Archive for October, 2010

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Size isn’t Everything…..

Saturday, October 30th, 2010

When it comes to specs, sizing can be tricky issue to get right. It’s easy to select a size with shoes or clothes – you might need wellies in a five or they won’t stay on your feet, or jeans in a thirty waist so they stay up without creating a muffin top. Despite a bit of variation from store to store, and diet to diet, we all usually know what will fit us. When it comes to specs though, it’s a slightly different matter – there are several factors that govern the perfect spec for you. While fashion and your face size and shape do come into it, your lens prescription and your lens type also play a part in what will be suitable, in terms of the look and the vision.

Fashion often dictates the choice and availability of items we choose, and this is very evident with eyewear. Remember the seventies when we bumped our cheeks on our glasses every time we smiled or ate? Or the nineties when we could practically look around the edges of our frames? In those days, there was little variation the size of frames available. Big in the seventies, bigger in the eighties, minute in the nineties, creeping larger in the Noughties, and now we actually have a broad range of sizes on the shelves. This gives the consumer choice in their look, and is very practical when it comes to catering for prescription and lens types.

If you are very long or short sighted, then a smaller frame will give you thinner, lighter lenses. You have to balance the optimum frame size with respect to your lenses against what will suit your face. A wafer thin lens in a tiny frame that looks terrible is worse than slightly thicker lenses in a frame that flatters your face shape. Lens types also come into play – for sunglasses you need enough lens area to keep the sun out, for varifocals you need enough depth to the specs to enable the lenses to work.

So what’s perfect for you? The beauty ideal is a frame that doesn’t rest on your cheeks, and is roughly the width of your temples. Within that, you need to decide what suits your face shape, hair style and lifestyle. Look at the size stamped on your present frame for a guideline. Typically it will have figures something like 50/20. The first figure is the size in millimetres of the lens width or diagonal, and the second is the distance between the lenses where it sits across your nose. If your prescription is an issue, your optician will inform you of any limitations within your lens type. If ordering from us online, we vet every order to ensure that the specs will do the job for you.

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Making Progress

Wednesday, October 27th, 2010

Progressive or varifocals lenses have been with us now for over fifty years. As with any other product that’s been on the market for that length of time, advances in design and therefore ease of use have come on in leaps and bounds. We do however have a lingering attitude that not everyone will be able to wear these lenses, and that they can be a hindrance to our daily lives rather than a help.

So what do varifocals do for us? And what can go wrong with them? Over the age of forty, our eyes lose the power to change focus for close work. Where we could see even the tiniest print, we now have to move it further away to read, and then it becomes impossible wherever you hold the page! Put simply, varifocals do what your eyes used to do, in letting you see clearly at any distance without changing glasses. They incorporate your prescription for near, intermediate and far away within one lens, with no visible dividing line. This means you can read, look at the computer, and drive without having to think about which glasses to wear.

In theory, you get your new varifocals and after a day or two of adaptation, you can get on with your life and not have to think about digging out reading specs, or remembering to carry distance glasses with you if you need to drive. For a small percentage of wearers however, there are problems which are at best annoying, or at worst lead them to give up on varifocals and return to endlessly swapping reading, distance and computer glasses around.

The problem may be due to the lens design, the prescription, or the positioning of the glasses. If you buy varifocals online, you’ll obviously wonder where on earth to start in rectifying the problem. We tackle this with a four step approach. Firstly, we talk to you over the phone to discuss the problems you are having. Often this clears up the difficulties at once, and many patients carry on happily with their specs after some simple tips and a little reassurance. We may ask you to send your glasses back to us for an adjustment or to rectify an issue with the fit or position of the lenses. If we think it’s the actual lens power which is causing the problem, then we may suggest that you have a re-check with your optician, or that you seek a second opinion. If all fails, we’ll give you a full refund, so don’t panic that you may be stuck with specs that don’t work forever!

It’s actually very rare that we cannot make varifocals work for you and that clients give up on this useful and effective lens format. So don’t worry about the risk of trying varifocals – we’re happy to give advice and support if you have problems, and we have plenty of happy clients to prove it!

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The Third Sex!

Tuesday, October 26th, 2010

As we move away from bling frames and glitzy girlie detail, the very specific look for men and women is blurring into a come back for what was formerly a pretty boring look – the unisex frame. This was a popular look when small frames first re-appeared in the early nineties, with non-descript, simple, androgynous metals in neutral colours. This time around, unisex doesn’t have to mean boring – it’s a chance for men to let their wild side run free, and women to show their femininity in more subtle way.

