ALSO INSIDE
95 years of Leightons
Industry talk
Hearing in colour
And much more…
‘When you rest, you rust.’
Nancy Pelosi on her illustrious career in office
A very warm welcome to our new and exciting magazine. Leightons Life is packed full of engaging features, useful information and shines a spotlight on 95 years of helping customers to see, hear and live more fully.
Our birthday celebrations have been in full swing for some time, and now you can read the remarkable story of how one 1910 gold sovereign marked the beginning of everything, when the first Leightons opened its doors in February 1928. Since then, customer service has been at the heart of the business and is why stories like those from Dr Jill Huby—who, among other adventures, adores her visits to our Swindon branch (see page 18)—are so pleasing to read.
For further pondering, could your tastebuds be tricked by your eyes? Will Lyons, Sunday Times' wine critic didn’t think so, until he uncovered a surprising piece of research from the University of Bordeaux, which throws light on just how important our sight is when it comes to taste.
And on the matter of good taste, our exclusively-designed and crafted collection of eyewear and sunglasses, in partnership with Continental Eyewear, makes its debut on page 17. Fittingly at this milestone in the business, it’s called Yesterday.Today.Tomorrow.
Lastly, we share new evidence linking hearing aids to brain health preservation in later life, and how advances in technology can detect not only changes in eye health, but also other areas of our health too. More on this Ultimate Eye Examination on page 19.
Ryan Leighton, CEO Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care
As the iconic California Democrat decides to step back from leadership, she will have to learn a new pace of life.
In her first campaign for Congress, Nancy Pelosi adopted a slogan that proved prophetic: “A voice that will be heard.” It appeared on campaign mailers, billboards, anything. The California Democrat has kept a version of it in her basement, with the slogan emblazoned on the photo of her family celebrating her victory in 1987, but on Thursday, Pelosi brought it with her to the Capitol to serve as a reminder of how far she climbed in these halls of power.
For the past 20 years, that voice has been heard as the leader of the Democratic caucus, including eight highly productive years as Speaker of the House. Now Pelosi, 83, has decided to hand off the reins to a younger generation and return to the life of backbench lawmaker, trying to clean up some priorities for her San Francisco district before retiring from Congress altogether somewhere down the line. Her voice will carry much less consequence and, as she explained to a small group of reporters after announcing her stepping down on the chamber floor, Pelosi will have to learn a new pace of life that goes against another longtime motto: “Resting is rusting.”
She has been a whirling dervish of activity. The legislative accomplishments range from massive expansions of health care to hundreds of billions of new dollars to fight climate change. She led the response to the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol and she gavelled shut two impeachment roll calls of Donald Trump. She estimates that she had to raise about $1 million a day, five days a week, and aides believe she’s raised nearly $1.3 billion for Democratic campaigns the past 20 years.
Her voice sounded relieved on Thursday, a bit unburdened by a decision that has been months in the making and took an extra nine days because the fate of the Democratic majority hung on the slow counts of very close elections. Finally, late Wednesday, the Republicans secured their 218th vote in the House, her majority was gone and she sent word that she would announce her decision in a floor speech to a half-packed chamber—only a couple dozen Republicans showed up—as most knew this meant she would leave. “I feel balanced about it all,” Pelosi told the reporters.
Democrats “won” the midterm election, in her estimation, by dramatically overperforming expectations. “We won the ground” with voter turnout efforts, she said, that defied historical projections that President Biden’s party should have lost at least 20 seats. If not for the politics of New York—a judge overthrowing the original district map and Gov. Kathy Hochul “had a problem” that depressed votes in Long Island and the Hudson Valley—Democrats would have held the House, according to Pelosi.
That prospect might have prompted a different decision than retiring. “I would have prayed over it, I would have prayed over it,” the Italian Catholic speaker said when asked about that possibility.
Instead, she plans to devote a lot of her time out of leadership to affairs that she has not focused on over the past 20 years. While she will not take a seat on any legislative committees, she said she needs to shore up some projects for San Francisco. She needs to go through all her
papers to get them ready for the Library of Congress while also sitting for long interviews with the House historians. She floated the idea of writing a book, but Pelosi made clear that she does not want to be seen as a hovering adviser to the new group of leaders, with Rep. Hakeem Jeffries atop the list as her most likely successor. She invoked a Thanksgiving dinner metaphor for wanting to stay out of the way of Jeffries, 52, who was still in high school when Pelosi won her first House race.
“I have no intention of being the motherin-law in the kitchen saying, ‘My son doesn’t like the stuffing that way, this is the way we make it in our family.’ They will have their vision, they will have their plan,” Pelosi said.
