Your eyes do a lot for you-whether you're soaking in a sunset, binge-watching your favourite show, or reading this blog. So why not return the favour with a diet that supports healthy vision?
What you eat matters more than you think. We are all aware of the importance good nutrition ...
Why Outdoor Play is a Game-Changer for Kids' Eye Health
In our ever-connected digital age, it’s becoming more common to see children spending hours indoors, whether it’s in front of screens or engaged in structured indoor activities such as schooling. But here’s a fact you may be surprised by, encouraging your kids to spend more time outside isn’t simply great for ...
Can you believe we've reached September already? Now that we’re heading closer to the end of another busy year, we thought it important to remind you all that any unused health fund benefits are due to expire on December 31st.
For the majority of Health fund providers, your optical benefits reset each year in January, and any unused benefits from the ...
We all know the importance of protecting our eyes from the harsh Aussie sun- and as optometrists serving the Gold Coast and Tweed areas, we often get asked about the benefits of polarised sunglasses. In short, polarised sunglasses offer a range of benefits that go beyond just protecting your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays. Let's explore below, the ...
Face à Face is an avant-garde eyewear label that has made its mark by blending a sense of modern with the timeless essence of design. Hand made in France, the heartland of fashion, the brand stands out with its distinctive flair for crafting eyewear that speaks volumes about individuality. For those of you who view eyewear as more than just ...
This week we recognise Diabetes Awareness Week, which is the perfect time to share some useful information with you all about how diabetes can affect your eyes. We see a lot of patients at Envision who have Diabetes - a serious chronic health condition which occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. Unfortunately, over time high glucose ...
If you’re one of the many Australians living with migraines or chronic light sensitivity, we understand how disruptive and debilitating it can be. At Envision Optical, we’re excited to bring our suffering patients a groundbreaking solution: Avulux® Migraine & Light Sensitivity Lenses, now available at both our Gold Coast and Tweed Heads clinics.
What Is Avulux?
Avulux ...
If you’re over 60 and you’ve ever felt like you're looking through a fogged-up window, especially in bright light or at night - you might be experiencing the effects of cataracts. As one of the most common vision issues we come across at Envision in our over 60 patients, cataracts can have a significant impact on your quality of life. ...
As winter rolls in and temperatures start to dip—even here on the sunny Gold Coast—you might notice your eyes feeling a little drier, scratchier, or just not as comfy in your contact lenses. You’re not imagining things! Cold weather, gusty winds, and drying indoor heaters can all play a role in making contact lens wear during winter a bit of ...
Dry eyes are more than just an inconvenience - they can be painful, frustrating, and affect your ability to see clearly. At Envision Optical, we understand how impactful dry eye symptoms can be if you're a sufferer, which is why we offer the most up-to-date treatments, including IPL (Intense Pulsed Light) therapy, to help restore your comfort and visual clarity.
Macular degeneration, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), is one of the leading causes of vision loss in older Australians. At Envision Optical, we believe that being informed is the first step toward protecting your sight. So, here’s everything you should know about AMD - what it is, why it matters, and how you can take steps today to preserve your ...
Straight from the Netherlands, Dutz Eyewear brings a refreshing pop of personality to our range of quality brands we offer here at Envision. Known for their vibrant colours and distinctive patterns, Dutz designs are anything but ordinary. These frames are made for those who love to express themselves and want their eyewear to reflect their unique style.
But it’s not just ...
Your eyes are vital sensory organs that play a crucial role in how you perceive the world around us. However, just like any other part of your body, your eyes can be susceptible to various diseases and conditions that can affect your vision and overall eye health. At Envision Optical we find our Gold Coast patients are very ...
Astigmatism is a common eye condition that we treat regularly in our Envision practices at Burleigh and Tweed. It affects millions of people globally, leading to blurred or distorted vision. It arises due to an imperfection in the curvature of the cornea or lens of the eye. Ideally, the cornea and lens should have a perfectly round shape, much like ...
This week we are again talking about glaucoma as we continue our focus on World Glaucoma Week, which we observed last week from March 9th-15th. One of the questions we are regularly asked our patients on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads is whether there are any natural or preventative treatments for glaucoma? As an ...
World Glaucoma Week runs this month from March 9th-15th, so at Envision Optical this month we are concentrating on raising the awareness of this very common and eyesight threatening disease glaucoma. A leading cause of avoidable, irreversible blindness in Australia, glaucoma affects over 300 000 people, and it's estimated that around 50% of sufferers are yet to be diagnosed.
As an independent ...
At Envision, we understand that choosing the perfect pair of glasses is not just about clear vision—it's also about making a statement. That's why we are excited to now feature Lindberg, a brand known for their exceptional design and outstanding quality, at our Burleigh Waters practice.
A renowned Danish eyewear brand, Lindberg stand out for their exceptional blend of Scandinavian minimalism, ...
One of the most important things we can do for our child’s overall wellbeing is to ensure that their eyes are healthy and functional. Vision problems can interfere with your child’s performance at school and even affect their safety. The Australian College of Optometry (ACO) states that good vision is also integral to a child’s social and physical development.
Our eyes are a vital part of our overall health and wellness. For the majority of our patients, we find their eyesight helps them sense the world. However, without maintaining healthy habits along with routine eye checks, our eyes and vision can become damaged.
Prevention and early diagnosis remain your best weapons for the treatment and management of eye conditions and ...
When the summer holidays near an end and the new school year approaches, it's time to ensure that your child's eyes are ready for the academic start to the year. Good vision is crucial for effective learning, and neglecting proper eye care can have a significant impact on a child's performance in school. Here's a comprehensive guide on what to ...
