Harcourt Carter Optical - 110 Years of Service

12 PAGE SPECIAL SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20, 2015.

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CHRISTOPHER KING, managing director. (RC)

TO CONSTANTLY STRIVE via technical expertise, teamwork and superb customer service to be the provider of the best quality professional eye care services and products in the Caribbean that will protect and improve the vision of the region for another 100 years. You can access the company始s website for information at www.harcourtcarteroptical.com HARCOURT CARTER OPTICAL, Belleville, St Michael.

FOUNDED BY Henry Harcourt Carter in 1905, the company first operated from a single office in High Street, Bridgetown. Harcourt Carter Optical (HCO) also started the first glass lens manufacturing laboratory to manufacture finished spectacle lenses from raw blanks.

Keith Melville joined the company in 1953 and was integral to the growth of the company throughout the following decades. His prowess as a businessman and optometrist resulted in the acquisition of several other optical companies such as Wesley Bailey & Company Ltd, Superior Optical, and Prescott O'Neal Optical in the early 1960s. Further growth and development was fuelled by partnership with Imperial Optical of Canada, a leader in the Canadian optical industry at the time. Harcourt Carter Optical would eventually fully acquire Imperial Optical in 1991.

The company also expanded into St Vincent, St Lucia, and Antigua in the 1970s and although these entities were eventually divested, HCO still conducts business with many of them today.

In 2000, the companies which remained, namely Imperial Optical, Superior Optical, Optical Barbados, and Harcourt Carter Optical were all amalgamated to become the company we know today.

Rejuvenated under new ownership, the new identity of HCO was launched with the introduction of the now familiar logo and brand.

The following years ushered in the opening of new and modern practices in Warrens in 2001 and Sargeant始s Village in 2005. Major renovations of the St Michael's Row location in 2007 and Belleville in 2012 soon followed. Last year saw the relocation of the Warrens branch to the current location at The Dome Mall The entity is now also completely computerised with electronic patient records.

Appointment scheduling, patient reminders, accounting records, and all aspects of dispensing are all now computer based.

Given its impressive history, it is no wonder that Harcourt Carter Optical is one of the best known and most trusted optometry practices in Barbados today. However, not one to rest on its laurels, the company is always striving to improve its customer service, and is proud to be able to offer its patients and customers one of the widest choices of optical services and products on the island.

There are presently six internationally trained professional optometrists on staff at Harcourt Carter Optical, practising at its convenient locations. A friendly, well trained customer service team has always been a key part of the Harcourt Carter success story and the company has endeavoured to combine this important asset with improved facilities and services to ensure that customers thoroughly enjoy their Harcourt Carter experience.

(GP)

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HARCOURT CARTER offers many eye care services, from comprehensive eye examinations and visual field tests, to contact lenses and even hearing tests. Each optometry practice also offers an impressive optical boutique each with a wide selection of optical products, ranging from designer frames and sunglasses to the latest in optical accessories. The launch of its new website and the ability of clients to book appointments online are part of the ongoing effort to remain one of the leading optical companies in Barbados.

It is important to know the differing roles of the various eye care professionals to ensure that you seek the appropriate treatment and advice for your eye care concerns.

Ophthalmologists, optometrists, and opticians are all different in their training and capabilities.

Optometrists are eye care professionals who provide primary vision care. An optometrist is not a medical doctor. The practice of optometry involves performing eye examinations and vision tests, prescribing and dispensing corrective YOU’RE IN GOOD hands with any optometrist at Harcourt Carter.

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lenses, including glasses and contact lenses and detecting certain eye abnormalities and diseases. There are six optometrists working at Harcourt Carter Optical: Keith Melville, Chris King, Edward Haslett, Michele King, Mellissa Austin, and Gary StC Hutchinson.

An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specialises in the eye and visual system. An ophthalmologist is licensed to practise medicine and surgery. Ophthalmologists diagnose and treat all eye diseases, perform eye surgery and prescribe and fit eyeglasses and contact lenses to correct vision problems. Many ophthalmologists are also involved in scientific research on the causes and cures for eye diseases and vision disorders.

Opticians are technicians trained to design, verify and fit eyeglass lenses and frames, contact lenses, and other devices to correct eyesight. They use prescriptions supplied by ophthalmologists or optometrists, but do not test vision or write prescriptions for visual correction.

Opticians are not permitted to diagnose or treat eye diseases.

(RC)

info.bb@massyrealty.com

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TO BIFOCAL or not to bifocal or to noline progressive lenses, that is the question. For people who are starting out in their ocular adornment adventure, itĘźs important to note that different styled glasses are catered for specific purposes.

