UV rays can't be seen or felt but when we're outside we're always exposed to them. We always remember to protect our own and our family's skin but what about our eyes.


Damage from UV exposure is cumulative, building every time your eyes are exposed to the sun.  

Research shows that UVA and UVB rays may contribute to short-term vision impairment as well as to potentially serious age-related eye problems and disease of the eyes, including cataracts. UV light may also contribute to macular degeneration, the leading cause of blindness in people over 60 years old. (http://www.transitions.com/emea/transitions-every-day/eye-wellness/#rays)

In summer we spend much more time outdoors and have a lot more daylight to do so, therefore our eyes become more exposed to the dangers of UV

The good news is that wearing Transitions lenses will help protect your eyes by blocking 100% of invisible UVA and UVB rays.

Transitions (photochromic) lenses react to the UV rays in sunlight and darken accordingly - the brighter the sunlight, the darker the lens becomes. They become completely clear indoors where there is little of no UV light to cause the lens to darken.

At Stepaside Eyecare we have expertise in recommending which UV protecting lenses are best for you and your lifestyle. 

Allergies are becoming more and more common, all research backs this up. An increasing number of people work indoors and even kids are not outside as much as they used to be. This reduced exposure to the natural environment means that we are not exposed to and therefore our bodies are not accustomed to the many substance which are carried in the air.

South Dublin has a wealth of parks, mountains and coastline. Allergy sufferers are out walking, cycling and playing many sports in summer, exposing themselves to an air rich in the substances which make them sneeze and sniffle. 

But what is an allergy. It is simply an over-reaction to a normally harmless substance such as tree or grass pollen. When it affects our eyes it causes redness, stinging, watering, swelling and itchiness. At Stepaside Eyecare opticians in South Dublin we have specialised equipment to look at how allergies are affecting eyes and vision and offer advice or refer for treatment.


All of the problems created by allergies would seem to suggest that wearing contact lenses for allergy sufferers is a big no no but this is no longer the case.

Modern daily disposable contact lenses have an in-built ability to reduce the symptoms of allergy. With every blink the lens releases moisture to the surface of the lens - this acts to carry the allergen (e.g. pollen) away from the surface of the eye. The daily disposable contact lens also acts as a barrier to prevent pollen and other allergens making contact with the eyes.
So if you are an allergy sufferer but feel that contact lenses aren't suitable for you, then think again. 

At Stepaside Eyecare we have the latest designs in Daily disposable contact lenses, allowing excellent comfort, vision and protection from common allergies. Call us or drop in store to discuss any issues you might be having and find out more about how we can help.

Now that March is almost upon us it's time to think about the better weather and longer days that spring and summer bring.

While the increase in sun is certainly welcome it's also important to consider the health implications both at home and abroad. While most of us are aware of the dangers that the sun poses to our skin, are we protecting our eyes in the same way?

Ultra-violet (UV) radiation from natural sunlight can damage to the tissues of our eyes causing discomfort and reduction in the quality of our vision. But what is UV light and more importantly what can we do to protect ourselves, our eyes and vision?

There are three types of UV light; UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is mostly filtered out by the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. UVA and UVB can cause damage to our eyes when exposed for prolonged periods without proper sun protection. This can lead to discomfort in the short term but over time can cause permanent changes to the eyes such as cataract and retinal damage which ultimately affect our sight.

Some contact lenses can block UV but this only protects the part of the eye that the lens covers - the eyelids and the white of the eye (conjunctiva & sclera) are not protected. To get full and complete protection for our eyes it is important to wear sunglasses suited to this purpose such as Maui Jim Polarised Plus lenses.

Sunglasses should absorb 100% of UVA and UVB offering full protection from these harmful rays and the damage they can cause. For those who spend a lot of time outdoors a wrap around design offers a more complete coverage, shielding the eyes from all angles.

