Guides

Eye care guides: learn, compare, decide

Plain-language guides from the optometrists at NVISION Eyecare in Rosedale, Auckland. Start with the basics, compare your options, then decide what to do next. Each guide is general information and is not a diagnosis.

Book an appointment Call 09-475 5548

Book an appointment

No referral needed, for any appointment — including specialty Ortho-K, dry eye and keratoconus consultations.

Call: 09-475 5548
Weekdays: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturday: 8:30 am – 3:00 pm

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Learn

Learn the basics

Early questions: what a condition is, what the words mean and when it matters.

LearnWhat is myopiaShort-sightedness in plain language: what changes inside the eye, why more children have it, and why the number on the prescription matters later.7 min readRead the guide

LearnSigns your child needs an eye testChildren rarely say their vision is blurry. The behaviours to watch for, what the B4 School Check screen covers, and when to book.8 min readRead the guide

LearnWhat is dry eyeThe two types of dry eye, what the eyelid oil glands do, who gets it, and why eyes that water can still be dry.7 min readRead the guide

LearnWhat is keratoconusA plain primer on keratoconus: what changes in the cornea, who gets it, what slows it down and what gives you clear vision again.8 min readRead the guide

LearnWhat is colour blindnessWhy some colours look alike to you, how it is tested, and what it means for work and study in New Zealand.8 min readRead the guide

LearnWhat a comprehensive eye exam checksEach part of an eye exam explained: what the tests look for, why a vision screening is not the same thing, and how often adults should go.7 min readRead the guide

LearnFloaters and flashes: when urgentNormal floaters, posterior vitreous detachment, retinal tear or detachment, the same-day rule, and when it is the hospital rather than us.8 min readRead the guide

LearnScreen time and your eyesDigital eye strain, blinking, the blue light question, children's myopia and outdoor time, and what NZ guidance says about screen time.8 min readRead the guide

LearnUV and your eyes in NZNew Zealand sun is hard on eyes. What UV does to the eye over the years, who is most exposed, and what a sunglasses label actually tells you.8 min readRead the guide

LearnWhat is presbyopiaThe menu has drifted to arm's length. Here is what has changed inside your eye, what it is not, and the options.7 min readRead the guide

Compare

Compare your options

Option against option, so you can see which may fit you or your child.

CompareOrtho-K vs soft contacts vs glasses for a childOvernight lenses, daytime soft lenses or glasses: what each asks of your child day to day, and what each does for slowing myopia.8 min readRead the guide

CompareMiyoSmart vs Stellest vs atropineTwo myopia control glasses and a nightly eye drop: how each works, what it asks of your child, the Medsafe status of atropine in NZ, and when they are combined.8 min readRead the guide

CompareDaily vs monthly contact lensesDailies, fortnightly or monthly lenses, or rigid lenses: how they differ on cleaning, infection risk, comfort, sport and cost, so you can choose well.8 min readRead the guide

CompareScleral vs RGP lenses for keratoconusHow corneal RGP, scleral, hybrid and specialty soft lenses compare for keratoconus, and what decides which one you are fitted with.8 min readRead the guide

CompareEye drops vs in-clinic dry eye treatmentWhen drops are enough, when prescription drops come in, and when LipiFlow, IPL, Rexon-Eye or light therapy is worth considering.8 min readRead the guide

CompareEnChroma vs ChromaGenTwo tinted lens systems, two different aims, and evidence that is thinner than the marketing. Here is how to choose, or not.8 min readRead the guide

CompareSingle vision vs progressive lensesFour lens designs, one pair of eyes. How to match the lens to the way you spend your day, before you look at a price list.7 min readRead the guide

CompareBlue-light glasses and the evidenceYour eyes ache after a day of screens and someone has suggested a blue-light tint. Here is what the research found, honestly.7 min readRead the guide

CompareWhich eye scan do I needFive scans, five different questions. What OCT, a widefield retinal photo, visual fields, corneal topography and axial length each see, and who needs which.7 min readRead the guide

CompareEye care funding in NZ comparedSeven ways an eye appointment or glasses might be paid for in New Zealand, who each one applies to, and where to check the current rules.7 min readRead the guide

Decide

Decide your next step

Choosing an optometrist, what an appointment looks like, and what to bring.

DecideYour first appointmentArrival, the questions, each test in order, dilating drops, and how you leave with a plan. Written for anyone who has never had an eye exam, or not for years.7 min readRead the guide

DecideChoosing an optometristCheck the register, learn what the endorsements mean, ask a few plain questions. Any registered optometrist can do a routine exam; the rest depends on you.7 min readRead the guide

DecideWhat affects the cost of eye care and eyewearThe quote was higher than you expected and nobody explained why. Here is what moves the number, up and down, before you agree to anything.7 min readRead the guide

DecideQuestions to ask before Ortho-KA checklist for the evaluation: suitability, hygiene and infection risk, follow-ups, what if it does not work, replacements, inclusions and stopping.7 min readRead the guide

DecideQuestions to ask before dry eye treatmentWhat the evaluation should establish, what to ask about type, evidence, sessions, cost and what happens if it does not work.8 min readRead the guide

DecideOptometrist, GP or hospitalA symptom-by-symptom table for New Zealand: what an optometrist can handle without a referral, when your GP is the right call, and what goes straight to 111.7 min readRead the guide

DecidePreparing your childBy age, from babies to teens: what the tests look like, why your child does not need to read, dilating drops, sensory needs, and what to say the night before.8 min readRead the guide

DecideWhat to bringSeven things that make an eye exam more accurate and the paperwork quicker, with why each one matters and what to do if you do not have it.7 min readRead the guide

DecideChild glasses subsidy NZYour child needs glasses and you have a Community Services Card. Here is what the Enable New Zealand subsidy covers, how it is claimed, and what it does not do.7 min readRead the guide

DecideAfter a keratoconus diagnosisJust diagnosed? The first months step by step: stop rubbing, monitor the cornea, cross-linking referral, lens fitting, the subsidy, driving and work.7 min readRead the guide

Elsewhere on the site

Conditions we treat Insurance, subsidies & payment Consultation fees Blog Our team

Book an appointment

Not sure where to start? Book a comprehensive eye exam.

It is the right first appointment for almost everything in these guides. No referral needed. Call 09-475 5548 or book online.

Call 09-475 5548 Send a message