Ready to embark on your next adventure? As you plan your next getaway—whether you're skipping the Australian summer for some cooler climate or enjoying a cozy staycation—don't forget to take care of one of your most important travel companions: your eyes. While you focus on packing clothes, toiletries, and gadgets, it's easy to overlook the importance of eye care when ...
As the sun shines brighter and longer during our Aussie summers, it's tempting to enjoy the outdoors more than ever. Particularly with all the amazing activities and beauty at our doorstep here on the Gold and Tweed Coasts. While sunlight is an excellent source of Vitamin D, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation can be harmful—especially to your eyes. From cataracts ...
Here at Envision Optical, we pride ourselves on being able to provide our Gold Coast patients with the latest in diagnostic technology. OCT scanning is an important assessment tool within our clinics - offering a non-invasive, cutting-edge method to obtain high-resolution images used to analyse the layers of your retina, optic nerve, and anterior segment of the eye. This ...
There are some questions our Envision patients ask more frequently than others, and we receive many queries wondering what's the best contact lens these days. Daily disposables are contact lenses that are only worn once, with a fresh pair of lenses used each time. As many patients will wear their contact lenses all day, this means a fresh pair of ...
Myopia (short or near-sightedness) is a very common eye condition and is predicted to affect 55% of Aussies by 2050. Myopia occurs when either the eyeball is longer than it should be or the front part of the eye, the cornea, is too curved. This affects the eyes' ability to see clearly and causes blurry vision in ...
Spring has definitely arrived here on the coast. This season is all about renewal and growth - as you embrace this vibrant time, it's also a perfect chance to refresh your diet with foods that benefit your overall health, including your eyes. By incorporating seasonal produce rich in essential nutrients, you can support your vision and help protect against age-related ...
Ah, springtime on the coast! The season of blooming flowers, warmer weather, and unfortunately for many patients, eye allergies. As beautiful as spring can be, it also brings a surge of pollen and other airborne irritants that can leave our eyes feeling itchy, red, and watery. At Envision Optical, our optometrists are kept busy helping people manage their eye allergies. ...
If you find yourself squinting while enjoying our beautiful sunny days here on the coast or struggling to see clearly when outdoors - it might be time to consider prescription sunglasses. Not only do they protect your eyes from the sun's harmful UV rays, but they also provide the necessary vision correction tailored to suit your needs. Here’s some points ...
As optometrists, there is one concept we find ourselves constantly being asked to explain- the notion of "20/20 vision." Mostly mislead by media, many people believe it signifies perfect eyesight, but the reality is more multi-layered. In this blog post, we are here to shed light on the actual meaning of 20/20 vision and its significance in assessing your visual ...
Eye health is integral to one's whole-body health and wellness. The Australian Department of Health (ADH) states more than 450,000 people are living with vision impairment or blindness.
Among common eye conditions are cataracts and diabetic retinopathy. Fortunately, effective diagnostic methods and therapies are available to help prevent, manage, and treat optical diseases.
Perhaps the most well-known eye conditions are known ...
In wintertime, as temperatures drop outside, dry air, and various environmental factors can impact our eye health. Your eyes may feel a little uncomfortable, becoming more susceptible to vision loss, irritability, dry eye, or inflammation. This is because cold temperatures and harsh winds constrict the blood vessels in your eyes and corneas, which in turn can affect your vision and ...
As technology continues to advance and weave its way into our everyday lives, the number of hours we spend in front of screens has increased dramatically. As a result, in our optometry clinics, we have seen a marked increase in eye strain, headaches, and other vision-related problems over the past few years. However, the development of enhanced near lenses has ...
Although our coastal winters here on the Gold and Tweed Coasts can be milder than some, there's something to be said for a big bowl of comforting yumminess.
This hearty stew is not only warming and satisfying in winter, but also supports your eye health with its nutrient-rich ingredients
- making it an excellent choice for a family dinner during the colder months.
Enjoy it ...
Dry eye disease, or dry eye syndrome, is a common condition that occurs when a person's tears don't adequately moisturise the eyes. Inadequate or unstable tears can occur if you don't produce enough tears or the tears you produce are 'poor-quality'. As a result, you may develop dry eyes with accompanying symptoms, such as eye strain, eye fatigue and irritation.
Dry ...
At Envision Optical in Tweed Heads and Burleigh Waters, our optometry team can help you protect and manage your eye health, which includes providing diagnosis for diseases such as macular degeneration.
With routine comprehensive eye exams, we can work together to prevent or manage the progression of macular degeneration, amongst other eye conditions. Utilizing the latest diagnostic technologies and treatment ...
CAMILLA eyewear, available now at our Burleigh store, invites everyone to the party! Inspired by her travels, adventurous heart and playful spirit, Camilla Franks founded the fashion brand CAMILLA in 2004, at Bondi Beach. She created a brand that embraced innovative and intricate designs, weaving in her travel stories from abroad. Complimenting their fashion label, CAMILLA also offers an eyewear ...
Macular Degeneration, which affects central vision, is unfortunately a somewhat common eye disorder that we come across in both our clinics on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads. Central vision loss means it affects what you see in front of you but not your peripheral vision. As you age, the macula—part of the retina—begins to deteriorate, making it difficult to ...
Created in 2013, Woodys came about thanks to wakeskate, the hobby of founder and CEO Josep Dosta. Unable to find sunnies that didn't sink to the bottom of the lake when enjoying his sport, he discovered that the key was in the sheets of the wakeboards. So,Woodys was born, with the very first frames being made of skateboard scraps. Since ...
