Archive for November, 2009

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I’m Dreaming of a Glittery Christmas!

Sunday, November 29th, 2009

Excitement levels are at fever pitch in our office this week, with party season about to commence and the choccie advent calendars temptingly ready to go. As a confirmed speccy four eyes, since my teens, I’m always on the look out to expand my eyewear options. I do have contact lenses too, but I really like my glasses, so I set out last month to enhance my Christmas look with something a bit different….

Over the years I’ve had lots of glasses frames, from sporty Oakley to big flash Roberto Cavalli sunglasses. I loved them all and they always remind me of stuff I’ve done etc, but I’ve never had a pair of dressing up going out specs. I was flicking through Grazia magazine and checking out the ideas for Christmas jewellery etc when I suddenly thought about a real original accessory – sparkly bling specs!

I got online and had a good hunt through. There are loads about, gorgeous hot colours and funky details, and my Mum said I could have them for Christmas – there was no stopping me! I really liked one site, and mailed them because they send you the specs to try at home. Check them out – the www.theinternetglassescompany.co.uk I also told them about a frame I’d seen in an opticians, you never know until you ask!

They sent me the frames I like off their site, and ordered my dream frame in for me. (Ok, so I kind of got two pairs – but they’re a medical necessity -right?!) I settled on a Christian Dior with a beautiful jewel flower on the sides. These are my bit grown up, very dressy pair. The dream frame is Oscar and Fitch – they have a way cool website and loads of styles. Those glasses are black with metal hoops for sides and little sparkly diamonds, these are my out with the girls more fun pair. I love them both and am now ready to party through the New Year!

P.S. The Internet Glasses Company were impressed by Oscar and Fitch and will be stocking them soon – just shows what a good shopper I am!!

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A New Moon on the Rise

Saturday, November 28th, 2009

All you Twihards will be flocking to the big screen over the next few weeks, desperate for that Edward Cullen fix. The Twilight sequel New Moon has us desperate for our own besotted vampire, or is that just me?! Anyway, the look of the week may be pale and interesting, but if this is your natural colouring, how do you make the most of it if you are a spec wearer?

Fair skins can easily be washed out further by specs, if the colour is the wrong shade, or the frame too heavy. You can go bright, but you need to enhance your delicate skin tones, and not allow the frame to wear you.

If your hair is blonde, and your eyes are pale, go for thin metals, semi matt rather than cold and shiny. Blue eyes are enlivened with silver, lilac or paler blue shades. If you want a plastic frame a layered laminate can provide interest and warmth, but don’t go too dark.

Brunettes with green or blue eyes will probably have blue toned porcelain skin. (Very Alice Cullen!) Blue toned reds, cool greens, even black can look good, for that Snow White ice cool look. Stick to cold bright shades of pink, purple or blue.

If you’re a titian temptress think carefully about the tone of your skin. It may be warmer than the brunettes or blondes, so you’ll probably look good in tortoiseshell or olive green if your eyes are green, or grey if your eyes are blue.

Wear a neutral shade when choosing specs and try to keep make up minimal that day, you need your colouring as natural as possible when making your mind up.

Pale, as the Cullens have proved, is most definitely interesting, so make the most of your Ice Queen looks and maybe you’ll grab the attention of any passing vampires, looking for a kindred spirit…..

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A Warped Point of View!

Friday, November 27th, 2009

I’ve always been a bit short sighted, and then when I had an eye test last month the optician said I now have an astigmatism – help – I thought! I’m falling apart, or is that just me being a bit melodramatic?! So I asked a few questions, got my specs, and now it’s whole new world, and it’s a bit weird…

If I’ve got this right, astigmatism just means that my eye is a slightly different shape to normal, rather like the rest of me! Instead of being a sphere shape, that is totally round like a ball, mine is elongated one way, like a rugby ball shape. (The optician said ellipse but I needed it plainer than that!) When the eye is round you need the same prescription all over your glasses to make you see clearly. When it’s got an astigmatism you need one strength for the long diameter, and one for the shorter one, and they cleverly build this into your glasses lenses. The optician told me that the lenses always have to placed at the correct angle, as the specifications are very exact, they have to have the two different powers as well as being set at the proper angle. So no more sitting on my frames and bending them back myself!