For all the talk of generational change, Pelosi views time inside the legislative trenches as the most important key to success. “It helps to have legislative experience. There’s a lot to be said for experience,” she said. That included negotiating a very necessary, but very unpopular, $700 billion bailout of Wall Street in 2008; the nearly year-long slog to pass the Affordable Care Act in 2010; a new North American trade deal in 2019; and about $5 trillion in funds to battle the coronavirus pandemic in 2020 and 2021.
‘Resting
Her negotiating style could drive lawmakers mad. Fellow Democrats came to believe she would play with the temperature in her office during long negotiations. She once boasted about how she would starve lawmakers if they weren’t really negotiating, then serve them tons of food once talks started to heat up. Some days she had to dismiss liberals who wanted to pass Medicarefor-all — “there aren’t 218 districts where that would be the right approach” — and other days she had to infuriate moderates who thought she went too far on climate legislation. Her philosophy came down to a friend today could be an enemy tomorrow, but today’s enemy might be her most loyal supporter tomorrow.
“So one day you don’t get your way, the rest of us come to a compromise. You’re annoyed, you’re some fringe element, but you vote with us because tomorrow might be your day,” she explained. “I call it a kaleidoscope and you just turn that dial.”
Each turn as speaker followed a familiar arc: two years of jousting with a Republican president while cinching some big deals, followed by two years of aggressive liberal agenda items with a Democratic president.
And then a midterm loss that gave the majority to Republicans. But those losses were worth it given the stakes of the agenda she secured, particularly this most recent midterm in which House Republicans will have roughly the same narrow margin that she has governed with the past two years. Pelosi places all the blame for the partisan polarisation that has engulfed this era at the feet of Republicans, who she called “anti-science, anti-government” for their actions of the last decade.
“So what would I have done differently? Won more elections and not given them the power to do what they did,” she said. “Make sure that a creature like Donald
Trump never became president of the United States.”
Pelosi has always carved her own path, growing up with five older brothers who doted on her. She left Baltimore behind, where her father and brother would serve as mayor, for life on the West Coast with her venture capitalist husband. After raising five of her own children and serving in Democratic fundraising circles, Pelosi jumped into a special election in 1987 when a mentor, Sala Burton, encouraged her to run just before her death. Still, her father sent her brother, Tommy D’Alesandro III, out to check on the campaign to make sure things were going well. He reported back that things were just fine, and a little while later she won, a moment captured about a “voice” that would dominate Washington.
“And it was a voice that was heard,” Pelosi said on Thursday.
Hearing aids are incredible. Not only do they make things clear, but are so comfortable you’d forget they’re there, much like wearing glasses. Both are about making the most of life and not missing out on all the important and lovely stuff that brings.
Hearing aids have advanced rapidly and are now so small you’d be hard-pressed to spot them. Take our tiny Oticon miniRITE-R, for example. Discreet. Powerful. Opening up a lost world.
At Leightons, our hearing aids feature the latest in technical innovations. Not only that, our highly-trained clinicians are insightful, warm and friendly, and on hand to answer any queries you may have.
Pop in to Leightons or scan the QR code to book your free hearing assessment. See our amazing range of hearing aids and how they can help you keep to the rhythm of life.
Jackie, like many people, started out solely as a Leightons’ optical customer, regularly keeping on top of her eyesight at her local Basingstoke practice. For 15 years she enjoyed their eyecare services alone, but when her hearing became ‘fuzzy’, Leightons were her first thought to investigate further. As well as muffled sound, Jackie was also experiencing a mild ringing in her ears, but imagined a check-up would find little more than a buildup of wax, perhaps.
When a thorough hearing assessment uncovered a decline in Jackie’s hearing, necessitating hearing aids, she was quite simply devastated. In her words, she felt instantly “old and decrepit”, but admits to being pleasantly surprised since. Her transition to using hearing aids has been a very different experience, thanks in no small part to the care from her audiologist, Conor O’Kane. Jackie describes the service she has received as “absolutely fantastic”, so much so that, even though she has since moved to Oxford, she still travels back to Basingstoke for her appointments with Conor.
