Archive for December, 2010

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Celeb Watch – The Big Chill 2010

Saturday, December 18th, 2010

This weather is simply ridiculous for words Celeb watchers – our Louboutins are too precious and our Jimmy Choo wellies too delicious to even think about setting foot outside the door. We’d be less graceful than Widders if we hit the High Street, and with no Anton to hold us up. Thank heavens for the net, and 24 hour shopping from the comfort of the sofa. One good thing about the weather – low sun means danger when we do get back behind the wheel, so some yummy sunnies are a must…………and this week we’ll be working our plastic on some black plastic if we want the Celeb look……..

Angelina Jolie – we are so not speaking to Ange – living with luscious Brad and now she’s been on set in Venice with Johnny Depp!!! The unfairness of it all!! And of course she’s totally beautiful, and wearing a very covetable pair of huge sunnies, round black plastics, presumably all the better for looking at Johnny while Brad can’t see……..

Victoria Beckham – Putting her own spin on the style of the moment, as ever. Now she’s a serious fashionista she can really rock a look. Skinny side huge black plastics with uber cool graduated lenses, for watching where those super high heels go, fabulous VB.

Courteney Cox – her love life might be a bit tricky but her look is perfect – square edged black plastics that suit her face shape to perfection. Ultra dark lenses conceal everything, and Courteney needs a bit of discretion at the moment, with David misbehaving……….

Sarah Jessica Parker – SJP goes her own way with a totally different version, a black plastic wrap- around, great for skiing or whatever she gets up to nowadays in the city! Oversized looks cool on her petite face.

So ditch the metal aviators and Wayfarers, so last month Celeb Watchers………now let’s hope for more snow, sun and sunnies!

Prescription Glasses

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Sixty is the New Thirty?!

Friday, December 17th, 2010

As the baby boomer generation grows older they’re showing no sign of growing up, and increasingly the line between fashions and eye wear choices of the young and old is more and more blurred (!) Unlike with clothing, specs don’t really have an age specific look anyway, with everyone from Anne Robinson to Chris Evans wearing geek plastics and funky finishes and shapes. So if you’re already Botoxing your blemishes and disguising your grey, what do you do with your eyewear to enhance your youthful looks and attitude?

The obvious first point is to avoid any specs that tell the world you are presbyopic, a change to vision that occurs when you are over forty. This is when the arms get too short and you need help for reading, so don’t delay! As soon as you find yourself pushing menus further away and squinting to thread a needle, get an eye exam and get some varifocals. No visible line, nothing to show you have a reading prescription in the lens, and you pretend you’re not a day over 39!! You can wear them all day every day, and no squinting means fewer crow’s feet into the bargain!

If you have a sprinkling of silver in your hair, avoid all frames with shiny metal, which will twinkle like tinsel and enhance your own, unwanted, natural highlights. Go for matt metal or preferably plastic, which will enhance your original hair colour. Bold plastics are seen as more youthful, and to detract years bling is seen as a bit more ageing than cool, geometric trims and detailing.

Frame shapes should be uplifting; as anything with a droop will enhance anything you’re got that’s drooping! Shapes that lift at the temple will lift your temples too, and detract from softening jaw lines. The retro cat’s eye look is perfect for sexy pizzazz – (and a tip – men love that strict secretary look, you have been warned!) If you have to wear varifocals, don’t assume that you need deep frames, as we did in the past. They’ll now fit into even the shallowest frame, so don’t let your lenses restrict you. Your mature years should mean you’re comfortable with your own style nowadays, so don’t let anything stop you – including your age – from looking stylish, sexy, and far less than sixty in your spex!

Prescription Glasses

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The Blink of an Eye

Thursday, December 16th, 2010

Blinking is one of those amazing reflexes that our bodies take care of for us, and that we don’t appreciate at all until something goes wrong with the system. On average we blink about ten times per minute, without having to make any conscious effort. And every time we blink we are sterilising and lubricating the eye, and creating a smooth surface across the cornea. The blink sweeps a fresh layer of tears across the eye which achieves all of this, for comfort, the health of the eye, and in smoothing out the cornea, optimum vision.

