetooth dongle that sends the audio from the TV, and is not simply a receiver.

Though convenient, Bluetooth isn’t perfect. It can reduce quality, cause latency and lip-sync issues, and is pretty power hungry which can put a strain on headphone and hearing aid batteries.

You can also buy dongles or mounts that transmit audio using radio waves, infra-red, Wi-Fi or induction loops for older hearing aids. This includes headphones that come with a special mount which plugs into your TV. 

Sennheiser is the most prominent mainstream manufacturer of products like these, but there are plenty of smaller brands as well.

What about wired headphones?

Wired headphones are an option if you prefer, but you’ll need to buy a long auxiliary cable unless you sit very close to your TV or have a cable connecting a headphone amp that’s next to you to the TV. 

This can be a handy solution as you’ll be able to control the volume independently of the TV volume. But make sure you lay the cable carefully as you don’t want to introduce a trip hazard. 

On the plus side it removes any potential issues with sound quality and latency problems that can occur with Bluetooth headphones.

Can you connect a hearing aid to the TV?

Many digital hearing aids made in the last few years either support Bluetooth or offer Bluetooth as an optional extra for a slightly higher price. 

If you have an older model, ask your audiologist about buying an infra-red, telecoil or induction loop dongle. They can recommend the right product and help you set it up.

Can you use headphones with a hearing aid?

This can be a quick, simple solution depending on the size and shape of your hearing aid. Receiver-in-canal (RIC) and in-the-ear (ITE) hearing aids are typically small enough to accommodate on or over ear headphones, often known as ‘cans’. 

Some behind-the-ear (BTE) models are suitable too. You can’t use earbuds without removing your hearing aid.

Unfortunately the range of headphones and hearing aid designs means this isn’t a one-size-fits-all situation. There are also some safety precautions to consider, according to Gemma Cooper, clinical leader of commercial clinical services at Hearing Australia. 

She suggests that using headphones with your hearing aid is generally fine, provided you consult with your audiologist first. She recommends using over-ear headphones if possible.

“For most hearing aid wearers, the over-the-ear style headphone suits the majority of hearing aid styles,” which are BTE and RIC, she explains. “In-the-ear and receiver-in-canal hearing aid wearers can also use on-the-ear headphones.

“You want to look for headphones with a good adjustable headset so you can ensure they sit exactly where you want them to and don’t pull down or put weight on the ear/hearing aid,” she adds. 

You should consider your type of hearing loss and try to find headphones that let you adjust settings to compensate for that. The right model may allow bass, treble and volume to be tweaked for each ear to suit your needs.

You’re going to need to try a few options with the help of your audiologist, as interference can be an issue as well. “If the headphones don’t sit correctly around the microphone, the sound may be too soft,” says Cooper. 

“If the headphones hug the ear too tightly, you can experience feedback from the hearing aids.

“On-the-ear headphones don’t provide a great acoustic seal, meaning ambient noise often leaks in, and users often need to turn up the volume of the sound on their device to hear clearly. 

“They may also generate a higher risk of feedback/whistling because of the proximity of the headphone earpiece to the hearing aid.” Note, Bluetooth itself doesn’t cause any interference.

In terms of general safety, the same rules apply to hearing aid users as anyone else. Take frequent breaks (every one to two hours) and keep the volume as low as possible. You’re not going to damage the hearing aid but you can damage your hearing if you crank the volume.

Can you use headphones in place of a hearing aid?

You may be able to remove your hearing aid and use headphones if you have low to moderate hearing loss. This includes earbuds that wouldn’t normally fit with a hearing aid in place. Just remember, cranking the volume to compensate for this can still put your hearing at risk according to Cooper.

“Hearing aids have a limited output range, so when a sound enters the hearing aid, it’s only amplified for the wearer to a safe level,” she says, adding that this level of protection is removed if you swap your hearing aid for earbuds. 

“[Also], combining headphones with a hearing loss means that the wearer is much less aware of sounds around them, such as hearing the smoke alarm.”

Specialty earbuds

Earbuds specifically designed for home entertainment are available, mainly for those that are hard of hearing but don’t use a hearing aid. 

They let you tweak things like bass, treble, volume for each ear and so on, to compensate for your hearing loss. Some specifically amplify dialogue, such as TV Voice Pro Air headphones.

These usually connect to your TV via a dongle that uses Wi-Fi or infra-red, so check the spec sheet before buying to make sure your TV has the right outputs (USB or audio out via RCA/AUX/HDMI/optical etc). 

They also tend to include a remote so you can adjust the settings independent of the TV without having to get off the couch. Sennheiser is the most prominent manufacturer in this area.

How to activate Bluetooth on your TV

We looked at three new TVs from LG, Samsung and Sony which, combined, make up the majority of TVs on the market. 

It was easy to locate and turn on Bluetooth then scan for headphones on the LG and Samsung, but Sony hid the settings in the “remotes and accessories” section, so you may need to consult the manual to find the appropriate setting.

The LG and Samsung didn’t automatically connect to the headphones each time we turned on the TV. We had to manually do that in the settings. Sony was the opposite, which meant we had to manually disconnect the headphones if we wanted to use the speakers or other devices (such as a soundbar). 

So, the best option depends on whether you need to swap between headphones and other devices, or if you’re going to use Bluetooth headphones most of the time.

Minor latency will always be evident with Bluetooth devices and we noticed it in each TV and pair of headphones. But it was minimal and you will probably forget about it after a minute or so. 

LG did include a tool that pings your headphones to determine, and compensate for, audio delay in milliseconds. You can manually adjust delay if it still seems off. The Sony had a built-in audio/video sync tool but it was difficult to tell if it was actually working.

How to use a Bluetooth adaptor or wireless transmitter

Bluetooth adaptors and wireless transmitters plug into the auxiliary, RCA or optical output on your TV, so make sure the adaptor inputs match up. Newer TVs may not include RCA, auxiliary cables or adaptors, and some adaptors only support these inputs. Remember to check the specs.

We found Sennheiser’s Bluetooth Audio Transmitter supported all required inputs. It was also easy to set up, adding Bluetooth to an older TV.

For example, Sennheiser make entertainment-specific wireless headphones that sync to a dongle connected to the TV, not unlike the TV Voice Pro Air headphones. 

The mid-range RS 120 II’s only support RCA which basically makes them obsolete for many new TVs, while the higher-end 175 and Voice Pro Air supports optical.

How to use wired headphones

Though this seems like a simple case of plug-and-play, you may find your TV doesn’t have the necessary inputs for wired headphones. You’ll need to track down a converter if that’s the case. These are often available from the manufacturer or online.

We also found that wired gaming headsets with in-built microphones can cause problems. We tried to connect a pair of Logitech headphones with no intention of using the mic, but the four-pole cable plug isn’t designed to work with TV inputs. 

Some audio came through, but it cut all dialogue. Again, you’ll need to find a converter.

