Rashelle Cohen Optometrist

05/12/2025

Ortho-K – The Nighttime Lens That Lets You See Clearly All Day! 🌙👁️
Did you know you can correct your vision while you sleep? That’s exactly what Ortho-K, or Orthokeratology, does!
Ortho-K uses specially designed contact lenses that you wear overnight. These lenses gently reshape the clear front part of your eye, called the cornea, while you sleep. When you wake up and take them out, light enters your eye the right way - so you can see clearly all day long without glasses or contact lenses!
It’s a bit like using braces for your teeth, but instead of moving teeth, Ortho-K adjusts your cornea’s shape temporarily. The effects last about a day, so you wear the lenses each night to keep your vision sharp.
Ortho-K is especially popular for kids and teens who are short-sighted (myopic). Studies show it can help slow down the worsening of myopia, which means fewer prescription changes and healthier eyes in the long run.
The lenses are safe, custom-made, and comfortable when fitted properly by your optometrist. If you or your child want freedom from glasses during the day - for school, sports, or swimming - Ortho-K might be the perfect fit!
Phone reception on 9528 1910 to make a time with Rashelle to ask about ortho K.

02/11/2022

Is smoking bad for your eyes? YES!
Smoking ( includes e-cigarettes) is the main 'modifiable' risk factor in developing macular degeneration( AMD) , which can severely affect your central vision . Smoking is also linked with cataract and glaucoma development. So smoking is linked to EARLY VISION LOSS.
To***co smoke also irritates the eyes and worsens dry eye syndrome in smokers and bystanders exposed to second-hand smoke, particularly among those who wear contact lenses.
So what can you do to decrease the risk of smoke exposure?
1. Speak to your GP about quitting and call the QUIT line on 137848
2. Eliminate the exposure to second-hand smoke and keep the home and work environment completely tobacco-free. ( smoke outside)
3.Maintain your general health: stay physically active and maintain a healthy weight . Regular exercise and a healthy diet including dark, leafy greens are important in the prevention of eye disease.
4. Wear sunglasses and sunhat to protect your eyes from the exposure to UV light which can cause early onset of cataracts and other eye diseases.
5. Have regular eye tests to detect eye problems early and help prevent or minimize vision loss.
Phone reception on 9528 1910 to book your eye test with Rashelle Cohen optometrist.

12/08/2021

https://fb.watch/7i_AoRbknF/

12/11/2020

Now that Victoria is coming out of lockdown with over 24 consecutive days of zero new corona cases, people are coming out of their homes to have their eyes checked. Optometrists are finding that there is increased eye strain ( due to prolonged technology use and less outdoor activity) , increase in myopia as well as "Mask Induced Dry Eyes" . Make sure to have your eyes checked if you are feeling sore, tired, blurry or strained eyes. Ring reception on 95281910 to make an appointment.

15/10/2020

Here is an interesting website for parents about MYOPIA ( short- sightedness). It presents the life time risks of having myopia as well as tips on how to slow the progression of myopia .
Get you kids off technology and go outside ( 2-3 hours per day if possible ) , encourage good posture and lighting when doing close work, see an optometrist who is familiar with current myopia control techniques.
Ring Rashelle Cohen Optometrist on 9528 1910 to make an appointment.

Myopia is rapidly becoming a serious public health concern worldwide, yet new research shows that 65% of Australian parents (with children 0-17 years old)..

07/10/2020

Should children wear sunglasses ? YES!
Summer is coming and ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight increases the risk of skin cancers , pterygia and some age-related eye problems, including cataracts and macular degeneration.
Australia has one of the highest incidences of skin cancers in the world, 10% of which occur on the skin area around the eyes.

Children are more susceptible to damage to the light-sensitive retina at the back of the eye from UV rays because the lens inside a child's eye is less capable of blocking UV than an adult lens, enabling more of this radiation to pe*****te deep into the eye.

These factors make it very important for all children — even infants — to wear UV-blocking sunglasses anytime they are outdoors in daylight hours. This is true even on cloudy and overcast days, because most UV rays (which are invisible) can pe*****te cloud cover.
By investing in quality children's sunglasses, you are helping your child enjoy a lifetime of good vision.
Ring reception to make a time for you child to have a full optometric assessment and discuss UV protection for your child.
Ring reception to make a time with Rashelle:
9528 1910

27/09/2020

Victorian COVID-19 restrictions have now changed. The curfew has been lifted and Medical and Allied health services are now able to offer face to face services to all non urgent and routine care now.
Rashelle Cohen Optometry remains open , but all patients must wear masks. Please ring reception to make a time.
Reception now open Mon to Th 9-5pm and Fri 9-3pm. Phone 9528 1910.

27/08/2020

COVID home schooling, spending hours on the computer and digital devices ? This can lead to eye strain , head aches, dry , blurry and irritated eyes. Here are some tips to help with visual fatigue and dry eyes:
1. Take a 20 second visual break every 20 minutes of computer or close work; look out the window, make distant objects clear , blink for 2 seconds 3 times.
2. Ensure you have a good posture : The screen or book should be 'fist to elbow distance 'away from you. A screen monitor should be arm's length away. Your posture should be 'squared' up and not tilted to one side. Shoulders should be back and down and the screen should be slightly below eye level. Turn your core on and have lumbar support.
3. Lighting should be good. Have a window in the room, ideally behind you ; if there is no window ensure you have good room lighting. Do NOT work on your device in a dark room. Do NOT read under the covers in bed with a torch when your parents have told you it's time to sleep.(Bookworm secret #1).
4. STOP using your device/technology 1 hour prior to sleep. Blue light can disrupt the sleep cycle. Switch to night mode when it gets night time.
5. Lastly ensure you have your eyes tested regularly. Sore and dry eyes, eye strain and blurry are symptoms that indicate you need to have a full eye examination.
Ring reception on 95281910 to make an appointment with Rashelle.

30/06/2020

Now that it's school holidays,travelling to a sunny holiday destination is difficult. This has forced children to "shelter in their homes", play video games and work at their computers for hours. Lack of outdoor time and extensive near work are both risk factors for increasing myopia (shortsightedness) in children, a condition that increases the risk of sight-threatening disease later in life.
1. Ensure that your child goes outdoors for 1 hour every day.
2. Get them to read or work on their devices outdoors. High light levels are thought to be a key protective factor of outdoor time in regards to myopia. If they can’t get outdoors , due to weather or apartment living, provide natural lighting with big windows.
3. Ensure that they take a 10-minute break for every 30 minutes of screen time and try and limit it to only 1-2 hours per day during these periods when they are at home.

Maximum recommended screen time for kids :
Children under 2 years old : NO screen time

Children 2-5 years: 1 hr/day screen time

Children 6-12 years: 2hr /day max

Encourage your children to watch their shows on the TV rather than a laptop.
The bigger the screen, the further away from the eyes = less eye strain and better long-term outcome.

Rashelle Cohen Optometry is open during the school holidays. Children should have regular eye checks to monitor eye strain and maintain good eye health. Ring reception on 95281910 to make a time.
Enjoy the holidays and stay safe!