Our Reflections of 2022

Nigel Robinson on December 31, 2022

Robinsons Optometrists in Monkseaton, Whitley Bay

We’ve had a great year at the practice, and in case you missed any of our favourite moments from the practice, here’s a round-up!

Anth’s marathon run for Heart UK

We’d like to thank everyone who recently supported our Dispensing Manager Anth in running the London Marathon for the charity Heart UK. In 2018 he suffered a very unexpected heart attack caused by a genetic condition that he didn’t know about. The condition can cause very high levels of cholesterol, even in fit people who live a healthy lifestyle. Heart UK’s advice and support were invaluable during his recovery, so this was his way of giving something back to them. He more than managed to achieve this, raising an amazing £2026!

Anth is a valued member of our team, a real people person who always ensures our customers leave the practice delighted with our service, so we’re proud to support him in all his endeavours, especially this one as it was quite literally so close to his heart and are over the moon at how many of you donated money and left words of encouragement too – thank you!

Daisy’s wedding and latest qualification

Daisy not only graduated as a fully qualified dispensing optician in April but also tied the knot this year with her wonderful husband in a beautiful ceremony.

Daisy is one of the core members of our team and always ensures our customers get the best service possible when they come to the practice. A huge congratulations again to Daisy for her qualification and to the lovely couple!

Daisy’s wedding and latest qualification - 2

New diagnostic equipment

We’re passionate about investing in the latest technology to help look after your eyes and were excited to introduce two of the latest state of the art devices back in May!

The Henson 9000 is a visual fields screening machine that helps us with the early detection of glaucoma and the ongoing management of established vision loss, while our autorefractor is designed to automatically detect your prescription during an eye exam for even more accuracy.

The Henson 9000 is a visual fields screening machine - 2

A warm welcome back for Robyn

During the year, we also welcomed back our Dispensing Optician and Assistant Manager, Robyn from her maternity leave.
She was truly missed, and we’re over the moon to have her back as she’s always been a fundamental part of the practice team. If stylish and flattering eyewear is what you’re looking for, Robyn is the lady to see!

Exclusive Tom Davies raffle

Lastly, we held a Tom Davies raffle to support Anth’s London Marathon charity run, giving the chance to win a Tom Davies bespoke frame consultation in practice (worth £500) and get a customised frame (also worth £500) handcrafted by Tom Davies himself!

Our patient Dianne was the lucky winner and had her style consultation with the lovely Tristan from Tom Davies who helped
her with choosing beautiful frames from the latest collections. She then had a consultation with Tom Davies himself and went home with a beautiful, personalised pair of sunglasses worth £500!

Thank you for a great 2022!

And that’s a wrap on 2022! A heartfelt thank you to each and every one of our loyal patients for your continued support and custom – we wouldn’t be able to achieve milestones like this without you and look forward to sharing another great year with you at our opticians in Whitley Bay. Happy new year from everyone at Robinson Optometrists!

How to avoid Digital Eye Strain

Nigel Robinson on October 31, 2022

How to prevent digital eye strain

Many of us spend hours staring at digital screens every day, and it takes a toll on our eyes. In fact, previous research shows that many people spend an average of 8-10 hours a day looking at digital screens or on close up tasks, a lot of these being children, teenagers, and young adults.

If you find yourself experiencing any of the following symptoms after spending time looking at a digital device, you may be suffering from digital eye strain:

Headaches
Neck and shoulder pain
Eye fatigue
Blurry vision
Difficulty focusing
Dry eyes
Irritated eyes

Are you experiencing digital eye strain?

If you think you might be experiencing this, there are a few things you can do to help prevent eye strain. First, make sure that your computer screen is positioned at eye level. Secondly, take frequent breaks away from the screen to give your eyes a chance to rest – we find the 20-20-20 rule works well – look away every 20 minutes, for 20 seconds at something 20 feet away. Finally, try to limit your screen time in general, curbing your use right before bed, and whenever possible during the day in your lunch breaks, or in the evening.