With sophisticated manufacturing techniques, the scope is there for exciting finishes and applications of colour that add interest in an understated way. For instance – layered sheets of coloured plastic can be used to create a frame that appears black or tortoiseshell but actually has wild flashes of colour in the lining or as a single pin-stripe. So a girl or guy can wear an acceptably simple frame that still expresses their individuality.

The geek look is everywhere, and this is a funky style that’s perfect for both sexes. On men it looks classic and quirky; on girls it’s sexy and cool. It’s a perennial fave for guys that’s been worn for ever, so it’s never gone away but is now madly on trend. Go bigger or smaller depending on your face shape and proportion – deep is really trendy, but if that’s overpowering you’ll still find some shallower versions. The new twist on this classic is vibrant shades, so the women can make this masculine shape their own with a wild colour like hot red or purple. Like a girl wearing her man’s shirt, it’s a hot look that will go on for ever!

The rectangular metal is another style that suits all. It’s in proportion to most faces, with the exception of very narrow temple and jaw widths. On men it’s strong and bold; on girls it makes your delicate features look even more elfin. In a cool shade of gunmetal or black it’s perfect for dark winter clothes and suits the simplicity of the minimal tailoring trend.

So if you’re bored with bling and want a refreshing new look, unisex might be just the thing. In these times of austerity, chic not kitsch might just be the way to go!

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Two are Better than One

Monday, October 25th, 2010

As with many other things we take for granted, we don’t think about the wonders of our two eyes working happily together until a problem arises with our sight. Accidents, illness, and general changes to health and vision can lead to problems where we lose sight in one eye or the eyes stop working together properly. Only then do we really appreciate the miracle of binocular vision.

We have two eyes that work together to form one image for many reasons. The two slightly differing images from each eye fuse to let us see clearly and to give us perception of depth. Two eyes also give us a wider field of vision, and allowed our ancestors to see predators creeping up along side us! Of course having two eyes also means you have a back up if one goes wrong!

Babies are born with the basic tools to acquire binocular vision – they have two eyes placed at the front of the head that each creates an image of similar size and quality. The visual pathways then run from the eye to the brain to allow us to interpret what we see. Babies don’t immediately have binocular vision however, this develops between three and five months as they take in their surroundings and are stimulated by what they see. It continues to develop up to age eight.

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If anything stops the visual stimulation – like a turn in one eye that stops you seeing clearly – then the pathways don’t develop. After age eight, there’s nothing that can be done to develop the necessary pathways, and sight will be affected in that eye. In later life, accident or illness such as stroke can cause loss of sight in one eye, or stop the eyes from working together. This can lead to you feeling disorientated, unsure of distances, and generally unsteady while walking about or driving.

If sight is permanently lost in one eye, adjustment will take time, but mostly people adapt, turning their head more to compensate for the loss of peripheral vision. Judging depth with one eye is a skill that you acquire. If there is sight in both eyes but they no longer work together properly, then we can build prisms into your spectacle lenses to help you fuse images together. This works well in the majority of cases, although it can’t be done with contact lenses.

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Age Old Advice

Sunday, October 24th, 2010

If you’re at that awkward age when you’re suddenly mothering your own mother or taking on responsibility for an elderly relative, you may need some pointers as to how to help them enjoy happy twilight years with the healthiest possible sight. As with any other aspect of our lives, there are specific issues which affect the elderly when it comes to their glasses and their vision.

An eye examination is about more than the need for specs, so make sure you arrange regular check ups. Most opticians do home visits if the client is housebound. Generally the test should be every two years, or more often for Diabetics, Glaucoma sufferers, or for patients with early signs or symptoms of other eye diseases. Glasses can then be updated, and the optician needs to discuss the patient’s visual needs. For example – if they are housebound and their standard of vision is poor, then they won’t need a tint or Photochromic lenses. Clear lenses will maximise their sight and be safer in low light conditions. Or the patient may tell us they don’t need bifocals any more because they don’t read, but if they don’t have bifocals, will they see to cut their food up or take their medication? Needs may alter with age and the optician should take this into account when helping you and the patient to make a decision.

When you have the prescription you can get glasses made up anywhere, and choosing a frame and lenses online might be easier and cheaper. A spare pair is also useful, especially in residential care where specs can be mislaid. Stronger reading lenses may also be useful to maximise sight for close work, and again this may be an economical purchase over the internet.

