12 Healthy Vision Month: Why Regular Eye Checks Matter More After 50 May is recognised as Healthy Vision Month, a useful prompt to pause and check in on your eye health, especially as we get older. For many people over 50, this is the stage of life where eye health begins to change. You may notice more difficulty with night driving, increased glare from headlights, or needing more light to read comfortably. While these changes can be a normal part of ageing, they can also be a sign that your prescription or eye health needs attention. Even if you haven’t noticed any changes, it’s still important to have your eyes checked regularly. Many eye conditions, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts and diabetic eye disease, can develop slowly and without obvious symptoms in the early stages. “It’s very common for patients to tell us their vision feels perfectly fine,” says optometrist Michael Hare from VISION Michael Hare Eyecare Plus. “But a comprehensive eye examination can reveal early signs of eye disease long before a person notices any change.” An eye examination involves much more than reading letters on a chart. Modern imaging technology allows optometrists to closely examine the retina, optic nerve and blood vessels at the back of the eye. “These technologies allow us to detect subtle changes that might otherwise go unnoticed, often well before they affect vision,” explains optometrist Jonathan McCorriston. “That gives us the opportunity to monitor or manage conditions before they begin to affect vision.” Many people delay an eye test because their vision feels “good enough.” The challenge is that many eye conditions don’t affect vision until they are more advanced. Importantly, an eye examination doesn’t just assess vision. The eyes can also provide early signs of general health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol. Having your eyes checked regularly means advice can be tailored to you, rather than taking a one-size-fits-all approach. Healthy Vision Month is a good reminder not to wait until something feels wrong. For most adults over 50, an eye examination every one to two years is recommended, or more frequently if advised. If we’re not already your optometrist, we’d like to be. see advertisement page 13 GOLD COAST FAMILY HISTORY SOCIETY Steps to Creating a Tree As impossible as it is NOT to digress while researching, these basic suggestions are a strong foundation. 1. Work from the present time backwards. You, your parents, grandparents etc. 2. Found a connection on someone else’s tree? Often reference sources when checked are non-existent or unreliable. Check the sources, mentioned family, their relationship and timelines. Don’t assume it’s correct. If possible, contact the author of a record and ask for their source of information. Any queries can then be discussed. When you’re happy with the authentication of a source record it with your notes. 3. Simply ask family, long lost and otherwise for family stories, legends, photos, documents and records. Then based on new information search for records and verification. 4. Follow every trail. Never boring 5. While it can be expensive purchasing records/ certificates, many are free or have a small fee. The information provided is worthwhile by providing conformation and valuable content about an individual and connections to other family members, places or dates that will prove or disprove its relevance to your tree. Read thoroughly. 6. While documenting on paper is an option by the non-computer savvy, consider genealogy specific software to keep order. It will make collating information chronological and consistent. Some software is free and others reasonably priced. Organisation is a must and these programs provide proven systems. 7. Back up, Back up, Back up. For help with producing your family tree, you may like to join the Gold Coast Family History Society. For a modest yearly fee, you will have access to a comprehensive library, many worldwide subscription websites, and fellow researchers prepared to help you get started or break down any brick walls you may encounter. For further information visit http://www.goldcoastfhs.org. au or attend our rooms at the Bicentennial Building, 833 Nerang-Southport Road, Nerang. SEMINAR - Delving into places: Local History Enhances Genealogy & Researching UK Archives from Abroad Saturday, 30 May 2026 at 1pm to 4pm. Location: GCFHS Rooms, Bicentennial Building, 833 Nerang-Southport Rd, Nerang 4211. Light afternoon tea provided. Members $20, non-members $25. Bookings essential. See website for details. http://www.goldcoastfhs.org.au
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