If you are one of the 80 million people worldwide diagnosed with glaucoma, (and approximately another 50% of individuals with glaucoma still unaware they have the disease), it’s important to know what steps to take to help slow or prevent its progression, especially if it is detected early.
While glaucoma can sometimes lead to irreversible blindness, lifestyle changes and medication can ...
Here at Envision Optical, on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads, our optometrists are dedicated to helping you protect your eye health with routine eye exams. We are always looking to diagnose any disease early and help to prevent or manage the progression of several common eye conditions.
When looking ...
From the moment a baby opens their eyes to the world, their visual abilities undergo a series of rapid and remarkable transformations. As optometrists, and parents, we want to highlight the importance of understanding the developmental vision milestones of your child, as they may provide valuable insight into your child's overall growth and health. Outlined below are the visual developments ...
Calvin Klein, an iconic fashion brand since 1968, ventures beyond the world of clothing into the realm of eyewear with their signature optical collection. This range embodies the sophistication and minimalism for which the brand is globally renowned, catering to modern consumers who value both style and quality.
Not only focusing on fashion, but meticulous craftsmanship also ensures durability and comfort, ...
At Envision Optical we are passionate about taking a preventative approach to eyecare. Have you considered that your vision serves as a window to not just the world around you, but also to your overall health? Decoding the subtle signals from your eyes can potentially give us insights into health conditions you might not suspect are brewing beneath the surface. ...
Summertime on the Gold Coast and Tweed means we spend our days looking for opportunities to cool off! Whether you prefer spending summer lounging by the pool, floating on a boat, or heading to your nearest beach, there are many opportunities to jump into some refreshing water.
Regardless of where you decide to spend your days swimming this season, ensure you consider ...
Unleash your unique style with Ana Hickmann Eyewear, a luxury brand that creates stunning, fashion focused eyewear in both optical and sun. Known for her timeless design approach, Ana Hickmann delivers eyewear that exudes sophistication, all while ensuring optimal comfort and quality.
Whether you're a lover of the classic cat-eye frames with that old-world charm or prefer the modern look of ...
Maintaining healthy vision is a crucial aspect of your overall well-being, and one of the most effective ways to do so is by scheduling regular eye exams at one of our local practices. These comprehensive assessments play a pivotal role in detecting and addressing potential vision problems, ensuring that your eyes remain in optimal condition.
Eye exams are not just about ...
As local optometrists on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads, we find our patients are looking for a range of options for correcting vision problems to suit their lifestyles and needs. We are noticing an increasing interest in recent years in multifocal contact lenses as technology improvements have made these a great option. These lenses offer a range of benefits ...
When we think of the benefits of exercise, we often focus on the physical and mental aspects – stronger muscles, improved cardiovascular health, and enhanced mood. However, there's an often-overlooked aspect of well-being that can also be positively influenced by regular physical activity: your vision. The intricate relationship between exercise and eye health is a key area of study that ...
As local Gold Coast optometrists, we see firsthand the importance of protecting your eyes from harmful UV radiation. That's why we strongly recommend wearing sunglasses when you're outside, and one brand that stands out as a great option for UV eye protection is Maui Jim.
Maui Jim sunglasses are known for their exceptional quality and advanced technology that not only protects ...
As optometrists, we encounter a variety of ocular conditions affecting people's vision and eye health. One such condition we frequently see on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads is pterygium, also known as surfer's eye.
A pterygium is a benign (non-cancerous) growth that forms on the conjunctiva, the clear tissue covering the white part of your eye, and can eventually extend ...
The next wave of sustainable fashion is here with Dragon Eyewear. These cutting-edge frame collections perfectly merge style, comfort, and eco-friendliness, so that you not only look good but feel good about your environmental footprint.
Based in San Clemente, California, each pair of eyewear is produced from plastics that are created to be strong, light, and durable while reducing our carbon ...
At Envision Optical, our Gold Coast and Tweed Heads clinics have been providing Ortho-K for many years, to patients who are looking for a safe and effective alternative to traditional vision correction methods. Orthokeratology, also known as Ortho-K, is a non-surgical and reversible treatment that uses specially designed contact lenses to reshape the cornea while you sleep. This treatment aims ...
At both our Burleigh Waters and Tweed Heads eye clinic locations, our optometrists can offer treatment solutions to our patients who may be suffering from the effects of keratoconus and recommend specialised contact lenses to provide therapy. Keratoconus is a condition that affects the shape of the cornea, causing it to become more conical and thinner over time. This can ...
We are excited to add Etnia Barcelona to our optical collections at our expanded Burleigh Waters location!
For those seeking a unique blend of fashion, art, and cultural heritage, Etnia Barcelona has become a beacon of inspiration. With their captivating designs and commitment to craftsmanship, Etnia Barcelona eyewear has carved a niche for itself in the world of fashion and optics.
Meticulously ...
Keratoconus is a progressive eye condition that we diagnose and treat at both our Burleigh Waters and Tweed Heads eye clinics. Your Envision Optical optometrist will usually detect keratoconus as part of our routine comprehensive examination. This condition affects your cornea, which is the clear, dome-shaped tissue that covers the front of the eye. The cornea plays a crucial role ...
As part of providing the best optometry care possible to you and your family, we are always keeping ourselves in alignment with any advancements in the field of vision correction. One breakthrough that has truly revolutionized the way we approach personalized vision correction is the introduction of custom lenses with DNEye technology. This cutting-edge innovation has provided us with the ...
Our eyes do astonishing things - they provide us with the gift of sight, allow us to connect with others, and navigate our daily lives. Considering how much we rely on our vision, it’s important not to neglect looking after your eyes.