When vision starts to wane and reading becomes a strain, you may need to consider single-vision reading glasses.

Full frames are best for people that spend long swathes of time reading because the prescription takes up the full lens.

However, for casual reading smaller or half-eye type frames may be better as the wearer can look over the top of the glasses and see clearly in the distance points.

Generally, people who have never needed glasses in the past will start out with a pair of reading glasses rather than bifocals or no-line progressive lenses,

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which are usually a better choice if you have a need for distance as well as near correction.

Whichever style works best for your purposes is what you should go with, you should also discuss your options with your specialist.

Spectacle Lenses: Much has changed over the last 110 years with the type of lenses that are used in your glasses. Way back then, lenses were chiselled from large blocks of optical glass and then hand ground and shaped. This procedure is now but a distant memory. Today high-tech polymer lenses are used. Harcourt Carter Optical offers no fewer than seven types of these plastic lens materials each having specific properties that can be selected to benefit the varying needs of each patient. For example, the 1.74 high index lens

material is exceptionally thin and can greatly improve the cosmetic appearance of someone needing a strong prescription.

The design and manufacture of spectacle lenses today has been transformed from a manual process fraught with inaccuracies to an extremely high-tech procedure utilising state-of-theart digital free-form lens surfacing technology. This cutting-edge process allows lenses to be made that are customised to the individual patientĘźs needs thereby reducing optical distortion and providing much enhanced vision.

Nowhere have these modern innovations been more beneficial than with progressive lenses.

Today, those needing glasses can also select from a wide variety of lens enhancements. Options such as photochromic (transitions) lenses that

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darken in the sun, scratch-resistant, and anti-glare treatments have become standard. These features help reduce glare caused by sun exposure, reduce harmful ultraviolet light exposure, reduce lens scratching as well as reduce unwanted reflections from the lenses.

At Harcourt Carter Optical, we are proud to have partnered with the leading international suppliers of customised lenses, namely Zeiss Vision Care and Essilor, as well as local distributors to provide our patients with the very best in lens technology available anywhere in the world. Our dispensing opticians and optometrists can advise which lens options, from the very sophisticated to the more traditional, would best suit your individual needs.

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Contact lenses: Contact lenses are a great option for those patients who want to reduce their dependence on glasses whether for fulltime use or just occasional wear, sports or going out. TodayĘźs contact lenses are for the most part disposable, with users wearing them either for just one day, as with daily disposable lenses, or for one month as with monthly disposable lenses. Modern contact lens materials and designs have made it possible for more people to use contacts than in years gone by. Today, there are options available for people with astigmatism as well as those needing multifocal lenses.

At Harcourt Carter Optical we provide our patients with all the leading brands of contacts from several manufacturers, including Vistakon (Johnson and Johnson), Bausch and Lomb, Alcon/CIBA Vision, and Cooper Vision to name a few. Our optometrists also fit specialty and custom-made contact lenses for complex prescriptions and eye disease, for example the Rose K2 lens for keratoconus, the ICD scleral lens and many more. In addition, we fit and supply prosthetic (artificial) eyes. If you are interested in finding out if contact lenses may be suitable for you, feel free to set up a consultation appointment to discuss options with one

of our team of optometrists.

Safety in sports and work: Less well known is that Harcourt Carter is a leading supplier of safety eye wear for industrial workers and athletes.

If there's one thing that seems to be a key to success in sports, it's vision. But did you know you can improve your performance by improving some aspects of your vision? It's easy to recognise problems, and even easier to solve them. Glasses, contact lenses, or even eye exercises may be helpful in improving performance.

The ability to perform a high-risk job with utmost accuracy and safety is pivotal in many fields from construction to electrical work. It is extremely important to protect the eyes from injury and as such for those requiring eye protection on and off the job, Harcourt Carter offers a range of impact resistant prescription safety glasses which conform to ANSI standards. These are made with high-impact polycarbonate lenses and are available in single-vision, progressive as well as bifocal lens designs. Frame designs include side shields which are designed to protect the wearer from being injured by objects that are not directly in front of them but that come from one side or the other.

www.londonbridgeoptical.co.uk

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WITH MORE THAN a century of expertise in the field of eye care, Harcourt Carter Optical has always strived to care for and improve the lives of its patrons.

With four easy to reach and amazingly staffed locations,

Harcourt Carter is all about the experience of convenience, professionalism, and advanced services. Whichever location you choose will have your patient history ready and waiting as Harcourt Carterʼs entire system has been updated for

HARCOURT CARTER OPTICAL Sargeant’s Village, Christ Church.