Polarised sunglasses remove annoying glare. Glare occurs when light is indirectly reflected into our eyes, such as when driving on a wet road with the sun in front of you. Polarised, colour enhancing sunglasses have been shown to improve road safety in the US. Try a pair on and you’ll immediately notice the difference they make.

Sunglasses that do not have proper UV filters or that have not undergone rigorous testing can actually put your eyes at more rick of damage than with no sunglasses at all. This is because by reducing visible light they cause the pupils of the eye to open more, therefore allowing more UV light to enter the eyes, potentially causing harm.

So if you’re planning to head abroad this summer or you’re getting active in the mountains or on the sea, investing in a quality pair of sunglasses is one thing that can give peace of mind and help to fully enjoy life in the open air.

Dry eye is becoming an increasingly problematic issue in modern day Ireland. Here at Stepaside Eyecare in South Dublin I have been encountering more and more people with dry eye issues. In the past I traditionally asked my patients the simple question 'do you have dry eyes?', to which most people relied simply 'No'. In the past few years I have asked more specific questions like 'how do your eyes feel when you're on the computer?', 'do you find your vision blurred on your drive home from work?' or 'do you ever get a stinging sensation in your eyes when the air conditioning or heating is on in the office?'.
I have found that in almost every case I am told about problems that are invariably linked to dry eye. In fact over 15% of people in their 30's are affected by dry eye and this increases with age.

So now that we know how common dry eye is, how do know if we have it and what can be done? Some medications are linked to an increase in dry eye - I will always ask about general health and medication in your eye exam. It is also more common as we get older. If you have had laser or cataract surgery then you may be more likely to have dry eye symptoms. It is also caused by our environment - air con, heating, etc. Using computer screens reduced our blinking rate, therefore allowing the surface of the eye to dry more.

The following symptoms are commonly associated with dry eye - grittiness, foreign body feeling (something in the eye), light sensitivity, inability to wear contact lenses, night time glare, low quality vision for reading and/or watching TV, burning sensation. 

A recent survey of people of working age likened the impact of dry eyes  as similar to Angina when it come to impact on quality of life.

Before I can dispense advice and options in order to manage and control dry eye syndromes I need to perform a full dry eye assessment.  A full vision check is followed by assessment of the eye surface and a thorough inspection on the eye lids and lashes. I can can then assess the quality of the tears in so far as how well they wet the eye and what elements are depleted.

All of this information allows for a discussion and planning on how to ease discomfort and improve the quality of life of the person affected by dry eyes. The most common port of call is the pharmacist for eye drops and while these can help they more often than not simply mask the underlying issue.

If you have any of the symptoms outlined above or if you have been told you have dry eye and were simply given drops then get in contact with us to discuss how we can help.

Since opening our doors in Dublin 18 back in October 2011 we have been offering a complete eyecare service in a local, community setting. We have the term Eyecare in our name because that is what we are passionate about. Our customers can be certain of having the most thorough eye test so that before we consider looking at frames and contact lenses we are confident that the health of the eyes has been looked after. 

Our ethos is to provide a full eye care service in a relaxed environment. Our customers enjoy the stress free zone that we have, a full eye test takes 30 minutes - enough time to figure out vision problems and provide effective solutions.

People have come for eye tests and contact lens consultations from across the Dublin 18 and South Dublin areas. Our contact lens wearers have been returning time and time again to re-order and try the latest in comfort and vision technology.

Now that we are on our third year of business we will be contacting customers who haven't had their eyes tested for two years. If you haven't had your eyes or contact lenses checked for two years the give us a call. 

To mark our second birthday we are having a special sale on frames. You can save up to 30% on the highest quality designer frames including scratch-resistant lenses. This event runs from the 1st to the 30th of November so have your eye health checked and get some fantastic deals on designer eyewear in time for Christmas.

Finally, a big thank you to everyone for choosing Stepaside Eyecare. We will continue to provide a service that is second to none. So if it's the world's most comfortable contact lenses, the best anti-reflective lenses or straight-forward advice you need then talk to us.