At Envisions, our dedicated optometrists acknowledge that eyes aren’t “one size fits all”, so at our Gold Coast and ...
Here at Envision Optical, the lifetime health of your eyes is our main concern, so we cannot stress ...
The Gold Coast and Tweed used to be referred to as “God’s waiting room” due to it being a haven for retirees. While the population mix has certainly changed, we still see plenty of more mature patients, and check carefully for a variety of age-related eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Macular Degeneration, also known as Age-related ...
Here at Envision Optical on the Gold Coast and Tweed Heads, myopia is a common condition that we see in patients on a regular basis. Myopia, also known as near-sightedness, is a refractive error that causes distant objects to appear blurry while close objects remain clear.
Myopia has become increasingly prevalent in recent years, especially in urban areas, and it is ...
We always find that our busy Gold Coast and Tweed optometry patients love their outdoor lifestyle, and are always looking for options for visual freedom when they hit their dreaded 40s and start needing reading glasses. Orthokeratology (Ortho-K) is a non-surgical procedure that uses specially designed contact lenses to reshape the cornea (the front of your eye) while you sleep. ...
Having dry eyes can be uncomfortable and painful, and it can affect people of all ages. Dry eyes can also impact a person’s ability to see clearly, influencing their quality of life. Fortunately, at Envision Optical, we can provide you with the treatment you need to manage your dry eyes and enjoy clearer, more comfortable ...
Envison Optical is pleased to announce that in late 2019 we installed the Gold Coast and Tweed Coast’s only LIPIFLOW Thermal Pulsation Therapy dry eyes treatment machine. It is only the second device in Queensland, with patients previously having needed to travel to Sydney or Melbourne for treatment. Lipiflow is designed to treat Meibomian Gland disease, the leading cause of ...
We are excited to announce that in July, we installed the OPTOS Daytona Optomap laser scanning retinal imaging device at both our two Gold Coast locations in Burleigh Waters and Tweed Heads South. We are now the only eyecare practice on the Southern Gold Coast and Tweed region to have this technology available for the enhanced preventative care of our ...
Protecting our eyes is essential for reducing the risk of vision loss and eye diseases, such as glaucoma and cataracts. At Envision Optical, you and your family can receive preventive and curative treatments in our Tweed Heads and Burleigh Waters eye clinics, including routine eye exams.
An eye exam at Envision Optical involves a series of ...
Are you looking for a passionate optometrist who understands the importance of your eye health and uses the best practices along with cutting-edge technology? Our professional staff at Envision Optical is here to serve our patients in and around the Gold Coast!
When searching for a professional optometrist, patients should consider a few different factors when making ...
Are you tired of wearing glasses? Perhaps they get in the way at work or while playing sports. No matter the reason, many have successfully switched from wearing glasses to using contact lenses to aid their vision. While contact lenses offer many benefits, what considerations should patients take to ensure they stay clean and safe for use?
Do you suffer from burning, sensitivity to light, or problems wearing contact lenses? Maybe you’ve noticed some eye redness in addition. Dry eyes may negatively impact your everyday life if this sounds like you. At Envision Optical, we do our utmost to help patients treat and restore moisture in their eyes.
Some may wonder which treatments prove most ...
Do you suffer from blurred vision? Maybe you find yourself squinting to focus clearly, or perhaps you feel the need to strain your eyes which triggers unwanted headaches. Depending on your symptoms, you may suffer from a few conditions associated with the shape of the eye. Luckily, at Envision Optical, we offer our patients orthokeratology (also known as ortho-k) lenses ...
Everywhere we look, it seems that people are always on their smartphones, either texting, video chatting, surfing social media or watching videos. However, adults aren't the only ones who spend time on computers, tablets, smartphones and other digital devices.
Children, too, use smartphones and other devices more than ever before, whether for school, socialising or entertainment. Though technology has made many ...
Digital eye strain and dry eye have become seemingly unavoidable parts of daily life, especially in the age of ever-evolving technology. Various aspects of our modern world are linked to digital devices, such as phones, televisions, computers and more. 
However, constantly staring at digital screens can take a ...
Myopia is a common vision condition that affects millions of people of all ages. Perhaps the best way to take steps for effectively controlling myopia is by detecting it early. Routine eye exams are essential for detecting eye conditions, providing timely treatment, and slowing their progression.
Researchers at the Brien Holden Vision Institute in Sydney, Australia, estimated that by 2050
At Envision Optical, we want you to have the clearest vision possible so you can enjoy the most precious moments in life. Dr Andrew Bowden and our team offer various vision correction treatments, including an advanced and effective solution known as orthokeratology.
Orthokeratology, or ortho-k, involves using specially designed contact lenses to improve your vision. Ortho-k temporarily reshapes ...
Having dry eyes can be uncomfortable and painful, and it can affect people of all ages. Dry eyes can impact a person’s ability to see clearly, influencing their quality of life. Fortunately, our optometrist Andrew Bowden of Envision Optical, can provide you with the treatment you need to enjoy clearer, more comfortable vision.
Dry eye syndrome ...
Are you looking for a skilled and compassionate optometrist for your family? Do you have vision problems you need addressing?
Finding the right optometrist for your family is essential to your eye health and wellbeing. If you are struggling to find the right optometrist for you and your loved ones, we invite you to look at these five tips.
I have previously discussed the macula and its critical role in us achieving clear, sharp vision. Today I want to fill you in on a critical area of the macula that is essential for good macular health. Macular pigment is a protective layer, which acts as a filter for light before it reaches ...
As an optometrist, I’m trained to detect and treat vision and eye health problems daily. When someone asks about which eye problems are the most common I instantly start talking about glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts and have previously often not really given the 'basic' problems of myopia, hyperopia ...
