You can’t escape presbyopia, the medical term for the loss of reading vision in middle age. Sadly, it will happen to us all eventually. Even if you’ve never had a vision problem before. It usually occurs around the ages of 45-50 in the UK, and earlier in warmer and more southerly countries. The problem is when the lens inside the eye becomes less elastic and the eye is no longer capable of ‘zooming’ in to focus on a near object. Think of it as a camera where the focus dial is stuck for clear images in the distance, but you can’t turn the focus ring to get a clear image of your newspaper.

Before Blended Vision

After Blended Vision

This stiffening of the eye’s internal lens means you have a reduced ability to bring near images into focus. When people start to develop presbyopia, they find they need to hold books, magazines, newspapers and other reading materials at arm’s length in order to focus properly and even computer work can become increasingly difficult. When they perform near work, they may also develop headaches, eye strain or feel fatigued.

Traditional cures are wearing reading glasses, bifocal or varifocal glasses or monovision contact lenses, all of which have their limitations either in inconvenience, effect or tolerability.

However these are fortunately no longer the only options. Mr David Allamby, an ophthalmic surgeon at London’s prestigious Focus Clinic, is the pioneer in presbyopic treatments in the UK and a recognised leader of the field of presbyopia. After performing the very first treatment of its kind in the UK, he has paved the way for a more sophisticated treatment called Blended Vision.

Blended Vision is a 10-minute laser eye treatment which allows you to see both far and near without needing glasses or contact lenses. One eye is corrected fully for distance vision and the other eye is corrected for near vision, and both eyes then work together merging, or ‘blending’, the images from each eye within the brain to allow good vision for near and far and giving a greater depth of field. It is an advancement from monovision and a much more refined treatment.

Blended Vision is suitable for more than 90% of people who need reading glasses, and is much more effective than the related contact lens monovision which only 40-50% of people can tolerate. Screening tests at your consultation can easily confirm if you are suitable for Blended Vision.

The key advantages are:

· Freedom from reading glasses, distance glasses and contact lenses.

· Increased depth of field.

· It is tolerated by more than 90% of people, compared to just 40-50% with monovision.

· A long duration of benefit, and can be enhanced to keep up with any age-related progression of presbyopia.

The word presbyopia comes from the Greek word presbys, meaning “old man” or “elder”, and the ancient Greek word ops, meaning “eye”, but this “old man eye” and the unavoidable deterioration of the eye with age can be overcome with the help of Mr Allamby and the Focus Clinic team.

Many people believe that computer games can be detrimental to your vision, but surprisingly the addictive puzzle game Tetris can help to improve Amblyopia, commonly known as Lazy Eye.

Amblyopia occurs when the nerves that connect one of the eyes to the brain develop incorrectly as a child. As a result, blurry or wrong images are sent to the brain, which causes the brain to ignore these signals, favouring the other eye. Patients then tend to use the stronger eye more and more, suppressing and weakening one eye also causing problems with depth perception.

Traditionally Lazy Eye is treated during childhood with patching techniques, covering the strong eye in order to make the weaker, suppressed eye work harder. Researchers have now found a new therapeutic approach that can also help adults. By using Tetris patients take part in dichoptic training (both eyes working together), using a specialised headset where one eye focuses on the falling shapes, and the other on the ground plane objects. After just two weeks, patients showed a dramatic improvement in the vision in the weaker eye and depth perception was also improved. A similar group who played using the traditional patching method only saw a moderate improvement.

When the weaker eye has to work harder it is as if the brain becomes more aware of the lazy eye, dormant cells reawaken, become activated and regenerated. Not only does your vision improve, but you get to have much more fun helping it!

Moreyba – 4 Years later

Around four years ago two sisters visited Focus. Both were hugely active in their day to day lives but in different ways. Moreyba was working at an ad agency in Soho – her days full of busy meetings, screenings, nights out with clients and late hours poured over her laptop. Natasha on the other hand was a full time mum – the day beginning early with two little ones and not stopping until after 8pm when she attempted to settle down with a film for an hour or two for some well deserved rest. Both sisters relied on contact lenses to correct their short-sightedness or at worst glasses when they lost their contacts!

However like many contact lens wearers the rituals of cleaning, dryness and losing the lenses had lead both girls to consider laser eye surgery. They found Focus online and after coming in for a consultation they decided to go ahead with treatment a few weeks later.

We often speak to patients a week or two after their laser eye surgery but we decided to catch up with Moreyba at Byron Hamburgers in Westfield some four years after her laser eye surgery. Whilst we all enjoyed some great hamburgers Moreyba told us how her life has been since having treatment over four years ago.

Focus: So here we are, over 4 years from when you had laser eye surgery! What has happened since then?

Moreyba: Well I’m working in TV now and have been for the past three years. I love it – it’s long hours again but I get to travel and see the world. I was in Africa a few months ago and it was just incredible.