Which headphones are the easiest to use?

Specialty devices with their own transmitters typically come with remote controls which is very handy. Play/pause, volume and Bluetooth sync buttons are usually built into the side of the cans or attached to the cable that holds earbuds together. Some have a separate remote.

Earbuds often rely on touch commands, such as “hold the left earbud for three seconds”. This is a little bit harder as it requires more dexterity, and you can accidentally activate other settings if you move your finger too quickly.

Models without onboard controls may require you to adjust it from an app on your smartphone or even use voice commands. For example, many earbuds let you swipe to skip tracks, but you can use this gesture to increase/decrease volume in the app settings. 

So, if you’re not tech savvy or you don’t own a smartphone, stick to headphones with onboard controls or a remote.

Which headphones have the best sound quality?

This is like asking which ice cream tastes best. Good quality is subjective and based entirely around personal preference. 

That said, we did notice some important differentiators when we looked at affordable, mid-range and high-end headphones in the context of hearing assistance.

Movies, TV shows and so on are basically nothing without the dialogue (aside from silent films), so we looked for headphones that delivered a dynamic sound with clear, crisp speech clarity. This included the Voice Pro Air headphones which claimed to amplify dialogue for hard of hearing users.

Overall, cheaper models sounded flat with limited bass and some muddy dialogue, while more expensive models had the dynamic range required to let the dialogue come through, even in loud action scenes. 

This was the case with earbuds and headphones, so it’s probably worth spending a little extra if you have trouble hearing dialogue.

The TV Voice Pro Air headphones lived up to the advertising claims. They clearly amplified dialogue by increasing mid- and high-range frequencies, at the expense of bass. 

This suggests that some specialty headphones are worth considering if you’re really having trouble hearing dialogue, just don’t expect excellent audio quality across the board.

We didn’t notice a difference in sound quality between Bluetooth and headphones that used proprietary signals, such as the Sennheiser 120 IIs and 175s. The 120 II’s exhibited a light buzz, presumably due to the radio signal used rather than Bluetooth, and the 175’s dropped out or stuttered every minute or so.

The thing is, these have hung around from a time before Bluetooth was widespread. There’s no real reason to use them anymore in place of Bluetooth (including a dongle), unless you really like the sound quality and features or your TV doesn’t offer Bluetooth support.

 What if you have hearing loss but your partner does not?

This is where dual audio output or ‘passthrough’ comes in handy. Many TVs let you send audio to the built-in speakers and another output at the same time, including Bluetooth, HDMI or optical for example. 

Then, your friend, housemate, partner etc. can watch TV at a suitable volume using the speakers, while you can set your own levels in the headphones.

Of the three TVs we looked at, the LG and Samsung supported dual audio with Bluetooth headphones and TV speakers. The LG was easy to set up, with clear text that indicated which outputs were active. 

In this case, it was ‘Bluetooth surround sound + TV’. The Samsung was a little more difficult due to the convoluted menu.

We couldn’t find any way to set up dual audio directly from the Sony TV. But the manual suggests that you can set up passthrough to go to a Bluetooth dongle and TV speaker at the same time, but we couldn’t confirm this. 

All three dual audio options introduced latency and the LG was the only TV with settings to fix this. So, if you’re in this situation, make sure you check the specification/manual or ask the retailer if the TV you own or are looking at buying specifically supports dual audio with Bluetooth. 

It seems like it’s not a given across all brands even though passthrough to a physical output like HDMI is standard.

Dual passthrough to soundbars

Things get a lot more complicated when you add a soundbar or home cinema to the mix. This is because the TV needs to passthrough to two external devices which they often can’t do. We faced similar problems with dongles.

For example, the LG and Samsung only allowed output to one device at a time in conjunction with the built-in TV speakers. 

We couldn’t tell them to send audio via Bluetooth and HDMI, for example. We managed to get it working on the Sony, but only when the soundbar was connected with an optical cable.

That’s not to say you can’t connect a soundbar and Bluetooth headphones to your TV or dongle. Just be prepared to regularly switch between or stick with the built-in speakers if someone needs to use headphones.

Try before you buy?

Many retailers don’t let you try on headphones due to health and safety reasons. And they generally don’t accept returns unless they’re faulty, as retailers can’t resell ‘used’ models.

Unfortunately, this puts you in a bit of a tough spot. The best advice we can give is to try to borrow headphones from a friend or relative that are similar to those you’re considering to gauge fit and comfort, especially if you wear a sizeable hearing aid. 

Also, always consult your audiologist before buying as they may have sample products you can try.

The post How to use your hearing aid with TVs and headphones appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

Enter blue light blocking glasses, which claim to fix our sleep and alleviate the symptoms of sore, tired eyes for good. But do they work? We take a look at the evidence. 

What is blue light and is it harmful?

Blue light is part of the electromagnetic spectrum, and most of the exposure we get to it is from sunlight. It’s also artificially emitted from our digital devices and LED light bulbs.

As blue light is close to UV light in the spectrum – and we know the risks that UV light pose to the skin and the eyes – it’s been the focus of many studies, says Dr Nisha Sachdev, ophthalmologist and director at the Australian Society of Ophthalmologists. 

“However, I don’t believe there’s any evidence to suggest that normal environmental exposure to blue light, including that emitted from digital screens, causes any measurable damage to our eyesight,” she says.

Optometrist Luke Arundel from Optometry Australia agrees. “The level of blue light exposure from computer screens and mobile devices is less than that absorbed when you step out into natural sunlight – and is below the international safety limits,” he says. “So at this stage, we don’t need to worry about computers or phones ‘frying’ our eyes.”

Can blue light cause digital eye strain?

It’s a question worth asking, given digital eye strain is thought to affect millions of people globally. 

In the US alone, a 2016 survey found 65% of adult respondents reported symptoms of digital eye strain – which typically includes dry, irritated eyes, blurred vision and headaches resulting from prolonged use of computers or other devices. But experts are sceptical that blue light is to blame.

“We’re a very digital society and this reliance on screens is a relatively new phenomenon in the last 5–10 years,” says Dr Sachdev. “And indeed, this year with everyone working from home, I’ve seen many patients present with symptoms of digital eye strain. 

“However, I think that the ocular issues we’re increasingly seeing are not so much related to blue light but rather to spending hours on digital devices and not blinking as much, which affects lubrication of the eye. Wearing contact lenses for more than the recommended eight hours in one session doesn’t help either.”

Arundel adds that there have been limited smaller studies and anecdotal evidence linking blue light to eye strain. 

“Researchers have shown that high intensities of blue light can damage retinal cells but the majority of this research has been conducted in laboratories or on animal models,” he explains. 

“More evidence is needed as to whether blue light exposure specifically causes eye strain and research is ongoing in this area.”

What about the links between blue light and sleep?