Addressing her hearing loss has been a revelation, she explains. “It’s not until things are rectified that you realise how detached you’ve become”, and
had imagined they would simply make everything louder, but has found that not to be the case. Not only does Jackie enjoy much clearer hearing, but the fine-tuning that occurs at her regular check-ups has enabled her to really make the most of her hearing aids. Personalised options allow her to choose different settings that work well for watching TV, for example, and eliminate background noise in loud spaces such as restaurants or the theatre.
that wearing hearing aids is like having “someone turn on the clarity.” She
Having been an accountant, working for companies such as BMW among others before retiring and moving to be closer to family, Jackie was understandably reticent about letting her hearing get the better of her. But in fact, she’s found the experience liberating. Not only has she been able to enjoy looking after her grandsons and involving herself in group settings again, she’s also enjoying the benefits of Wi-Fi in opening up a whole new world, of podcasts! Specifically news and history, but how wonderful to have discovered a previously untapped avenue of entertainment, made possible by “the world’s most superior ear buds”, as Jackie now lovingly describes her hearing aids. A revelation indeed, by the sounds of it.
We’ve been celebrating our 95th year as a family-run business for some months now and it’s been an utter delight to commemorate the occasion. Not only with our team and partners, but also our valued customers, without whom we wouldn’t be here.
Anniversaries aside, it’s been our continued privilege to be by our customers’ side over the last nine decades (and counting)—helping every one of them to see more, hear more and generally live more.
Leightons’ first dispensing practice opened in Southampton on 20 th February 1928. Six months later, a second followed in Winchester. Over the next 50 years, these were joined by further southern outposts in Reading, Totton, Sutton, Woodley, Cobham, Basingstoke, Poole and Thatcham. It’s heartening that every one of these practices still exists today.
It was at the founding practice on 24th February 1928 that Henry Oscar Leighton received payment from his very first patient, a Mrs Stephens, in the form of a gold sovereign. 95 years on, the method of payment may have changed, but the business continues to thrive, enjoying its third generation in Leightons’ hands.
Over the years, the treasured gold sovereign has become synonymous with our business heritage. My grandfather saw it as a good omen and kept it as a memento of Leightons’ inception and new beginnings. It’s still amazing to pick the sovereign up today, to think about its significance and how much it has helped to create the business we are today.
‘to see more, hear more and generally live more.’
Ryan Leighton, CEO of Leightons Opticians & Hearing Care, shares his history and hopes for the future.
We have always welcomed opportunities to change, to adapt to the needs of our customers—notably in 2006—when we launched Leightons Hearing Care. Our hearing is vital in maintaining the relationships that nourish and sustain us, especially in later life, be they with family, friends or those who share the same interests as us. Hearing is at the centre of it all.
Thinking about technology, where the changes have come thick and fast—35 of our core practices now benefit from market-leading diagnostic and testing equipment, alongside high quality independent and branded eyewear and the latest hearing aid technology.
One thing that does remain unchanged, however, is the personalised and human-centred care we’ve become known for. We’re lucky to have a wealth of highly-skilled, patient and kind clinicians working across our practices and I appreciate each and every one of them.
It’s at milestones like these, we reflect on our history and take pride in our heritage. It’s also a good opportunity to consider how we are going to create new ways to improve our patient experience and become more relevant for a changing world.
Finding ourselves at this rather momentous milestone, we’re taking some time to reflect upon our history and heritage. We’re also using this opportunity to think about ways to stay relevant in our ever-changing world, as well as improve our patient experience, to keep you coming back for another 95 years.
So, next up, in 2028, Leightons will turn 100 – and we’re committed to making sure that we cross the line into our second century as a family business that continues to innovate around our purpose of helping more and more people to live life to the fullest.
We’ll continue to embrace and connect technologies while offering our person-centred approach, delivering the highest levels of clinical care. At the same time, we’ll forge ahead with sustainable and enduring ways to provide our services that will ensure Leightons continues to thrive for generations to come.
We will continue to embrace and connect technology with our humanised, person-centred approach to deliver higher levels of clinical care. And we will continue to find ever more sustainable and meaningful ways to provide our services in order that the Leightons business can continue to thrive for generations to come.
And in 2028, when Leightons turns 100, it’s our aim to move into our second century as the same family business we’ve always been—one which continues to innovate as we help more and more people live their lives to the fullest.
This last word is from my son, Zachary, potentially the fourth generation within Leightons, “I love that my papa helps people to see and to hear and to show that it’s okay to wear glasses. It makes us look cool, like Clark Kent.” I couldn’t agree more, Zachary.
The last word from my son, Zachary, who could be the fourth generation within Leightons, “I love that my papa helps people to see and to hear and it’s okay to wear glasses. It makes us look cool like Clarke Kent.”
A huge thank you to all our valued customers. We look forward to welcoming you instore to continue the celebrations!
