Diabetes- Diabetic retinopathy is the lead­ing cause of avoidable vision loss and blindness in working-age Australians.

It is a chronic disease that occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. This happens because the body is not produc­ing insulin or not using insulin properly.

This National Diabetes Week, we’re shin­ing a light on something many people don’t realise: your eyes can be one of the first places diabetes shows itself.

At Hansen Optometrist Parkes, we often see patients who feel perfectly fine and have good eyesight, but their eye exam has revealed early signs of diabetic eye disease.

Diabetes can quietly damage the small blood vessels in the retina which we call di­abetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can be seen long before symptoms appear and leads to permanent vision loss. The good news? Early detection of diabetic retinopa­thy through regular eye checks can prevent severe vision loss.

If you live with diabetes, or are at risk due to family history, weight, or lifestyle, then a yearly eye exam is vital. It’s quick, painless, and could save your sight and at Hansen Optometrists Parkes we have the latest technology to assess your eye health.

Visit us at 267a Clarinda Street, Phone 6863 5577 or book online at hansenoptom.com.au

The recent free child restraint checking events, a service provided by Parkes, Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils, dis­covered that 79% of the child restraints checked were incorrectly fitted.

The service provided free child restraint inspections in Parkes, Forbes and Con­dobolin, by local Authorised Child Restraint Fitters. Nineteen child restraints were brought in by parents and grandparents for checking – mostly rearward/forward facing converter child restraints or forward facing/booster converter child restraints. There were also two installations.

The Councils’ Road Safety and Injury Prevention Officer, Melanie Suitor, said these bi-annual events continue to be pop­ular.

“The child restraints that were incorrectly fitted had minor problems that needed fix­ing to ensure the safety of the child” Ms Suitor said.

“The correct fitting and adjustment of child restraints is vital. It is important to make sure that your precious cargo is safe and buckled up every time they are in the car – whether it’s a five minute or five-hour journey” Ms Suitor said.

While these safety checks were free biannual events, local Authorised Child Re­straint Fitters can install and check child re­straints all year-round for a small fee. The local fitters in Parkes are Col Fletcher Ford & Kia and Parkes Tyrepower. The local fit­ter in Forbes is Jelbart Dawson. The local fitter in Condobolin is Central West Tyre Service.

National child restraint laws have been in effect since 2010. All children must be safe­ly fastened into the correct child restraint for their age and size. Children need to be at least 145cm or taller to use an adult lap sash seatbelt.

Research shows children who are not restrained correctly are seven times more likely to sustain life-threatening injuries in a crash than those who are properly secured.

You can visit www.childcarseats.com.au for more information about child restraint rules.

Have you had your macula checked? May is Macular Month, and a good reminder that if you are over 50 you should be having regu­lar macula health checks.

The macula is the most sensitive part of the retina which deals with fine detail. A healthy macula is vital for good vision.

Macular Degeneration is a disease that causes central vision loss. This makes it very difficult to read, recognise faces, watch TV and even obtain a driver’s license.

Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of blindness in Australia. It is more common as we age, and the risk of Macular Degeneration increases if there is a family history of macula problems, cardiovascular disease or you are a smoker.

Like most diseases, early detection and treatment for Macular Degeneration is vital to maintain good vision throughout life.

Hansen Eyecare Plus has all the latest technology for a comprehensive eye exam, including Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT). OCT is the gold standard for the early detection of Macular Degeneration.

Unlike standard retinal photography, OCT enables detailed assessment of the deeper layers of the retina.

DRY MD
Characterised by a slow, progressive loss of the RPE cells due to the build up of drusen at the macula. This makes up about 85% of moderate to advanced MD cases resulting in a gradual deterioration of the central vi­sion. Diet and a special formulation of vita­mins and high-dose antioxidants, such as MD eyes have been shown to slow down the progression of MD in those with moder­ate to advanced MD in at least one eye.

WET MD
This affects about two-thirds of advanced MD patients. This occurs when abnormal blood vessels grow underneath the macular and these vessels canspontaneously bleed, leading to a sudden loss of vision requiring immediate medical treatment. Treatment of­ten requires regular injections to shrink the blood vessels.

To have your macular thoroughly checked, make an appointment today with Hansen Eyecare Plus P: 6863 5577. Book online www.opticalbookings.com.au/hansen-optometrists-parkes/store

Heavy rain and challenging conditions didn’t deter the Life Pharma­cy Group (LPG) team from hitting the road for the 10th annual Be­yond Bitumen Rally, raising funds and awareness for Beyond Blue.

The Beyond Bitumen Rally entourage of 72 vehicles travelled al­most 2000 kilometres from Taree to Port Stephens via Grafton and Armidale (March 27 to 31).The Cavaliers, which includes LPG CEO Michael Flannery (Origi­nally from Forbes) and Chief Operating Officer Warwick Marx (From Dubbo), raised more than $34,000 for the charity this year, taking out the highest fundraising honours for an individual participating car. “We’ve been taking part in the Beyond Bitumen Rally for seven years now,” Life Pharmacy Group CEO, Michael Flannery, said.

“It all started after a mate of mine shared his mental health bat­tles and the role Beyond Blue played in supporting him during his darkest times. It didn’t take us long to find ourselves a car and The Cavaliers were formed.”

Did you know men are three times more likely to take their lives in Australia? and remoteness is a major contributing factor.

Growing up in regional Australia, The Cavaliers understand the importance of checking in on friends and seeking the appropriate support. “Most of us grew up in the bush and this rally is a great op­portunity to hit the road with our mates, see parts of the country we may not have experienced previously, support communities along the way, and raise money for Beyond Blue,” Michael said.

