Archive for January, 2010

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High Flying Style

Sunday, January 31st, 2010

Men’s fashion is always a tricky issue. Without the endless choice that girls are offered their options are limited, and those striving to find a new look are restricted in their choices. As with clothes, the need to conform for your career can also frustrate you if you’re a dedicated follower of fashion.

Your eyewear can help you to look individual without resorting to the dodgier side of fashion. A cool and classic style for the guy who wants to stand out is the Aviator. This was designed in the fifties as a sunglass frame, a highly practical shape which gives maximum protection from glare. The double bridge makes it strong, and as anyone who has seen Topgun knows, it looks really really cool!

It has been a favourite ever since, dipping in and out of fashion for ophthalmic frames, and always a best seller as a sunnie. The double bar across the bridge was always a particularly masculine feature, and although it works well on sunnies for girls, it’s rarely seen as a feature with clear lenses with lady’s frames.

Steer clear of the Aviator if you have a strong prescription as the lenses will be thick and heavy, it’s actually best for lower powers. It will be hard wearing thanks to the double bar, and is a good investment piece as it’s always a classic. It suits most face shapes, although don’t go for it if it will rest on your cheekbones. There are subtly different shapes within this style bracket, varying from the extreme teardrop shape to more angular, squared off edges. The classic colours are gold, silver and black, as the retro styling suits simplicity.

You’ll be in the good company of Tom Cruise, Brad Pitt, Russell Brand and James Blunt in your Aviator, so fly high in your stylish eyewear!

Russell Brand in his Aviators

Russell Brand in his Aviators

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As Time Goes By……..

Saturday, January 30th, 2010

As well as the usual aches and pains we expect from middle age onwards, our eyes gradually start to cause a few problems too. The most common complaint is presbyopia, causing us to find small print increasingly hard to see from the mid-forties. This is simply corrected with reading glasses, which you can pick up cheaply from the online optician such as The Internet Glasses Company. Ready reading glasses are useful to quickly glance at things, but for concentrated periods of wear most patients need their full and correctly made up prescription.

As time goes on it’s not just the size of print that causes difficulty. The contrast of coloured lettering on coloured paper, particularly if written in fancy fonts, can be hard to read comfortably. Patients often return to the optician because they struggle with reading, but the light they use to read by can be the culprit. Often a reading lamp will help, experiment with the height and angle to give a good spread of light that doesn’t cause eye strain by creating strong glare.

If cataracts start to form then this can interfere with your vision by altering your colour perception, as well as decreasing your standard of vision. The cataract cannot be operated on until it is ready, so keep up to date with your eye exams and make sure your glasses are as good as they can possibly be. Have them updated even for a small change, as it may make a big difference to your daily life.

As time goes by reading glasses may not be enough for some elderly patients with serious deterioration in their vision. They may need to move on to more complex solutions such as low vision aids, specifically tailored for different eye conditions. Always go back to your optician if sight deteriorates, as they can refer you to different specialists who can provide further help.

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Sun Style 2010

Friday, January 29th, 2010

Even if the temperature is still zero, we’re all looking forward to when Spring arrives. Now is a great time to be thinking about sunnies, while you have time to browse and get your order in before the busy season starts. So dust off  last season’s sunglasses and take a look, before you move on to the first summer of the new decade.

The recession has had an impact on design this year, and two trends seem to be emerging. For the classic dresser there are the very wearable, simple styles that are an investment for future seasons. For the trend setters amongst you who want to celebrate the first tentative steps towards the economic recovery there are the fashion forward, highly funky shapes.

Sizes are still big, a trend that’s stayed from last season. With sunnies this is a practical fashion, as large frames cut out more glare and UV. Visor styles, where the two lenses form a shield are appearing again, as are rimless mounts with gaps between the lenses and the frame. Retro cat’s eyes are always in vogue, and are a flattering shape for lots of women.