Joe Lee
Owner & Optometrist at Stepaside Eyecare

It’s that time of the year again. As Hallowe’en approaches and the nights are drawing in, the drivers among us find ourselves having to drive more and more in the hours of darkness.

When carrying out an eye exam I always ask whether or not a person drives or intends to learn to drive. A common thread in this conversation is the dislike and occasional fear of driving at night. This fear has a significant impact on people’s lives as there is a large part of the year where they don’t feel safe on the road.

Research shows us that while only a quarter of car journeys are at night, more than half of all accidents occur during this time. Why should this be the case and more importantly what we can do to increase the safety of driving at night?

There are three main elements of our vision which are reduced in low light conditions – these are depth perception, colour vision and peripheral vision. Reducing one of these is bad enough but when all three are compromised then it makes sense to take precautions to enhance safety. In order to keep your vision at night time to a maximum I recommend the following.

1.     Visit your optician and have your eyes tested. Only after a full, comprehensive eye exam will you we know how much your vision can be improved. If there is the potential for an improvement to100% quality then your optician will discuss this with you. Peripheral vision can also be tested at an eye exam so be sure to ask about this.

2.     Wear the right glasses. Never wear tinted lenses at night - there is a false belief that tinted yellow glasses will improve night vision, this is simply not true and can actually reduce visual quality.

3.     Reduce glare. Only a high quality anti-reflective lens can remove night-time glare. There are differing qualities out there but Hoya lenses such as ‘high vision long life’ remove significantly more glare than the average lens. Less glare allows for better colour perception.

4.     Have good 3D vision. We only see depth when both eyes work together. Again ensure your glasses are up to date or get your eyes tested if it’s been more than two years since your last eye exam. Good depth perception allows for faster reaction times behind the wheel.

If you are concerned about your vision when driving, especially at night time then having a full eye examination is the ideal way to address these issues. At Stepaside Eyecare we carry out full, comprehensive eye examinations and use only high quality lenses in our frames.

If you have any questions regarding this blog or eye care in general, feel free to contact Joe on 01 532 2008 or email info@stepasideeyecare.ie.

Uniform - check, Books - check, Schoolbag - check, Good vision .........

Now that the kids have started back at school or are enjoying the last few days of the summer holidays it's time to consider the importance of good vision in the classroom.

Whether your kids are starting their first day of primary school or are nervously anticipating their first year of important exams, their vision is crucial to performance in education.

Kids rarely realise that their is anything the matter with their vision, they simply assume that everyone sees the world in the same way as they do.

Joseph Lee, owner and optometrist at Stepaside Eyecare in Dublin 18, last year carried out vision screening in a number of South Dublin schools. He said “I found that in primary schools almost 30% of children had an undetected visual issue. This ranged from a mild prescription through to some kids who had no useful vision in one eye and required immediate treatment.”

Squint (a turning of the eye) is usually obvious to parents, teachers and health-care workers but there are other problems that may go unnoticed. A lazy eye, short-sightedness and long-sightedness are all common problems that if undetected can lead to blurry vision, headaches and poor concentration. An annual eye test will spot these issues and resolve them before they cause problems. 

So now that everything else is done and the kids are back at school, remember that a simple eye exam helps to detect eyesight issues before they impact on a child's life. 

This June Stepaside Eyecare, Opticians & Contact Lens Practitioners welcomed Trevor Griffin of Celtic Hearing to the village.

Since 2011 Stepaside Eyecare has been providing a complete eye care service to the area. This includes eye tests (PRSI & Medical Card approved), glasses for adults and children, contact lenses and sunglasses.

2013 sees Celtic Hearing come under the same roof as Stepaside Eyecare. Celtic Hearing are an independent, Irish owned family business with over 15 years experience in the hearing aid business. All of their audiologists are highly qualified and provide complete hearing tests in Stepaside.

