Archive for September, 2011

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The Mystery of Magnification!

Monday, September 26th, 2011

All of us will reach that certain age when our arms get too short – (if you’re not there yet bear with us!!) and to see the phone directory or thread a needle we are holding things at arms length and squinting madly to get them into focus. If this is you then congratulations, you’re reached maturity, seniority, and the exciting new world of reading glasses. Before you reach for the Sanatogen, Werthers originals or even the Viagra, don’t panic! This is not a time for drastic action. You just need a little magic magnification to make things clear…..

Unlike with any degree of long sightedness, short sightedness or astigmatism that creates a need for glasses to perfect your distance vision, to help your close work you just need some magnification enable you to see close too again. This can be in the form of reading glasses, bifocals or varifocals, which enable you to see far way and focus on fine detail close up. Threading that elusive needle, seeing those pharmaceutical directions or enjoying the newest blockbuster will all become easy again. We just need to know what you struggle to see and at what distance.

The magnification you need could be as simple as our industry standard addition for reading, or as complex as strong lenses for sewing or larger fonts on a laptop you like to keep at a certain distance. Most patients start with a standard reading power, inserted into the above options of bifocal, varifocal or reading lens. These will help you in your day to life as you shop, work and drive etc. Then little situations occur where the readers cause difficulty. That specific working distance for your tool bench, embroidery hoop or desk may need a little optical magic and feverish calculation in providing the exact magnification you need. Simply, higher magnification can be provided at a closer working distance, so tell your specs supplier, what you’re doing, and how far away you are doing it and they’ll do the rest!

Varifocal Glasses

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Fantastic Plastic!

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

In recent years we’ve seen fashion – as it is famed for doing – coming full circle with regards to frames. They’ve got bigger again, they’re going rounder again, but the most noticeable change, for men, women, kids and baby boomers, is the dramatic swing from sleek and sharp metal to warm and groovy plastic……

During the nineties and early noughties specs were all about metals, particularly antique finished, oval or rectangular styles. They were minimal in style, small in size, and frankly, not the most exciting eye wear fashion to grace the face. Then bling began to light up our lives, and specs demanded the same glitzy treatment as bags, shoes and all manner of accessories. Glasses became bigger, bolder, and more decorative, and the chunky nature of plastic frames made this possible.

With decoration came an upscale in proportion and the whole look – the barely there effect of rimless and semi-rimless frames was shot into oblivion by bold, in your face as well as on your face bright plastics with wide sides, layers of bright colour and wild designs. Colours in every shade from classic black to all hues in pinks, purples, reds, lime can brighten up our lives and our eye wear wardrobe.

In terms of practicality, plastic can be more comfortable to wear than metal, providing the frame is a good fit to start with. The moulded bridges cannot be adjusted, so you need a good fit around the bridge for successful wear. There are fewer bits to go wrong, without the need for complex attachment of trims and nose pieces. There is no possibility of an allergic reaction to those sensitive types amongst you, and they cover a multitude of sins if you have a higher prescription and therefore thick lenses.

Not for shrinking violets or those who don’t want to be noticed, plastic is a bright and bold way to correct your sight while bringing a dash of colour into your life.

Varifocal Glasses

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Looking Back

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

This year the senior optometrist here at the Internet Glasses Company celebrates thirty years in optics (Cue suitably obsequious comments – gosh you must have qualified as a child, you don’t look anywhere near old enough etc etc!) So we thought we’d give him the chance to take a misty eyed wander down memory lane, and tell us about how times have changed since he invited his first patient to look into his eyes…….

“When I started out Optics was a whole different ball game (or eyeball game!) to how it is today. I’m glad to say that most of the changes are for the better, from the client’s point of view. Back then, there was little choice of frames, and they were regarded as a medical aid rather than the exciting fashion item that they are today. The NHS supplied most of our clients, subsidising the cost for everyone, regardless of their income. This meant cheap specs for all, but much psychological scarring from the stigma of the dreaded NHS frame! Lenses were mostly glass, so were heavy, and possibly dangerous to wear. There were few options for the very short or long sighted, today most of our lenses are lightweight, ultra safe plastic, available in thin materials to reduce weight and thickness, and with coatings and tints to improve sight and comfort.