There have been a number of studies on the effects of blue light exposure in the evenings from LED lights or screens, including that it may interfere with melatonin production, which may have an impact on sleep/wake cycles. 

However, it’s not known if this leads to adverse health effects, and it continues to be the subject of research, according to Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

“Good sleep is a result of multiple factors and not influenced solely due to blue light from screen use,” says Arundel. 

“But limiting exposure to blue light by reducing screen brightness, using night-time apps such as F.Lux and Apple Nightshift and turning devices off at least an hour before bed are strongly recommended for a good night’s rest.”

What are blue light blocking glasses?

Blue light blocking glasses have special coatings that filter out the blue light that’s emitted from electronic devices such as TVs, computer screens, tablets and smartphones. Some of these devices – such as smartphones and tablets – have blue light filters built in that you can ‘switch on’ which claim to do the same thing.

The glasses or blue-blocking lenses are routinely touted by eyewear companies to help with digital eye strain – and anecdotal evidence is mixed. Some consumers say they don’t help much, but in a ĚÇĐÄVlog report in 2015 on blue light blocking glasses, some trialists said after using the glasses they ‘probably’ or ‘maybe’ slept better.  

Do the glasses actually work? 

If you’re using blue light-blocking glasses to help with digital eye strain, then there’s currently limited high-level evidence they work for that purpose. Current lenses may block 6% to 43% of blue light, but blocking all blue light during the day could have other negative effects.

“Blue light, of which the biggest source is the sun, naturally suppresses the body’s production of melatonin, which tells our body to wake up,” says Arundel. 

“Blue light is beneficial during the day because it boosts attention, reaction times and mood – it’s actually essential for our general health and wellbeing, so blocking all blue light during the day may adversely affect your body clock or circadian rhythms.”

What about night-time wearing? Well, a 2017 University of Houston study found that participants who wore the glasses three hours before bed while using digital devices or watching TV experienced a 58% increase in their nightly melatonin levels. However, this was a small study of 22 people.

Other studies have been done to determine whether blue light blocking glasses have other health benefits, adds Dr Sachdev. 

“These were small studies, and overall there was a lack of evidence to support using blue-blocking lenses in order to improve visual performance, alleviate eye fatigue or conserve macular health. 

“A suggested that wearing blue light blocking glasses for one hour before bed may improve sleep quality and alleviate insomnia symptoms, but that would also be the equivalent to having no digital time for an hour prior to sleep.”

Do blue light glasses help with headaches and migraines? 

If you suffer headaches or migraines after long hours staring at a computer, it makes sense to wonder if blue light is to blame. But is it?

“There’s no evidence that blue light blocking glasses will help ward off headaches or migraines,” says Dr Sachdev. 

“A migraine is more likely to be exacerbated by the brightness of your screen or because you’re not taking regular breaks, than exposure to blue light.”

Arundel agrees that many things can contribute to eye strain or headaches – which need to be ruled out before you invest in blue blocking filters. 

“A comprehensive eye examination with an optometrist will look at your focusing system, whether you need prescription lenses, your eye coordination and whether you have dry eye syndrome.”

Are blue light glasses good for night driving? 

If you’re having issues with night driving, this is a different issue to using blue light blocking glasses to filter out blue light from screens

“At night there’s more contrast in the light so we’re really talking about contrast sensitivity here,” says Dr Sachdev, “and there’s no evidence that blue light glasses will help with night-time driving. 

“Generally, we find there’s often an organic cause for night-time driving difficulties, such as cataracts, that people don’t realise they’ve got. So if you’re having difficulties driving at night you need a full ocular examination to rule out any issues that may be causing it.”

Where to get blue light glasses

Keen to try blue light blocking glasses anyway? You can buy blue blocking lenses from optometrists – Oscar Wylee will add a blue light blocking filter to any of its frames for $80, while OPSM’s BlueGuard lenses will set you back $50 on top of your selected lenses.

Just be aware there is currently no specific Australian standard for blue light filtering glasses or screen protectors, according to the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists (RANZCO).

Other ways to reduce eye strain

We’d struggle to lift weights at the gym for hours at a time – but we expect our eye muscles to function perfectly under extreme workloads without a break, says Arundel.

“Even for someone with perfect vision, eye muscles will become sore, tired and fatigued with ‘overuse’,” he explains.

“A good habit to adopt to avoid this is the 20/20 rule, where every 20 minutes you should look up and into the distance for 20 seconds, to give your eye muscles a break.”

Dr Sachdev also recommends keeping hydrated, using lubricating eye drops and turning down the brightness of your screen. 

“I’ve done it myself on all my devices as well as the computers throughout my clinic – and it really does help,” she says.

The post Do blue light blocking glasses actually work? appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Can laser eye surgery fix my vision problem?
• Techniques and technologies
• Risks and complications
• Expectations
• Intraocular lens implants
• What about presbyopia?
• Choosing a clinic

On the downside, there’s no guarantee you’ll end up completely spectacle-free, and it’ll cost you about $2500-3000 per eye. You can’t claim a Medicare benefit for it, and private health funds generally either don’t cover it, or offer only limited rebates for members with top hospital/extras cover.

We also look at other forms of eye surgery, such as intraocular lens implants. This procedure is more invasive than laser eye surgery, and also more expensive. But it’s worth considering if you’re over 40, or not a good candidate for laser eye surgery. 

What is laser eye surgery?

Laser eye surgery is an irreversible procedure that will permanently alter the curvature of your cornea. There are other procedures, such as lens implants, but laser techniques are the most common. 

An ophthalmologist (eye surgeon) carries out the operation, most commonly in a laser eye clinic, with a computer-controlled excimer laser that uses pulses of ultraviolet light to reshape the corneal surface – flattening it in short-sighted people, sculpting a steeper curve if you’re far-sighted, and evening out the curve to correct astigmatism.

Ophthalmologists are registered medical doctors who assess eyes, diagnose diseases, prescribe corrective devices, and carry out medical and surgical procedures. But they need no formal training specific to laser eye surgery.

Dr Diana Conrad, director of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Ophthalmologists, says, “Laser refractive surgery has evolved over the past 20 years to become an accepted part of mainstream eye care. The results are very good, and there is now data to show long-term stability.”

Can laser eye surgery fix my vision problem?

It depends what your vision problem is. But first it’s important to have a basic understanding of how the eye works.

In the normal eye, light rays pass through the cornea at the front of the eye and the lens behind it focuses them as a sharp image onto the retina at the back. But when the cornea or eye is misshapen, we see a distorted or blurred image (called a refractive error). 

The most common errors are:

Myopia (short-sightedness)

Light rays are focused in front of the retina, leading to blurred distant vision.

Hyperopia (long-sightedness)

Light rays aren’t yet in focus when they reach the retina, leading to blurred close-up vision.

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This is a very common condition where the eye isn’t completely round, meaning light is focused at different points, leading to blurred or distorted vision at all distances. People can have myopia or hyperopia as well as astigmatism. 