Astigmatism shown in cross section

Astigmatism shown in cross section

When I got my glasses, they looked just like the last pair; this special astigmatism bit can’t be seen. I could really see it when I got them on! My shelves were going down to the side, and my computer screen looked like a cartoon shape. After a few hours wear I actually felt like I was on a boat in very bad weather. I rang the optician, who said that this is normal, it’s just my eye learning to accept the help that the lens is giving me. Sure enough, it did wear off after three days, and I no longer feel drunk!

Apparently the astigmatism can come and go, and mine isn’t much, so I may not have it another time. As its low my contact lenses won’t need it built in, so the few pairs of day wear lenses I keep for football will be ok. I’m glad I asked lots of questions when I got tested, I’ve stopped fretting now!

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Blowing Hot & Cold

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

As the nights draw in and we gaze out at the frosty sky hoping for a glimpse of Father Christmas, we’re suddenly exposed to extremes of temperature throughout our day. Chilly and blustery outdoors, hot and steamy in – if you’re lucky! As you unwind your scarf and unwrap those layers, make sure you think of what the weather is doing to your specs too.

If your glasses are on your face, then obviously you will be aware of their temperature, but if you lay them down, make sure you think about how cold or hot they could get. A dashboard can get boiling hot in direct sun in the summer, or very cold on a frosty day. A shelf above a radiator can also get hot, and extreme heat could damage your glasses. Photochromic lenses will lose the power to react if they get very hot, and anti-reflection coatings have been known to craze across the surface. Plastic frames or frame parts such as end tips can bend and distort, and if the frame front warps the lens may fall out.

If you accidentally get a photochromic lens hot, it may work again after a while, but it will take time to go back to normal. Crazed coatings mean a whole new lens, as coatings are difficult to remove, and the process will probably damage the lens anyway. Warped frames need to be returned to the supplier, for adjustment and correct positioning of lenses.

If your specs get really cold, this can cause problems too. Rimless lenses have been known to crack if fluctuating temperature makes the lens material expand and contract. Usually they split straight across the hole where the screws are drilled through. Never leave them in the car on a chilly night!

The most annoying issue is probably specs steaming up, and as any spec wearing cook knows this can be pretty hazardous! It’s no fun to open the oven door and put yourself in danger of dropping a boiling hot dish on your foot! Make sure your specs fit properly and do not rest on your cheeks, as this will stop air flowing behind them. Keep the frame shallow and small if this is an issue for you. There are anti-fog sprays on the market, just take care not to scratch your lenses as you apply them.

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Celeb Watch Early Winter 2009

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Snuggle into those winter woolies, but be prepared to throw them off to party! What better for making an entrance, whether to the office party or on the red carpet, than a pair of hot hot shades? Santa draws ever nearer Celeb fans, so you’d better be good…..and what are the good ones wearing this week?

Russell Brand & Katy Perry – loved up and looking sensational in their shades – matching Aviators, how cute! Russ goes for black of course, in a dramatic plastic Aviator, while Katy goes for a softer gold version. There’s always a version of style to suit everyone, and these two look well suited but not too matchy-matchy in theirs. Adorable!

Sienna Miller – an interesting take on an iconic shape. The proportions of the Wayfarer but with a cool little touch of gold on the trim, and a variation on the shape, classic with a twist – we like!

Brad Pitt – Got himself a new Aviator by the looks of it, gold and huge, with a really swept shape and a tint that gets darker towards the top of the lens. The perfect shape – but then Brad has got the perfect face!

Brad Pitt in his Gold Coloured Aviators

Brad Pitt in his Gold Coloured Aviators

Robert Pattinson – everyone’s favourite vampire (especially Kristen Stewarts’ if the rumours are to be believed!) out in the sun with a classic Wayfarer perched on those killer cheekbones. V useful for camouflaging that ever changing eye colour……

So hit the hot spots Celeb watchers, in one of two choices if you like to go with Celeb style. Russell or Robert, what’s your thing this winter? We’re sure either would help to keep us warm on those long chilly nights…..

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Spoilt for Choice

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

When it comes to choosing spectacle frames, even the most enthusiastic shoppers amongst us may shiver in our over-the-knee-boots at the thought of it. Here are some of the comments as to why it’s a tricky decision, and our solutions:

I can’t see without my prescription when I try them on!