(RC)

ease of access with its electronic patient profile structure.

• 5th Ave Belleville, St Michael, Barbados, Phone: (246) 417-5650 Fax: (246) 436-9628 • Sargeant's Village, Christ Church, Barbados, Phone: (246)

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417-5652 Fax: (246) 228-1937 • St Michael's Row, Bridgetown, Barbados, Phone: (246) 417-5653 Fax: (246) 436-9613 • The Dome Mall, Warrens, St Michael, Barbados, Phone: (246) 417-5651 Fax: (246) 421-5655

HARCOURT CARTER OPTICAL Warrens, St Michael.

(RC)

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HARCOURT CARTER OPTICAL St Michael’s Row, St Michael.

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(RC)

HARCOURT CARTER OPTICAL Belleville, St Michael.

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(RC)

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(Pictures by Rawle Culbard.)

KEITH MELVILLE 60-YEAR AWARD

JOSEPH RENEE 35-YEAR AWARD

SHAWN BREWSTER 20-YEAR AWARD

ON NOVEMBER 21, the Harcourt Carter Optical family gathered to celebrate their 110th anniversary at the Accra Beach Hotel in Rockley, Christ Church. Staff from all locations reflected on the tenth year past the companyʼs centennial and the innovations and experiences they have shared during that time.

The 110th anniversary ceremony was indeed an award worthy occasion with many staff members being rewarded for their numerous years of loyal service, while others were recognised for their successful participation in the in-house training programme.

CAROL-ANN MARTINDALE 15-YEAR AWARD

JILLIAN WEEKES 10-YEAR AWARD

STACIE HASSELL 10-YEAR AWARD

FAYE EDEY-GRANNUM 25-YEAR AWARD

NADIRA NARINE 20-YEAR AWARD

JUNE WATKINS 10-YEAR AWARD

© 2015 MARCHON

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APRIL MARVILLE 10-YEAR AWARD

ALISON MARSHALL 10-YEAR AWARD

ALISON MARSHALL

MELLISSA HUGGINS 5-YEAR AWARD

SUSAN ROCHESTER

LYN-ALISON BECKLES 10-YEAR AWARD

GARY HUTCHINSON 5-YEAR AWARD

SHARIKA GRIFFITH

KEVIN THOMAS 10-YEAR AWARD

QUINCEY TOPPIN 5-YEAR AWARD

ANDRÉ WHITTINGTON

KEISHA HINDS 5-YEAR AWARD

KEISHA HINDS

MISSING ARE: Shirley Watkins Sandra Fields Judith Thompson Marcella Gittens Jennifer Forde Cherese Brewster Usha Amin Jacqueline Beckles

40-year award 40-year award 15-year award 10-year award 10-year award 10-year award 5-year award 5-year award

(Pictures by Rawle Culbard.)

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WHEN OUR optometrists at HCO examine your eyes, we have two main objectives: to solve any visual problems or concerns you may have and to look for any signs of eye disease.

Your eye examination at Harcourt Carter takes about 20 to 30 minutes and will include recording your vision and visual acuity, determining the presence of any refractive error, ophthalmoscopy, which is examining the inside of the eye, checking the binocular status of the eyes, measuring the intraocular pressure, and a slit lamp examination, which is an examination of the ocular surface under high magnification.

If any signs of disease or abnormality are detected, further tests may be recommended including visual field analysis and referral to an ophthalmologist or your general health practitioner for further investigation and treatment.

Should you be interested

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in wearing contact lenses, the optometrists would be happy to assist. For new wearers of contact lenses, the initial visit with the optometrists will involve a discussion and a series of precise measurements will be taken to determine the exact power and type of lens that will best suit your optical and lifestyle needs.

Lenses may be available immediately from the wide range carried in stock or may need to be ordered depending on the exact lens type required.

A second “delivery” visit will provide the new wearer with all the information needed to safely wear contact lenses. This will include one-to-one tuition on insertion and removal of the lenses, cleaning and care of the lenses, and other helpful tips to make wearing lenses easier.

A review visit with the optometrist is always done to ensure that the lenses prescribed are working perfectly.

It is generally recommended that you

have an eye examination every two years. An annual examination may be advised if there are any known eye problems or any family history of eye disease such as glaucoma. An annual examination is needed for all people wearing contact lenses.

Visual field testing – Humphrey Visual Field Analyser This test is performed to determine the extent of your peripheral vision. A visual field test is usually recommended in cases where damage to the optic nerve or the visual pathway to the brain is suspected. It is most commonly used to investigate visual loss caused by glaucoma.