Contact lenses were often still hard, meaning fewer patients could wear them. Soft lenses were expensive with complicated cleaning regimes. Today they are virtually all soft, with simple care systems and options such as extended wear of wear-for-a-day and throw away! Patients can also opt for laser surgery, allowing them to do away with specs or lenses forever.

The internet has widened consumer choice even further, and today you can buy well made, high quality specs online, supplied by practitioners such as myself who are fully qualified. We’re happy to open up more avenues to clients to allow them to buy glasses with minimal fuss and expense. I can’t wait to see what the next thirty years will bring!”

Varifocal Glasses

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Here Comes the (Winter!) Sun

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Nights are drawing in and we’re gearing up for the season of mists, mellow fruitfulness, woolly jumpers and long, dark evenings. This raises a few concerns over eye wear for the upcoming months, with many drivers still suffering unnecessarily for driving both at night and during the day.

The first issue is low winter sun, which although welcome, can be hazardous for drivers, especially if roads are wet and reflective. This low angled glare can be temporarily dazzling, as glinting rays sneak under the rear view mirror and around visors. For day time driving you are just as likely to need a dark tint or indeed reactolite lenses as you are in the summer. Drivers seem to pack their sunnies away after the summer hols, forgetting that they need them for sunny winter days! Reactolite lenses are brilliant at this time of year, as in adapting to light conditions they are suitable for day and night. They also like cold weather, and work very efficiently in low temperatures.

If you don’t have reactolite lenses you may opt for fixed, dark tint, which gives good protection. The only problem is that you have to remember to carry clear specs with you at all times, as it’s illegal to drive in any but the very lightest tint after dark.

An anti-reflective coating on any lens will improve your sight by allowing the maximum light through to the eye and blocking annoying reflection which may interfere with vision. This clear layer is not coloured, you can just detect it on the back of the lens as a shimmering, oil-on-water type effect. It will damp down glare from oncoming headlights, and make your perception sharper.

We can’t help you to avoid adverse weather conditions this winter, but as you can see we can help you to see what you’re facing, so mail us if you need further advice on present or possible specs!

Varifocal Glasses

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Get into Shape

Monday, September 19th, 2011

Specs can make or break a look in an instant, as in framing the very windows to your soul they are often the first thing other people notice when they meet you. So why not use this to your advantage by working a few optical illusions with your frame, playing up or playing down features and creating the perfect face shape?

The perfect face shape that most of us find attractive is the oval for ladies, with forehead and chin perfect proportion, eyes half way down the face and nose balanced. For men it’s sculpted cheekbones and a strong jaw, and for both sexes the more symmetrical the face, the more attractive we find it. So if you don’t presently look like Liz Hurley or Johnny Depp, how can we help? See the IGC website for full face shape guidelines, but here are a few pointers!

The first step is to pull your hair back and examine your face in strong daylight. Remember the old trick of drawing round your face with lipstick on the mirror? If you’re not sure of your face shape classification this may help, or take a quick pic and draw on that!  Now you know your shape, think about what you need to achieve for George Clooney or Kate Moss type good looks!

The golden rule is that in creating the illusions, you need to play down your flaws by enhancing the opposite effect. Round face? Create angles with squarer or more rectangular frames. Clunky chunky jawline? Soften it with oval or rounder frames. Long face? Wide frames with less depth will draw attention across the face, and create a more balanced proportion. Men with chubby cheeks can bring on a chiselled jaw line with sharply angular specs. The possibilities for perfection are endless!

You can even make eyes look larger and further apart by choosing a frame with no detail at the bridge, and something to grab attention at the outside edge, such as decorated sides or temples. Too distract from crow’s feet choose a chunky plastic that brings the onlookers eye forward from the face beneath and has no detail around the crinkly bits you want to ignore!

Wearing specs will improve your sight, so why not use them to improve your looks too? And an easier way to get into shape than a visit to the gym!!

Varifocal Glasses

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Keep up with Coatings

Sunday, September 18th, 2011

We take so much for granted nowadays – perfect Cappucino one every street corner, full signal even at the very ends of the earth, another desperate ex-politician to make us giggle during Strictly – and shouldn’t the very best sight you can achieve be another ‘given’ on the list? And it’s pretty simple, to manage the latter all you need is to keep up with all that’s new and best in coatings….

