Journal
Considered writing on vision, style and hearing.
Stories, guidance and ideas from the STOTTS. team — to help you see, hear and feel your best.
How do you look after your hearing aids?
A little daily care keeps hearing aids working at their best and lasting longer. Here is a simple routine — plus the quick checks to try before you assume something is wrong.
How can you protect your hearing?
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent — but almost entirely preventable. A few simple habits, and knowing how loud is too loud, can protect your hearing for life.
5 min read →Is there a link between hearing loss and dementia?
Hearing loss is now recognised as one of the largest modifiable risk factors for dementia. Here is what the evidence actually says — carefully — and why looking after your hearing is worth it either way.
6 min read →
What are the signs you might be losing your hearing?
Hearing loss usually creeps in so gradually that other people often notice before you do. Here are the everyday signs worth paying attention to — and why acting early is worth it.
6 min read →
Are contact lenses safe to wear every day?
Worn correctly, contact lenses are a safe, comfortable way to see — millions wear them daily. The risks come from a few avoidable habits. Here is how to wear them safely, and the warning signs never to ignore.
6 min read →
What causes tinnitus, and can anything help?
Ringing, buzzing or whooshing in the ears? Tinnitus is very common and rarely dangerous — and while there is no single cure, there is a great deal that genuinely helps. Here is what to know.
6 min read →
What is a cataract, and when should it be treated?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens — very common with age, and very treatable. Here is how to recognise one, what surgery involves, and when it is actually worth doing.
7 min read →
What health problems can an eye test detect?
An eye test does far more than check your glasses. The eye is the one place a clinician can see your blood vessels and a nerve directly — so a routine exam can flag diabetes, high blood pressure and more, sometimes before any other symptom.
6 min read →
What are the early signs of glaucoma?
Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" because the common type has no early symptoms — it is usually picked up at a routine eye test, before you would ever notice. Here is what to know, and who is most at risk.
6 min read →
Flashes and floaters: when should you worry?
Most floaters are harmless — but a sudden shower of new floaters, flashing lights or a shadow across your vision can signal a retinal problem that needs same-day care. Here is how to tell the difference.
6 min read →
Can you slow down short-sightedness in children?
Short-sightedness usually starts in childhood and tends to worsen through the school years. The encouraging news: myopia management can now slow it down. Here is how it works and why it matters.
7 min read →
Is microsuction ear wax removal safe?
Microsuction is widely regarded as the safest, most comfortable way to remove ear wax. Here is how it works, why it is gentler than syringing, what to expect, and when to seek help.
6 min read →
Why do I suddenly need reading glasses in my 40s?
Holding your phone at arm’s length? Around your mid-40s the eye’s focusing changes — it is called presbyopia. Here is why it happens, why it is completely normal, and what your options are.
6 min read →
Are blue light glasses worth it?
Blue light glasses are everywhere — but do they actually help? An honest, evidence-based look at what the research shows, what really causes screen discomfort, and what genuinely helps tired eyes.
6 min read →
STOTTS. delivers specialist vision screening for Burnley FC players
For the second year running, STOTTS. delivered football-specific vision screening for Burnley FC players — nearly 60 assessed in a single day using our own screening app. How sports vision screening works, and how clubs can arrange it.
6 min read →
Why are my eyes watering if they are dry?
Watery eyes that also feel dry? It is more common than you would think. Here is why dry eyes trigger reflex tears, what may help, and when to get checked.
7 min read →
Dry eyes and menopause: what is the connection?
Dry, gritty, burning or watery eyes in perimenopause and menopause? Hormonal changes can affect the tear film. Here are the signs, self-care and next steps.
7 min read →I can hear people talking, but I cannot understand what they are saying
Can you hear that someone is talking but not make out the words, especially in noise? Here is why it happens, what it may mean, and how a hearing test helps.
7 min read →
Why do some varifocal lenses cost more than others?
Comparing varifocal prices? The real differences are in the lens design, personalisation, measurements and aftercare — not just the label. Here is what you pay for.
8 min read →
How long does it take to adjust to varifocals?
Most people settle into varifocals within days, some need a little longer. Here is what is normal, how to adapt faster, and when your glasses should be checked.
7 min read →How much do private hearing aids cost?
Comparing private hearing-aid prices? Here is what really shapes the cost, what should be included beyond the device, and how to compare providers fairly.
8 min read →
How to choose glasses that actually suit you
Choosing glasses should start with you, not a face-shape rule. A STOTTS. stylist’s guide to frames that suit your proportions, colouring, prescription and life.
8 min read →
Dry eye or allergies: how can you tell the difference?
Itchy, gritty, watery or burning eyes? Dry eye and allergies feel alike and can occur together. Here is what tends to point each way — and when to get checked.
6 min read →What happens during a full hearing assessment?
Unsure what a hearing test involves? A full hearing assessment at STOTTS. is calm, thorough and complimentary. Here is exactly what happens, step by step.
7 min read →
Ear wax or hearing loss: how can you tell?
A blocked, muffled ear can be simple wax — or the first sign of something more. Here is how to tell the difference, and when to get it checked.
6 min read →
Why your eye test should be about more than reading letters on a chart
Most eye tests tell you whether you can see. A better consultation works out how you live — and what your eyes actually need.
6 min read →
One pair of glasses is rarely enough: why modern life needs an eyewear wardrobe
Nobody owns one pair of shoes for every occasion. So why expect one pair of glasses to handle work, reading, driving, sun and style?
6 min read →
The hidden cost of cheap glasses
Cheap glasses can be perfectly fine for some people. But the compromise usually appears somewhere — and it is worth knowing where to look.
6 min read →
Hearing health: why it should be checked like your eyes
You would not wait until you could barely see before booking an eye test. Your hearing deserves exactly the same care.
5 min read →
Why aesthetics belongs at STOTTS.
STOTTS. has always helped people see better and feel more confident in how they present themselves. Aesthetics is a natural next step — not a departure.
5 min read →
How often should you really have an eye test?
The honest answer, the signs you should not ignore, and why the gap between tests matters more than most people think.
4 min read →
Finding frames that actually suit you
A stylist’s guide to face shape, colouring and the quiet confidence of eyewear that genuinely belongs on you.
5 min read →Modern hearing aids are nothing like you remember
Invisible, rechargeable and Bluetooth-ready — today’s hearing technology has quietly changed beyond recognition.
4 min read →
What an OCT scan can reveal about your eyes
Advanced retinal imaging lets us see structures a standard test cannot — and detect change years earlier.
5 min read →
Looking after your child’s eyes: what every parent should know
Children rarely complain about their vision — which is exactly why regular checks and a few simple habits matter so much.
5 min read →
Lenses, tailored to how you actually live
Your frame gets the attention, but your lenses do the work. Here is why the right lens matters as much as the right frame.
4 min read →
Why we slowed everything down — on purpose
The thinking behind the STOTTS. studio experience, and why unhurried, considered care is at the heart of everything we do.
3 min read →No articles in this category yet — check back soon.
Care that starts with a conversation.
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