The most common issue with blinking is a symptom of our modern lifestyles, and lots of computer users come to talk to us because of dry, tired eyes. In staring at the monitor – and nowadays it’s 24/7, as our slavish devotion to both work and facebook keeps us glued to our screens- we forget to blink, and the eyes become uncomfortable. This can make them sore, make you feel tired, and affect your vision. So if you’re a dedicated Computer addict, make the effort to blink more. Look away from the screen at regular intervals, drink plenty of water to keep yourself hydrated, and blink! It will refresh your eyes and you’ll be amazed at how it alleviates fatigue. Glasses may be better at work as contact lenses that do their job perfectly well under normal circumstances can start to bother you if you work for long periods at the computer.

Other blinking problems occur either due to poor tear quality or malfunctions with the process of blinking. If you have a physical defect in your eye lids or the surrounding muscle it will affect your ability to blink, so the tears won’t be moved across the surface of the eye correctly. If your tear layer is produced in the wrong quantity or in the wrong consistency then it won’t do it’s job properly. The end result of these two problems is the same – sore, dry, and tired eyes. Visit your GP, as treatment is available. This may be simple drops that re-wet the eye and do the job of your tears, or surgery to correct a defect.

So if you’re blinking perfect, then remember to be appreciative of your good fortune. If not, seek help, you don’t want your blink to go on the blink!

Prescription Glasses

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Party Looks

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

At the moment every magazine is full of exciting clothes and accessories, all with that essential smattering of sparkle to make you shine through the party season. We’re expected to have the essential LBD or sharp suit at the ready, along with dizzily high heels, vampish make up and the perfect bag and jewellery. But if you wear glasses, how do you make sure you still have the perfect look this season?

Wearing specs throws up several issues that you need to address. You’ll fall into one of two categories – the I-want-you-to-see-me-not-my-specs brigade, or the specs-are- hot-and-I-want-you-to-notice-them camp. Whichever describes you and your attitude to eye wear, you still want to co-ordinate, look good on photos, and make sure your efforts with make up and outfits are not wasted.

You should always add an anti-reflection coating to your glasses, which will give you safe vision after dark, and ensure that people see you and not their reflection in your lenses. This means your eye make is not wasted and that on photos your sparkling peepers look fantastic. Then the drive home will be safer too as the coating is the only thing that helps with the dazzle of oncoming headlights.

Experiment with your make up to help you decide if emphasising your lips or eyes will enhance your face and your specs the best. As a general rule, light rimless or metal specs need bolder eye make up, to make sure your eyes are a strong feature, bright chunky plastic frames need luscious lips to bring balance to the face. Depending on your colouring and that of your frames you need to choose the look to suit.

If you rely on your LBD to get you through the party season, then an update on your specs and some fresh accessories may be enough to update your entire party wardrobe. If you’re investing in a new dress, then lace is a hot look this year. A shiny black plastic frame will be the perfect antidote and stop you looking like the bad fairy that fell off the Christmas tree!

Prescription Glasses

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Taking the Plunge

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Contact lenses today offer more versatility and choice at lower prices than ever before. Once the option of the very rich and brave, nowadays we can all wear them – or are you one of the people who think you’re the exception? Well think again, because contacts will be an option for you, so it might be time to consider taking the plunge.

We’ve fitted lenses for patients age six upwards; you just need a little patience to learn how to handle them, faith in your optician, and the motivation to persevere for a day or two at the beginning. Whatever your age or prescription there will be a lens for you, and you can choose to wear them for a day, a week, a month, with lenses that suit every lifestyle and prescription

As glasses are so economical nowadays it givers people the option to be more flexible about their contact lens wear. You can afford glasses as a back up or to wear for work for example, with contacts for your favourite sport, or holidays, or socialising.

Have you worn lenses in the past and give up on them? The prescription range is bigger today, and even patients with astigmatism who were difficult to fit in the past can now be accommodated. If you need a separate spec power for reading, you can have multifocal or bifocal contacts, or distance contacts with reading glasses over the top. Again, specs are cheap and easy to acquire for a specific reason or task.

If you gave up on lenses because the solution regime was too tiresome, with masses of bottles, you’ll be pleased to know that the present generation of lens cleaners are simple and cheap, with less solutions and faster sterilisation times. Again, because you’ll easily have access to glasses you’ll always have a back up option if you haven’t remembered to clean your lenses.

So take the plunge and speak to your optician about contacts – cheap, easy, and flexible, with the good old IGC helping you out with your back up specs!

Prescription Glasses

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Ski Safe

Monday, December 13th, 2010

If you are a keen skier and you’re busily preparing your Christmas list, you might be wondering what new and exciting equipment you need for the upcoming season. If it’s time to update your eyewear for the slopes, here are a few tips to help you make the right choice for you.

