Archive for November, 2010

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Up to Standard

Wednesday, November 10th, 2010

Although we supply thousands of pairs of specs via the internet, both here and abroad, there’s still that lingering worry in some people’s minds that your sight, or your wallet, may suffer from buying such an item when you’re not face to face with the practitioner. Surely it’s bespoke? Surely you need measurements? How can I be sure they’ll be right? Some of the worries that you may have before taking the plunge. So allow us to allay your fears and answer your questions, and then you’ll feel confident to go ahead and enter a whole new world of perfect vision!

Every pair of glasses that we post out is hand assembled to match your prescription, exactly as you give it to us, and taking into account your measurements, if you’ve supplied them. Specs are checked, checked, triple checked and checked again, at each step by different members of our team who are trained in their particular area of expertise. A fully qualified optician also looks at your prescription and your details before giving the go-ahead on your order. We’ll phone you or mail you if what you given us doesn’t look right. We have (sadly!)a couple of hundred years of experience between us, and we know instantly if your lens prescription doesn’t make sense, and with your reading power, even if it tallies with your age!

Your pupil distance measurement is good to have, and we always give it exactly if you’ve supplied it to us. If you don’t give it, we’ll use a standard, average measurement. For 99.9% of people this will work perfectly, but if you’re the one where it doesn’t – no problem – just send the specs back and we’ll refund you, or change the lenses if you do get the correct measurement. For the vast majority of people, with a fairly low lens power and a fairly standard head, our calculations will be perfect!

We make up glasses to the lens power that your optician has prescribed for you. We adhere strictly to British Standards, so the lenses will be exactly as if you’ve got them from any High Street optician. If the power you have given us is wrong, then of course there may be problems, but again, just let us know and we’ll sort it all out for you.

We have thousands of happy customers who know and trust us, and return for specs time and again, so what are you waiting for?!! Place your order, enjoy your new glasses, and trust in our very high standards to give you the best standard of sight possible.

Glasses Online

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Autumn Review

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

The leaves are defiantly falling and we’re well on our way to winter, with Christmas paraphernalia in the shops and the X factor contestants being whittled down! So let’s take the time to look back over autumn, and how the trends are going.

Simple, more unisex, more austere designs were the prediction for the latter end of 2010, and so far this seems to be right on trend. Girls are packing away their bling in favour of sleek and chic, and boys are eschewing last year’s pattern and detail for neat inlaid materials and colour blocks to add interest. Size really does matter this year, as the lens area has crept bigger – borne out by the number of larger lenses we have to order! But this variety is a good thing, as we move away from the one-size-has-to-fit-all trend of the past few years.

Colour echoes what’s on the clothes rails in the shops – neutrals in every shade of brown from pale cream to chocolate and tortoiseshell, and plenty of black. Colour in the choices of hot red, warm purple, and some blues. Interestingly we’re seeing more colours laminated onto clear plastic, which is perfect if you like the look but want something a little less bold and chunky. This layered effect gives you funky flashes of colour and light as you move around, and the light plays through the sheets of laminate.

There are fewer and fewer metals in every collection, as we leave them behind for softer, but brighter plastics. The moulded bridge of the plastic frame is a point in its favour, as it’s often felt to be better for all day wear, rather than the individual nose pads on plastic frame. Likewise rimless specs are falling in popularity all the time, we’re rejecting minimal for totally in your face!

To get the most out of your eyewear, change your style and your whole look will be re-vamped. Fashion can be fun and is practical when it comes to needing specs to see, so this is a trend update you can’t afford to do without!

Glasses Online

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The New Retro

Sunday, November 7th, 2010

We all know that there’s nothing new under the sun, and fashion is certainly good at re-inventing the wheel in bringing us new looks that have evolved from old. This season the retro spex look segues nicely into our present fashion passion for all things fifties, with everyone from Louis Vuitton to Mango bringing out circle skirts, nipped in waists, and a general return to lady-like elegance. So can you re-cycle your Grandma’s specs from half a century ago? Sadly not……….