This is a difficult one, but there are lots of ways around it. Firstly, enlist the help of whoever you trust the most, partner, friend, mother. Browse as many styles as possible. Some opticians have a computer system that lets you see yourself in the frame; some will let you try them at home. Take a quick picture on a digital camera and then you can see yourself. Order try before you buy from the Internet Glasses Company and get the neighbours round; make a party out of taking a vote!!

I‘ve got no idea what’s in fashion

Spec fashion is not quite in the forefront of the news like clothes etc, but it’s there if you look for it. Up market mags like Vogue do have ads for glasses, so scour them for the newest designer collections, then find the nearest from an online optician for all the style but a fraction of the cost. Check out what Celebs are wearing. Colour palettes will reflect what’s in the shops for clothes.

They’re really expensive – how do I decide on one pair for everything I want?

The easy answer is that you don’t – would you wear the same dress for the school run and a ball? An eyewear wardrobe will help you to enjoy wearing glasses and make you more confident in them. Something funky for daywear, glitzy for evening glamour, and simple for walking the dog!

I hate glasses, nothing suits me

There is a frame for every face; you just have to find yours. Try lots on, canvass the opinions of friends and professionals, look in magazines and all around you in city centres etc. Decide on a look – bold chunky plastic or slim and classic metal. Then colour – stick to something that compliments your colouring if you’re not too confident to begin with. Then whittle it down to the subtle detail of shape and trim. Easy!

I want a pair like my old ones, why don’t they make them anymore?

For the same reason we don’t have bubble perms and Abba blue eye shadow – get with the times! You have to move on, as you should with your hair, clothes and make up. Specs are the first thing anyone notices about you, so make the most of new technology and materials. Enjoy wearing something different!

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Making a Spectacle…..

Monday, November 23rd, 2009

We have a few spectacle wearers around the office here at the Internet Glasses Company, and their spec wearing anecdotes often come up in conversation. So here are a few of our favourites – any of them ring a bell with you?!

Steve – Technician – I started wearing glasses when I was fifteen. This was not a good age, and not good for my confidence when added to my brace and my lack of control of my suddenly gangly limbs. (Sounds gorgeous!)  I trod on them just before a really important football match, and as I was only on the team because they were desperate I had to act fast. I used some superglue to stick the lens back in. This had a dramatic effect, the lens went frosted and the frame got stuck to my left eyebrow. I nearly passed out from the fumes, and got hit by the ball because I couldn’t see out of the left side. I had to spend two hours waiting in casualty to have the frame removed, and had a bald eyebrow for weeks.

Lucy – Dispenser – I got some sunglasses made up when I worked for one of the multiple opticians. They were dead trendy huge Versace frames, and the workshop did tell me the frame was not ideal for my prescription, but I got them anyway. I wore them all the time, even when it wasn’t sunny. One day I wore them on the train, and this way hot guy kept looking at me. I was really excited until I got to work and discovered that one of the black lenses was still in the case. I’d spent all morning with one black lens and one totally clear. I started driving to work after that.

Charlie – Admin – I’m a disaster with my glasses. I went to Scotland to be best man at a wedding and forgot my reading specs. I had to give the speech wearing some pink leopard print ready readers that I borrowed off the bride’s mother. A lens popped out of my first pair of varifocals and I put it back in, then had blinding headaches all day. When I took them back to the optician he told me I’d put the lens in upside down. I left my photochromics on the windowsill one afternoon, and half of one lens got baked black in the sun. I then stuck them on to drive into town, and had one clear lens and one half coloured for about four hours. It was never quite the same again!

Sue – Admin – I had an old car with a really rubbish heater, and I always wore gloves to drive. One morning I reached up to wipe a smudge off the lens and got my glove caught on one of the screws, just as I had to get through the traffic lights. I had to stop in the middle of the junction to extricate myself, and ended up negotiating it with a bright red glove dangling off my specs.

So there you go – even us experts have our spectacular disasters! Anyone got any they’d like to share with us? Go on – mailing us will make us feel so much better!

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Nutrition for Sight

Sunday, November 22nd, 2009

November 9th – 15th is national eye week by the Eyecare trust, and the charity has been promoting general health issues which also benefit the eyes. Many people are still unaware that their diet affects their sight as well as their general health, and this is bad news when we have an ageing population.