DECEMBER 20, 2015 The visual field test involves identifying a series of lights presented to different areas of the field of vision. At Harcourt Carter the visual field testing is carried out using a computerised Humphrey Visual Field Analyser. The test usually takes about 30 minutes to complete.

Visual field testing is an important tool in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma.

It is used to confirm that glaucoma has affected the visual function, to evaluate the severity, and to monitor progression of the disease.

The Humphrey Visual Field Analyser is the recognised standard of care for early diagnosis and

HARCOURT CARTER staff hard at work.

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DECEMBER 20, 2015

management of ocular diseases resulting in visual field loss.

Digital retinal photography Digital retinal photography provides your optometrist with a high-definition view of your retina, optic nerve, and all of the blood vessels of the eye. The image can be zoomed for even closer inspection and manipulated in various ways to show details that cannot be seen by using any other method.

It also allows the optometrist to study the retina as a whole rather than in several smaller views.

Benefits of digital retinal photography • A permanent and accurate record can be kept of the condition of your eyes • Changes too small to be seen using traditional methods can be identified • Improved detection of early changes of an eye condition by year-to-year comparisons • Allows the patient to see what the optometrist sees, and to understand any changes taking place • Allows a more refined and accurate referral to a specialist if required Recommended for everyone Digital retinal photography is recommended as a

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screening tool for all patients to establish a baseline and to enhance their patient records. It is particularly recommended for those with a personal or family history of the following: • Diabetes • High blood pressure • Glaucoma • Macular degeneration • Retinal conditions or diseases • High glasses prescription Corneal topography Corneal topography, also known as photokeratoscopy, is a non-invasive medical imaging technique for mapping the surface curvature of the cornea, the outer structure of the eye.

To perform the test, the patient is seated facing the instrument which contains an illuminated pattern, most commonly a series of concentric rings. The pattern is focused on the anterior (outer) surface of the patient's cornea and reflected back to a digital camera at the centre of the instrument.

The topography of the cornea is revealed by the

shape taken by the reflected pattern. A computer provides the necessary analysis, typically determining the position and height of several thousand points across the cornea.

Prosthetics An ocular prosthesis, or artificial eye, is a type of craniofacial prosthesis that replaces an absent natural eye. The prosthesis fits over an orbital implant and under the eyelids. Often referred to as a glass eye, the ocular prosthesis roughly takes the shape of a convex shell and is made of medical grade plastic acrylic.

A few ocular prostheses today are made of cryolite glass. A variant of the ocular prosthesis is a very thin hard shell known as a scleral shell which can be worn over a damaged or eviscerated eye.

An ocular prosthesis does not provide vision; this would be a visual prosthesis. Someone with an ocular prosthesis is totally blind on the affected side and has monocular (one sided) vision.

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HOLIDAY RECIPES can help you pack on the nutrients instead of packing on the calories. There are vitaminrich foods for your eyes in several of your favourite holiday meals.

There始s more to eye nutrition than just carrots.

Green vegetables such as kale, spinach, collard greens, turnip greens, green peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and green beans all offer lutein and zeaxanthin. These particular nutrients can potentially prevent cataracts and macular degeneration by protecting cells from damage done by free radicals, which destroy cells within the body.

Spinach and Kale Antioxidants found in spinach, kale, collard greens, turnip greens, green peas, broccoli, romaine lettuce, and green beans protect eyes against damage from things like sunlight, cigarette smoke, and air pollution. These leafy greens are packed with two of the best nutrients for your eyes, lutein and zeaxanthin.

Grapefruit, strawberries, and Brussels sprouts Vitamin C is a top

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antioxidant. These foods are among the top sources of vitamin C. Eat half a grapefruit and a handful of Brussels sprouts or strawberries (half cup) a day and you're good to go.

Papaya, oranges, cranberries, and green peppers are other good sources.

Seeds, nuts, and Wheatgerm Vitamins C and E work together to keep healthy tissue strong. Most of us don't get as much vitamin E as we should from food.

Almonds, pecans, cranberries (again) and vegetable oils are all good sources. You can give your salad a boost with a small handful of sunflower seeds, or add a tablespoon of wheatgerm oil to your salad dressings.

But what about dessert?

Not to worry, you can replace white flour with wholegrain flours in your cake and cookie recipes. Whole grains may reduce your risk of agerelated macular degeneration.

Happy holidays from Harcourt Carter Optical.

BE SURE to visit the updated website for Harcourt Carter Optical.

DECEMBER 20, 2015

(GP)