At Envision Optical, we have been offering orthokeratology or Ortho-K vision correction therapy for over 15 years.
Hundreds of Gold Coast residents have benefited from the freedom of seeing clearly all day without glasses or contact lenses. When optometrist Andrew Bowden started the treatment, it was only available for low to moderate ...
My kids love reading and they are developing a mild addiction to iPad time even though it is carefully managed. I am really conscious of reducing this close work exposure because we have a strong family history of myopia, which means they are more at risk.
Myopia or short sightedness is one of the most common vision disorders with approximately 30% ...
Envision Optical is excited to now have access to the newly launched MiSight Myopia Control Soft Daily Disposable Contact Lens. This technology was featured in our July 5 blog where we discussed the newly published results showing a 59% reduction in the progression rate of myopia in wearers over 3 years.
The lenses are daily disposables offering the lowest safety risks ...
Keratoconus is a condition affecting the cornea, the front clear part of the eye, in which the cornea weakens and becomes distorted into a cone shape. This affects the focussing ability of the cornea and leads to visual distortion and blur. Patients will commonly notice ”ghosting” blur around objects and have particular trouble focussing at night. Keratoconus is typically a ...
July 9-16 is National Diabetes Awareness Week 2017, and in our Gold Coast and Tweed Heads optometry practices we see many patients each week with diabetes. It is very important that patients are aware of the potential sight threatening changes that occur with diabetes and the importance of eye exams to prevent complications from diabetes.
Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a common ...
This week is Macular Degeneration Awareness Week 2017. This month I have focused all of our blogs on this condition which is the leading cause of blindness in Australia in over 50’s. I am really passionate about macular health because my Nana suffered from severe wet macular degeneration in the mid 1990’s, right when ...
Could performing a particular breathing technique help dry eye sufferers produce more tears? New research published in Ocular Surface suggests that reduced tear secretion may be partly caused by an imbalance in the autonomic nervous system (made up of both the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems). The sympathetic system is responsible for regulating cardiovascular functions while the parasympathetic system controls the relaxation process.
Welcome to 2017! I cannot believe another year has just come and gone.
I am not much for new years resolutions however I do believe that the beginning of every year is an opportune time to contemplate what could be done better in 2017.
As an Optometrist I often hear that from a general health perspective our eyes are something that get ...
We know what happens to our skin, teeth, and our joints as we age, but have you ever wondered what happens to our eyes?
Today when talking about ageing, I am going to specifically talk about the 60 plus age group. There are 4 prevalent eye conditions to look out for from the age of 60 onwards – Glaucoma, age-related macular ...
Mark began his Optical Career in 1994, initially as an Optical Mechanic. In 2000 Mark qualified as a Dispensing Optician(Optical Dispenser), in the UK, and was made a ‘Fellow of the Association of British Dispensing Opticians’, and registered with The general Optical Council, Harley Street, London.
Following further qualification in Contact lens fitting, Mark opened his own Optical practice, which he successfully ran, ...
This weekend just past over 250 optometrists flocked to the Gold Coast, from countries including England, Spain, China, USA, New Zealand, Italy, Japan, Dubai, India, and of course Australia, to attend the Orthokeratology Society of Oceania and International Academy of Orthokeratology joint conference on the latest science in ortho-k and myopia control. Envision Optical optometrists Andrew Bowden, Madeleine Thompson and ...
Salma has worked for a public health eye care organisation for 8 years where her main role was providing eye care services within Aboriginal community controlled settings. She also has experience in the development and implementation of eye care education within various international projects.
Her work began with the Brian Holden Vision Institute, in 2008, in the public health division ...
The Gold Coast is a great place to live with amazing weather and a beautiful coastline. Whilst reading an article recently specifically talking about Surfers Eye or pterygium as they are more commonly known, I thought it was a good time with summer just around the corner to remind everyone (especially surfers) the importance of UV protection.
An outdoor lifestyle exposes ...
With increasing use of tablets, phones and digital devices on the Gold Coast much like the rest of the world, the incidence of treating children for vision problems has been noticeably increasing at Envision Optical over the last 5 years. There have been many recent articles published about the rising incidence of Myopia in children world wide, in most western ...
This week is Macular Degeneration Awareness Week (24-30 May) with the key message, “How’s Your Macula?“. Macular degeneration is Australia’s leading cause of severe vision loss and blindness. There is no cure. Did you know that over 1.5 million Australians over 50 are living with some evidence of macular degeneration? That’s a lot of people. One in ...
Myopia is growing rapidly amongst children. Exacerbating the problem is the amount of time that kids are spending in front of small screens such as mobile devices and tablets, a lifestyle situation that is only predicted to grow.
According to Good Vision for Life: “the prevalence among ...
Despite all the evidence of harm over the last 30 years, smoking is still quite prevalent on the Gold Coast. We have educated our Gold Coast patients at Envision Optical for many years on the increased risk of cataracts and macular degeneration with smoking. Obviously smoking is not good for your baby if you are pregnant.
Need another reason to avoid ...
The surface of the eye, and tear film, naturally maintains a delicate balance to ensure good eye health and vision. The tear film also protects the surface of the eye from damage, which in modern society includes environmental toxins, air-conditioning, prolonged computer use, a poor diet, and systemic diseases and medications.
Being constantly exposed to these threats, ...
At Envision Optical we are committed to enhancing the lives of patients on the Gold Coast by providing individual vision and eye health solutions. We want every person to experience clear vision, and many of our Gold Coast patients have complex vision and eye problems that they have not been able to have resolved in the mass produced chain store ...