Colour is everywhere, but if you fall into the camp of classic dresser, there is still plenty of black and tortoiseshell. You can go for one with a brighter colour laminated on the back of the rim if you fancy an understated flash of colour. If you want obvious colour them you might want to wait until summer clothes are on the racks, and then choose a frame that will tone with your new season wardrobe. Red and strong green are taking centre stage this year, a refreshing change from the berry tones of 2009.

Small amounts of bling is still in evidence, and the subtle logos of last years credit crunch style are being replaced by more conspicuous displays of your designer’s name. Simply stamped names are being woven into floral or more embellished logos this year, to refresh the look, so don’t think you can get away with digging out last year’s sunnies – splash the cash and cut a dash!

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Just the Job!

Thursday, January 28th, 2010

When you visit your optician they will examine your eyes, discuss your general health, and address any concerns you may have about your sight and eye health. So far this all seems straight forward, and what you would expect, but if your Optician starts to talk about your job with you, would that surprise you? Why would they ask?!

There are several reasons for discussing your work situation with you. Firstly, there may be safety issues surrounding your occupation, and your optician will be able to offer some suggestions to make your vision more comfortable and safeguard your eyes. You may need a specific lens material or type of safety glasses to wear in the workplace. They can tell you what your employer should provide for you, and give you a report to take back to your HR department.

If you use a computer for the majority of the day at work then your employer needs to pay for your eye test. If you are in the fifty plus age bracket then they should pay for your glasses too, and your optician can tell you if you are eligible for this. They may also be willing to advise your employer if they need help with this.

Your job may also need a specific prescription for your working distance. We’ve made close work specs for a lady who restores tapestries, and she sent us a sample of her work plus a measurement of how far away she usually sits! We made single vision glasses for a Doctor who examines x-rays and can’t look up at her light box with her Varifocals on. We’ve made a prescription diving mask for a marine biologist, and goggles for a swimming teacher!

Don’t be afraid to explain what you do and tell your optician about your visual problems.  If your optician really has your welfare at heart, they’ll want to know all about what you do, to enable them to do the best job they can in making your working life easier.

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Second Time Around

Wednesday, January 27th, 2010

There’s a whole generation of spex wearers out there who have very bad memories of how contact lens wear used to be – are you one of them? And have you ever thought about trying them again?

The first commercially available lenses were rigid and fitted over the entire white of the eye – sounds scary! Even when we moved on to small hard lenses during the Sixties, they were expensive, hard to look after, and uncomfortable for many patients.

During the Seventies and Eighties soft lenses became more popular, but for some patients they caused as many problems as they solved! They were expensive, hard to handle, and difficult to clean. They also had to be closely monitored to ensure the eye was healthy and enough oxygen was getting through the lens. Sterilising systems involved boiling the lenses or plugging in an electric case, as well as cleaning solutions and regular use of protein remover tablets. For the shortest holiday you almost needed extra luggage for the complex chemicals you had to take with you!

Thankfully, times have changed. During the late Eighties disposable lenses crept into the market place. This proved to be a revolutionary step forward. Johnson and Johnson paved the way with their Acuvue lens, which could be worn for extended wear periods and then simply thrown away. So you always had spare lenses, there was no cleaning regime, and they could be made of high oxygen transmission, high water content, thin and comfortable materials.

Since then the market has become chock full of lens options, to suit all lifestyles, pockets and prescriptions. There are lenses that you can wear for a day, a week, a month, and you can sleep in some. Long term care issues like protein remover tablets are no longer necessary, and cleaning systems are simpler and cheaper. The lenses themselves are far less expensive too!

If you have a spectacle prescription there are masses of options open to you now. Even if lens wear was unsuccessful for you last time, why not give them another go? Thanks to the online Optician you can buy inexpensive but stylish glasses, and still afford to have contact lenses whenever you need them. Contact lenses can be bought online too, just make sure you have regular check ups with your Optician.

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Driving Forward

Friday, January 22nd, 2010

Within our industry the official guideline is for everyone to have their eyes tested at least every two years, or more often if they have an eye problem.

