Tag Archive for: lockdown

Screens, screens, screens!

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We have been surrounded by them and staring at them like never before!

During the Pandemic many families have been stuck at home using a screen as their access to the world. The world of work, education, for video conferences, family quiz nights, even for home-schooling; screens have been a lifeline of communication, and helpful for our general well-being.

However, they can be a strain on your eyesight, so good habits and an awareness of how you consume your information will protect your eyes for the future. Many people will experience vision discomfort and eye problems when viewing digital screens for long periods of time. Here are the top tips from the team at North to protect your eyesight.

1.Follow the 20, 20, 20 rule! For every 20 minutes you look at a screen, look away for 20 seconds and at something 20 feet away.

2. Minimise glare. Light can reflect off walls and from other surfaces as well as reflections from your screen. To minimise the glare it’s worth considering fitting an anti-glare screen for your monitor.

3. Adjust the display settings of your screen. Reduce the brightness. Make the text bigger.

4. Blink more often! When you stare at a screen you tend to blink less and this can make your eyes tired and scratchy.

5. Book an eye test! North can make sure that your current prescription is doing the best job for you.

6. Take a break of at least 10 minutes every hour. Walk around, stretch your arms and shoulders to reduce tension.

7. If you are a contact lens wearer, give your eyes a rest by wearing your glasses.

If you have any concerns about using screens and your visions please, telephone us. We are always happy to share our advice to keep your vision safe.

Easing out of Lockdown

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As the country nervously starts to ease out of Lockdown, we are opening our doors once again to the world.

 

North Opticians shop frontage

North Opticians and Eyewear

We know that in years to come people will ask the question, “what did you do in the Pandemic?” and we’ll say, “we served.”.

Throughout this Pandemic, North Opticians has provided it’s friendly essential and emergency eyecare service. Of course, we had to dramatically change our working environment to keep the Team and you safe, but we couldn’t let our clients down at this time.

Our Optician Iain continued to commute into the practice. The rest of the team worked from home to keep safe and help protect the NHS at this time. Any clients that had essential or emergency needs were invited to come into our safe environment. We take the well-being of our clients very seriously, and while the world slowed down and stayed home, we undertook measures to ensure that our practice continued to offer a safe service.

We know some of you will be nervous about the brave new world we are slowly starting to embrace, and we want to reassure you that we haven’t just been sitting around! We’ve been learning and training. We’ve been sourcing PPE, and we’ve had a spot of refurbishment to update the shop and stay safe.

North's till area featuring new wallpaper, distance markers and a protective screen

Here you can see North’s till area featuring new wallpaper, distance markers and a protective screen around the till

North's dispensing room

North’s dispensing room has also been given a makeover

While most of our clients were staying home, here are some of the measures we were busy putting in place:

  • We have all undertaken extra training to ensure your visit and service is compliant with Covid 19 awareness, infection prevention and control.
  • We can reassure you that North will be a safe and uncrowded environment, with clear social distancing signage.
  • We have implemented increased hygiene measures.
  • Every frame will be disinfected after it has been tried on.
  • Masks are a requirement in store and can be provided.
  • We have installed protective screens throughout the shop and our staff will be wearing PPE.
Iain Thompson wearing a face mask and apron

We will be wearing PPE, as shown by Iain

We hope that you have been safe and well throughout this period. And we are very much looking forward to serving your eyecare needs going forward. Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any concerns or questions.

North is ready for our new normal. We’ve been here all along.