By taking these simple steps, you can help reduce the symptoms of digital eye strain and protect your eyes.

What if my digital eye strain symptoms persist?

If you continue to experience discomfort while using digital screen, it may be worth considering investing in specialised computer glasses for the computer, smart phones, and tablets that are designed to help reduce eye strain and fatigue.

We offer Sync III glasses lenses from Hoya, which are specifically designed for 13-45 year olds who wear glasses for distance vision and spend more than 2 hours a day looking at digital screens or on close up tasks and are experiencing eye strain.

They are essentially an enhanced distance vision lenses which also have a ‘boost zone’ at the bottom of the lens which is slightly stronger and helps your eye muscles to relax and therefore focus more easily for increased comfort and less eye strain. They also come in 3 different strengths, depending on age and the severity of your eye strain symptoms.

Recent studies have found that the severity of digital eye strain symptoms reduced in 84% of the reported cases after wearing Hoya Sync III lenses.

Recent studies have found that the severity of eye strain symptoms reduced in 84% of the reported cases after wearing Hoya Sync III lenses.

Contact our opticians in Whitley Bay

Don’t suffer in silence if you have digital eye strain symptoms that won’t go away – our opticians in Whitley Bay are just one phone call or visit away and are always happy to help – speak to one of our friendly team to get advice on your symptoms, find out more about Hoya Sync III lenses, or arrange a

time to visit us and get them fitted into your glasses.

Everything you need to know about short sightedness in children

Nigel Robinson on August 31, 2022

Short-sightedness, or myopia, is a common eye condition which typically becomes apparent in children aged around 8 to 12. Myopia is characterised by distant objects being blurred while close-up objects are clear. This is due to the shape of the eyeball becoming more elongated than it should be, causing light to bend incorrectly in front of your retina at the back of your eye, rather than on it.

Roughly a third of the UK’s population has myopia. This figure is expected to rise to 50% by 2050.

Risk factors

While myopia is still not fully understood, studies have shown that children with one or more myopic parents are more likely to develop the condition.

Screen use may also be a factor. Using a digital screen for extended periods of time forces the eyes to focus predominantly on a close object, which over long periods of time is detrimental to eye health and may increase the risk of developing myopia. With the recent increase in screen use due to Covid-19, particularly among children, this is a pertinent issue.

Stronger prescriptions may be required for glasses when considering short sightedness

Standard prescription glasses can provide clearer vision, but over time, stronger and stronger prescriptions may be required as the condition worsens.

The best solution is myopia management and it’s important to act at an early age to prevent complications related to high myopic prescriptions in adulthood, like glaucoma, or retinal detachments.

Management technology

A lot of research has been conducted into how best to treat myopia in children, and there are options to slow down the condition and help protect future vision.

MiYOSMART spectacle lenses have been clinically proven to slow down the progression of myopia by up to 60% in children. They don’t look any different from other glasses, and are worn just like them, but their design incorporates a myopic defocus effect, which is what helps to control myopia.

These glasses lenses are award winning, and full UV protection, water repellency and impact resistance add to their credentials as the perfect children’s glasses for myopia.

Not just glasses

Children’s contact lenses are also available which have the same non-invasive techniques and outcomes. We offer MiSight 1 day soft contact lenses, again clinically proven to slow down myopia in children, and ideal for active children who don’t want to be restricted by glasses. As 1-day lenses they are hygienic, soft and comfortable to wear, with children as young as 8 able to adapt to them with no problem.

MiSight 1 day soft contact lenses are clinically proven to slow down myopia in children

Contact our opticians in Whitley Bay

If you think your child could benefit from myopia management, come and see us in person. We have expert optometrists who are accredited to fit MiYOSMART and MiSight lenses and would be more than happy to help you find the best way to protect your child’s future vision.

What are the benefits of wearing contact lenses?

Nigel Robinson on June 11, 2022

Since their invention in 1887 contact lenses have come a long way, and now, more and more people are wearing them.