If you’re a keen skier, with several trips during the season, you’ll probably get your money’s worth out of investing in ski goggles. These give you physical protection and will have suitable lenses to protect long term eye health. You must try before you buy – the correct fit is crucial. Go for the best you can afford, and make sure they are a snug fit over the nose and that they cradle the face to protect your eye orbit. The best will have a padded inner layer which absorbs sweat and impact, in case you have a bit of a spill!

If you need a prescription, there are goggles with inserts that can be glazed with your lenses. These are then relatively cheap to replace when your sight changes. Due to the large and curved nature of goggle lenses, it’s very tricky to glaze the goggle itself with your lenses, so if you don’t like the look of inserts, now may be the time to try contact lenses, which you wear under ordinary goggles. Disposable daily wear contacts are an excellent part-time option for times such as holidays.

If you are only an occasional skier, you can make do with ordinary sunglasses, if you choose wisely. Find a large wrap around plastic frame, which will be warmer on the skin and doesn’t have sharp metal nose pad arms that may dig into your nose in the event of an accident! You need as much coverage as you can manage without the frame resting on your cheek bones.

The main essential to look for, whatever your choice of eyewear, is 100% UV protection, over all types of UV rays. The UV layer is colourless, so don’t assume that very dark lenses are all fully protective. You can’t tell by looking, so check the labels carefully. Obviously good quality manufacturers like Oakley and Rayban all conform to EU specifications, but if you’re not sure of the brand, investigate fully before purchasing.

Then take to the slopes knowing you look good and your eyes are fully protected – although double vision after the après ski is difficult to avoid!

Prescription Glasses

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In Favour of Four Eyes

Friday, December 10th, 2010

I’ve always loved a dash of the theatrical, and being told I now need to wear glasses was a joyful day indeed. Any excuse to shop, and the opportunity to buy a Designer item that’s actually a medical necessity was heaven sent as far as I’m concerned! I was beside myself with excitement when I went to meet the girls, showing off my delicious deep purple plastic Diors with glitzy gold logo and stunning white leather case. (Another added bonus was the fact that I could actually see the girls!)

They all congratulated me on the new look, and two insisted on trying the specs on. A couple of the others however went a bit quiet, and I’ve since come to realise that for some, choosing and buying glasses can be at best a bit of a chore, at worst a trauma that reminds them of terrible past experiences with opticians and playground bullies. What a nightmare – you’ve got to wear them, so why not enjoy them? So we had a serious discussion about what can help to these poor souls enjoy an eye opening shopping experience.

The first issue was to get over childhood problems with glasses, which today are cool, fashionable, and desirable. Taking time to pick something you really love, investing in lenses that will look good too, and seeing specs as a fashion item were all deemed to be positive moves. Asking a friend to help you make your mind up, looking at spec adverts in fashion magazines, and speccy role models like Lily Allen all help too. If the worst comes to it there are always contact lenses, but a friend who we’ve now converted back to specs says she found it a huge relief to find something she likes and now she wears them all the time.

The Internet Glasses Company have a try before you buy option, which really helped my optician phobic friend. Age fifty she loathed the pink plastic NHS frames she had as a child, and the bullying she suffered at school as a result. She ordered her frames over the net, took the time to gather opinions at home and work, and finally took the plunge feeling relieved that she didn’t have to be in an opticians to make her decision!

If you’re spec phobic, take heart that changing times and the World Wide Web can help you to overcome the horrendous Deirdre Barlow look of the past and embrace something cool that you’ll love. Me – I’m off to order another couple of pairs, got to do my bit to show that four eyes are much funkier than two!

Glasses Online

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The Short Sighted Story

Thursday, December 9th, 2010

Myopia, or short-sightedness is an eye defect that affects 25% of Caucasian people in our population, with higher numbers amongst Asian people. Worldwide, it seems to be increasing, although this assumption may be due to better gathering of facts and figures!

If you’re myopic the world has a pleasantly soft focus look, with sight clear close too, getting progressively more blurry as you move things away from the face. Your degree of myopia governs how far away your sight is sharp. It usually manifests itself in the early teens, with the error increasing as the young person grows, stabilising during the early to mid twenties. There is still no definite conclusion as to the cause, with research still going on to determine if it’s a product of nature or nurture or a combination of both factors. Studies have shown that if you have two short sighted parents then you have a six times greater risk of myopia than if only one parent or no parent is myopic.