We have often mentioned the benefits to your sight of eating green vegetables. Nutrients found in these foods give protection to the retina, the light sensitive layer at the back of the eye. The retina converts what we see into electrical impulses for the brain to interpret, so protecting it is vital. It is susceptible to the eye disease Age related macular degeneration, but eating the right foods can help to provide nutrition and protection for the retina. Other foods however also play a role in treating and protecting structures within the eye.

Omega 3 fatty acids are essential to keep our cholesterol low, provide support for cell membranes, and help with dry eyes. These are found in oily, cold water fish, nuts and berries, and soy.

Yellow fruits and vegetables, such as Papaya, carrots, and butternut squash supply beta-carotene and a variety of vitamins which help to prevent free radical damage. They also optimise vision during the daytime, while purple fruits such as blueberries and grapes help with night vision.

Butternut Squash source of beta-carotene

Butternut Squash source of beta-carotene

Eggs surprisingly can help to reduce your risk of cataracts! They contain many vital nutrients, particularly sulphur, which protects the lens inside your eye. They also contain Lutein, the yellow pigment found in green vegetables that the retina needs for protection from UV light.

The green leafy vegetables and tomatoes are still essential for excellent eye health, so tuck into kale, broccoli and spinach to look after your retinas. Vitamin C, found in Kiwi fruit and oranges will further help to mop up freed radicals, preventing them from damaging your eyes.

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Leather Fetish!

Saturday, November 21st, 2009

Of the many and varied uses of leather, (calm down those of you who like it a little too much!!) have you ever noticed that it’s used on glasses too? Does that sound bizarre? Well read on – you could indulge in your fetish in a very subtle way!

Leather was used on the most ancient of specs, when the original frame makers experimented with many natural materials to hold lenses. In those days it wasn’t just in demand for the cases! Then we got to working with metal and horn, bone and wood, and leather fell out of favour. It was used in the Seventies and Eighties as a trim on frames, and there were some beautiful pieces of work about with the leather forming a side shied, particularly popular with skiers.

As a trim it was used to create edging around the rims, or on the sides, with chunky stitching. This was a time when it was trendy to clip plastic rims around your metal frames, so leather was the upmarket, luxury version. The problem with leather of course was its durability; it hardened with exposure to skin and environmental pollution, and often peeled away from the frame.

For many years it languished in the spectacle market, and was rarely seen. In the past couple of years however, some of the luxury manufacturers have started experimenting with it again, and leather is once again adorning our eyewear. It’s skin friendly, shrieks of good taste and style, and is lightweight. Improved manufacturing techniques make it durable this time around.

The Italian design house Fendi, famous for their leather goods, are not content with producing sumptuous bags, boots and belts. Their eyewear collections feature many decadent embellishments, and leather is just one of the materials they use. Frame ranges of course echo accessory ranges, so the trim and detail can be repeated across their portfolio of products.

So before you place that order for the leather clothes, bags, or even underwear (!) think about a discreet little touch on your eyewear instead. Even when it comes to a fetish, less is surely more…..

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Dining Dilemma

Friday, November 20th, 2009

An interesting query came up last week, from a client concerned about his mother. She had moved to a residential home, and was not managing to eat very much at meal times. She seemed happy in the home, and had settled well, and it took them several visits to get to the bottom of the eating issue. It turned out that the lady had enjoyed her meals on a tray before she moved, in the home she sat at the dining table. In her bifocals, she looked down at her tray through the top of the lens, sitting up very straight, and could clearly see to deal with her dinner. In the home, due to the new eating distance, she couldn’t manage her cutlery, and was worried that she would make a mess in front of her new friends.

The son was a previous customer of ours, so he mailed us for advice. We took a look at the copy of the prescription, and discussed the options. We could have made up a pair of single power specs, with a weak reading prescription. This would have given her good sight at the correct distance, but she wouldn’t have been able to see people across the table, to make conversation. In the end we decided on varifocals. These gave her distance vision – to see across the room, and for TV. The centre area was ok for seeing things on the table, and the transition between reading and centre was perfect for tackling her dinner. She also felt safer going down the steps into the garden, rather than her old bifocals.

This is a classic example of lifestyle specs – most problems can be solved given some good detective work and professional advice. While the old bifocals had suited in her own home – with no steps anywhere and the choice of how she ate, they didn’t work in her new environment. Varifocals give the wearer the nearest thing to natural vision, and for most situations you can forget you’ve got them on and concentrate on the task at hand. They’re great for things at table top distance, and apparently she’s now a whiz at Poker too!

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