Mincher Lockett Opticians looking good at 40

WE all know that we have to take better care of ourselves as we grow older.

Well that's a message that Mincher-Lockett Opticians in Stafford took on board in a business sense.

The eye specialists are celebrating their 40th anniversary this year after they first opened the doors of the Stafford Street practice in 1969.

As part of a series of celebrations to mark their birthday the opticians launched a health campaign, Look Good at 40, emphasising the importance of getting your eye check from aged 40 onwards

Pictured right with the practice optician Jan Goodwin and dispensing optician Sarah Edge are customers Tracey Henney, who has just turned 40, and George Hewson who has been attending the practice for 40 years.

The business has recently undergone a major refurbishment to update the image of its practice, so it taking the message on board in a business and health sense.

Jan Goodwin, the optician at the practice, said: “As we turn 40 at Mincher-Lockett Opticians we wanted to emphasise the health message that hitting 40 is one of the crucial times for people to take care of their eye sight.

“Customer care is at the centre of our service so while we celebrate our 40 we’re stressing that looking after your eye sight from 40 onwards can prevent eye sight loss and damage later in life,” she said.

“Turning 40 is one of the key health milestone for many conditions like heart disease, diabetes, stroke and kidney disease, it’s why the government’s planned national health screening programme to prevent these conditions will start with people aged 40

“Forty is also a crucial age for our eye sight,” Jan explained.

“At 40 we typically notice the first signs of aging in our eyes, like a difficulty in focusing on very near objects. It’s important to track this from our early 40s with regular eye tests. That means people can get glasses as soon as they need them, helping to prevent eyestrain and headaches.

“Particular changes in our eye sight, which very commonly first appear in our 40s, can also provide the first signs of the onset of diabetes, and early detection of diabetes is crucial to prevent it causing long term damage including blindness.

“Turning 40 is also one of the key times to spot the loss of pigment in cells in the macular area of the eye which can be an indicator that this part of the eye is working less effectively. Macular pigment degeneration is the most common cause of blindness in the developed world.

“To detect this we were one of the first opticians in the area to install equipment, called an Mpod, that screens for a loss of the pigment, which we recommend to all adult customers but especially those aged over 40.

“So we’re asking people particularly in their 40s to join in our birthday celebrations by giving a thought to their eye sight and making sure they start having regular eye sight checks,” she said.

Supporting the Look Good at 40 message at the launch was 40-year-old Tracey Henney, picture left, a personal assistant from Creswell. Tracey got her first pair of contact lenses just after turning 40 in February after a lifetime of wearing glasses.

“Because I’ve got one eye that is weaker than the other opticians had always told me I couldn’t wear contact lenses, but Mincher-Lockett Opticians have supplied me with a pair with one lens that’s stronger than the other, so I’m able to wear contact lenses for the first time.

The longest serving customer at Mincher-Lockett Opticians George Hewson, aged 71, a retired IT consultant from Weston, who first came to the opticians in May 1969, also took part in the celebrations.

“I suppose I’m proof of how looking after your eyesight does pay dividends,” he said.

“I suffered from double vision a short time ago and Jan told me it could’ve been caused by a mild stroke. After getting checked over by a specialist I was eventually given the all clear. But it shows how your eyesight can be a window on to other health problems so having regular checks can bring real benefits, luckily my eyesight is good and I’m fit and healthy,” he said.