Laser eye surgery can correct varying degrees of myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism, either in one or both eyes.

Presbyopia

As we get older, the eye lens becomes stiffer, affecting our ability to focus on close objects. It usually starts in our 40s, making us need reading glasses.

Presbyopia can’t be corrected with traditional laser surgery. But there are other options – see What about presbyopia? ˛ú±đ±ô´Ç·É.Ěý

Techniques and technologies

Risks and complications

Laser eye surgery for vision correction can change your life for the better. But you need to be comfortable with taking a certain amount of risk, as no medical procedure is totally risk-free and the results are irreversible.

Laser eye surgery has been done for more than 30 years now and, over that time, the complication rate has proven to be generally low. About one in 20 (five percent) patients report problems afterwards.

The most common problems occur during the first few weeks after surgery and include:

• Over- or under-correction, or residual blurry vision, which requires another ‘fine-tuning’ enhancement after three months.
• Dry eyes or an inability to produce enough tears to keep the eyes comfortable, especially after LASIK.
• Visual symptoms (especially after PRK) affecting night-driving ability, such as corneal haze, glare and/or haloes, starbursts around lights, blurry double vision or light sensitivity.
• Eye sensitivity after PRK or other surface laser treatments.

Other, less common problems include myopic regression (where eyesight changes back to its pre-surgery state), lower contrast sensitivity and less crisp vision, even with glasses or contact lenses.

Chance of infection

Complications that threaten your vision are very rare. But as with any other surgery, there’s always a slight chance of infection, especially within the first two days after surgery. It’s rare, and more common with PRK than with LASIK, but infections can lead to scarring and, in extreme cases, blindness.

The long-term effect of removing corneal tissue is unknown, but so far no studies have suggested that there’ll be complications in the long term. Most problems discovered so far occur in the first year after surgery.

Expectations

Most people will see better after laser eye surgery, but there’s no guarantee you’ll no longer need glasses or contact lenses. In fact, you’re very likely to need reading glasses anyway as you get older, as laser eye surgery won’t prevent the onset of age-related vision problems. (It won’t speed them up either, although they might become more noticeable after surgery.)

If you’re aware of the surgery’s limitations, as well as its potential complications and risks, and you’re still convinced it’ll improve your lifestyle, laser vision correction might well be worth the expense.

Best chance of success: light to moderate myopia

More than nine in 10 people who are lightly to moderately short-sighted achieve 6/12 vision and many 6/6 vision or better. A person with 6/12 vision – the legal requirement for driving in many Australian states – can see at six metres what a person with normal vision can see at 12. (The old term for normal vision was 20/20, which referred to feet instead of metres.)

People who are more than moderately short or long sighted can still benefit from surgery, but they might have to temper their expectations. And although astigmatism can also be treated, its type and severity will affect results.

How much does laser eye surgery cost?

The cost varies, depending on the type of procedure and the technology used. Costs range from $1300 to $3700, but are typically about $3000, per eye. SMILE is more expensive than LASIK and surface laser treatments – more than $3000 per eye.

Health fund contributions

Laser eye surgery is considered cosmetic, so don’t expect much, if anything, in the way of rebates from your private health insurer. Although many funds do cover laser eye surgery, the cover may only apply for their top hospital or extras policies, and will usually cover only a small portion of the total cost. Check with your health insurance provider first.

Medicare benefits

Medicare pays no benefit for most laser eye surgery either – only if it’s required to treat certain eye diseases. Otherwise, it’s categorised as cosmetic, as people generally have it so that they can stop wearing glasses. 

Intraocular lens implants

An alternative to laser eye surgery is intraocular lens implants, where a lens is inserted into your eye, either instead of, or as well as, your natural lens. This type of surgery may be a good option for people aged over 40, as it can help correct presbyopia (the need for reading glasses). It’s also suitable for people with cataracts, whose natural, cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens.

The three main types of implant are:

1. Intraocular contact lens (IOL) or phakic implant

The intraocular contact lens is inserted behind your cornea and in front of your pupil, with your natural lens left in place.

2. Refractive lens exchange (RLE)

Your natural lens is replaced with a customised artificial intraocular lens, which is similar to what happens in cataract surgery. The replacement lens can be monovision or multifocal, which may reduce the need for reading glasses.

3. Corneal inlay

A tiny ring is implanted within the cornea through a hole made directly in the mid-cornea or under a LASIK-type of corneal flap. It works like a pinhole camera, increasing the depth of field so you can see near and far objects clearly. Typically, only one eye is done, so your other eye has normal vision. It’s generally recommended only for people with very good long-distance vision.

Who should consider implants?

These procedures are more invasive than laser eye surgery, and are best suited to people who are not candidates for laser procedures. Your surgeon will do one eye at a time, and allow time for it to recover before treating the second eye. There are risks, although, as with laser eye surgery, they are mostly short-lived and can be fixed with medication or further surgery.

Implants are also more expensive, and can cost about twice as much as laser eye surgery. However, if the procedure is part of cataract surgery, you’ll get a rebate from Medicare and/or private insurance.

What about presbyopia?

If reading glasses aren’t for you, there are some surgical options that can help with presbyopia.

Monovision

With monovision, you treat one eye to see near objects, and leave the other, usually your dominant eye, for distance vision. Your eyes work independently. This condition can occur naturally, or can be created with contact lenses or laser treatment. But not all people can tolerate it, so you may want to trial monovision first with contact lenses before you decide on surgery.

Conductive keratoplasty (CK)

This is a radiofrequency heat treatment to the peripheral cornea that’s less invasive than laser surgery. It can correct small degrees of long-sightedness or improve reading vision in one eye.

PresbyLASIK

A laser contours the cornea to create a multifocal effect, so it has different power zones for vision at varying distances, allowing distant and near vision. Although most (but not all) people who have it are satisfied, there are four main drawbacks: the lack of long-term follow-up studies to see how it fares over time; a relatively high rate of repeat surgery needed; the loss of vision quality; and the potential to affect lens implant options in the future.

Intraocular surgery

Intraocular surgery is the final option, although it’s both expensive and invasive, and you wouldn’t get it to correct for presbyopia alone. See Intraocular lens  implants (above) for more information.

Choosing a clinic

So you’ve made the decision to explore laser eye surgery. How do you make sure you get an experienced surgeon and a good clinic?

Your GP, optometrist or ophthalmologist may be able to recommend a good clinic or a particular ophthalmic surgeon experienced in laser surgery. But you should check out more than one clinic, both to get a second opinion and to compare the services offered. Be wary of clinics that guarantee you perfect vision – it’s not something that can be guaranteed.