All that remains is to say a huge thank you to our valued customers. We look forward to seeing you in branch to celebrate with us in person!
When someone pours you a glass of deep purple Shiraz on a cold winter’s night, and your eyes watch the wine fill the glass, does your mouth water in anticipation? Or how about watching a glass of ice-cold, salmon-pink, Provençal rosé being poured on a blisteringly hot summer’s day?
Thirsty questions from Will Lyons, wine columnist for The Sunday Times, Vice President of The Sunday Times Wine Club and host of the award-winning Wine Times podcast.
For years scientists have been studying the effect of sight on how we perceive food tastes. We already know that taste buds on our tongue detect flavours and help us to identify the foods we eat. But other senses play a key role in how we experience our foods, particularly our sight.
For the wine professional, what we see in the glass is as important as what we smell, taste and feel in our mouths. It’s why in 67 Pall Mall, a club for wine lovers in London, their basement tasting room has overhead lighting which mimics the midday sun in Bordeaux, perfect conditions to assess the wine in the glass. It’s no coincidence that many professional tastings are now held there.
But when it comes to taste, looks can also be deceptive. A remarkable study from the University of Bordeaux in France, saw wine science students given two wines to assess. They were not told what the wines were or where they were made. Instead, they were asked to describe the flavour of each wine in writing.
The students described the white wine with tasting notes such as citrus, apple and peach. Similarly, with the red wine they used descriptions like cherries, blackcurrant and pepper. What they were not told is that both wines were exactly the same, only one had been artificially coloured red with an odourless dye.
Not one of them detected that they were in fact tasting the same wine. Now, these were by no means amateurs, they were wine science students.
Why? Well, our eyes are incredible organs, sending messages to our brain which are stored for some time after. We not only taste with our tongue, but we also form an overall perception of the taste based on what we feel, smell, hear, remember and—most importantly—see.
Not one of them detected that they were in fact tasting the same wine. Now, these were by no means amateurs, they were wine science students.
Speaking at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Terry E. Acree, Ph.D. said that people actually can see the flavour of foods before they taste them, and the eyes have such a powerful role that they can trump the tongue and the nose.
Why? Well, our eyes are incredible organs, sending messages to our brain which are stored for some time after. We not only taste with our tongue, but we also form an overall perception of the taste based on what we feel, smell, hear, remember and –most importantly – see.
It’s linked to memory and our past. Our ancestors used their sense of sight to find food, and we quickly learned what food was good for us through visual clues. For example, a green strawberry was unripe, whereas a red strawberry was delicious and nutritious to eat.
In this way, our brains amass a bank of memories which link certain colours with specific flavours. So when it comes to our glass of Shiraz, the visual clues trigger flavour associations and from the moment your eyes see the wine poured into the glass, chances are it’s already made up its mind as to what you’ll enjoy before you even put it in your mouth.
Which means looking after our sight has even more importance, where the full sensory enjoyment of food —and drink—is concerned.
In this way, our brains amass a bank of memories which link certain colours with specific flavours. So when it comes to our glass of Shiraz, the visual clues trigger flavour associations and from the moment your eyes see the wine poured into the glass, chances are it’s already made up its mind as to what you’ll enjoy before you even put it in your mouth.
Returning to the wine study, it illustrates that our sight doesn’t just work more quickly than our sense of taste and smell, in fact it might even override it.
Speaking at the 245th National Meeting & Exposition of the American Chemical Society (ACS), Terry E. Acree, Ph.D. said that people actually can see the flavour of foods before they taste them, and the eyes have such a powerful role that they can trump the tongue and the nose. It’s linked to memory and our past. Our ancestors used their sense of sight to find food, and we quickly learned what food was good for us through visual clues. For example, a green strawberry was unripe, whereas a red strawberry was delicious and nutritious to eat.
Which means looking after our sight has even more importance, where the full sensory enjoyment of food – and drink – is concerned.
Returning to the wine study, it illustrates that our sight doesn’t just work more quickly than our sense of taste and smell, in fact it might even override it.
So the next time you have one of your wine friends over to dinner, try it. Even better, have a go yourself. Ask someone to pour a white wine and a red wine into two mugs, close your eyes and see if you can taste which is which. You might find it’s harder than it seems.
So the next time you have one of your wine friends over to dinner, try it. Even better, have a go yourself. Ask someone to pour a white wine and a red wine into two mugs, close your eyes and see if you can taste which is which. You might find it’s harder than it seems.
Our eyes are
sending messages to our brain, incredible organs, “ ” which are stored for some time after.