The macular pigment layer is a critical layer in the retina at the back of our eyes, that plays a key role in protecting the light sensitive cells as well as regulating quality of vision. It is essential for long term healthy eyes and clear vision. You can ensure you have healthy macular pigment ...
It is with great sadness we learned of the passing of Professor Brien Holden on Monday night, a highly-respected leader for research and the development of new and improving vision care technology and products, and a leader in developing humanitarian eye programmes around the world. His dedication and contributions to improving the quality of life for people across the world was well recognised, ...
Plenty of Gold Coast folk are wearing contact lenses to ensure clear vision to enjoy our outdoor lifestyle. Looking after your contact lenses is important for your eye health and best possible vision. We’ve put together 5 tips for soft contact lens wearers.
See our youTube video on “How to Put in Soft ...
The 2015 International Cornea and Contact Lens Congress was held on the Gold Coast from May 22-24. Envision Optical were well represented, with Andrew, Celia and Shonit there to learn all the latest in contact lenses and corneal related topics. They have shared with us a little of their experience from the event.
“The Contact Lens and Corneal Society ...
Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its progression as an eye disease can be significantly impacted upon by the diet and nutrients a person ingests every day. The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), found that a specific formulation of antioxidants and zinc showed up to 30% reduction in the rate of progression to advanced AMD and its ...
Last month, I had the pleasure of attending the 2015 Australian Vision Convention at the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre. It was a postcard perfect sunny Gold Coast weekend, so fortunately there were some great lectures to compensate for spending the weekend in a windowless room. It was also great to catch up with optometry ...
As an optometrist, I’m trained to detect and treat vision and eye health problems on a daily basis. When someone asks about which eye problems are the most common I instantly start talking about glaucoma, macular degeneration and cataracts, and often don’t really give the “basic” problems of myopia, hyperopia and presbyopia much thought, because these are “just” ...
Melissa Mudge started with us as an Optical Dispensing Branch Manager back in 2005 and celebrates 10 years this April, a milestone we are proud to share with you all.
Melissa graduated with a Bachelor of Health Science from Griffith University in 1997, beginning her career in optics in 1998 with a large national chain. She completed her Optical Dispensing ...
At Envision Optical we believe in helping those members of our local and global community who are genuinely disadvantaged, and aim to positively impact on their lives through our commitment to clear vision for all.
As a result of this, Envision Optical has three preferred charity groups that it supports. All are sight orientated, and have alternately a local, ...
With all the conversations we have had with patients recently around glaucoma, one question comes up many times for those not familiar with the tests we do to detect and monitor this condition. That question is related to the types of tests we undertake. A visual field test is carried out by our optometrists ...
All of us here at Envision Optical would like to wish our Optometrist and Orthokeratologist, Shonit, a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Tomorrow (Saturday) is Shonit’s birthday, so if you are visiting our practice at the Tweed Health for Everyone Superclinic today, Shonit will be there, so please be sure to wish him a wonderful day for tomorrow.
Happy Birthday Shonit!
Kieran Knight started with us as an Optical Assistant back in March 2010 straight out of high school. Now he is celebrating 5 years with us! Kieran has recently finished his studies and is a Licensed Optical Dispenser. This means that he has specialised training and all the technical knowledge involved in lenses, frames and detailed optical problem solving. ...
It is with pleasure we have Rebecca Neale of Food Fitness Wellness joining us again in March to share her experience with Envision Optical and how it relates to her journey. Today, Rebecca talks about the MPOD test she had with us and how she connected this experience to a fantastic recipe of hers for a Green ...
March 8-15 is World Glaucoma Week and in the lead up we would like to share with you how glaucoma and its progression as an eye disease can be significantly impacted upon by your diet. Multiple studies have found several vitamins and minerals seem to have a protective role in aiding the prevention of significant ...
This February we welcomed Optometrist/Orthokeratologist, Shonit Jagmohan to the Envision Optical team.
Shonit is one of the leading Orthokeratologists in Australia, fitting a wide scope of Orthokeratology including short-sighted, long-sighted, astigmatism and vision for over 40 years old. He is passionate about Orthokeratology and contact lens fitting, with his specialty in myopia control which slows children and young adults ...
Melissa Forbes is the newest addition to our team at Envision Optical, joining us as an Optical Assistant. Melissa comes from a strong background in luxury and jewellery retail, including as a trainer in diamond and gemstone knowledge. She has a love of animals which led her to gain qualifications in Animals Studies and she is a supporter ...
Our practice at Treetops Plaza in Burleigh Waters recently welcomed Jennifer Bryant to the Envision Optical team as an Optical Dispenser. Jenni comes from a strong background in management and optical dispensing, both here on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne.
Outside of work, Jenni is a lover of fashion, travel and spending time with her family. Jenni has travelled extensively ...
At Envision Optical we are all about prevention and the best way to look after your eyes so you reduce the likelihood of deterioration in your vision and eye health. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the areas we focus on and aim to educate our patients here on the Gold Coast how they can ...
As an independent, locally owned business we like to support other local small businesses and those in the community. As part of our ongoing commitment to provide quality service and educate our patients about how to live a healthy lifestyle to promote the best possible vision and eye care, we have partnered with Rebecca Neale of Food Fitness ...
Here on the Gold Coast, we have many patients asking about using e-readers and digital tablets, and how they may affect their eyes. We are also asked whether they should be used at night before going to sleep. To explain this, we need to understand the devices. E-readers and digital tablets have an elevated intensity of blue light emissions. A while ...