There are two big  fashion styles for the funkiest girls this season – the cat’s eye and the chunky unisex rectangle. But while the basic shape stays the same, the colour, size and decoration most definitely do not. The designers have done a fab job in updating the old into a fresh new look, which is less downtrodden Fifties Cinderella housewife and more Noughties belle of the ball!

The cat’s eye has gone from tiny and discreet to big and bold, with cheekbone skimming deep rims. In the past this was often a clear plastic frame with a dark laminate ‘wing’ accentuating the brow. For today the colour is everything, from a yummy cherry red Fendi to a polished chocolate brown Christian Dior. Nothing delicate about these bright slices of delicious colour, instead it’s hot and wild. Detail is provided by cut out shapes, and bold inserts of crystal or colour.

The rectangle is an update of the old plastic NHS standard issue, loved by Dr Who and any cheap skates who didn’t want to invest in their eyewear! Again it’s up scaled, with wide flat rims, going up two to four sizes from the standard NHS model. Colour here too – with vivid slashes of purple, hot pink and raspberry all warming up this old favourite that’s come in from the cold. Decoration here is minimal – visible pin joints in silver or gold, and more unisex versions of the designer logo which are discreet but show off your exquisite taste!

So don’t be afraid of the brave new world of the old look. It’s make you stand out as a fashion icon of our times, not a relic from a bygone era!

Glasses Online

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Float On….

Saturday, November 6th, 2010

Patients often come in to see us if there are suddenly aware of an eye problem called a Floater. They tell us there are shadows or cobwebs in their eyes, spiders or funny blobs that drift across their vision that come and go seemingly as they please. They are more obvious if you’re looking at a white wall or the sky on a sunny day, and can disappear and return at will! So what are they, and are they a cause for concern?

Lots of patients with perfectly healthy eyes experience floaters. Usually they are tiny bits of cell debris which break off and bob around in the fluid that fills our eye balls. Mostly they are harmless, and will break down and be re-absorbed over time. Often they will vanish without you even having time to miss them!

You should be concerned about floaters if you suddenly notice a large new cloud of them, or floaters combined with flashing lights. Another warning sign along with this is a shadow or curtain across a large area of your visual field. Often this can simply be a symptom of migraine, but it can also signify a retinal detachment or a tear in the retina. So if you experience these symptoms for the first time, or it’s different to your usual migraine, don’t ignore it. Retinal damage is a serious medical emergency and you should seek help at once.

The retina lines the back of our eye, and like the film in a camera it records the images we see. These are then relayed to the brain, so if the retina is permanently damaged you may lose a portion of your sight forever. If caught quickly however, the retina can be re-attached by surgery.

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So floaters are only a real concern if things change suddenly. To re-cap, these are the symptoms to look out for:

Sudden appearance of or dramatic increase in floaters.

A sudden shower of black spots

A black shadow or curtain across your vision.

Flashing lights.

Sudden loss of sight, even if only across part of your visual field

Ask for an emergency appointment with your GP or go straight to A & E. Don’t worry that you’re wasting people’s time, fast action is crucial.

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Keep Clean and Beautiful!

Friday, November 5th, 2010

When we talk about eye health we are of course mostly concerned with the inner workings of the eye, and our visual system. Regular eye tests, eating a varied and multi-coloured diet, and giving up smoking can all have a positive effect on your sight and lessening your chances of serious eye disease. But what about the all important, delicate area that surrounds the eye itself? Let’s take a moment to check that we’re doing all we can to keep this healthy too.

The first and most obvious topic for discussion is cleanliness, which contributes hugely to eye health. The eye lids and lashes require lots of glandular secretions to keep them moist and working at their optimum. So this area needs to be kept clean to avoid blockages of the glands, which can lead to styes and other forms of infection. Always remove make up at night, however tired you are, using a gentle eye-make up remover lotion. Note the use by dates on cosmetics and discard them if you get an eye infection. Keep make up brushes clean by washing regularly in mild shampoo. Treat the delicate lid area very gently, using your ring finger to apply moisturisers, and don’t drag the skin. This is a health and beauty tip which will help to stave off the dreading wrinkles for as long as possible!