We’ve come a long way in the past thirty years in terms of spec lens technology, with heavy, chunky glass lenses thankfully now a thing of the past. We went to plastic materials during the eighties, and now we rarely use glass. An early problem with plastic was the fact that they scratch very easily, and over the years manufacturers have made our lives easier with excellent, durable, scratch resistant coatings. These prolong the life of your lenses, helping you to retain blemish free vision through the life time of your prescription.

Anti-reflection coatings continue this work by giving you the best vision possible through those sparkling, scratch free lenses. This layer allows the maximum amount of light to travel through your lenses, by preventing reflection back from the front surface. To you this means glare free sight for night driving, at the computer, and under all lighting conditions. People looking at you see through the lenses too, meaning they see your eyes, not their own reflection!

The ultimate in these new coatings combines the technology of the anti-reflection layer with the scratch resistant and adds a clean coat. This is an added bonus that stops rain sticking to lenses, makes them easier to clean and makes the coatings themselves more durable.  This three-in-one approach is an all singing, all dancing product that does everything possible to improve sight, ease of wear, and longevity of your lenses – so keep up with coatings!

Varifocal Glasses

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Celeb Watch September 2011

Saturday, September 17th, 2011

Forget the old Christmas songs Celeb watchers, it ain’t Christmas that’s the most wonderful time of the year – it’s Autumn drop!!! Three cheers for shops simply bulging with hot new looks, strokeable velvet, strict little leather boots, slinky wrap dresses, the list goes on, and so does our overwhelming desire to shop ‘til you drop! So tiring, so new sunnies are a must, to hide those tell tale signs of fatigue and accessorise all areas……..

Sarah Jessica Parker – Pounding the celeb circuit to promote her new film, “I don’t know how she does it” and neither do we darling, she’s looking hot hot hot in a simply HUGE Aviator style wrap in slick black with a chic graduated tint – Kate Reddy looks good on you SJP…..

Madonna – behind the camera for a change, but then out and about promoting W.E. on the red carpet and all over town. Fabulous accessorising with a butterfly scattered dress and perfectly matched red sunnies, in a suitably Wallis Simpson inspired retro shape.

Pippa Middleton – Everyone’s favourite little sis hitting the streets in a very understated but very cool black plastic, with classic pared down styling, and no gaudy bling. Go Pippa – teaching all wannabe princesses a thing or two about regal chic.

Cheryl Cole – reported to be a little down in the dumps but looking as beautiful as ever Stateside, and looking lush in a rather groovy take on the old Ray ban Clubmaster, with chic temple detail. Chin up Chezza! Celeb Watch loves you……

Exhausted by the possibilities now, we must hit the streets before closing time, channelling the high flying Mum with too much to do thanks to SJP! So many purchases to make, so little time…..

Varifocal Glasses

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Going Green

Friday, September 16th, 2011

As the autumn and winter fashions hit the shops our thoughts turn to new looks for the upcoming shorter days and longer nights. Looking in the mirror, as our summer tans have faded, this is a time to think of rich colours, sumptuous fabrics and re-lighting our complexions with clothing and accessories. Specs are an excellent way of bringing warmth and interest to the face, so if you’re investing in a new look to match your new season wardrobe, why not consider a slightly different shade this year – is it time to go green?

Green is a fab colour for most complexions; you just have to pick the perfect shade for you. The secret is in the amount of yellow in your skin tone and the chosen frame. The most yellow end of the spectrum, the acid greens, from lime through to apple are delicious if you have naturally blonde hair. These greens are perfect for lighting up wishy-washy blue eyes and bringing zing to skin! They are a pretty colour to use in linings and detail, against navy blue, dramatic black or soft tortoise frames.

If you have Mediterranean colouring, with olive skin and dark hair, then you need a more browny green, warm and flattering mixed with honey-toned tortoiseshell. A slightly translucent plastic or metal with a touch of gold will add highlights and give you some flashes of built in sunshine!

Black skin contains so many tones that there will always be a green for you. It’s a more unusual dark shade to wear than the same old black, brown or grey, and will provide a delicate contrast to your brown eyes. Depending on your precise tones you may need a warm khaki green with plenty of brown in it, or try an emerald green, with more blue than yellow, as this will play down sallow tones in your skin.