Joseph Lee, owner and optometrist at Stepaside Eyecare said “It’s great to have Trevor and Celtic Hearing with us here at Stepaside Eyecare. Our businesses are similar in that we’re both striving to improve quality of life by enhancing the senses. In my case it’s vision, in Trevor’s it’s hearing and it’s so important to look after both.”

To make an appointment to have your vision tested, contact Joe and the team at Stepaside Eyecare on 01 532 2008 or e-mail info@stepasideeyecare.ie. To make an appointment to see Trevor at Celtic Hearing call freephone 1800 664466 or e-mail info@celtichearing.ie

Now that spring has finally (just about) arrived, it's time to think about the summer and how we'll be spending our time. We inevitably spend more time outdoors in the summer months thereby exposing our eyes to allergens such as pollen, giving many of us symptoms of hay fever. An allergy is simply an over-reaction to a normally harmless substance such as tree or grass pollen. When it affects our eyes it causes redness, stinging, watering, swelling and itchiness. At Stepaside Eyecare we have specialised equipment to look at how allergies are affecting eyes and vision and offer advice or refer for treatment.
All of the problems created by allergies would seem to suggest that wearing contact lenses for allergy sufferers is a big no no but this is no longer the case.
Modern daily disposable contact lenses have an in-built ability to reduce the symptoms of allergy. With every blink the lens releases moisture to the surface of the lens - this acts to carry the allergen (e.g. pollen) away from the surface of the eye. The daily disposable contact lens also acts as a barrier to prevent pollen and other allergens making contact with the eyes.
So if you are an allergy sufferer but feel that contact lenses aren't suitable for you, then think again. 
At Stepaside Eyecare we have the latest designs in Daily disposable contact lenses, allowing excellent comfort, vision and protection from common allergies. Call us or drop in store to discuss any issues you might be having and find out more about how we can help.

‘I love the summer in Ireland, it’s my favourite day of the year’, is something a friend of mine said to me a few years ago. While I agree that the good weather can be fleeting I’m always hopeful that we’ll get more than one day to get outside and get active or even just have an excuse to light up the barbeque.

In this part of Ireland we are very fortunate to have so much opportunity for outdoor activities right on our doorstep. Walking, biking and golf are just some of the activities which get us outdoors and help to keep us with healthy and well. 

But what dangers are we exposed to when we spend long periods outdoors? We’re all aware of the dangers the sun poses to our skin, even in a moderate climate like we have here, but what about our eyes?

Ultra-violet (UV) radiation from natural sunlight can damage to the tissues of our eyes causing discomfort and reduction in the quality of our vision. But what is UV light and more importantly what can we do to protect ourselves, our eyes and vision?

There are three types of UV light; UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is mostly filtered out by the ozone layer in the earth’s atmosphere. UVA and UVB can cause damage to our eyes when exposed for prolonged periods without proper sun protection. This can lead to discomfort in the short term but over time can cause permanent changes to the eyes such as cataract and retinal damage which ultimately affect our sight.

In order to protect our eyes from the damage that UV radiation causes, other than staying indoors during the day, we should wear sun protection in the form of sunglasses.

Sunglasses should absorb 100% of UVA and UVB offering full protection from these harmful rays and the damage they can cause. For those who spend a lot of time outdoors a wrap around design offers a more complete coverage, shielding the eyes from all angles.

Polarised sunglasses remove annoying glare. Glare occurs when light is indirectly reflected into our eyes, such as when driving on a wet road with the sun in front of you. Polarised, colour enhancing sunglasses have been shown to improve road safety in the US. Try a pair on and you’ll immediately notice the difference they make.

So if you’re planning to head abroad this summer or you’re getting active in the mountains or on the sea, investing in a quality pair of sunglasses is one thing that can give peace of mind and help to fully enjoy life in the open air.


We have an extensive range of high quality sunglasses in store with lenses that offer the required protection. Sunglasses can also be made to your own prescription so everyone can benefit from clear vision and complete eye protection.