This January, we welcomed Glen McCallum to the Envision Optical team as an Optical Assistant. Glen has moved back to the Gold Coast after 14 years living in Adelaide. His background is in hotel management, as Gaming Manager and Coordinator, for a group of hotels for the time he was in Adelaide. This experience enabled him to develop ...
A Big Milestone with Envision Optical
A big milestone snuck by us in December, with our Optical Assistant at Tweed Heads and Treetop, Ann Tree, celebrating 10 years with the company. Ann joined the Tweed Heads practice in 2004 after many years working within the field of dentistry. She has been a fantastic part of our team and has an excellent ...
Tomorrow one of our Optometrists, Paul who works from our Tweed Heads South practice, is celebrating his birthday. We wish him a fantastic day and all our best wishes for the day. HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAUL!
All of us here at Envision Optical would like to wish our wonderful Optical Assistant, Ruby, a very big HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Today is Ruby’s birthday, so if you are visiting our practice at the Tweed Health for Everyone Superclinic today, Ruby will be there, so please be sure to wish her a wonderful day. Happy Birthday Ruby!
The New Year often brings great change and this is certainly the case for us here at Envision Optical with recent news that Katrina will be leaving our team at the end of January. While the news was a bit of a shock and was certainly not what I was hoping to hear, I was happy that she has ...
The end of 2014 is this Wednesday, so if you have not claimed on glasses from your health fund already this year, you will lose part or all of your yearly entitlement at the end of the year.
Remember, most funds operate on a calendar year, so you have one day left to act to replace ...
Are you stuck for a gift idea this Christmas? Or simply want to give a gift that will make a big difference in someone’s life. At Envision Optical we are passionate about supporting Optometry Giving Sight, and helping to make a difference to people with preventative blindness all around the world.
In El Salvador, there ...
What an exciting time it was for October and our participation in the yearly World Sight Day Challenge. For the month of October we had a combination of raffles for designer sunglasses and a lolly guessing competition at each practice.
Congratulations to Trudi Henson, Monique McKenna, Sheba Ghaznavi and Bree Newton-Comerford who each guessed the ...
What fun it is to see all the Halloween decorations and costumes in Gold Coast shops these past few weeks. Halloween is this Friday and we’ve got some Eye Safety Tips for you to keep in mind.
When people think of Bono from U2, they are likely to have an image of a man wearing sunglasses in their head. While musicians are known to wear sunglasses all the time, they usually do it for the ‘rock star’ look!
Last week, Bono disclosed on The Graham Norton Show there was a medical reason he always wore ...
Envision Optical is taking part in the World Sight Day Challenge during October to help give the gift of vision to people in areas of need.
Now in its 7th year, the World Sight Day Challenge is the largest annual global fundraising campaign to address avoidable blindness caused by uncorrected refractive error – simply the need for an ...
A long weekend is almost upon us here on the Gold Coast! All of our practices will be closed on Monday, and it got us thinking of what events on the Gold Coast there are this weekend we might want to go to. There are so many exciting events on with the Gold Coast Pet & Animal Expo one of two we wanted to ...
The global population is ageing and is due to accelerate in the coming decades. Did you know by 2050, of all the people living in Australia 50% will be over 45 years old?
As we talked about in our digital lifestyle post last week, there has been a substantial increase in the usage ...
In the past you would use your far distance (over 5m) for driving and things such as projector screens. Your digital distance (40cm-3m) for watching TV and your near distance (30-40cm) for writing and reading. In the modern digital era, we have dramatically increased the use of the digital distance. We now use this intermediate ...
Did you know the leading cause of blindness and severe vision loss in Australia is macular disease? This includes diabetic eye disease and macular degeneration. For both young and old Australians, these diseases take away the sight of those affected.
For the past four years, the Macular Disease Foundation Australia has held the annual mEYE World Photographic Competition. The ...
Have a think about how much time you spend indoors. We spend time indoors at home, as well as so many of us are inside for work. Did you know that people spend up to 90% of their time indoors? That’s a lot of hours. With all this time inside with living and ...
Did you know you can book your appointment online with Envision Optical? It’s as simple as clicking on the Book Online icon and choosing an Optometrist and the time and day to suit.
Our patients here on the Gold Coast were telling us they were finding their schedules were quite busy and sometimes they wanted to make an ...
This week we’re celebrating Seniors week on the Gold Coast. We see plenty of Gold Coast Seniors at Envision Optical with a wide variety of eye problems, so I thought I’d highlight some of the most common eye diseases we see in our optometry clinics across the Gold Coast at Nerang, Burleigh Heads, Burleigh Waters ...
Envision Optical has four locations: James St Burleigh Heads, MyCentre Nerang, Tweed Health for Everyone Superclinic in Tweed Heads and Treetops Plaza in Burleigh Waters.
Our Burleigh Waters location at Treetops Plaza is at Shop 19 and we have been there for many years. If you are a patient at this practice, it is likely are you seeing ...
Eye health changes are common complications of diabetes. These changes can include cataracts and bleeding in the back of the eye, diabetic retinopathy, as well as secondary glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy is a series of changes in the blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye that can cause bleeding and fluid leakage/swelling. This can cause sight threatening ...
Today I will discuss the detection and common treatments for diabetic eye disease. Apart from some of the vision symptoms, which I listed in last weeks post, diabetic retinopathy is usually asymptomatic and will only be detected by a thorough eye examination. We carefully examine the retina through dilated pupils to check for any blood ...
Sjogren’s syndrome (pronounced SHOW-grins), is an autoimmune disease that attacks and atrophies glands responsible for keeping the eyes, mouth and other parts of the body moist and lubricated. The most common patient group to suffer from the disease is women >60.
