Archive for September, 2009

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All that Glitters!

Wednesday, September 30th, 2009

Regular readers of the blog will know of our penchant for the bling. The more glitter, shine, diamonds, and general sparkliness added to eyewear, the more we LOVE it! So good news for autumn – the dreary financial outlook has not rained on our parade, embellishment is in for the new season!

Fashion is heading back to the eighties, and the colour palette for autumn is very dark, while the sharp silhouettes do the talking. Slightly more understated and grown up detail therefore needs to be scattered over our accessories for a touch of glamour. It’s a nod to nostalgia, so sprinkle some subtle fairy dust over bags, shoes, jewellery and of course, the ever important eyewear! Boden have got some delicious jewelled pumps, check out French Connection for some diamante encrusted jewellery, and Top Shop for belts, bags, and the essential sequin jacket!

Just leave some room in your shine quotient for your glasses. Eye wear with inlaid stones, frames with engraving and added shiny stones. Frames fronts are still simple, with the sides providing all the interest. Wide sides give you plenty of room to pile on the pretty detail, and this could give the accent colour to your on trend hound’s-tooth black-and- white or grey, black and gothic clothing colours.

Glasses with bling

Glasses with bling

Pick a warm accent colour that you bring in with shoes or bags too. Berry shades are beautiful for glasses as long as you are not too pale. If you are fair, try a paler shade of tortoiseshell or a translucent plastic that lets the light shine through. Balance dark clothes with specs that bring the colours in, but don’t over power your face. It’s all a bit more genteel, a touch more understated this year – the perfect excuse to update your eye wear!

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Success Stories

Tuesday, September 29th, 2009

Becoming an Optician, whether an online optician or actually in store is not really an obvious career choice. It doesn’t have the sweep-you-off-your-feet glamour of a George Clooney type Doctor, or the sympathetic aaaarh factor of a James Herriot vet. Can you think of any famous opticians?! So we asked one of our resident opticians what drives them on in their thankless task….

“I got into Optics because I had one eye patched as a child – not due to any pirate fetish but because I had a condition called Amblyopia. This is because my eye turned, and without the patch I would have lost the sight in that eye forever. When I got older and realised what the optician had done for me I looked into it as a career. I like talking to patients and finding out about their health issues and what I can do for them with either glasses lenses or contact lenses.”

Memorable Success Stories?

“I had a patient who had been bullied at school due to a condition called aniridia. This meant that her eyes were different colours, one brown and one blue. Even though this never did David Bowie any harm she’d always loathed her eyes! I fitted her with coloured contact lenses that gave her matching brown eyes. That was an emotional day for both of us! I like giving good news to patients who are worried about their sight – it’s rare to find the complications that lots of us worry about. After twenty five years in practice, testing patients all day every week day, I’ve only ever come across two brain tumours. Not good for those particular patients but everyone must be aware this is rare. I regularly refer children with the same condition that I had, and I’m always grateful that they’ll get diagnosis and treatment. I saved the sight of one chap who thought he’d got a migraine but was actually suffering retinal detachment. We whizzed him up to A & E and immediate treatment repaired the damage. I also like dealing with Keratoconus patients. They have a condition where the cornea grows into a cone shape which distorts vision. Fitting special keratoconus contact lenses can give life changing results – always a great days work!”

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Just the Job!

Monday, September 28th, 2009

We all know that times are hard, and even if green shoots are appearing they’re taking their time in blossoming forth! During the credit crunch every job has to be fought for, so can anything give you the extra edge over your competitors? Well surprisingly, we might just have a suggestion for you……

Specsavers recently commissioned a survey to find out whether wearing glasses makes you a more favourable candidate in the eyes of employers. Now we all know that spec wearers have an image of maybe being a little bit more of a brain box, a bit geeky, a bit more studious. We all have that picture in mind of the school swot in oversized specs earnestly giving all the answers in class. Could it be true that the image still rings true?

Bright child in the class with all the answers!

Bright child in the class with all the answers!

Apparently the answer is yes! 68% of employers think that spec wearers are more intelligent and can be trusted, and as they apparently give a better first impression this could be the clincher in an interview. We blogged about this a while ago, the fact that in the workplace anything that gives you that edge is worthwhile, so this may be the time to ditch the contact lenses and return to your glasses. Just steer clear of too much bling and make sure they are suitable for your new workplace.