Light is also of vital importance – a forty year old eye needs twice as much light as a twenty year old, a sixty year old three times as much. So even the most up to date glasses need good illumination to do the job. While natural light is always best, direct light from a reading lamp will help during the evening.

If sight problems go beyond help from specs, then referral to a Low Vision Aid Clinic or the Ophthalmologist for clinical procedures may be necessary. Some patients are wary of this kind of help and may be reluctant to go through with further treatments, but the end results may significantly improve their quality of life, so gentle encouragement is always worthwhile.

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Spex Appeal

Saturday, October 23rd, 2010

Over the years us poor speccy-four-eyes glasses wearers have come in for all sorts of teasing, micky-taking, and even bullying and abuse due to our defective eye sight. Who remembers the dread of facing the school eye exam and the threat of NHS plastic blue frames?! How gladly did we embrace designer frames, contact lenses and Laser surgery? But if none of the above solutions is the right one for you, how else do you reconcile yourself to the news that you need glasses?

A recent survey showed that wearing glasses can add up to three years of age to people’s perceptions of how old you are. If you wear an outdated style, bifocal lenses or thick lenses, then you can age yourself even before people are close enough to see your grey hairs or crow’s feet. The researchers took 10 pictures of people wearing specs, and then photographed the same group without glasses. When asked to guess the age of the models, the first group were estimated to be an average of 3.3 years older than the first. So how do we turn this worrying statistic around?

Firstly, you need to take a long hard look at your specs. How old is your frame? Is it damaged, held together with sticky tape, discoloured or bent? Then there are your lenses. Generally speaking, bifocals, tints, and chunky lenses can add years to you, so have a re-think on your optical needs. A funky pair of prescription sunnies is more glamorous and more comfortable on the eyes than a general purpose light tint. Varifocals are not as ageing as bifocals and are easier to wear for everyday use. A thinner lens looks better and is more comfortable than a heavy standard lens if you are quite short or long sighted.

Your frames are the really noticeable aspect of your specs. Have you changed your style within the last two, five, ten years? Are people reminded of Ronnie Barker or Deirdre Barlow when they see you?! If so, it might be time for a change! Check out the fashion pages and look at what younger people around you are wearing for inspiration. It’s not like choosing clothes – you don’t have to worry about being seen as mutton dressed as lamb with specs, anything goes for any age group. A new frame can change your face shape, your colouring and your whole image all in one go, so experiment with a new look and knock years off too!

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Danger for Diabetics

Monday, October 18th, 2010

It’s estimated that 1 in 25 residents of the UK suffers from Diabetes. Although this is therefore a common disease, the implications for patients are often underestimated by the general public. Eye related issues are just part of the problem for Diabetics.

Diabetes can appear in childhood but is more common with age. Type 1 Diabetes usually occurs under the age of thirty, and is due to the body producing no or too little insulin. The patient has to inject themselves with insulin to keep the disease controlled. Type 2 usually arises after age forty, and although insulin is made in the body it’s insufficient or not properly utilised. Often this type can be controlled with diet, although for some patient’s insulin injections are needed.

For Diabetics there is a higher risk of sight problems, especially if insulin levels are not under control. Early detection of signs and symptoms is vital, so the NHS pays for annual tests with your Optician. Depending on local policy hospitals have Diabetic screening programmes too.

The biggest threat to sight in Diabetics is a Diabetic Retinopathy, where blood vessels within the retina start to cause problems. Initially, they may just bulge a little or leak blood or fluid into the retina. If left unchecked, this may encroach on the macula, the most sensitive area of the retina which gives us our central vision. This is called Maculopathy, and although the sufferer will not lose all of their sight, it will leave them unable to make out detail or see faces clearly. As it worsens blockage occurs in the blood vessels of the retina, due to the eyes trying to repair the damage with new blood vessels. The new vessels are weak and in the wrong area of the eye, and they leak and cause scar tissue to form, which can in turn lead to retinal detachment.

If you are diabetic, safeguard your sight by having regular check ups, and doing everything possible to control your insulin levels. Seek help immediately if you notice sudden problems with your sight. Lasers are used to seal the blood vessels, and if caught early these problems can be treated, although they can’t reverse the effects if sight is already lost.

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The Kid’s are Alright!

Sunday, October 17th, 2010

As Internet spec providers, we thought long and hard about which products and services to supply when we drew up the guidelines for our business. One issue we did not have to think about was the supply of specs for children, as our professional rules prevent the dispensing of glasses to the under 16’s without supervision. We felt that this meant we could not make glasses for children if they were not actually in front of us in their gap toothed glory!