‘Our eyes are incredible organs, sending messages to our brain, which are stored for some time after.’
What happens when you combine two brilliantlyBritish brands with almost 200 years of collective craftsmanship and customer service? A timeless collection of eyewear is what, shaped with iconic style and ready to be worn by you. Developed in collaboration by Leightons and Continental Eyewear. We've taken everything we’ve learned from our customers about what they’d like from their glasses and added style and impeccable performance.
Each frame is as individual as you are—so you can choose to stand out with a palette of playful and vibrant colours, or go understated with timeless tones and classic silhouettes. There are design details aplenty and every style is crafted with technologically-advanced lenses.
Y.T.T. glasses are available at all Leightons practices. Our fully-qualified dispensing opticians are looking forward to introducing you to the range and would love to hear your thoughts on shapes, colours and details for future collections. For more information on Y.T.T., please visit:
leightons.co.uk/ytt
‘We are continually looking to adapt and evolve, being relevant today, while thinking about the future. Which is why we've designed an exclusive Leightons eyewear and sunglass collection for our customers.’
Ryan Leighton, Leightons CEO
‘Using the latest technologies and materials to create this eyewear range with a luxury feel, we're proud to have created these products for Leightons' customers.’
James Conway, CEO of Continental Eyewear
…And inspiring, and generally living a life less ordinary. We spoke to Dr Jill Huby about the beauty of growing older, without growing old.
On the day we talk, 86-year-old Jill has just come inside from a spot of gardening, covered in mud and getting some funny looks from her rescue cat, as well as the cat from down the road, who thinks he lives with her but actually doesn’t. Her giggle belies her age, and even though it’s only over the phone, to meet her is to be in awe of her. The errant cat certainly has good taste. And no wonder, either, that she’s a favourite patient at Leightons’ Swindon practice.
Keen to tell me she was the only girl across two forms to do physics at school, Jill went on to earn herself a whopping five degrees, including a Masters in medical imaging and culminating in the PhD which made her the Dr Huby she is today. Fascinated by the brain to the point of obsession, Jill’s PhD in biological psychology and neuroscience centred around the placebo effect, in relation to Parkinson’s and pain. Her interest in people, and particularly helping people—from a scientific as well as human perspective—is clear and ever-so endearing.
Her stellar career aside, Jill was also wife to John (a successful journalist) with whom she spent over half a century, until his sad death from blood cancer in 2013. While some people may have rested on their laurels after such a monumental life change, not Jill. Having spent inevitable periods at Great Western Hospital, Jill was inspired to offer her new-found time to their Brighter Futures charity in any way they might find useful. This included time with patients and their families but also, on a rather more zany scale, a ‘foamy fun’ 5k bubble rush that helped to raise some of a £3,000,000 contribution towards not one, but two linear accelerators for the radiotherapy unit; a unit which has saved multiple cancer patients from having to make the trip to Oxford for treatment.
Further efforts from Jill’s fundraising include the supply of incubators to the hospital’s special care baby unit. They asked for two, Jill helped to deliver eight. And, in her most noteworthy of triumphs—aged 79 no less—a skydive. Yes, you did read that right. When asked if she was scared at the time, she giggles again and tells me that she left her will on the hall table but mostly worried about what might become of the cats.
Thankfully, she lived to tell the tale, and won the Pride of Swindon award that same year. Ever-humble, she’s happy that the interest generated by the local press helped to raise the profile of Brighter Futures further. And now 86, but showing no signs of stopping, Jill has since been involved in the Covid unit, administering vaccinations to the masses when people queued around the block.
Coming back down to earth, we spend some time talking about what we also came here for, Jill’s visits to Kate and Lauren at Leightons, and how ‘they make a visit to the opticians fun.’ So much so that while 12 years ago Jill reached for the most anonymous frames, she has since embraced her inner Iris Apfel with the boldest and most colourful of spectacles, from the likes of Etnia Barcelona’s Brutal range. In a range of hues too because “One needs different colours for different outfits”, and I can do nothing but concur. If this is what growing older can be, then I’m ready for it.
There are many benefits to our Ultimate Eye Examination, but detecting signs of health conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure before you are aware of changes is one of the most significant ones.
How is Leightons different? We offer you our best technology to see the unseen sooner. With Optomap we can image 65% more than standard cameras and tailor the outcome of the eye examination to your specific needs.