Our tears, combined with the blinking action, keep the surface of the eye ball lubricated and sterilised. If you’re in a dry atmosphere, blink as often as possible to keep the eye clean and comfortable. At the very first sign of an eye infection, take contact lenses out, and consult your pharmacist or GP for advice. If the lid area is sore, red, hot, or uncomfortable, then you may have a condition called Blepharitis, an inflammation of the lid margins, or a stye. These need treatment, so talk to your optician or GP.

So a little extra time and care, and good hygiene regimes can help you to avoid these problems, and stay more beautiful – always worthwhile!

Glasses Online

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Celeb Watch October 2010

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

Baby it’s cold outside! How yummy – we can cosy up in our Shearling jackets and right on trend Granddad cardies and delight in the new season fashion. Quite frankly that Indian summer September was no fun when we were boiling in our thigh high boots. Meanwhile, as we stock up on treats for Halloween we need the perfect sunnies to add that Gothic air of mystery and combat the naughty low sunshine. Cheaper than Botox and more fun than driving into the car in front………..

Courtney Cox – Poor Courtney, splitting from David after eleven years, but looking hot hot hot in a divine over-sized Chanel – who needs a man?! She looks simply stunning – razor sharp cheekbones accentuated, classy and classic. Here’s to single life, you go girl!

Sarah Jessica Parker – Well there may be no more sex in the city for SJP but there’s plenty of style. A cool wrap shield that’s a trend tip for next season, they’re creeping back into every collection.  We’ve got our eye on a Christian Dior version for next summer….

Renee Zellweger – Chic in a pale Aviator that tones perfectly with her blonde locks. Co-ordinate with yourself and then anything goes! This is a good look on delicate complexions, nice work Renee!

Chilean Miners – It’s the best story of the month you guys, reaching the surface after all those days of nail-biting worry. They looked happy and funky in their Oakleys, all generously donated to help the boys adjust to bright lights after their ordeal. Freedom and free sunnies – what a week!

So much inspiration this week – chunky black plastics to copy Courtney, or sporty to channel Chile – decisions decisions…….maybe both as an homage to our heroes this week. It’s the very least we can do!

Gasses Online

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Contact Lens Q&A

Tuesday, November 2nd, 2010

We are of course online retailers of glasses, and we feel quite strongly that contact lenses are one item that really shouldn’t be sold over the net. Lenses need close monitoring to ensure that wear regimes are being followed correctly, and that the patient’s eyes are healthy. Our role for contact lens wearers is to provide economical, but high quality glasses that you can use as a back up to your contacts, as an alternative for work or socialising, or just for emergency use. In practice, seeing patients face to face, the same queries crop up regularly with regard to new lens wearers. So here are a few answers to those questions, and it may make you think about trying lenses, as an alternative to all the specs we supply you with!

I’m squeamish about eyes! How will I put contacts in and out?

Inserting and removing lenses is a knack, and once you get it, it takes seconds to deal with your lenses. Choose an optician you feel comfortable with, allot plenty of time for the teach session, and approach calmly! It’s rare that anyone doesn’t manage to get the hang of it.

Can contacts fall out?

If you’re wearing them correctly, and attending regular check ups, then your lenses should stay put, whatever the circumstances. But if you rub your eyes, or your eyes are watering on a windy day, then the lens may slide out of place and then become dislodged. Carefully note the circumstances of your lens coming out, and discuss with your optician.

How old do you have to be to wear them?

We’ve fitted children as young as six, and grown-ups as old as eighty-seven! Age is less important than the patient’s motivation and dexterity. Always ask your optician about your individual suitability.

Can contacts damage my eyes?

It’s rare to that contacts cause damage, and if they do it’s usually because the wearer has not followed wear routines correctly, or attended for check ups.

Can a lens get stuck inside my eye?

People often worry about this, but there’s actually a lining called the conjunctiva which creates a seal all around the surface of the eye, stopping anything from sliding around behind it. If a lens is dislodged, a strong blink will usually move it back into place, as lenses are designed to sit on the cornea, at the front of the eye where you need them!

Talking to your optician in person will allay any fears you have about lenses, so if you want to give them a try, have a chat. We’ll see you soon for your back up specs!

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