Sunny Sessions with Rebekah Barnes

Please tell us a little about yourself and what made you want to become an Optometrist?

Hi, I’m Rebekah, an Optometrist working and living my best life on the Gold Coast. I feel so lucky to have absolute paradise on my doorstep, particularly in a time of less travelling. I spend most of my spare time riding my bike to the beach and planning home improvements with my husband. I’ve wanted to be an Optometrist for as long as I can remember. I fortunately had a great experience at my first eye test which opened my eyes to a career in Optometry involving both clinical and retail aspects.

What is the most rewarding part of being an Optometrist?

The immediate gratification when patients can see differently with their first pair of glasses. Their reaction is instant and that feeling is hard to beat. In addition to this, glasses have to be worn full-time for a lot of people, so I truly believe making glasses a fashionable accessory. Improving patient’s self-confidence with clearer vision and a stylish frame is very rewarding.

What do you want people to know about eye health?

The most important message is that regular eye exams are a must. Often eye diseases don’t present with symptoms initially so can progress undetected without regular check-ups. Bulk-billed examinations to Medicare make this simple and affordable!

How often we should we get our eyes checked and how often should children get checked? 

Every two years is recommended however this can change for the individual. Risk factors and evidence of disease, family history or new symptoms should prompt someone to attend more frequently. Children should have a routine eye test in their first year of school or earlier for specific concerns.

Are vision problems reversible?

Unfortunately, in most cases, no. Damage caused by glaucoma and macular degeneration cannot be restored. As Optometrists, we diagnose and treat eye conditions in order to slow or prevent further progression. Sadly though, in developing countries, most of their blindness is caused by treatable and preventable conditions including cataracts.

What can we do to preserve our vision?

Taking breaks from near work including limiting screen-time, particularly in children. The digital world is difficult to avoid however a short 20 second break, every 20 minutes is recommended. It is also very important in the development of a child’s vision to have exposure to natural sunlight. Research suggests that children who spend more time involved in outside play during daylight hours are less likely to become short-sighted. And as a bonus, this supports our physical and mental health too.

What message do you hope to spread for eye health month? 

Wear your sunglasses! Australia has some of the highest levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the world so protecting our eyes and skin from the harmful rays is vital. As I said earlier, natural light has been proven to be beneficial in the development of a child’s vision, so finding the right balance is important.

Go-to brand for sunglasses and optical frames?

I think traditionally Ray-Ban’s are a favourite, particularly the classic wayfarer or club master style. However, I do believe Valley Eyewear is absolutely trendsetting. And I love that they are a Gold Coast brand.

How can people get involved to promote eye health, and can you recommend any organisations to donate to?

Health promotion is the best way to get the message out there and I believe in having an eye test and spreading the word.

Recycle for Sight by The Lions Club provides a great service of supplying donated spectacles to developing countries. Most Optometry practices accept donated spectacles on behalf of The Lions Club so that’s a great way to help out if a monetary donation is difficult. A little bit closer to home and an interesting initiative is the Visiting Optometrists Scheme. This is a federal funded program delivering outreach Optometry services to remote communities of Australia in order to provide access to eye care.