Above all, the Ultimate Eye Examination gives you peace of mind, allowing you to stay head fit and live life to the full. But don’t just take our word for it —below is a letter to one of our clinicians from a very grateful patient:
Dear Joanne Lindley,
I am writing to say a very big thank you to you for referring me to my doctor at my last appointment, on 13 th April. Following this, I had a blood test, which revealed very high cholesterol levels at 9.9mmol/l. I’m now being medicated to get them down to a more manageable level of 4.0mmol/l.
If you hadn’t found the spots at the back of my eye when you did, I don’t know how long it would have gone unchecked. So thank you again.
Yours sincerely, Leightons patient
The Ultimate Eye Examination includes:
• A wider 2D scan of your eyes with Optomap technology
• 3D OCT scan, to reveal hidden layers
• Lifestyle considerations, needs and preferences
• Previous medical and eye care analysis
• Measurement for long, middle and short-range focus and co-ordination of your eyes
• High magnification light-beam examination, with live 3D view
Our clinicians will always endeavour to answer any questions and allay any concerns you might have, in the warm and caring manner our customers have become accustomed to.
So book your Ultimate Eye Examination today and enjoy peace of mind for life.
leightons.co.uk/book | 0800 40 20 20
It’s amazing what your eyes can tell us about your health. On some occasions, it can be lifesaving.
For years, we’ve known that hearing loss—when left unaddressed—can lead to an increased risk of dementia. And now, new research published by the University of Exeter and King's College London has found that wearing an effective hearing aid can reduce this risk by helping you to maintain brain function into later life.
According to the World Health Organisation, age-related hearing loss is estimated to affect one third of people over the age of 65.
When we lose our hearing, our brains begin to decline faster.
Research shows the rate of cognitive decline is approximately 30-40% faster in people with age-related hearing loss and is thought to be an even greater contributor to the risk of dementia than factors such as hypertension and obesity.
The study surveyed 25,000 people aged 50 or over, and split them into two groups—one of whom wore hearing aids and one who didn't. Both groups undertook annual cognitive tests over 2 years, the results of which were surprising.
The group with hearing aids performed better in cognitive tasks, with many displaying faster reaction times and increased working memory. Scientists explain this could well be down to the fact that the majority of their brain power wasn’t tied up in straining to hear, or having to listen intently to someone speaking.
‘Previous research has shown that hearing loss is linked to a loss of brain function, memory and an increased risk of dementia. Our work is one of the largest studies to look at the impact of wearing a hearing aid, and suggests that wearing one could actually protect the brain.’
Dr Anne Corbett, University of Exeter
The sooner we treat hearing loss by wearing hearing aids, the more of our brain we can protect. Further discussion regarding the impact on dementia can be found in the BBC article 'Nine lifestyle changes can reduce dementia risk '(1), which suggests the risk can be reduced by a third if we improve our lifestyle choices, are healthy and treat hearing loss early. Research tells us that, if you've been advised you need a hearing aid, it’s a good idea to find one that works for you sooner rather than later.
(1) bbc.co.uk/news/health-40655566
While your ears collect sound, it’s your brain that actually understands it. Every brain is unique and so we're here to find the right hearing aids for you—one that not only fits well but also reconnects you with your wider world.
Far from the beige and bulky hearing aids of years gone by, today’s hearing aids are both small and smart—designed to be discreet and comfortable in a choice of colours. For more information visit:
leightons.co.uk/hearingcarepackages
‘We know that we could reduce dementia risk by a third if we all took action from mid life. The message here is that if you’re advised you need a hearing aid, find one that works for you. At the very least it will improve your hearing and it could help keep your brain sharp too.’
Professor Clive Ballard, University of Exeter Medical School
As human beings, we’re conditioned to evolve and adapt to our surroundings.
We may think little of compromised vision when out and about, being used to dodging glare and reflection, at best opting for traditional sunglasses which offer shade but can obscure the world as it truly is. And at what cost?
It’s not unusual for advertisers and even the government to remind us of how important UV protection is for our skin, with SPF creams having become a staple in most people’s skincare regimen. But when it comes to sunglasses for healthcare and the vital protection they offer, they can often be overlooked in the UK, still viewed as little more than a fashion accessory. At Leightons, we’re looking to change that, to guide you on the importance of making sunglasses second nature and a part of your daily wardrobe.
Take a simple dog walk, for example. You may have been woken before the lark by little Taffy demanding his early morning walkies. You take your usual wooded path where the sun is just breaking through the cloud, not having had time to dry the ground from last night’s rain. The resulting mix of dappled light, reflection and glare makes for uncomfortable visual stress, which can leave you tired and irritable before the day has even started.