As part of the test we check that you are within the driving standard, and advise you as to when you should wear your glasses. If you need help for distance vision, and therefore for driving, this problem may have crept up on you without you noticing it. Your standard of sight is normal for you, and your brain will adapt to what it’s used to seeing. If you don’t drive on unfamiliar roads very often, and don’t even notice the road signs anymore, then you may not spot that they’re not as sharp as they used to be!

Without you even realising it, your eyes will be straining to focus, trying to get the best view they can. We often come across patients who are legally within the driving standard but could still benefit from a slightly updated prescription. This little extra help will give them faster reaction times behind the wheel, prevent eye strain and fatigue, and will make them a safer driver.

An Eye Test in Progress

An Eye Test in Progress

So how can you be sure that your sight is as good as it could be? Firstly, book an appointment and have that eye test! Your optician will give you your prescription and you can have the glasses made up at the online optician, but go to see them for the all important test. Secondly, listen carefully to your results. Being within the driving standard is good news, but is it enough? Would new glasses improve your sight? Are your present glasses up to date? Make sure the optician knows exactly what you are wearing and tells you if it can be improved upon.

Symptoms that will make you aware of problems with your glasses are squinting to see clearly, tired and gritty eyes after periods of concentration, headaches and fatigue. If you feel more comfortable with tinted glasses all the time then this is a sign too, as you are using them to cut out the unwanted distorted light. This is not safe as you shouldn’t be wearing tinted lenses in anything other than bright daylight.

We are all aware that driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not safe, and driving without the clearest possible vision is not safe either. Take care to look after yourself and others on the roads.

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Love your Look

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Here at the Internet Glasses Company we love our glasses, and given the choice between the latest ‘it’ bag or the funkiest new frames, we’d go for some new eye wear every time. We do know though that not everyone feels the same – if shrieks of speccy four eyes rang in your ears at school you may not be as positive about spec as we are. If you view glasses as a necessary evil let’s see if we can help you see things in a more positive light….

Firstly, try and think about this purchase as a treat, the chance to splash out on a designer piece with none of the guilt! Spend plenty of time making your choice and canvass the opinions of friends, colleagues, and all those who know you best. Try frames on with a selection of clothes and your usual different hair styles. Look upon your glasses as an accessory to enjoy!

When you get them, play around with jewellery, scarves and hair styles, matching the glasses into your personal look. You may also need to re-think your make-up. Firstly, glasses may throw shadows onto your face beneath your eyes. A highlighter concealer like YSL Touche Eclat is useful here, a stroke under the eyes, well blended, will reflect light back and banish those shadows. To bring attention to your eyes behind your specs, don’t skimp on mascara or eyeliner. Eyelash curlers are great too, to open up your eyes and make the most of what you’ve got! Any tricks to make your eyes look bigger will help to add definition.

Foundation and powder can clog behind nose pads and smear across lenses, so keep this light around the bridge of your frame. Wash specs daily in soapy water to stop make up building up around your frame.

Tinted lenses can alter the colour of your eyes and your make up, so try the specs on in good light, even step out into the sun with a mirror to make sure you’re happy with the colours you’re wearing in daylight. Brown photochromics can make the skin look red, so cool your make up colours down. Grey will make your skin look colder, so use warmer tones.

Bringing your glasses in to blend with your look will help you to feel comfortable in them. Enjoy experimentation and see it as an opportunity to try some different colours, it’s all to easy to get stuck in a rut and this may be the time to be brave! Browse around the cosmetic counters in big stores and ask for help with the experts. Before you know it all your friends will want to wear specs too!

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Stop your Crying!

Wednesday, January 20th, 2010

Of all the irritants of modern day life, it’s sometimes the little things that can really get to us. If you’ve ever experienced watering eyes, you’ll know exactly what we mean. If you produce excessive tears, or your eyes constantly stream, it can affect you in several different ways. It can make the area around your eyes sore, smear your glasses, affect your vision, and be quite embarrassing explaining it to other people. It may stop women wearing make up, and affect contact lens wear. So why might you be suffering, and what can you do about it?