If your prescription has a minus sign before the numbers then you are short sighted, and your spec lenses will be thinner in the centre than at the edge. The bigger your frame, the thicker the edges will be. If your lens power is over -4.00, then order thinner material lenses. These will look better, feel lighter and more comfortable to wear, and be more durable. The stronger your prescription, then the thinner you need to order your lenses. This extra investment in lens material will reap dividends every day that you wear your glasses.

You should also order an anti-reflection coating, which will improver your sight and make the lenses look better. Strong prescriptions give white reflecting rings around the lens edges – the very unappealing bottle-bottom effect!

So we can make your glasses look good, making your myopia an inconvenience that you’ll learn to live with. Most patients can also wear contact lenses, in a range of wear regimes to suit you. The good news is that you’ll need reading glasses at a much later stage than your previously-perfect sighted friends, so you’ll appear youthful for much longer!!

Glasses Online

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Should have gone to…….?

Wednesday, December 8th, 2010

Every day we’re bombarded with adverts for opticians, telling us that we can have two for the price of one, that we should have gone to the ‘s’ word, all telling us that they are the best and we should trust our sight to them. So what should you look for in an Optician, and how do you choose?

The best practitioners will have your best interests at heart, and you’ll see this in how they conduct their test and the questions they ask you. All opticians follow the eye examination guidelines set out by our governing body, so the technicalities are a given. They also have to adhere to ruling set out by the NHS who pay for eye exams for certain people. So firstly, you can be sure that medically speaking any qualified optician will check the health of your eyes and calculate your prescription. Things get tricky when it comes to interpreting results of tests, spotting the very first signs of eye disease, and deciding with you what glasses you need and how they will fit in with your lifestyle.

A question worth asking when you book your test is how long the optician will spend with you. You need to make sure they have time to discuss your general health, your family history of eye disease, any symptoms you are suffering, and to ask you if you have any concerns. They should also talk to you about your occupation, your hobbies, and your individual needs. They must also give you a copy of your prescription, without pressure for you to buy glasses from them. An eye test should take at least twenty minutes, at the bare minimum.

The optician should question you on all of the matters above, as well as asking you if you’re on any medication. You need to find an optician who will truly engage with you, showing an interest in you and what you need from your glasses or contact lenses. They should be able to tell you about the latest optical products, and know what would suit your lifestyle.

Also ask if they have retinal imaging equipment, and most importantly, if they are fully trained in using it and diagnosing early signs of disease. In our clinical practice the most satisfaction is gained from talking to clients and getting to the bottom of how we can help them. That makes them return to us again and again, trusting our expertise and feeling safe in the knowledge that we know their history and will do our best for them. Don’t take the first appointment you come across, your sight is precious enough to take a little time to research the help you need.

Glasses Online

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Top Ten – Why Wear Varifocals?

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

It comes to us all, that certain age when we’re grateful that our presbyopia means we can’t see our wrinkles, and policemen look young enough to be your grandson, not just your son! You’ve perhaps managed with reading glasses for a while, and then your friendly optician suggests varifocals. Scary thought? Knew that thirty years ago your Dad couldn’t get on with them? Worried about taking the plunge? Times, and technology, have thankfully changed. Top ten reasons for trying this top notch lens….

  1. They’re less ageing than other option, such as bifocals or wearing granny- half-moon-half eyes. No one will know you’re over forty!
  2. You can do everything in them – read up close, see music and computer screens at arm’s length, far distance for road signs and driving.
  3. They’re convenient – one pair of specs for everything, no more forgotten glasses, stick them on your face and get on with your life.
  4. They’re like natural vision. Your eyes used to change focus for you, now the lens does it for you, so you’ll adapt to them quickly.
  5. You only need one pair of glasses, so they’re often cheaper than separate specs.
  6. Even if you only need reading glasses, you can wear varifocals with no power in the distance, so you always see to read, as and when you want without scrabbling around to find your glasses.
  7. They even fit into the smallest frames now, so you can look fashionable and youthful, unlike bifocals which need a deep frame and have an ageing visible line.
  8. If you use a computer, they are the only thing that will let you see small print, the VDU, and your family and colleagues across the room!
  9. There’s no risk – try them and see if you like them. If you don’t, we’ll refund you.
  10. Why on earth wouldn’t you?!! After all, fifty is the new thirty, and bifocals are so last millennium!

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