Checklist for choosing a laser eye surgery clinic

• If the surgeon holds a current academic position, this indicates that he or she is active in research or teaching, and is exposed to peer review.
• What’s the surgeon’s experience in correcting the type and degree of your refractive error? This question is particularly important because a surgeon needs no extra postgraduate training to do laser eye surgery.
• What’s the degree of the surgeon’s involvement both before and after the procedure? They shouldn’t see you just for the operation and leave the assessments and check-ups to assistants.
• Ask for data on their surgery outcomes. How do they track them? How do the results compare with national benchmarks?
• The clinic should tell you comprehensively about what’s going to happen on the day of the surgery and afterwards. Ask questions and read all the material you’re given.
• If you wear contact lenses, ask for how long you should avoid wearing them before the assessment.
• Does the price include check-ups and, if necessary, enhancement procedures? (These are further operations that may be necessary if the first procedure leaves the eye over- or under-corrected.)
• Accreditation to a quality standard such as ISO 9000 is an indicator that the clinic has written quality assurance procedures in place. Look for such accreditation.
• Don’t go by cost alone. Remember that the decision you make will affect you for the rest of your life.

The post A guide to laser eye surgery appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

You can splash out on expensive designer shades, grab a pair from your favourite store, or go for some cheapies at your local chemist or service station. But sunglasses are a preventive health product and not all of them are created equal.

This guide will give you advice on what to look for when buying sunglasses. There’s no current review of this product.

Sunglasses offer vital protection

Repeated exposure to UV radiation can cause a number of serious (and seriously icky) eye problems, including cataracts, pterygiums (overgrowth of tissue from the white of the eye onto the cornea), solar keratopathy (cloudiness of the cornea), cancer of the conjunctiva, and skin cancer of the eyelids.

And it’s just as important to protect children’s eyes from the sun with sunglasses (as soon as you can convince them to keep them on); UV exposure in childhood is related to skin problems later in life, and it’s likely to be much the same for eyes.

Sunglass standards and lens categories

Designer frames can cost upwards of $200, but you don’t need to spend a week’s salary for a pair of shades that will protect your eyes from glare and, most importantly, UV rays. As of July, 2019, all sunglasses sold in Australia must be tested and labelled according to the Australian/New Zealand standard AS/NZS 1067.1:2016. 

The mandatory standard includes non-prescription sunglasses mounted in a spectacle frame, rimless sunshields and one-piece visors, clip-on and slip-on type sunglasses, children’s sunglasses, fashion spectacles and light tint sunglasses.

When buying sunglasses, look for a lens category of at least 2 or preferably 3. Under AS/NZS 1067.1:2016, sunglasses and fashion spectacles are classified as one of the following:

• Lens category 0: Fashion spectacles These are not sunglasses, as they have a very low ability to reduce sun glare. They provide limited or no UV protection.
• Lens category 1: Fashion spectacles  Like category 0 lenses, these are not sunglasses; however, they do provide limited sun glare reduction and some UV protection. Fashion spectacles with category 1 lenses are not suitable for driving at night.
• Lens category 2: Sunglasses  These sunglasses provide a medium level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection.
• Lens category 3: Sunglasses  These sunglasses provide a high level of sun glare reduction and good level of UV protection.
• Lens category 4: Sunglasses These are special-purpose sunglasses that provide a very high level of sun glare reduction and good UV protection. Never wear them while driving.

In addition to the five category classifications above, the mandatory standard also covers photochromic lenses, also known as variable tint lenses, which may not be suitable for night driving, depending on their transmittance properties (i.e. their ability to reduce sun glare and level of UV protection).

What to know about buying sunglasses

Wrap-around sunglasses

This style may not always be the most fashionable but they are the safest as they offer more UV protection at the sides of the face (and they do come back into style every once in a while – you’ll be ahead of the trend!).

Don’t be fooled by a dark tint

Dark lenses don’t necessarily provide UV protection.

Polarisation

Polarised lenses are usually more pricey, and do help cut down on glare. But they aren’t necessary unless you spend a lot of time outdoors in high-glare situations, such as on the water.

Cost

Sunglasses come at a huge range of price points, from pocket change to hundreds of dollars. It doesn’t matter what you spend – if it complies with the Standard and has a lens category of 2 or 3, they’ll do the job.

The post How to buy the best sunglasses appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

Unfortunately, humans tend to make a habit of spending time in very loud environments, such as concerts and nightclubs, which are particularly popular among young people. Prolonged exposure to anything above 85 decibels (dB) can lead to permanent hearing loss, which sounds high, but that’s the volume you can expect among heavy city traffic. Clubs and concerts typically operate at around 100 dB, which can start to cause damage after just 15 minutes. 

What are filtered earplugs?

Disposable foam earplugs have been an answer to extreme volumes for decades, but they’re designed to cut as much sound as possible, leaving you with little more than muffled bass when out and about. Filtered earplugs, however, don’t just cut the noise – they also claim to retain audio quality and clarity, making them ideal for social situations. They’re quite popular among concertgoers, as they’re designed to let the songs pass through without the volume. 

Uses include:

• Nightclubs and music festivals
• Band rehearsals and performances
• Sports events at large stadiums
• Similar large-scale events in halls with significant reverb (echo)

However, filtered earplugs are no substitute for standard earplugs when you’re around construction sites, heavy machinery, explosions (e.g. fireworks and shooting ranges) and so on.

Why are they needed?

It doesn’t take much to damage your ears. In fact, you’d be surprised at how loud some day-to-day activities are, and the impact that these can have on your hearing. Volumes below 75dB are considered safe – these include hanging around the house, outdoor picnics and dinner parties with a handful of people. Damage can start to occur around 85dB, aka the volume of most vacuum cleaners and heavy traffic. As volume increases, safe exposure time shrinks while the risk of hearing loss increases.

Other environments and machinery that can damage your hearing without protection include: 

Standard and filtered earplugs reduce the level of decibels going in, extending the safe exposure period. Although these earplugs can prevent hearing loss, they won’t provide total protection, particularly during prolonged exposure. If you were to wear a pair that reduces volume by 15dB in a 100dB environment such as a concert, you’re still within the range where permanent hearing loss can occur during extensive or repeated exposure. Earplugs are not the solution to the problem of excessive noise, but a good quality pair can be a cost-effective part of the solution.

How do they work?

Filtered earplugs fit into your ear like a pair of in-ear headphones. The material forms a seal around the canal, while filters reduce the volume. There are two variations available: active and passive.

• Active: Use a tiny inbuilt microphone to retain sound quality by analysing the environment to reduce specific frequencies, similar to noise-cancelling headphones.
• Passive: Rely on special designs to absorb and filter volume by applying reduction at specific frequencies, in any environment.

Active earplugs can theoretically deliver superior sound quality, but at a high cost. Passive models may not sound quite as good, but they should suit most average ears at around half the price or less, and you don’t have to buy batteries.

How much noise do they filter out?

Filtered earplugs reduce volume by the number presented on the package, they do not drop decibels to that amount. For example, earplugs rated at 12dB will drop the volume in a 100dB environment (such as a concert or club) to 88dB. This number is called an attenuation value.