Glasses get the job

Glasses get the job

Glasses will be the first thing people notice about you, so make sure they’re sparkling clean and fashionable. Get online and find a trendy pair from as little as £9.99. www.TheInternetGlassesCompany.co.uk. Even if you don’t actually have a prescription then you can order specs with clear lenses, and no-one will be any the wiser – they’ll just think you are!

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Recipes to Safeguard your Sight

Sunday, September 27th, 2009

Good nutrition is as essential for eye health as well as for general health. The leading cause of impaired sight in our society is Age Related Macular Degeneration, a disease that leads to loss of central vision. The macular is an area of the retina, the light sensitive layer of cells that lines our eyeballs. This is where we get our detailed vision from, and when the macula degenerates this impacts daily life by making it hard to see faces and anything in our central vision, and glasses won’t restore your sight. Eating the right foods now will help to give the retina essential nutrients to protect it.

Green Smoothie

  • Bag of Salad Spinach
  • 4 Carrots
  • 1 Green Pepper
  • A large handful of Kale
  • 3 Apples
  • A handful of fresh parsley

Choose vegetables which are as fresh as possible. Wash thoroughly and peel the apples. Chop everything into even chunks and then blend or juice into a smoothie. You can store this in the fridge for up to 4 days.

Variations – Add chopped ginger or add different herbs to your taste.

Our Green Smoothie is perfect for eye health

Our Green Smoothie is perfect for eye health

Blueberry Fruit Salad

Use fruits which are in season, in a mixture of colours – raspberries, blackberries, and the largest portion of blueberries. Keep all fruit as fresh as possible.

Traffic Light Salad

  • Bag of salad leaves – including a high proportion of spinach
  • Tomatoes
  • Carrots
  • 1 red  & 1 green pepper
  • 1 red onion, peeled
  • Handful of chopped parsley
Traffic Light Salad - Good for eyes and looks good too

Traffic Light Salad - Good for eyes and looks good to

Dressing

  • 125ml good Olive Oil
  • 2 tablespoons of red wine vinegar
  • 1 Clove of garlic, chopped
  • 1 Tablespoon of chopped herbs – basil or chives
  • ½ teaspoon of sugar

Mix together all the dressing ingredients, cover, and leave in the fridge for at least an hour before you need it. Prepare the salad just before serving.

Finely slice the peppers, tomatoes, and onions. Use a potato peeler to shred the carrot into thin strips. Lay the salad leaves on a large platter and scatter the green peppers over them. Then lay the red salad ingredients over the top, interspersed with carrot strips. Finish with a scattering of herbs. Stir the dressing well and drizzle over.

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Celeb Watch Late September 2009

Saturday, September 19th, 2009

Well Celeb watchers, the world is a strange place this week – Dame Vera Lynn at the top of the charts, the Beatles re-mastered – what next, shoulder pads?!!! Can it be true, nostalgia is back in fashion, and we, as ever, are right at the head of the fashion pack. Bedecked in leg warmers, batwings sleeves, and having an SJP eighties perm flash back, it’s all about embracing our inner disco diva and shrieking Fame! We’re gonna live for ever – or some fashions do at any rate…..

Ricky Gervais – never did we expect his name to grace our celeb watch blog, with all due to respect to Ricky he’s not famed for his cutting edge look. Here he is this week though, sporting the eternally stylish Wayfarer, a man in black with classic style. Obviously if it’s good enough for our Kate, then it’s good enough for Ricky….

We're as suprised as you are, but lets face it, wayfarers are cool!

We're as suprised as you are, but lets face it, wayfarers are cool!

Lady Ga Ga – You just have to love this girl….while everyone else is having their flashback Flashdance moment, she’s eschewed the huge sunnie trend and gone for tiny Ozzy Osbourne type round frames, these even pre-date ra ra skirts!

What next?.... Biting the head off a chicken?!

What next?.... Biting the head off a chicken?!

Daisy Lowe – Clearly a huge follower of style icon Ricky Gervais, in an homage to the great man she’d been out and about in a Wayfarer type frame, but on her elfin features it looks huge, so is it the real thing? Looks real cute, whichever it is…

Clearly following Ricky Gervais' good form this month

Clearly following Ricky Gervais' good form this month

Rihanna – Chic just isn’t the word, this girl rocks every trend going. Seen out in a HUGE deep frame, very chunky, very now, oversized and stylish on her delicate features.