According to the Association of Contact Lens Manufacturers (ACLM) there are approximately 4.2 million contact lens wearers in the UK. Out of this group, 1.8 million regularly use prescription contact lenses, and 1.2 million use daily disposable contact lenses. Whether you need lenses for distance or near vision, or multifocal contact lenses, advances in technology mean that nowadays most prescriptions can be accommodated.

Why wear contact lenses this summer?

Summer is the perfect time to switch to contact lenses or try them for the first time. Let’s look at why:

They give you a panoramic field of vision, unlike frames which can sometimes obstruct your peripheral view. This is great for driving and can really help when playing sports too
Contact lenses offer a more natural look that goes with any outfit
They are weightless to wear, breathable, and comfortable when cared for properly
Contact lenses don’t smudge or steam up like glasses lenses can do in certain environments
They give you the freedom to wear non-prescription sunglasses, so you don’t have to keep swapping them with your regular specs to see clearly
They do provide UV protection to an extent, helping to protect your eyes in summer
They can be worn full time, or simply for special occasions

Get contact lenses at our opticians in Whitley Bay

Here at Robinson Optometrists, we offer a range of options if you’re interested in trying out contact lenses.

As well as daily disposable contact lenses and multifocal contact lenses we have the latest super oxygen permeable silicone hydrogel lenses. They allow 5 times more oxygen to reach your eye than a standard lens, which means you can wear them for an extended period of time.

Whichever contact lenses you choose, you’ll be well looked after by our team at your contact lens consultation. Our practitioners have years of experience and will always carry out a thorough assessment, working with you to align with your vision and lifestyle needs before recommending lenses to you.

Contact lenses eyecare plans in Whitley Bay

You’ll be taught how to insert and remove your lenses, and our team will be on hand to help until you feel confident enough to do it yourself at home. You’ll then be able to take them away for a free tolerance trial for a week before you make your final decision.

If you opt to wear lenses, you can benefit from our Lens Eyecare Programme, which means all your appointments will be covered by a £7 monthly fee, including eye health assessments.If you’re interested in trying out contact lenses this summer, contact our opticians in Whitley Bay to find out more or book your appointment!

2021 – COVID update Whitley Bay Opticians. We are available for all of your eye-care needs.

Nigel Robinson on January 12, 2021

Happy New Year!

As an essential service, we remain open for the provision of all eye-care services, including:

Emergency eye-care

Eye examinations

Contact lens examinations

Glasses purchase and collections

Glasses repairs.

We continue to operate on an appointment only basis and would like to assure you that we operate under strict COVID compliance, with full PPE and disinfection procedures in place. We also restrict the number of patients in the practice at any one time, which is why we work on an appointment only basis.

Should you fine it difficult to be able to collect your contact lenses, please let us know so that we can try and organise a home delivery.

Thank you for your patience and understanding.

All The Team.

Whitley Bay Opticians are proud to sponsor a Local Hero

Nigel Robinson on September 10, 2020

Jonathan Jones - British Golf Open Champion from Whitley Bay

Did you know that the Disabled British Golf Open Champion is from Whitley Bay?

Jonathan Jones won the title in 2019 but was unable to defend his title this year due to COVID restrictions. He’s now been selected to play in the Phoenix Cup, the disability equivalent of the Ryder Cup. The tournament takes place over 6 courses including Carnoustie, Glenaeagles and Trump International. Originally against the USA, the competition will now between Britain and Ireland.

Jonny was born with a rare medical condition called arthrogryposis. Arthrogryposis affects muscle development in arms and wrists, causing wrist bones to fuse. With wonderful medical care from a team led by paediatric neurologist Professor David Gardner-Medwin, Jonny underwent a series of operations on his hands and feet to help his mobility.

When he took a keen interest in golf, his condition was never going to deter him from what he wanted to do – compete at the highest level.

The support of a loving family directed him to coaching by the late Ken Philips of Wallsend, and then to the expert guidance of Tynemouth’s John Mckenna.

A very unassuming young man, Jonny is someone our whole region can be proud of. This is why it is an honour for us to be able to help in the sponsorship programme.