Unfortunately, working out the exact attenuation is tricky, as different countries have different standards and ratings. Most packages display at least one of these systems, as they’re typically manufactured outside Australia: 

Noise reduction rating (NRR): A unit of measurement approved by the American National Standards Institution (ANSI) in accordance with the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA). Must be printed on earplugs manufactured in America.

Single number rating (SNR): An average based on decibel reduction figures measured at high, medium and low frequencies. Brands that use an SNR usually include decibel measurements from each frequency level as well. Required for earplugs manufactured in the European Union and surrounding countries.

Is there an Australian standard?

While we do have a standard that applies to all earplugs (AS/NZS 1270), which is displayed as an SLC₈₀ rating (see below), manufacturers aren’t required to put this attenuation value on the packet (unless they wish to demonstrate compliance with the standard).

Sound Level Conversion (SLC₈₀): The testing regime set out by the Australian standard requires that test subjects fit earplugs based on package instructions (without professional assistance) to determine their effectiveness in the hands of the average person. This means there’s lots of variation in the results, and testers apply a correction to ensure that the stated degree of noise reduction is obtained on 80% of occasions. In other words, 80% of users should experience the stated SLC₈₀ decibel reduction.

Which rating do I follow?

As you can probably tell, attenuation values can be a confusing mess. As most models are manufactured overseas, you’re unlikely to find any SLC₈₀ information on the box. Most will display:

• An NRR or SNR
• An NRR and SNR
• A third rating that appears to be arbitrary, in addition to an NRR or SNR.

The Crescendo DJ earplugs for example, have an NRR rating of 10dB, an SNR of 17dB, and an unspecified rating of 20dB.

Because of this, we worked with the and the (co-founders of ), to conduct an SLC₈₀ test on our behalf while calculating their own SNR. These ratings are listed in our test.

According to NAL, you can use the results based on SLC₈₀ or their SNR as your guide. We suggest comparing the NAL SNR attenuation with those on the packages. If the manufacturer only displays an NRR rating, look at our SNR test results instead.

We also found that stated SNRs on the packaging were within a few decibels of the SNR results from NAL. If you’re considering a brand we haven’t tested, subtract a couple of decibels from the stated SNR and you’ll be in the Australian standard ballpark.

Where to buy

Though all of the models in our test have been manufactured overseas, some have local distribution and can be purchased from Australian websites or bricks and mortar stores. All other brands ship their products worldwide. Products purchased locally are generally easier to return in the event of a problem, and shipping is typically cheaper.

What to look for

• SLC₈₀ rating if available.
• An SNR or NRR at the very least (both is preferable).
• Attenuation of at least 10dB. Anything less will have limited impact.
• Attenuation that suits the environments you frequent. If you regularly go to concerts for example, brands with an attenuation below 15dB won’t drop your ears into the much safer 85dB zone.
• An included carry case.
• A pair that fits properly. These earplugs will not perform well if incorrectly fitted. Use in-ear headphones or standard earplugs as a guide, especially if you have a large ear canal.
• Models that don’t shift during movement such as dancing or jumping. See the movement score in our test for these results.
• Models that retain sound quality and conversation clarity when in use. See our test results for this information.

The post How to buy the best filtered earplugs appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

On this page:

• What to look for when buying prescription glasses
• How to find spectacle frames that suit you?

But while single-vision lenses with scratch-resistant coating start from $39 with the cheapest frames, top of the range premium designer frames can cost up to $1000 and more. It also gets expensive if you need multi-focal specs that correct both near and far vision problems.

Where to buy glasses

Two international companies dominate the Australian market: Specsavers, and Luxottica, which owns OPSM and Laubman & Pank. Big W is another big player, with 42 optical stores inside their regular stores in Victoria, NSW, South Australia and Queensland.

Some health funds also run optical stores. Australia’s largest health insurer Bupa has 38 optical stores across Victoria, South Australia, Queensland and NSW. Other funds including Peoplecare, Teachers Health, Nurses & Midwives Health, RT Health and Health Partners also own one or more optical stores.

In addition, there are independent optical stores and online optical stores

Big chains vs independents

Specsavers launched in Australia just over 10 years ago and has 113 regional, 200 metro and 14 CBD optical stores Australia wide.  In 2017–18, Specsavers sold more than 20.5 million frames, 500 million contact lenses, and 337,770 hearing aids throughout Europe and Australia/New Zealand.

Luxottica

Luxottica’s holding company, Luxottica Group S.p.A, is the world’s largest supplier of eyewear, with net sales of close to 14.7 billion in 2017.  In Australia, Luxottica has merged with one of the largest lens-making companies, Essilor. Luxottica also has retail outlets OPSM and Laubman & Pank.

• °ż±Ęł§˛ŃĚýopened its first Australian store in Sydney in 1932. Today it has 323 stores across Australia and is also servicing customers in regional areas with a third of their shops located outside capital cities. OPSM says does eye test for more than one million Australians each year.
• Laubman & Pank was formed in 1908 as a partnership of two South Australian optometrists, Carl Laubman and Harold Pank. Today, Laubman & Pank Optometrists has close to 40 stores across South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland.

The independents fight back

A large number of independent stores belong to optical networks, which gives them greater buying power and marketing reach.

• Provision: About 450 independent optical shops belong to the Provision network and receive business support for buying and marketing so they can compete on price with the large stores.
• VSP: Almost 350 independent optical shops are part of the VSP which is a B2B network. For example, customers of stores including Eye Q (25 stores) have access to agreements and discounts which VSP negotiates with health funds. Some of the health funds VSP has agreements with include Medibank, HBF, Defence Health, Navy Health, Teachers Health and GMHBA (including Budget Direct, Frank and MyOwn).

What to look for when buying prescription glasses

The first step before buying glasses is to go for a comprehensive eye examination, this will give you an up-to-date script and can also identify any eye health issues. “An optometrist is qualified to not only prescribe the right lenses to suit your specific vision impairment, they also conduct a comprehensive eye health examination,” says Lyn Brodie, CEO of Optometry Australia.

Lens prescriptions vary depending on each patient’s vision needs, lifestyle and eye health. For example, conditions like dry eyes and cataracts may well be the reasons behind your vision issues.

Frames and lenses are also tailored to improve vision outcomes according to a variety of eye measurements specific to you. Your optometrist will take measurements (such as of the optical centres), discuss with you the distance or reading area needed and look at the tilt of the frame in relation to your face.

Not all frames conform to all scripts. “It’s especially important if you’re buying multi-focal lenses to tell your optometrist and optical dispenser so they can tailor the lenses and frame more precisely for your needs,” says Brodie.

Lenses

There are hundreds or even thousands of different types of lenses, often targeting individual needs such as driving or reading, and your optometrist can help you to find the right one for your needs. 