There is a primary form of Sjogren’s where the condition exists on its own, and there is ...
Eye health changes are common complications of diabetes. These changes can include cataracts and bleeding in the back of the eye, diabetic retinopathy, as well as secondary glaucoma. Diabetic retinopathy is a series of changes in the blood vessels of the retina at the back of the eye that can cause bleeding and fluid leakage/swelling. This can cause sight threatening ...
We are a little sad to be saying goodbye for now to the wonderful Sally Stevens. Sally has recently returned from maternity leave for her son, seeing patients every second Saturday at Nerang. She was very excited to learn that baby number 2 is on the way, and with some other changes in her life will be moving away from ...
As Gold Coast Optometrists, we at Envision Optical often come across some very strange ideas and activities when it comes to eyes and vision. I was blown away recently to hear about the growing craze of eye tattooing. It was even featured recently on ABC and resulted in a strong response against the procedure from the The Royal Australian and ...
A question we get asked all the time in our consulting room is “Why are you asking me about family history during my eye test?” The answer is simple: family history is very important in determining your risk for a number of different eye diseases. Relatively common eye conditions that we see every week at Envision Optical include myopia (short ...
Yes! This is a question we get asked every day and there is a very good option that has been available for many years and only keeps improving, covering a wider range of prescriptions. It’s called Ortho-keratology or Refractive Therapy. This is a technique using specially designed rigid contact lenses that act as corneal moulds and change the shape of your ...
Dry eyes can be an irritating occurring problem for many people. Symptoms can include blurred vision, burning or stinging, eyes feeling scratchy or gritty, watery eyes, redness and even decreased comfort with contact lens wear.
Dry eyes are effectively a tear film deficiency – the tears consist of three layers, each produced by a different set of glands located on the ...
Myopia is generally a progressive condition that sees the eye growing and changing in shape and the distance vision becoming increasingly out of focus. Glasses and contact lenses will correct for any prescription level at that point in time and sharpen the vision up. If the prescription further increases, then the vision will blur again and a stronger prescription will ...
We often get asked if sunglasses are good or bad for the eyes. Some people seem to think that it’s better for the resilience of the eye tissue to not wear sunglasses and “build up” some sort of resistance to UV light rays. The truth is that UV rays cause significant damage to the eye tissues over the many years ...
Easy answer! Come and have your eyes examined at Envision Optical and we’ll tell you! On a more serious note, the “best solution” depends on many factors including your prescription type and level, your age and of course very importantly your lifestyle needs for vision. I have always believed strongly in carefully asking my patients about what they get up to during ...
The pupil is the black hole in the middle of the coloured part of the eye, the iris. The pupil’s function is to allow the correct amount of light into the eye to facilitate image formation and vision. The size of the pupil will vary depending on the levels of light we are seeing in. Small for bright light and large in ...
Envision Optical shares your love of sight, so help us celebrate it!
Did you know that of all the senses, sight is often ranked as the most important?
So why is it that we take it for granted? To maintain good eye health you need to be visiting your optometrist at least once a year, so to remind you, we want you to ...
Good question! As always, it depends… There are multiple types of problems affecting the eyes. The true most common problems are refractive errors or blurred vision. These types of problems require prescription glasses, contacts or Ortho-k therapy to correct. Of these hyperopia is the most common, then myopia with blurred distance vision.
Presbyopia or poor near focus is the most common in the over-40’s category. Whilst ...
If everything seems normal and healthy you should have your eyes tested every two years. Often changes can be quite subtle, and particularly in the case of common eye diseases like glaucoma and macular degeneration, they can be present for years before symptoms become significant. The best prevention then is detection through routine eye exams.
Frame selection is really crucial to express your individual style, as well as select the best option to partner with your unique prescription. Frame selection matters, thats why our licenced staff are experts in helping select the best frame for you. Your face shape will really determine what looks best;
Heart shaped face: thin rimmed, cat eye, round frames, avoid
Oval: rectangular, ...
Macular Degeneration (AMD) is the name given to a group of degenerative diseases of the retina that cause progressive, painless loss of central vision. If you consider how much this would impact your life, think about how slow vision loss would affect your ability to see fine ...
One of our core principles of clinical care at Envision Optical is to take a holistic approach to vision and eye health where evidence exists it is of benefit to our patients. Over the last few years I have become increasingly interested in the effects of nutrition on vision and eye health. In 2010, I joined the Ocular Nutrition Society, ...
Well we’ve always prided ourselves on embracing the latest technology both in eye care and in communicating with our patients, and after web-siting, facebooking, blogging and twittering the last few years , we’re excited to say our own Youtube channel has been up and running for a couple of months now. Video is a great way to learn about your eyes, and ...
You can read the article below or click here to view it online
MD is primarily age-related and most frequently affects people over the age of 50.
The major risk factors are age, smoking, poor diet and a family history ...
As a result of this, Envision Optical has three preferred charity groups that it supports. All are sight orientated, and have alternately a local, national ...
Envision Optical is proud to announce Sally Stevens has joined our optometry team bringing her expertise in childrens vision and disorders of visual perception and function.
Sally is available for consulting on any specialty vision problems including:
Sally has extensive experience in specialty private practice having worked at Roberts Alexander Optometrists, the largest behavioural optometry practice in ...
Welcome to our new blog! I’m very excited to launch the Envision Optical brand today. We are transforming our 4 practices to ensure we become the choice for eyecare and eyewear for Gold Coasters who love to be treated differently.
Envision Optical fuses comprehensive eyecare with a memorable retail experience.
We spoil our patients with great service, beautiful design, and leading technology.
The Envision ...
Which location?