“As a team we’re very proud to have raised more than $200,000 for the rally over the past seven years, and we’re thankful for the support we’ve received from our colleagues, friends, and families along the way.”

Since its inception, the Beyond Bitumen Rally has raised more than 3.5 million dollars for charity.

Nestled at the base of the hill our home sits on, is an old abandoned homestead.

In its front yard, recently dozens of beauti­ful bulbs spring up from the neglected gar­den beds. I piled the kids in the ute and we drove down, shovels on the back. We dug out bulbs and they played in the old house.

I liked the sound of their childish laughter.

Our hands dug deep into the dirt. The sun warmed our backs as we pulled, shoveled and lifted; carting loads back to the ute. I was sweating, my legs ached and my heart rate was up.

We drove home, cheeks flushed pink, eyes bright from the exercise, arms and legs happily sore from the exertion.

We worked quickly. We transplanted the bulbs into our garden, the kids dug holes haphazardly, shoving them into the warm soil. They turn the hose on the transplanted bulbs briefly, then on each other. They ran, they played, blood pumping, muscles grow­ing, and bones getting stronger.

Could exercise get any more enjoyable? I once asked a client what she did for ex­ercise. “Oh nothing really, I don’t go to the gym, I don’t go for walks. I’m just in the gar­den most of the day”. I asked what she did in the garden. She listed a range of activi­ties, including using a push mower up steep hills, mulching and lifting heavy branches.

“That’s all great exercise,” I reassured her.

I catch a glimpse of the new plants through the window. Sunning themselves in their new home, a happy reminder of a day at our very own outdoor gym.

Are you not a gardener, but are looking for ways to exercise? Join our pilates classes or senior exercise classes at Kerin Health.

Contact us on 0437749746 or visit kerin­health.com.au

With the federal election now set for 3 May, healthcare is a key issue for voters, the Aus­tralian College of Rural and Remote Medi­cine (ACRRM) is urging all political parties to prioritise the needs of rural, remote, and First Nations communities.

More than seven million people living in rural and remote areas face significant barri­ers to healthcare, including geographic iso­lation, limited infrastructure, and the higher costs of delivering services in these regions.

ACRRM President Dr Rod Martin as­serts that every community, no matter how remote, has an undeniable right to access high-quality healthcare without the barrier of cost.

“There is a $6.5 billion annual underspend on healthcare in rural and remote communi­ties, and that’s unacceptable. This chronic underfunding directly impacts the health and wellbeing of people outside major cit­ies, but there are solutions available.”

Dr Martin says ACRRM has welcomed major parties’ commitments to bulk billing and medical training but is calling for further detail and a stronger focus on rural, remote and First Nations healthcare.

“Without targeted investment, rural, re­mote, and First Nations communities will continue to experience critical healthcare shortages.

For more information: accrm.org.au

Multifocal lenses are a game-changer for those needing vision cor­rection at multiple distances, but not all multifocal lenses are the same. Many people assume that any multifocal lens they purchase will provide clear, comfortable vision, yet there can be vast differ­ences in design, quality, and lens technology that can have a huge impact for the wearer.

Off-the-shelf or budget multifocal lenses often use outdated technology, leading to smaller reading zones, more distortion, and difficulty adapting. High-quality, modern multifocal lenses—espe­cially when selected and fitted by an experienced optometrist and optical dispenser team, offer a much smoother transition between distances, wider vision zones, and more comfortable viewing ex­perience overall.

This is where choosing an independent optometrist, like Hansen Eyecare Plus Parkes makes all the difference. Unlike chain stores that may offer a limited selection and only use one brand of lenses which is the best one for their bottom line, we have access to a wide range of premium multifocal designs from many different lens manufacturers that can be tailored to your lifestyle. We take the time to understand your unique vision needs, ensuring you get lenses that provide the clearest, most comfortable vision possible.

We also offer a 3 month non adaptation warranty on your new multifocal, so if you’re one of the small number of people that can’t adjust to a multifocal lens, then we will happily exchange them for something else. If you’re sick of taking glasses on and off or have been waiting to take the plunge and try multifocal lenses then what better time than now?

Australian women are set to enjoy greater contraceptive choice than ever before, with a first of its kind pill to be reimbursed by the Federal Government. From 1 May, the progestogen-only oral contraceptive Slinda® (drospirenone 4mg) will become available through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for pregnancy prevention.

Under the PBS, Slinda will cost just $7.70 (for concession card holders) or $31.60 (for general patients) for four months’ supply, saving women several hundred dollars per year. Women previ­ously paid around $80 for three months’ supply. Currently, around 80,000 Australian women are paying privately for Slinda.

Women’s health experts and advocates, including Dr Terri Foran, Sexual Health Physician, are welcoming the new funding decision.

“Access to a wide range of contraceptive options is a fundamental reproductive right,” said Dr Foran.

Dr Foran went on to explain that Slinda contains only a progesto­gen hormone. It is not combined with an Estrogen. “Progestogenonly pills are especially suitable for older women, women at in­creased risk of blood clots, those who suffer migraine attacks, breast-feeding mothers, those who smoke, are overweight, or have high blood pressure,” she said.

“With greater education about contraceptive options and the risks and benefits associated with each, we are seeing increasing use of both progestogen-only birth control methods and the longeracting methods in this country,” she said.

It is estimated that around two-thirds of Australian women be­tween the ages of 18 and 44 years currently use some form of contraception, with 83 per cent having used contraception at some point in their lives.