There are four broad types of lenses, but there’ll be many variations available within these:

• Standard optical plastic lenses are the cheapest and generally the ones you’ll see advertised in super-cheap offers – usually with an anti-scratch coating included. Made from lightweight plastic – which has good optical qualities – they’re suitable for single-vision low- or medium-strength prescriptions. However, without a coating they’re prone to scratches and usually not suitable for the more serious end of the prescription scale.
• Aspheric lenses are thinner and flatter, which reduces the cosmetic appearance of “large eye” if you’re far-sighted, or “small eye” if you’re near-sighted.
• Polycarbonate lenses are impact-resistant and used for safety eyewear, kids’ and sports glasses. They give good UV protection and are the first choice for rimless or semi-rimless frames to avoid chipping, but their visual quality can be not as good as other lenses because some polycarbonate lenses they can produce a rainbow effect in the peripheral vision. Good for rainbows, bad for reading.
• Safety eyewear: There are other alternative materials available for kids and people requiring safety eyewear that offer the benefits of being lightweight and impact resistant yet still provide good optical properties. These are known as Trivex or Phoenix lens materials. 
• High-index lenses are made from special plastic that uses less material to correct a prescription, so they’re thinner, lighter and very good for strong prescriptions. The higher the index number, the thinner, lighter and more expensive they are. 
• Lenses for the office: There are also lenses that are specifically designed for use when you are in the office. If you spend a lot of time in front of a screen or maybe even two, you may be interested in lenses that can provide you with great vision while at work and still allow you walk around the office or go down the street to get a coffee. These lenses provide more comfortable vision than a progressive lens and are perfect for anyone who may experience eyestrain symptoms at the end of a hard day at work. 

Do I need multi-focals?

Multi-focal (also called progressive) spectacle lenses correct both near- and long-distance vision, usually in the 40+ age group.

Many retailers offer three different price ranges for multi-focal lenses.

• Basic range
• Mid-range
• Top range

The most expensive progressive lenses are referred to as “tailor-made” or “free-form”, “high-definition” or “latest technology lenses”. But as there are hundreds of different lens options what’s considered basic at one retailer may not be the same quality as basic at another retailer.

´ˇ˛Ô»ĺĚýmore expensive is not always better. Which one’s best for you depends on your lifestyle and your use of the glasses.

As Specsaver’s head of product Steve O’Leary explains, “A taxi driver who uses his glasses mainly for driving but hasn’t got much requirement for near-vision may be served well with basic or medium progressive lenses, [whereas] an accountant who drives to visit clients but also works on a desk with a computer and therefore needs both near and far vision may need a top-quality progressive lens.”

Usually the better the quality of progressive lens, the less distortion in your peripheral vision, and the less you need to move your head to see different distances.

Lens coatings

After deciding on the type of lens you want, choose the coating:

• Anti-scratch (known as “hard” or “super-hard coating”) is usually standard. It reduces scratching, although no lenses are entirely scratch-proof.
• ´ˇ˛ÔłŮľ±-°ů±đ´Ú±ô±đł¦łŮľ±±ą±đĚý(known or included in lens options such as “ultraclear” or “multicoat”) reduces reflection, increasing light passing through and making your eyes more visible (letting other people see your pretty peepers). It also helps night and computer vision by reducing reflections from overhead, street and car lights. These will usually cost you more.
• UV eye protection is usually included in a “multi-coat” coating. High-index, progressive and polycarbonate lenses are already UV-resistant. UV protection can’t guard against all the harm that comes from direct sunlight, so always use sunglasses outdoors.

How to find spectacle frames that suit you?

Look for flexibility created by spring or flex hinges or special material such as titanium, as this protects your frames from breaking and make them more comfortable to wear. It’s also a good option if you regularly take your glasses on and off, such as with reading glasses.

Spectacle frames are generally made from the following materials:

• Plastic (usually acetate) – Lightweight and available in a variety of colours, patterns, finishes, styles and shapes. Can be less durable than metal and may fade.
• Metal – Can cause allergic reactions and may be heavier than plastic.
• Aluminum – Lightweight and durable, suitable for people with nickel allergies.
• Stainless steel – Lightweight and durable. Widely used, both for its hypoallergenic qualities and because it’s comparatively cheap.
• Titanium – Most expensive type. Flexible and therefore comfortable to wear. Lightweight, durable and hypoallergenic, but harder to adjust and repair.

Is it worth paying more for designer frames?

If the only thing you want is a pair of good quality, durable specs there’s no need to go for designer glasses. 

For designer glasses, manufacturers license a high-end designer brand such as Dior, Versace and Dolce & Gabbana – or Disney Kids for first-time specs wearers – and these licensing fees mean higher prices for fashionable glasses. Designer frames may have a more detailed design and may contain embellishments such as a decorative stone. Special materials such as basalt, calf leather or even gold may be used.

But paying a premium for a designer brand does not always guarantee superior quality and durability.

Manufacturers often make both designer frames and no-name ones with the same equipment and materials, and apply the same quality tests to all products, which means you can get a good quality pair of glasses without blowing the budget – sometimes all you’re paying for is the little name on the arm of your new glasses.

The post What to consider when buying prescription glasses appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

Commissions on hearing aids priced between $1500 and $15,000 per pair can be as large as 15%, an ACCC report has revealed.

The report, Issues Around the Sale of Hearing Aids, comes at a time when one in six Australians is affected by hearing loss, although an ageing population means it’s expected  will be affected by 2050.

Incentive payments and commissions aren’t generally disclosed, and if they are, they tend to be buried in the terms and conditions section provided after a sale.

Nor are incentives purely monetary. Manufacturers have been known to offer clinicians “all-expense paid travel to overseas conferences and consumer electronics”, the report notes.

Some of the clinicians surveyed by the ACCC raised concerns about older customers “re-mortgaging their homes or entering into finance plans to pay for high-end hearing aids”.

Prioritising sales over patient care can lead to the sale of unnecessarily pricey hearing aids that don’t meet people’s needs, says Sarah Court, commissioner at the ACCC.

“[Commission-based selling] has the potential to lead to consumer harm where trusted advice is being given to patients, many of whom may be vulnerable or disadvantage.

“The ACCC has requested that hearing clinic operators review their incentive programs and performance measures to ensure that they do not create a conflict between healthcare advice and sales.”

The report notes that not all hearing clinics prioritise sales over patient care.

Consumers should shop around to find the most competitive price, says Tom Godfrey, head of media at ĚÇĐÄVlog.

“Make sure you get the right recommendation from a medical professional, and start by having your hearing properly tested,” he says. “Once you’ve made your selection, lock in a 30-day trial to make sure the device is right for you. And do your homework on price, as it pays to shop around.”

Previously ĚÇĐÄVlog has found a big difference in hearing aid prices – a difference of $3000 in one example. An inner-Sydney clinic was charging $14,000 for a top-of-the-range Siemens hearing aid, while a clinic in western Sydney had the same model priced at $11,000.