We all wish you the very best of luck Jonny. Watch this space for how he gets on.

Can’t wait to see you all

Nigel Robinson on June 15, 2020

Latest COVID19 Situation – We’re coming back very soon.

It’s been a very lonely time watching over the practice with all the staff furloughed – We didn’t even know what furlough was before March this year! Judith and Nigel have managed to keep the place ticking over; delivering triage advice on eye conditions, offering advice on visual problems, organising and delivering contact lenses and carrying out emergency repairs and glasses replacements.

Luckily we’ve had the help of 16 year old border terrier Mij to keep our spirits up. We are also indebted to our lovely customers who have been an absolute pleasure to deal with- THANK YOU!

We are delighted to say that the wait is almost over.

Week beginning June 15th:

we will be open Tuesday to Friday 9am – 2pm, and Saturday 9am – 1pm . Front line staff Lorna and Sue will be available to answer your queries, book appointments, help with glasses sales, and attend to any possible repairs.

Week beginning June 22nd and until further notice:

we will be open Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm and Saturday 9am – 1pm, optometrists John and Sophie will be back seeing patients face to face. You can book appointments for essential eye care in that period. The staff will be happy to guide you on what constitutes essential eye-care. We would highly recommend that patients choose our premium OCT examination; This gives the most thorough retinal examination as well as keeping safe distance between optometrist and patient.

The timings are likely to be amended to try and meet demand so please do keep checking this website for details.

Safety regulations

We have installed the following safety measures:

Safety screens set on reception desks

Hand sanitiser on entry and exit

Floor markings to ensure safe distance

Masks for Practitioners and patients during examination

Face shields, gloves and aprons for practitioners to be used as necessary

New instrumentation to measure pressure which does not have an aerosol effect

Automated instrumentation so as not to rely on traditional trial frames.

UV Frame sanitiser for display glasses (on order to arrive end of June (until then – frame cleansing process)

The health and safety of our patients and staff is of prime importance. Please do not come in if you or any of your household are suffering from COVID symptoms.

We are all really looking forward to welcoming you back.

Best wishes.

Nigel, Judith and All The Team

COVID-19 Update

Nigel Robinson on March 24, 2020

Practice availability during “Lockdown”.

As you know we have been doing our utmost to ensure we are still able to offer something of an emergency service. However, the overwhelming message from the Government now is to “Stay at Home”.

For the protection of our staff and patients, we have decided to temporarily close the practice to routine appointments with immediate effect.

Throughout the crisis we are still available to provide emergency help and advice.
e-mails to info@robinsonoptometrists.co.uk are checked daily.
Telephone calls to our normal number of 0191 2516102 are monitored Monday to Saturday and any messages left will be returned.
We also have an emergency number of 07469 290 302
We have arranged home delivery of contact lenses for all our patients on automatic supply schemes.

We hope that you and your loved ones all remain healthy and look forward to seeing you all again soon.

Kindest regards,

Nigel, Judith and all the Robinson Team

May 15th – Update

Thank you to everyone for all your lovely messages of support and gratitude for the services we have been able to provide. These have been a real tonic to us!

New Safety Measures

We are constantly preparing for the day we can safely start moving back to a “normal service”. This includes:

Investment in 2 new tonometers, to replace the “puff of air” test.
We have ordered a UV frame sterilisation unit for display frames.
We have installed plastic shields between patient and practitioner on our slit lamps.
Plastic screens between reception staff and the public.
Viusu-Real dispensing technology to minimise contact between patient and practitioner when taking spectacle lens measurements
Hand sanitiser stations
PPE worn by optometrist and dispensers

The safety of our customers and staff is paramount.

Stay safe and we look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,

Nigel and Judith

Top Tips for Healthy Eyes

Nigel Robinson on October 4, 2019

Image for Robinson Optometrists tips for healthy eyes

As we come to the end of National Eye Health week, we thought we would like to share some top tips for healthy eyes, to help you look after your eyes. You only get one pair!

Regular eye examinations.