Focus: Do you remember having laser eye surgery or is it now simply a distant memory? How has it changed things for you?

Moreyba: Well it’s funny. I was so nervous leading up to the surgery but then once it’s all over you do get used to it quite quickly. I’m not saying you take it for granted but the recovery is so quick it all kind of moves along so fast. I mean I was back at work within a day or two and just enjoying perfect vision. You almost forget what it was like having to mess around with contact lenses.

Being involved in an industry that relies on the visual stuff so much means that I do still appreciate how incredible it is not having to wear glasses or contacts. When I’m looking at screenings every single week, going to film premiers or even traveling to new places, these are all times when I feel very fortunate to have had laser eye surgery.

Focus: So how is your vision now, 4 years later?

Moreyba: I’m still 20/12 which is even better than 20/20 so I am of course still very happy that I had the surgery. It’s the same thing that a lot of people say, I wish I had done it earlier. The amount of summers where I’d be with my nieces and nephews and would jump in the pool when we’d go away and then not be able to see them properly when coming out. That’s all very different now – it really does give you a new sense of freedom that you cannot have with glasses or contacts.

Focus: What would you say to people who are thinking about having laser eye surgery? Any advice in particular?

Moreyba: Do it! Honestly it was so quick and the results have been so good that I think it’s one of those things you’ve just got to go ahead and make the decision. We were both pretty nervous but everyone was very supportive and the aftercare was excellent. I would make sure you just check out the results and data of clinics and also the surgeons doing the operation. We did a lot of research online and we chose Focus because of the expertise of the surgeons and also didn’t want to go to a high street clinic. We got the impression at our consultation that there was a real attention to individual care at Focus and that is why we immediately booked treatment.

Laser eye surgery has changed me and my sister’s lives – it just makes everything easier.

Focus: Thanks for your time Moreyba and the catch up today. We don’t always get to see people so many years after surgery but it’s been a pleasure! Is there any lasting memory from having laser eye surgery or something you’d like to share with us?

Moreyba: I will never forget going away to Gran Canaria several months after the surgery and looking out to sea as the sun was setting. I really felt like I’d never seen it so clearly and that was definitely THE moment when I realised I’d done the right thing!

Whilst we have had various celebrities through our doors at Focus it was my genuine pleasure to meet Jess Wright and Ricky Rayment from Towie, The Only Way is Essex. I did their Z-LASIK surgery this afternoon and they were great patients!

Having laser eye surgery can make some people pretty anxious and as an experience it really is something out of the ordinary. But both Jess and Ricky handled it beautifully. It takes about 8-9 minutes to correct both eyes.

One of the wonderful things about Z-LASIK is just how quickly patients can see post-op. Jess and Ricky both had 20/20 vision half an hour after treatment. My thanks to them for choosing Focus.

We’ve been extremely busy this week at Focus and also had a touch of showbiz arrive at the clinic. ITV’s ‘The Only Way Is Essex‘ stars Jessica Wright and Ricky Rayment traveled to Focus for their laser eye surgery consultations with Mr David Allamby our founder and head surgeon. Towie fans can look forward to more action at Focus soon. You can always follow Ricky and Jess on Twitter: https://twitter.com/RickyRayment and https://twitter.com/MissJessWright_

Ricky and Jess from ‘Towie’ with Mr David Allamby

They were great sports and are looking forward to coming back to Focus for their laser eye surgery treatment.

Ricky from TOWIE poses for a friend’s photo with our Optometrist Ritu.

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Is science fiction becoming a reality?

After years of intensive engineering a bionic eye has been approved for commercial use. Named the Argus II, it is a device that can improve sight for individuals who can see virtually nothing, making previously impossible tasks attainable.

People with certain types of blindness can go from seeing virtually nothing, to being able to read large letters, locate objects and see moving targets, giving freedom and independence.

A small camera is mounted on a pair of glasses, which captures images and then transfers them electronically to the retina. Tiny pixels of light are then processed and transmitted directly to the brain as normal images.

The wearer will be able to see in black and white and hopefully in the future, in full high definition colour!

Scientists have had to overcome many obstacles to produce the Argus II. For example, the human eye has more than 100 million receptors, and each one of these needs to be stimulated in order to produce a good quality image! In just 2 hours of surgery, 20 years of scientific innovation could give a new lease of life to millions.

Contact lenses have always represented a shining light of hope for people who no longer want to hide between bulky, thick eyeglasses. They offer much more than just enhanced vision to those who have vision problems and are a great way for teenagers, celebrities and many other people from all walks of life to simply get on with their day without glasses.

The world of vision care has experienced revolutionary breakthroughs, with two significant developments. One of the breakthroughs is the development of contact lens correction and the second advancement is Z LASIK Correction.