While the more common dark grey sunglasses may help, they can also desaturate our environment and make life a little dull and flat. But did you know that advancements in sunglasses, with different tints and coatings, can now offer protection in all kinds of conditions, however you spend your time outside?
“The results are nothing short of magical, and we take great pleasure in our customers’ reactions to their new view” says Hilary, Leightons’ Product Manager.
“Blocking UV rays as well as reducing discomfort, the right eyewear can now enhance colour and contrast, so you don’t miss out on seeing the natural world as it should be enjoyed. Whether you are gardening, picnicking, mountain biking or playing a round of golf, we very literally have you covered.”
New frames for the golf aficionado come with specific golf tints - just no telling Johnny at the club about your secret weapon. Dialling down red and other colours rarely seen on the course, golf lenses are designed to enhance the full green spectrum. This lens technology helps you to see those challenging undulations, remove glare from water hazards and spot your white ball more quickly as it lands in the middle of the fairway (which it will, of course). Just as we would adjust bass and treble to optimise the music we listen to, lifestyle sunglass lenses are designed to enhance vision, taking away the 'background noise' so we can
For watersports, it’s particularly important to protect yourself from harmful UV. Not only from the sun, but also reflected UV from the water around you. Glare in these conditions can be uncomfortably dazzling, distracting you from the activity you love. But, with quality polarised lenses you can enjoy your paddleboarding or yachting unhindered, which is why sunglasses should be as much a part of your kit as your wetsuit.
And for those whose sporting tastes include extreme thrills, scrambling up walls, or a descent into downward dog, why not consider contact lenses? After the initial ‘breaking in’ period, wearers can enjoy significant freedoms, with their pick of countless sunglasses unfettered by prescriptions.
However you enjoy your time outside, you need never compromise on comfort, style and practicality. Pop into store to tell us more about your daily endeavours, and we’ll do the rest. For more information on UV protection please visit: leightons.co.uk/uv-protection
Above: Oakley Flak 2.0. Right: Oakley Sutro Lite
Since her debut in 1959, Barbie and her friends have come a long way. From vertiginous heels and cinched in waists, namely, but also from what one might be expected to be, to what one might WANT to be. It’s quite possibly this ability to move with the times that has kept these dolls one of the world’s bestselling toys, year after year, while never losing sight of their enduring charm.
The Barbie Fashionistas were undoubtedly the first of big changes afoot in Barbie-land. Barbies and Kens with various skin tones, different eye colours, hair colours and textures were the earliest evolutionary changes that showed that Barbie could look just like me and you, and you, and you over there too. A doll that, while still aspirational (who hasn’t yearned for a dress in exactly that fabric, just less Lilliputian), reflects how children actually look. And welcomes the opportunities and faces the challenges your child or grandchild might, while looking fabulous doing so.
Flash forward to further iterations and we happily have dolls running the gamut of body diversity, from those with permanent disabilities to our personal favourite, a Barbie with behind-the-ear hearing aids.
Such is Mattel’s campaign for inclusivity that the range includes some 175 variations, with eight of the 10 best sellers now from diverse ranges.
One person who is particularly delighted with the new Barbie is deaf actor Rose Ayling-Ellis—of Eastenders and Strictly fame—who used to draw hearing aids onto her Barbies to make them look more like her. Being passionate in her belief that children should be able to see themselves represented in the toys they play with, she jumped at the chance to take part in the advertising campaign which also features figureheads—and dolls—in wheelchairs, with prosthetic limbs, and with vitiligo.
As Barbiecore continues to sweep the globe, thanks to Greta Gerwig’s recent movie, there couldn’t be a more pertinent time for Barbie to be Barbie, but better.
On 5 th December 2022, JAMA Neurology published research suggesting hearing aids may well play a role in looking after your ability to think. JAMA Neurology is the monthly peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association, with some 60 years of published findings under its belt, and is highly regarded among the medical community worldwide.
The recent analysis included a large number of randomised controlled trials and studies, which looked at the cognitive effect of cochlear implants and hearing aids on the subject. Scientists reviewed the research, which involved around 137,000 people, who were observed for anywhere between two and 25 years depending on the trial. The studies found that hearing aid users were at a 19% lower risk of cognitive deterioration than non-users. In fact, users were closely-associated to a 3% increase in cognitive testing scores. Scientists posit a number of reasons for the link, namely that by helping people to take part in conversations, hearing devices help people to remain socially engaged, a large part of keeping cognitive decline and dementia at bay.
So, if you’re aware of changes to your hearing, don’t leave things to chance. We have a range of products and payment methods available to Leightons customers to help you keep on top of your hearing health for years to come.