The largest industry body representing audiologists, Audiology Australia, encourages people concerned about a clinician’s conduct to lodge a formal complaint.

“If the clinician is a member of Audiology Australia, anybody with concerns regarding the clinician’s conduct can lodge a formal complaint regarding a potential breach of our Code of Conduct,” says Dr Tony Coles, chief executive of Audiology Australia.

“If the clinician is not a member of Audiology Australia, we can help them to find another organisation or body that can help them.”

He echoed the ACCC’s sentiments: “Hearing clinics should be conscious of the incentives they offer and consider remuneration structures that reward service and quality advice ahead of sales.”

The ACCC surveyed 26 members of the audiology industry, 59 customers and the ten largest audio clinics as part of its preparation of the report.

The post Profit-hungry hearing clinics put on notice by the ACCC appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.

On this page:

• Do try this at home
• Shadow shop
• Stores tested
• After-sales service
• How to buy glasses
• How to read your eyewear prescription
• ĚÇĐÄVlog verdict

The risks are worse with multifocal (progressive) glasses, since the online script you fill out may not include all the measurements needed to correctly make and fit the glasses. Three out of four pairs of multifocal glasses we ordered online had major problems.

Experts told us this is less of an issue with single-vision glasses, since they’re easier to manufacture and all measurements are usually on your script. This is also what we heard from our members while researching this story. Additionally, our UK sister organisation, , recently tested single-vision glasses and found eight out of nine ordered from online stores passed their tests.

It’s also good to know that Australia’s largest health funds, and , don’t currently pay benefits for glasses bought through many online stores, so any savings made by shopping online could be smaller than you first thought.

Do try this at home

A number of online retailers allow you to try their frames at home before committing to an order. Two in particular, and , send you up to five pairs for free, including shipping.

Shadow shop

We ordered multifocal glasses from four online retailers. Our expert optometrist, Professor Stephen Dain from the University of NSW, checked the fit on our shadow shopper.

Fitting test

To fit multifocal lenses correctly, a number of measurements are needed that likely won’t be included in the online prescription form, and which also vary depending on factors such as the frame you choose and how you hold your head. Among other things, these measurements determine where your pupil is in relation to the lens’ centre to make sure there’s no distortion.

Another variable in finding the right lens type is how and where you plan on wearing your glasses. Not surprisingly, two of the spectacles we ordered weren’t correctly fitted for our shadow shopper. (The fitting for both spectacles could be at least partially improved if you found an optometrist who agreed to correct them, though that would reduce the convenience of buying online.)

Our shadow shopper had to drop their head forwards to get the best distance vision from the glasses bought through this online retailer, and the frame impeded their near vision.

The frames of the glasses from Zenni didn’t sit symmetrically on the shadow shopper’s face, so near vision was at an angle.

Lens quality

We had all the lenses of the glasses our shadow shopper bought tested by the University of NSW Optics and Radiometry Laboratory, against the voluntary standard.

These glasses had a fault in the prescription – one axis, correcting astigmatism, was incorrect. (It may be possible to correct this if the fitting were adjusted, but again, you’d have to visit an optometrist.)

These glasses failed the robustness test – both lenses cracked through their entire thickness and broke into multiple pieces. This would be dangerous if you play sport or had an accident that broke your glasses. (Vision Direct told us that as a result of our test they’re undertaking an investigation and have upgraded all orders to higher-quality lenses at no extra cost.)

This company passed both the fitting and quality tests.

Stores tested

California-based online store has its factory outside Shanghai.

US-owned ‘s global warehouse is located in Hong Kong and has a distribution centre in Australia.

is based in Canada and has a distribution centre in Australia. Frames are made in China and eyeglass lenses in Taiwan and South Korea.

is an Australian company based in NSW.

After-sales service

When we contacted the online stores to let them know the glasses weren’t fit for purpose under the , Clearly Contacts and Vision Direct offered a refund but also suggested we take the glasses to an optical store to get them corrected there.

But Finola Carey, CEO of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (), told us this extra step might not always pay off. “You can get ill-fitting frames adjusted provided the frames are suitable, and most optometrists and dispensers will use that as an opportunity to show their professionalism. But the frame may be unsuitable for the prescription, in which case there’d be nothing to do but get another frame and possibly new lenses as well.”

How to buy glasses

Follow these steps:

• Go for an eye exam and ask for your prescription; make sure the PD measurements are included for each eye (see ‘ How to read your prescription‘ below).
• Check which type of frame suits you, but also ask your optometrist if a particular type of frame suits your eye problems more than others. This is particularly important for multifocal lenses, higher power lenses, or more complicated prescriptions.
• Get a quote , and talk to your health fund to find out if they give a benefit for glasses bought through this online store.
• Make sure all quotes include lenses with anti-scratch and UV protection, and an anti-reflective coating.
• You can also read our shadow shop of budget optical stores.

More about multifocal lenses

There are different qualities and price ranges for multifocal glasses. Compared with cheaper, older-style multifocal lenses, ‘free-form’ or ‘tailor made’ progressive lenses – which are the most expensive – ensure more natural vision from distance to near, with greater accuracy and sharpness in all areas of your visual field.

With a wider field of vision in all areas of the lens, it’s likely that your eyes will adapt faster to these free-form lenses.

“You get what you pay for,” says Richard Grills, Chairman of the Optical Distributors and Manufacturers Association (). “A person who is wearing a modern lens design would absolutely hate older-style lenses because they do not provide the visual freedom of the modern designs.”

How to read your eyewear prescription

SPH – Strength of lens required to correct your focus. If there is a – (minus) symbol, it means you are short-sighted; a + (plus), or neither a plus nor a minus sign, means you are long-sighted.

CYL/Axis – Compensate for astigmatism. The front surface of your eye is shaped like a rugby ball (toric), not a perfect sphere like a soccer ball.

ADD – For reading glasses or progressive lenses. Normally the same for both eyes; only one number may appear.

Prism – Eye alignment problems such as double vision.

Distance/Intermediate/Near – What are your glasses designed for. Distance = activities such as driving and watching TV. Intermediate = activities at arms length, such as computer use. Near = activities such as reading.

PD – Distance in millimetres between the centres of your pupils. 64 is for distance vision, used for single vision glasses and progressive lenses. 60 is for reading glasses. If you’re given 33/31, it’s a more accurate measurement for right side and left side for the distance vision PD.

ĚÇĐÄVlog verdict

Online retailers can be a good option for most single-vision glasses, but they pose substantial risks if you have a complex prescription – especially one for multifocal lenses. Should you decide to give an online optometrist a go, check the store’s refund policy and keep in mind that is can be very difficult to enforce the with overseas retailers.

The post Online optical stores – Optical and hearing appeared first on ĚÇĐÄVlog.