Stylish as ever

Stylish as ever

So get set for the Winter sun and keep an eye on those stars, plenty of fashion inspiration going on this week. Beatlemania inspired sixties Twiggy lashes and Audrey Hepburn shades? Perms, leotards and dance wear for day wear? You must decide, followers of fashion, or if all else fails, channel that unexpected new style guru, Mr Gervais……

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3D Glasses – The Sequel!

Thursday, September 17th, 2009

I blogged a while ago because I just got my first glasses, and was excited about a) buying Marc Jacobs frames – i.e. a real designer item with no guilt whatsoever, and b) actually being able to see, and c) my crows feet started to go into reverse as I wasn’t squinting anymore. So a whole new world opened up to me this summer, and here’s how I got on since!

Marc Jacobs Are The Ultimate In Style This Season

Marc Jacobs Are The Ultimate In Style This Season

I went to the optician for a follow up, he said it was unusual to suddenly be short sighted at 27, and he was interested to check me for further changes. He upped the prescription by a tiny amount, but I can still wear the beloved Marc Jacobs, and the Gucci sunnies that I put my lenses into. I skipped joyfully home and promptly ordered a pair of Diors, as I’m now paranoid about being without my specs! It was one thing to be illegal to drive when I didn’t know I was, but now the truth is out I barely walk down to the dust bin without my MJs on!

I don’t wear my glasses for close work, although it wouldn’t matter if I did, and weirdly I don’t like eating with them on! I wear them the rest of time though, and when I briefly took them off at the cinema last week, I was amazed at how fuzzy Sandra Bullock was! Everyone has complimented me on my specs, and two friends are now browsing online for their next pair – I find it dead simple and I like the chance to look through the range of glasses at home.

I think about make up and jewellery differently now, I don’t wear as much of either, I like letting the glasses do the accessorising for me! My optician also gave me daily contact lenses, which are fab, after the initial two weeks of stress and tantrum learning how to put them in! I keep a few for nights out if I want a change from my specs, but the extra effort involved in eye liner etc does make me long to just stick my glasses on.

So becoming a speccy four eyes wasn’t the end of the world, in fact it’s been lots of fun, although thankfully glasses are so gorgeous nowadays that wearing them is a treat. I’ll have another check up next year, how awful if I have to buy yet another pair of specs!

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How To Be Remembered !

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

As fanatics about frames, we all fully appreciate the value of a good piece of facial furniture. We say don’t think of your specs as a medical device, see them as a piece of jewellery, a unique accessory – if you’re got it, flaunt it! Now how about taking it a step further – why not enhance your whole look with an iconic piece of eyewear?

A few examples of eyewear icons – the stylish ones that is, we’re not talking Dame Edna here – Karl Lagerfeld, never seen dressed in anything other than a high collar, a tie, his leather gloves, and a huge pair of specs. Think of Audrey Hepburn, peeping out from behind her huge plastic sunnies in breakfast at Tiffanys. Elvis in his Vegas shades, Michael Caine in his black rims. Real icons are not always the trend setters of today, they are the figures back through history who stay true to their style.

Karl Lagerfeld In His Iconic High Collar And Huge Specs

Karl Lagerfeld In His Iconic High Collar And Huge Specs

So how do you do iconic? You need to think about your signature look, and consider the wardrobe personality of your clothes. Classic, eclectic, edgy, vintage, casual, chic or fashion victim – your specs need to reflect your style, your personality and your budget. Unless you’re a total fashion Chameleon and you change your look more often than Kylie, you need something wearable that screams your name. Like a personal scent, you want people to recognise that style and think of you.

When you’ve sussed your clothes personality, make sure your specs reflect this, and then always base your choice around a similar type of frame, such as skinny metals, chunky plastics, fancy, plain, big or small. You can stay in fashion while keeping true to your look, and everyone will always remember you as the person with the cool specs!

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The Magic of the IGC!

Wednesday, September 16th, 2009

When you place your online order for specs with the IGC, obviously you’re dealing in Cyber space, and your transaction may be your only communication with the hard working team who process your specs. We do deal with actual people every day – we answer e-mail enquiries or phone calls – but just in case you didn’t interact with the human face of the IGC, here’s what happens to your precious specs before they reach you!

Orders are processed every day, as we are conscious of the urgency of most people’s glasses. You can manage if your CD or book order is held up, you can’t cope if you’re desperate to see! So unlike lots of Internet shopping, speed is vital. Your details are checked by two separate people, a trained administrator and an optician. They make sure that your prescription and order are logical and tally with our expectations of your optical requirements in relation to your age.

