On Wellington Street, Woolwich in 1904, Coton & Hamblin Optometrists was established.  Originally, the practice was called Hamblin's and part of the company that developed optical instruments.

Around the time of the First World War, we believe the practice became Hamblin & Coton, later changing to Coton & Hamblin.

The Coton brothers passed on the practice onto their nephew Stanley Packman, who in turn passed the practice to his daughter Margaret.  Margaret sadly passed away in July 2007 and the practices were purchased by Jo Cashell in September 2008, who still runs them today.

There are 2 practices - the original Coton & Hamblin on Wellington Street, Woolwich and a second practice at 178 Westcombe Hill, Blackheath Standard. The Blackheath site was previously part of the Banks Optician Family.

Coton & Hamblin has always focused on excellence in eyecare and in eyewear, which is part of its success story, along with the fantastic staff and patients who make the practices what they are today.

We welcome all patients and treat them like old friends and many are like family.  When we offer our advice and recommendations, we give our expert clinical opinions yet also think about each person as an individual and how we would advise our family members if they had an eye condition.

Our team of Optometrists have over 100 years of experience between them.  We are very proud of our Optom team - they are great with all patients from babies to our centurians and they are constantly upskilling as Optometry advances with new research and technology.  

This is just a snapshop of who we are and what we do and we would love to look after your eyes and vision.

Jo, Optometrist and Owner

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve, which is responsible for transmitting images from the eye to the brain. This damage is often caused by high pressure within the eye, but it can also occur with normal or low eye pressure.

There are several types of glaucoma, including primary open-angle glaucoma, angle-closure glaucoma, and normal-tension glaucoma. The most common type is primary open-angle glaucoma, which develops gradually and often has no symptoms until vision loss occurs.

Risk factors for glaucoma include age, family history, high eye pressure, thin corneas, and certain medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. Treatment options include eye drops, laser therapy, and surgery, but there is no cure for glaucoma. Early detection and treatment are crucial in preventing vision loss and preserving eye health.

How can we help at Coton & Hamblin

Over the years, we have invested in our staff and equipment to offer our patients our most advanced eyecare.

Our Optometrists and optical team have been trained and have gained valuable experience to thoroughly examine all aspects of your vision and the health of your eyes.

With regards to Glaucoma, both Jo & Khatija have additional qualifications with Professional Certificates in Glaucoma.

We are also part of the community team which ensures all referrals to the Glaucoma Eye Department at the local Hospitals contain all the correct information and we can repeat tests if we feel clinically necessary.

Your Eye Examination and Glaucoma

One of the first things different at Coton & Hamblin, is that we do not use the "air puff" to check the pressure of your eyes - we use a specialist piece of equipment called the i-care.

The i-care tonometer is considered better than the puff of air because it is more accurate and less uncomfortable for the patient. The puff of air can be startling and cause anxiety in patients, leading to inaccurate readings. In contrast, the i-care tonometer uses a gentle probe that touches the eye, making it more comfortable and providing more precise measurements. Additionally, it does not require the use of numbing eye drops, which can lead to side effects and discomfort.

OCT

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) is a non-invasive diagnostic test that uses light waves to obtain cross-sectional images of the retina and optic nerve head. OCT imaging helps in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma by providing detailed information about the structure of the optic nerve and retinal nerve fibers.

Glaucoma is a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged, leading to the loss of peripheral vision and potentially, blindness. Early detection and treatment of glaucoma are crucial in preventing further damage to the optic nerve. OCT imaging can detect early changes in the structure of the optic nerve and retinal nerve fibers even before visual field defects appear, allowing for early intervention and treatment to prevent further damage.

OCT imaging can also monitor the progression of glaucoma over time and provide information on the effectiveness of the prescribed treatment. By monitoring changes in the thickness of the retinal nerve fiber layer and the optic nerve head, OCT imaging can help identify patients who may need more aggressive treatment or have better outcomes with certain therapies.

In summary, OCT imaging is a valuable tool in the diagnosis and management of glaucoma, and it helps ophthalmologists, optometrists, and other eye care professionals to detect and treat this eye disease in its earlier stages, before it becomes more severe.

OPTOMAP

Optomap is a digital retinal imaging technology that can aid in the early detection and management of glaucoma. It provides a comprehensive view of the retina by capturing a high-resolution image of the optic nerve head and surrounding retinal tissue. This allows the eye care provider to detect any changes in the optic nerve or retinal tissue, which may indicate the presence of glaucoma.

Optomap also allows for easy tracking of any changes over time, which is essential for monitoring the progression of glaucoma. With this technology, eye care providers can identify early signs of glaucoma and develop a treatment plan to manage the disease before it causes significant vision loss. In summary, Optomap aids a glaucoma examination by providing a clear, detailed image of the optic nerve and surrounding tissue, which can help to detect and monitor the disease.

Visual Fields test

Many people really do not like doing the Visual Fields test.  It involves looking into a machine, one eye at a time and clicking a button when you see a small flash of light.  We know that is a tiresome task, however this clever bit of kit, can determine if there are any problems at your optic nerve due to glaucoma and other eye conditions.  It also checks the pathway from your eyes to the back of your head - which is pretty amazing from just clicking when you see a light.

In Glaucoma there are specific patterns associated with Glaucoma and this test helps build the complete picture of your eye health.

This is a quick snapshot of how we do things differently at Coton & Hamblin. For more info please call and ask a member of the team.