Glasses for kids generally create a whole load of new questions that make it a whole different ball game than for adults. Firstly, children’s faces are completely different to grown-ups, they’re not just scaled down mini-mes! They have flatter noses, proportionally wider faces, and tender baby-soft skin. You can’t just use a small version of an adult frame. They also look upwards a lot of the time, so frames need to be high enough to make sure they’re always looking through the lens.

Prescriptions tend to be different too, and often specs are used to correct lazy eye, with or without an additional patch. More children are long sighted too, to correct the growing eye. This can mean heavy lenses with thick centres that magnify the eye. In practice, we supply flatter lenses for children to make them look good and feel comfortable.

The biggest problem in dispensing for children is not usually the child however, it’s the Mum or Dad who can’t cope with their little darling needing specs! Memories of being bullied themselves, or the horror of old NHS frames puts lots of parents off. Children get more upset if they don’t need glasses! So parents need to be aware that glasses are pretty cool nowadays, and are a desirable accessory for many children. If your child is very sporty or really doesn’t like their glasses, you also have the option of contact lenses, which can be fitted from any age if the child and adult are determined enough.

So although we can’t help your kids online, opticians today are pro-active and encouraging when it comes to kids’ eyewear. There are new products on the market every day to make children happy eye wear users, even if Mum and Dad take a bit longer to come to terms with things!

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Celeb Watch October

Saturday, October 16th, 2010

Before we pull our Pumpkin outfits on and totter out in our fangs ready for Halloween, we’ve got some serious shopping to do to match our gorgeous new Autumn wardrobe! Awash with minimal tailoring, delicious sheepskin boots and lashings of leopard print, we’re ready for the finishing touch – a fab new piece of eyewear to add that mysterious touch. Now let’s check out the Celebs for some inspiration before we thrash the plastic…..

Jennifer Aniston – Our fave beach babe looking fresh for Autumn in a shiny gold Aviator with of –the-moment graduated lenses. If you’re got a heart shaped face this is for you……..it also helps if you look like our Jen too….

Kylie – Our best pop princess looking fab-u-lous in a yummy retro tortoiseshell cat’s eye – classic and gorgeous, and a tiny bit different. Nice work Auntie Kylie.

Jessica Biel – rocking the Autumn trench, and cool and chic in a Kylie-like cat’s eye with a cool brown lens. A perfect shape for her perfect shape….

Lady GaGa – we’ve just about forgiven her for the meat mayhem outfit, and loving the look this week in a chunky plastic with fat sides and a cool frosted finish. After the fillet frock we’re not quite sure she’s the style icon we thought she was though…..

So it’s time to shop people! Plenty of ideas in mind, thanks but no thanks Lady G think we’re heading for the Kylie-Jessica cat’s eye look. Looking forward to our next new look for Autumn!

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Cataract Facts

Friday, October 15th, 2010

Although cataract is a common eye condition, there is still a great deal of myth and mystery surrounding it. Our ageing population means an increase in cases of cataract, but luckily new surgical techniques and innovations provide easy, fast, painless solutions to the problem.

Cataract simply refers to the process of the crystalline lens inside the eye becoming opaque. As the condition progresses the patient notices their sight deteriorating, to the point where vision is severely obstructed. Almost 50% of blindness across the world is due to Cataract, and as one of the causes is UV damage, as our ozone layer becomes more depleted the incidence will rise. Although it’s easily cured the lack of surgical facilities mean that worldwide treatment is not always available.

Cataract can arise due to several different causes. Congenital cataract refers to babies born with the condition, which often has a genetic link. Injury to the eye or surrounding area can lead to traumatic cataract. Senile cataract occurs over time as the eye ages. Other factors such as UV, infra red light, and microwave radiation can cause Cataract. Some drugs can trigger cataract, as well as Iodine deficiency.

When the Cataract is deemed to be developed it can be removed by surgery. The crystalline lens is held in a capsule, and surgery may mean removal of the lens on it’s own, or with the capsule. In the UK the former is the usual, and a replacement lens is inserted. Surgery is usually a day case under local anaesthetic, and the patient will need drops for a while afterwards to prevent infection. The good news is that your former spectacle prescription will often be neutralized by the implant and if you do need glasses at all they may just be for reading or to correct a tiny residual prescription.

There are small risks attached to surgery, of retinal detachment and further opacities occurring in the lens capsule. Usually the risk is considered to be worth it for the simple removal of the opaque lens. There is no proven way to prevent Cataract at the moment, although giving up smoking, and wearing full UV protection will help.

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