As well as an eye health check, an eye examination might help detect signs of underlying general health conditions, such as diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Everyone should have a sight test every two years, or more often if your optometrist recommends it. New technology means that our optometrists can undertake a CT scan of your eyes. OCT will look not only at the back of your eyes, but also what is happening beneath the surface of the retina. These images are recorded and your optometrist is able then to compare your present and past results, ensuring that the smallest changes can be detected.

Children should also be encouraged to go for regular eye examinations to ensure that any possible problems are picked up at the earliest possible opportunity.

Eat healthily.

Eating a healthy, balanced diet reduces your risk of eye disease. Include lots of omega-3 fats, found in oily fish, and lutein, found in dark-green, leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale. Vitamins A, C and E are also helpful, so eat at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day. If you have a family history of macular degeneration (losing central vision in the eyes), ask your optometrist about taking nutritional supplements. We have information sheets within the practice giving more specific advice on this. Another very common condition, cataracts can also result from a poor diet

Stop smoking.

Many people are unaware of the link between smoking and eye disease. If you smoke, stop. Smoking significantly increases the risk of developing eye diseases, such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration. It is shown conclusively to reduce the amount of protective pigment cells present in the back of your eyes. However long you have smoked it’s never too late to benefit from quitting.

Wear prescribed glasses.

Many eye and vision problems develop or increase as we get older. Contrary to the myth, wearing glasses and contact lenses doesn’t make your eyesight worse – they help your eyes work more efficiently. Every day we see improvements that we have made to the quality of a patient’s life by helping prescribe for specific visual problems, whether it be work or hobby related. We use the highest quality of lenses at Robinson’s to get the very best out of your eyes.

We are very aware that wearing glasses can be a big change in self perception for some people. your glasses are a part of you! which is why we will make sure that you go away feeling delighted and confident with your new image. And then of course there is always the possibility of contact lenses. We fit all types to all ages, of all prescriptions!

Take regular breaks.

When you work on something close up, such as a computer, tablet or smartphone, your eye muscles are active. This may cause tiredness and headaches, even in those with normal sight. Follow the 20/20/20 rule – every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. And don’t forget to blink, as this helps prevent your eyes drying out.

Wear sunglasses.

As well as making your vision more comfortable in the sun, sunglasses protect your eyes from UV light. When choosing sunglasses, you should always make sure that they carry the CE or British Standard marks. There are different categories of sunglasses to choose from, including everyday wear, as well as frames for specialist sports such as skiing and cycling. Exposure to UV when young does most harm, so protect children with sunglasses, as well as a hat and sunblock.

Avoid dry eyes.

Eyes become dry, tired and sore if you are not producing enough tears or you have poor-quality tears. Central heating, air-conditioning and computer use can make it worse. Many adults suffer with dry eyes due to a health condition or medication. Lubricating eye drops can soothe irritation and reduce discomfort. You may find taking omega-3 supplements helps over time. Drink plenty of water and remember to blink often. If your eyes are persistently dry, tell your optometrist, who will carry out a full investigation.

Common eyelid conditions such as blepharitis are a cause of sore, dry eyes. Correct diagnosis by your optometrist can help to alleviate these conditions with an eyelid hygiene regime.

When needed your optometrist will be happy to recommend the most suitable type of eye lubricant to use when required. It is better to have a professional opinion, rather than buy over the counter, as different products will suit different individuals.

Research your family history.

Many eye conditions run in families, from simple long and short sight to more serious diseases, such as glaucoma, which is very often hereditary. Knowledge of problems with sight can help detect a condition before it becomes serious.

Remember your optometrist is the first person you should visit if you have any eye concerns. They can assess the problem and, if necessary, refer you to the right place for treatment. Should you have any questions on any of the points raised, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Whitley Bay Girls Team Sponsors

Nigel Robinson on August 19, 2019

We are proud to be sponsors of The #WhitleybaySportingclub Girls under 10 Team. We truly admire the dedication of those who give their time to this excellent venture. Good luck Girls – Have a really enjoyable season. #www.whitleybaysportingclub.co.uk