Latest News
Skiers and snowboarders should take particular care of their eyes during the winter because of the reflective effects of snow and ice. Contrary to popular belief, the sun still emits UV light even in the winter, which can cause lots of damage to your eyes. Snow and ice can reflect up to 80% of light compared to normal ground. This means that not only do your eyes need protecting from the sun, but also from the ground below.
We are naturally adapted to have our eyes shielded from too much light: our brow ridge, eyebrows and eyelashes provide a natural shield; our extremely useful eyelids can close when the sun gets too bright; our squinting reflex minimises the sun’s penetration into our eyes; and our pupils constrict as the light gets brighter. However, all these adaptations are of limited use when it comes to damage from UV light. UV light is a type of light that penetrates through the earth’s atmosphere but is invisible to humans – and so can still cause damage on a dim day because it is able to penetrate clouds.
The best way to protect your eyes from that pesky UV light bouncing up off the snow, is (surprise, surprise) to stop the rays from entering your eyes. Most prescription glasses now come with built-in UV filters, but if you’re hitting the slopes, then you will probably want to wear sunglasses. Polarised lenses can reduce glare from reflective surfaces by filtering out horizontal UV light waves, as well as blocking out harmful UV light. Our stunning polarizing Maui Jim sunglasses cut out all harmful UVA, UVB and UVC light and help reduce glare, while producing vivid, true-to-life colours. When skiing at higher altitudes, the clear bright sun can be blinding, so it is important that you come prepared – you do not want to experience snow blindness.
Sometimes it’s important to get that little kick to remind you to look after yourself. Where eyes are concerned that holds even more true, you only get one pair! So, when you hit the slopes this winter, keep in mind that the snow may be beautiful, but it can also be dangerous if you don’t take the proper precautions. If you don’t already have the right eye protection for the slopes, we’d be delighted to fit in an appointment before you travel to make sure you’re properly prepared for your skiing holiday.
Open day: Your most comfortable pair of glasses - unique to you
Kings Hill Opticians are delighted to be one of only a handful of practices in the country to be able to offer patients the dispensing revolution of VisiOffice X. This 3D, cutting-edge technology redefines optics dispensing to create bespoke glasses for each patient, offering the clearest, most natural vision possible.
15/05/2019
Understanding cataracts
Cataracts are a well-known disease caused by the clouding of the lens of the eye. The condition is mostly associated with the aging process. Detecting it early allows us to track the changes which can occur in your prescription which sometimes help predict the speed of changes, this in turn allows us to ensure that you are referred to the correct specialists to ensure you enjoy the best eye health and vision possible.
27/03/2019
Have Age-related Macular Degeneration? We may have the answer
If you or a loved one suffer from AMD, you may be resigned to poor vision. But you don’t need to be! Our innovative E-Scoop lenses can be amazing at improving vision for AMD sufferers, giving them a new lease of life.
13/03/2019
Night driving with confidence
Do you find driving in the dark difficult? We have the solutions to get your night-driving confidence back, especially during these long winter evenings.
27/02/2019
Don't give up on your New Year's resolutions, they're great for your eye health
How are your New Year's resolutions going? We're mid-February and many of you may have forgotten about them, but we've got a reason to motivate you to help keep on track: New Year's resolutions can be great for your eye health. Our guide will help strengthen your resolve to help you stick to your guns.
20/02/2019
An award-winning start to the year
We've kicked off 2019 with a flying start, being shortlisted as finalists for the national Opticians Awards 2019 and winning Essilor's National Bespoke Varilux Practice of the Year!
13/02/2019
How our interest-free credit can benefit you this Christmas
We all know that the main role of glasses is to enable you to see clearly, but they become part of your face and personality, so it’s important that they make you feel and look fabulous as well.
05/12/2018
Optician stopped me having a major stroke
As seen on South East News on Saturday Evening,....
03/12/2018
How copper mesh lenses help you look after your eyes
Copper mesh spectacle lenses are a revolutionary product that can help with a whole range of eye conditions, many of which are aggravated at this time of year, when we spend more time indoors with drying central heating and working by electric light for more hours of the day. If you suffer from tired eyes, headaches, motion sickness, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, Fibromyalgia or even reading difficulties, they could be the solution you’ve been looking for.
28/11/2018
Alcohol Awareness Week, the problems of being blind drunk
Alcohol Awareness Week, running between the 19 and 25 November, aims to encourage people to change their relationships with drink. We all know that drinking too much can have serious consequences on your health, but did you know that it can also impact your eye health?
21/11/2018
Looking after your eyes this winter
Winter can be a magical time for everybody. To make sure it is kept that way, we've put together a short guide on the signs to look out for to ensure you keep on top of your eye health during the colder months so that you don't run into any future problems.
14/11/2018
World Diabetes Day, diabetes and eye health
World Diabetes Day on 14 November is seeing to raise awareness about the disease to help people prevent, spot and manage it more successfully. The link between diabetes and eye health is profound: blurred and variable vision can be one of the first signs of diabetes, and diabetes is one of the leading causes of blindness.
07/11/2018
Kings Hill Opticians Saved My Life
14/09/2018
2018 Sports Sunglasses range
16/03/2018
Opticians awards 2018
We are delighted to be selected for the Finals of the National Awards as Independent Practice of the Year.
16/02/2018
Read About us in the papers!
See what the news has to say about us
08/12/2017
Copper Mesh Spectacle Lenses to help eliminate glare and eyestrain
17/11/2016
Eyezen lenses: relaxing eyes to help protect visual health
Eyezen focus reduces eyestrain and improves small character readability. Light scan reduces glare, improves contrast and helps prevent premature aging of your eyes.
07/03/2016
New hope for Macular Degeneration Suffers
06/07/2015
Crizal Prevencia
Blocks UV + Harmful Blue-Violet light (transmitted by modern digital devices) and helps prevent premature eye ageing
28/03/2014
Diagnosis error revealed 15 years on
A KINGS Hill woman who has been treated for an eye condition for 15 years has found out she never suffered from the illness.
06/08/2012
I was lucky not to lose my eyesight
WAITING for her father-in-law at an opticians’ appointment, Susan Stratful began trying on some frames.
05/08/2012