With either of these solutions, the hassle and irritation of daily contact lenses and wear are largely eliminated (However fully, in the case of Z LASIK)

Though it is widely accepted to choose contact lenses over the use of the laser correction, most of us still prefer our own pair of eyes. Research indicates that you have a greater chance of getting an infection wearing contact lenses long-term then by proceeding with laser correction. This is especially the case if you sleep in your lenses.

Many people think of laser eye surgery as a treatment for short sight.

However at Focus this is only just part of what we do.

In addition to offering a range of treatments for long sight and also presbyopia (Reading vision correction) our expertise allows us to go beyond the normal ‘standard’.

Our Specialist treatments are designed for patients who have extreme short-sightedness or long-sightedness with or without astigmatism.

In addition to this, we can also correct presbyopia if required, and this will be included as part of the Specialist treatment.

We also are sometimes able to treat people who have already had previous laser eye surgery.

As well as this, we are also able offer treatment to people that may have in the past been told that they are not suitable to proceed with laser correction.

However, due to the knowledge, expertise and experience of our ophthalmic surgeons this may not be the case at Focus.

For Specialist Treatments patients require the highest level of care and attention.

They are provided with:

- A fully comprehensive consultation at our London clinic.

- Tailored treatment using the WaveLight Allegretto with PerfectPulse Technology

- Lifetime care guarantee

- 24hr Aftercare direct liaison with the surgeon

We recently treated actor Bo Poraj who has a prescription of over -8 in each eye. Here he discusses his Focus Specialist treatment:

In November 2012 Dr. Dean Smith, Co-Medical Director of TLC Laser Eye Centers Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, visited Dr. David Allamby of Focus Clinics in London. The following is an account of that visit.

I had the good fortune of visiting Dr. David Allamby and Focus Clinic in London November 1st through 4th, 2012. As a busy refractive surgeon from TLC Laser Eye Centers Mississauga the purpose of my visit was to observe Dr. Allamby performing LASIK and KAMRA inlay procedures. Dr. Allamby is internationally regarded as one of the leaders in this field, and uses state-of-the-art technology at Focus.

Another reason for my visit was a personal one. Over the past several years I have required mild prescription glasses for distance vision. This nearsightedness was allowing me to read without glasses up until one year previously when things deteriorated to the point where reading glasses became necessary. As an eye surgeon my work is visually demanding. Aside from performing surgery with the aid of an operating microscope, I review charts, read test results and examine patients with various optical devices. As a refractive surgeon performing procedures to reduce or eliminate the need for glasses for others I felt that my time had come. Through the years I followed the development of the KAMRA inlay for the correction of near vision and became aware that the results were very promising. This device was approved in Canada in September 2012, and during the course of my training to perform the KAMRA procedure I became aware that I was a good candidate. I then did further research to determine which surgeon I should visit to have the procedure performed and it became obvious that Dr. Allamby was my best choice.

Visiting Focus provided me with a unique opportunity. Not only was I able to observe Dr. Allamby counsel and treat other patients, but I was also able to experience this first hand. Through our many conversations it became apparent that Dr. Allamby was very knowledgeable about all aspects of refractive surgery, and as a result I had plenty of new ideas to take home with me. I noticed how his knowledge and experience were used to thoroughly inform patients about the procedure they were having, and what to expect postoperatively. In my case I had LASIK performed for distance vision in my right eye and the KAMRA inlay inserted into a pocket created by the laser in my left eye. The procedure itself was quick and relatively painless, and a half an hour later I was already reading small print and seeing the smallest line on the distance chart. The next morning I took a long stroll through Regents Park, stopping from time to time to take photographs.

I was amazed at how clear the distance vision was in both eyes and how easily I could read my cell phone. I then felt for myself the excitement that my own patients feel, and knew that the procedure would meet my needs.

I was also very impressed by the professional caliber of the Focus clinic staff, and how efficiently the office ran. The advanced technology that is utilized at Focus, both for testing and treating patient, is unparalleled. Having worked in seven different laser centers in my twenty years of refractive surgery I can say with certainty that Focus is doing things right.

Although nearly 16,000 patients worldwide have had the KAMRA inlay to date, I was just the eleventh eye surgeon. Interestingly enough, Dr. Allamby had performed this surgery for the tenth eye surgeon the previous week. I can’t thank Dr. Allamby and the entire Focus staff enough for this professional experience and most importantly, my new vision.

Sincerely,

Dean A. Smith, M.D., FRCSC Co-Medical Director

TLC Laser Eye Centers Mississauga Ontario, Canada

FOCUS patient Denise Van Outen has been spectacular on the hit BBC show ‘Strictly Come Dancing‘ recently. So much so that some are even complaining that she had an unfair advantage having attended stage school. We do know that for one aspect of her life, namely her new vision thanks to laser eye surgery, it’s ‘Strictly FOCUS!’