Your glasses are them made up in the Lab. Usually frames are in stock, and we then hand cut your lenses to fit the frame. The job is checked when parts are picked, lenses selected and cut, and then fitted into your frame. The workshop technician has them checked by a colleague, and he then passes your glasses to the optician when all the technical aspects are up to British Standards. The optician checks the power again, and lens thickness, and makes sure measurements are correct. We then make sure that the frame is head shaped, and they are put into a case with a cloth and a care slip. The post room admin staff are also trained for checking, so they give them a final inspection and polish before printing off your packing slip and entrusting them to the care of the Post Office!

Patients mail us back with testimonials or news if they placed an urgent order ready for a Wedding etc, and it’s always great to hear that out treasured specs have found their way to a happy home, so don’t be shy – tell us that you’re happy. Even those of us in Cyber space like to know we’ve done a good job!

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Specs Back In Time

Tuesday, September 15th, 2009

Nowadays when we’re choosing our new specs the choice is overwhelming. Thin, thick, plastic, metal, big, little……the list goes on. Sometimes clients tell us there’s too much to choose from – how spoilt! For once upon a time there was very little decision making involved!

In recent times the NHS was in control of our eyewear. Up until 1988 the NHS paid towards everyone’s glasses, even the frames. They provided the stunning selection of plastic frames in black, autumn leaf, crystal, blue or pink. Many a teenager was reduced to tears in the opticians when confronted with these delights! If plastic was not for you, then you could have round John Lennon frames, made of rolled gold no less, or the half moon version. Therefore all of us looked like Buddy Holly, hippies with dubious taste, or mad professors. For children there were scaled down versions, or sweet little metal frames that tied across the back of the head with elastic.

John Lennon In His Iconic Round Spectacles

John Lennon In His Iconic Round Spectacles

During the war years you could get metal frame with flat sides, to slip inside your gas mask – how clever is that?! And previous to that little round frames in tortoiseshell. Organic of course but fairly bad news for the Hawksbill Turtle, whose shell was used and he was never even acknowledged, for they were always credited to tortoises.

Hawksbill Turtles Are Much Happier Now Their Shells Aren't Used To Make Glasses

Hawksbill Turtles Are Much Happier Now Their Shells Aren't Used To Make Glasses

Or of course there was the elegance of the quizzer, lorgnette, or pince-nez. Perfect for supercilious glaring at the opera etc. The quizzer was a single lens on a handle, the lorgnette two lenses that flipped out on a spring, and the pince-nez gripped your nose with the ferocity of a cross crab. How we suffered for our sight!

In ancient history frames were made of wood, leather, bone or horn – again very organic but unfortunate for any original owners! Lenses were flat and optically not very good, so the next time you curse your specs, just be grateful you do not have to feel guilty about a Turtle as well!

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Third Time Lucky!

Monday, September 14th, 2009

I know we all listen to advice from our friends and relations, and generally, going by their experiences and ideas helps us to make choices. Well, I wish I hadn’t listened! My life has changed thanks to my new varifocals, so here’s what I’ve learnt for myself!

My Mum had tried varifocals, and so had my Dad. Now admittedly this was a while ago, and I know things change, but they had ended up spending out on glasses they couldn’t use, and getting very frustrated going back to their bifocals. I was not looking forward to reaching the milestone of needing glasses for reading. My optician said that I was quite young (39 and a half!) to need readers, but need them I did, and for a while sticking my specs on for small print worked just fine.

As I use a VDU more and more, I now can’t cope with taking glasses on and off. So I did some online research and talked to the dispensing optician at the practice I usually visit. I found out a couple of reasons why they probably didn’t work for Mum and Dad. In Dad’s case, he tried them twenty years ago, and varifocal lenses were very different then. He needed them for his desk job, and the way they were made in those days meant they were great for drivers etc, but not so good at work. Times have now changed, and lenses are even specifically designed for computer users.

With Mum, she suffers from neck problems, so she couldn’t make the lenses work with her posture. Nowadays they might give her a different lens design, or measure them to suit her individual needs. I was still worried about taking the plunge – times are hard and varifocals are not the cheapest. Lots of online opticians don’t make them, so I was pleased to find the IGC, and when I mailed them an optician rang me back. He said that if I didn’t like them he’d have them back! I felt confident to give them a go – and I’ve never looked back. I don’t even think about my specs now, I just keep them on. I might even persuade Mum and Dad to try again – assuming it wasn’t just that I’m third time lucky in our family!

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