Asian skin, with brown eyes, again needs to steer clear of the acid greens and head for the muted tones. Bright emerald can be beautiful as you can wear such shimmering jewel colours, with plenty of blue in the mix. This will light up your honey-brown eyes.

Those blue-heavy emerald greens are also good with dark hair and pale skin, as these Irish or English roses have blue or green eyes. Blue-green will enhance these eye colours, and play up your eye colour. The trick is to try on green shades and examine the effect in bright daylight. Do wrinkles look softer, eyes look brighter, skin look fresher? If the answer to all of the above is yes, then you’ve found the gorgeous green for you!

Varifocal Glasses

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Allergy Alert

Sunday, September 11th, 2011

We often have enquiries about problems arising from allergic reactions to spec frames, which can lead to sore faces, itchy ears, and irritation all round. So if you are a sensitive soul who is prone to flare ups, here are a few tips to make spec wear a little more soothing…….

Reactions usually occur from metal frames, most commonly those containing an element of nickel silver. While reactions to other metals are not unheard off, most will be due to this specific problem. If you react to costume jewellery and belt buckles, you’re also likely to suffer from your specs. Metal frames have plastic components on the areas where they will touch the skin, which is on the bridge and behind the ears. For most people this will stop the reaction, as the metal doesn’t actually sit on the face. But if the frame is badly fitting, and the metal is in constant contact, then you may get a sore, itchy red rash. The additional problem is that perspiration will build up on the frame, eat into the protective layers on the surface, and then you will react further with the underlying metal.

So firstly, check that only the plastic end tips and bridge pieces touch your skin. Get the specs adjusted if this is not the case. Secondly, wash your specs every night in warm soapy water, which will keep the frame in perfect condition and prevent any pollutants from damaging the protective layers.

If you react just to the proximity of metal, then you need to find an alternative material that you can wear. Titanium, stainless steel and treated nickel frames may work for less severe cases. Titanium is supposedly the best, but if you’re still worried about metal, look for a plastic frame. As yet we’ve never come across anyone who has a problem with plastic, but it’s still advisable to wash frames daily, and check that the plastic does not sit against the cheeks.

Reactions are uncomfortable, unsightly, and can make daily spec wear unbearable. You probably won’t even know you are allergic until you wear the specs, so if there is even a tiny hint of a problem starting, make sure you switch to different specs or have an adjustment before it affects you too badly.


Varifocal Glasses

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Senior Style

Saturday, September 10th, 2011

With Jane Fonda and Joan Collins showing off their stunning looks well into their seventies, and fifty-something George Clooney being celebrated as a total sex symbol, it seems that we’re now embracing our advancing years rather than fading into the background. But we all still worry about selecting clothes that are age appropriate, searching the racks in Zara and Topshop for fashion that flatters without making us a wannabe-teen laughing stock. In the world of eye wear though, there are no such concerns, as whatever your age……anything goes!

Retro shapes are everywhere this season, with cat’s eyes for women and chunky Buddy Holly plastics for men. These are trends that suit every age group, charmingly geeky on kids, flattering on grannies. The cat’s eye is a fantastic shape for lifting the face, drawing attention away from a soft jaw line, and detracting from any droop! Heavy plastics on men give colour and interest back to features, and look sophisticated and strong. As the trend is still towards larger frames, these happily fit a varifocal lens and therefore give you practicality and fashion!

If your hair is now lighter, your skin tone will be too, so warm shades and soft plastic frames will give warmth and colour as opposed to sharp, shiny cold metals. Solid moulded bridges support the weight of lenses better than single nose pads, and won’t drag on delicate skin. Wide sides disguise creeping crow’s feet, and give colour and interest at the temples if your hair is greying there. If your brows have faded too, or been plucked into oblivion, a strong colour at the top of the frame can give you back some much needed definition.

The only rule is forget the rules! There are no limits to style when it comes to specs, and you’re free to choose what you like, not what you feel suits your advancing years. Plus, as we’re more likely to need specs as we get older, it’s a guilt free shopping opportunity – so enjoy some sexy speccy senior style!

Varifocal Glasses

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