Tears play an important role, lubricating the cornea, sterilising it, and smoothing out tiny irregularities to give you the best possible vision. So tears are constantly manufactured, and if your drainage systems malfunction or you produce too much problems can occur. A visit to your GP is important, so they can take a close look at the eye and surrounding tissue and suggest treatment. It may be due to a sudden occurrence, like an allergy or abrasion. If you have an allergy the eye reacts and too many tears are produced. Solving the cause of the problem, whether by avoiding your allergen or treating your symptoms will stop the tears. An abrasion must be treated to allow the cornea to heal and stop the reaction.

You may have a defect of the structure of your eyelids, such as Ectropian, where the lower lid falls slightly away from the eye and tear drainage is not controlled. Surgery will be needed to correct this, but it’s a minor procedure with generally excellent results.

If cold or windy weather makes your eyes run, then a change of specs may be all that you need. Choose something in a large enough size to cover your eyes and that fits closely to stop the chill from sneaking in behind it. A slight tint or photochromic lens will help too, protecting you from glare.

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Slim for Spring

Tuesday, January 19th, 2010

If you are quite long sighted you’ll already know that your prescription can cause you a few problems when it comes to making a decision on new specs. You have several potential issues to consider. Firstly, the thickness of your lenses will all be in the centre, so this can magnify your eyes, create weight and bulk, and make you see things as bigger than they really are. (Although the latter may not always be a bad thing!)

So how to make your glasses as comfy and cosmetically appealing as possible? You need to do two things – choose a sensible frame and invest in some flatter lenses. The frame choice is straightforward, go as small as possible to suit your face shape, and don’t pick a rimless or semi-rimless style. The problems that can arise here are that the lens edges will be made as thin as possible to make the centre as thin as possible, so any type of exposed edge will be vulnerable to chipping. Try some frames before you buy so you can have the smallest frame possible, every millimetre counts here.

For your lenses, you need to pick a lens made of thin plastic, and one that is aspheric in form – now for the science bit! Aspheric means that the lens is created with special curves that change across the surface, to remove bulk but still give you the correct power. Thin plastic is denser than usual so it is flatter and thinner. An anti-scratch coating is vital too, as your lenses will still be curved, and if you lay them down on a flat surface they will rock about and may scratch

Pulling all of these factors together gives you the best pair of glasses you can choose. All of these measures to reduce thickness will reduce the artificial magnification too, so your eyes will look their normal size – but unfortunately so will everything else!!

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Celeb Watch New Year 2010

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Happy New Year Celeb Watchers! Given up on those tedious resolutions yet? Taken up smoking, drinking, and shopping for England again? Good girls! Life’s too short for abstinence, when we’ve got all those new season looks to think about. Maybe we need a little help with some divine inspiration from our divine Celeb crushes….

Robbie Williams – channelling 2009 style in  the classic Wayfarer Clubmaster frame. Get with it Robster! That look is sooo Noughties, and we thought you’d put all those bad things from the last decade behind you…..

Katy Perry – Loved up with Russell (her new husband?! Wild!) And looking seriously cool in a slim gold Aviator. Although not always famed for classic chic Katy hits the right style notes this time.

Katy Perry in Gold Coloured Aviators

Katy Perry in Gold Coloured Aviators

Lily Cole – Sometimes comes up with some interestingly individual looks but echoing Katy, in a sharp Aviator which looks stunning with her Titian locks and milky white skin. Truly gilding the lily!

Couple of style notes though Celebs – Kate – Miss Moss is still wearing her Wayfarer, which is so last decade it’s practically back in! Kate come on, you’re an innovator not a Robbie Williams impersonator! Nicole Ritchie, guilty of many crimes against fashion, in a Chanel that should have Coco turning in her grave. Even high fashion can be a big big mistake…….

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