0800 40 20 20 | leightons.co.uk/book
While our sight and hearing are clearly independent senses, the two are inextricably bound—a life without either would be a very dull life indeed. Being connected to others and immersed in soundscapes and landscapes allows us to not only appreciate the full spectrum of sound and colour, but also fills our lives with energy and fulfilment. By considering this more fully we can begin to understand how similar our sight and hearing are, and the equal importance they hold. A small impairment to either can make us feel disconnected from our world, which is why it’s so important to have them checked regularly.
Experiencing hearing loss can affect our interaction with the world around us and all the little joys that bring colour to our lives; the sound of our child or grandchild’s laughter, the punchline of a joke, even that little bit of gossip you’ve been waiting for all week. Which is why a world with hearing loss can feel a little grey unless we do something to remedy it.
‘Without light, we see no colour. And without sound, we lose connection.’
Similarly, when our vision becomes impaired, detail and depth of colour can be affected. Our world can appear dull or blurry and so the true beauty of what we see is lost—from the details of a painting, or a handwritten note, to the smile on a friend’s face.
Both sound and light share the fundamental nature of vibration and are measured by frequency—a compression wave of air molecules for sound, and an electromagnetic wave for light. Frequencies affect us humans almost all of the time, evoking emotional, physical, psychological and behavioural responses, as well as visceral responses deep inside the body. In turn, our life is given energy, feeling, emotion and memory—all triggered by what we see and hear —and would be nothing without sound and light.
If we take a moment to think about how it would feel not to hear the sounds of nature, the sound of birdsong, the rustling of leaves or running water in a stream, it’s hard to fathom. Such precious sounds to us all, and ones we must ensure we preserve by applying the same care to our hearing as we do our sight.
At Leightons we want to help you do just that— to hear, see and live life in colour—which is why our friendly and professional audiologists and optometrists are on hand to answer any queries you may have about your hearing or vision.
Here at Leightons, we want to help you enhance your everyday life so you can live life in full colour. Our friendly and professional audiologists and optometrists are on hand to answer any questions or queries you may have about your hearing or vision.
So what are you waiting for, come and have a chat with our team!
0800 40 20 20
leightons.co.uk/book
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MOUNTAIN BIKING
RESTING
WELLBEING
PADDLEBOARDING
FAMILY
FREEDOM
RUSTING
DOG WALK
LEISURE
ADVENTURE
RELAXATION
COMMUNITY
LUST FOR LIFE
NATURE
FRIENDS
PICNIC
Makes
Ingredients
225g salted butter
225g caster sugar
4 medium-sized free range eggs
225g self-raising flour
150g hazelnut chocolate spread
50g chopped hazelnuts
100g, or thereabouts, hazelnut chocolate spread
Equipment
1 loaf tin
Pre-heat the oven to 160°C (fan, otherwise 180°C). Cream the butter and sugar in a large bowl until light and fluffy. Next, beat in the eggs, before folding in the flour. Add your hazelnut chocolate spread, stirring til well combined. Pour into a lined loaf tin, using butter to lightly grease the tin. Bake for around an hour, or until a knife comes clean away from the middle of the cake. While the loaf is still warm, slather with as much spread as you like, and a sprinkling of chopped hazelnuts for good measure.
That well-known breakfast spread adds instant magic to this moreish loaf cake, which is especially delicious warm from the oven.
We are hugely proud of the number of practices we’ve built in our 95 years. From our first premises in Southampton in 1928, to our thirty-five strong network today, our optical and hearing care remains the same. Patient-centred and committed to your experience, always.
From the friendly reception as you step through our doors, to our optometrists and audiologists who go the extra mile to understand exactly what it is you need, the Leightons way of providing an unparalleled service is consistent and enduring, wherever you are.
We’re lucky to have branches in the following wonderful towns, where we can’t wait to welcome you:
ADDLESTONE
ALTON
ANDOVER
BASINGSTOKE
BURNHAM-ON-SEA
CAMBERLEY
CHANDLERS FORD
CHRISTCHURCH
CIRENCESTER
COBHAM
EPSOM
FAREHAM
FARNHAM
FLEET
HASLEMERE
HAYWARDS HEATH
HEMPSTEAD VALLEY
LEADENHALL STREET
LEWES
MARLOW
POOLE
PUTNEY
READING
SOUTHAMPTON
ST ALBANS
SUTTON
SWINDON
TADLEY
THATCHAM
TOTTON
TUNBRIDGE WELLS
WINCHESTER
WINDSOR
WOKINGHAM
WOODLEY
