Archive for April, 2010

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Make it Work for Work

Friday, April 30th, 2010

Confusion arises time and time again due to the choices you have to make when you need help for reading. It’s a problem that comes to us all, as the eye ages the lens inside stops allowing you focus close too. Basically your arms get too short! As arm extensions are beyond our capabilities at present, here is the simple guide to what you need to bring life back into focus!

If you don’t have a distance prescription and you just like to sit and read:

You need simple single vision lenses. Choose a narrow frame so you can peer over the top, (on the off chance that something more interesting than the election comes onto the telly!) and have anti-scratch lenses because you’ll be taking them on and off.

If you don’t have a distance prescription, use a computer and need to read small print too:

You need Vocational lenses. These combine screen distance and near vision in one lens, allowing you to look up at the screen and check work close too. Also great for ironing and eating your dinner!!

If you have a distance prescription, and use a computer: You’ll be better off with a varifocal, which lets you see

a) Far Distance – driving, TV and generally walking around.

b) Middle Distance – Computer screen, display on a wall, across a desk.

c) Close Work – Reading, threading a needle.

These are the ultimate specs that do what your eyes used to do, allowing you to focus both far and near, without swapping specs around.

If you have a distance and a reading prescription, but don’t use a computer: You can have traditional bifocals, which are simple and correct both of your prescriptions in one lens. You wouldn’t be able to use them at the computer and some wearers find it difficult to see the dashboard clearly.

So there you go, there is a lens to suit any lifestyle, and you just need to take a few minutes to think about what would be good for you. Mail or phone us if you need advice – Vision Perfect at TheInternetGlassesCompany !

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Ultra-Violet Warning

Thursday, April 29th, 2010

As our skies are often grey, it’s easy to think that we don’t necessarily need to wear sunglasses in the UK. We might pop them on for a long drive, for skiing or other holidays abroad, but few of us think to wear them out and about in our country. You do however need to be aware that every single day, whatever the time of year or apparent conditions, you might be exposed to the dangers of UV.

As UV is part of the invisible light spectrum, we can’t tell if we’re in danger from it. UVA and UVB are the most damaging rays, and they can build up over our lifetime to cause progressive damage to the eyes. This can lead to Cataracts and Macular Degeneration. The latter cannot be treated at present, and leads to loss of central vision in old age.

So there are serous medical issues that can arise from not protecting the eyes, and there are cosmetic ones too. Premature skin ageing, the formation of uneven pigment and wrinkles can all be attributed to UV exposure. There is also the issue of skin cancer in the delicate tissues around the eye area.

Children are also at risk, and the fairer your skin and lighter your eyes the less natural protection you have. Get kids fitted with good quality sunglasses, looking for the label that states full blocking of UVA and UVB. You wouldn’t let the kids out without sunscreen – over 90% of parents report that they insist their children wear it – so don’t expose their eyes to equal harm. More than 50% of parents say that they send their children out without sunglasses, even on bright days.

If you’re outside for most of the day, wear tinted specs, or if you really prefer clear lenses, you can have a UV layer added. Photochromic lenses, which change with the light, usually have UV screening built in.

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Crystal Clear!

Tuesday, April 27th, 2010

If you’re a bit confused about which colour is the new black, or if you’re a cool or a warm colouring, then you may like to try a new neutral this season, in a piece of eyewear that flatter every face, and will go with absolutely everything! So what is this wonder colour, we hear you cry?! Crystal of course, for sparkle, cool chic, and go everywhere simplicity.

Crystal has been around for many years, as those of us who remember the good old NHS specs will remember! It’s at its best in clear, sharp, white tones of transparency, and very cool fading into other colours, like smoky grey or rosy pink. Adding other tones gives you a little warmth if you’re not sure about the stark icy effect.

It’s also good with a patterned layer inlaid in it, retaining the clear finish with a touch of interest. Or look for frames with added sparkle, in the form of stones or metal decoration.

For the boys crystal works well as an accent colour on a plastic frame. The traditional Geek look of heavy plastic frames fading to clear at the lower rim is always in fashion, and lightens the look of a solid frame. Black, grey or tortoiseshell brown is perfect fading to clear.

A word of warning however, if you smoke, steer clear of clear! It will discolour to yellow, so either give up the evil weed or be prepared to have frames that change colour. If you dye your hair you may find that crystal sides will discolour behind the ears, so opt for a crystal front with coloured sides.

With summer brights or cool nude tones, crystal will suit beautifully this season, so the way ahead is totally clear!

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Life in the Lab

Monday, April 26th, 2010

When we leap upon our new delivery of glasses in the post, and admire ourselves in our new look, do we ever give a thought to the processes and work that goes into producing those boring bits of plastic that give us the miracle of sight? Step forward the unsung heroes of the Optical Lab….

The Lab or spectacle workshop is an interesting mix of science and industry. We use devices that look like microscopes to examine your lenses, and scary looking grinding and cutting apparatus to create your prescription and fit the lenses into your frames. We also have an array of screwdrivers, files and vices that hold your frames for repair and assembly. Plus row upon row of lenses, frames, and spare parts, all waiting for the day when they grace your face!

Each job we do is unique – with the huge variety of lens powers and frame options, every pair of glasses is different. It’s rare to even make the same power twice in one day! All of our client’s measurements, lens types and tints and coats are different too.

The first step is to put your prescription on your lenses, constantly checking that the powers and angles are correct, as well as making sure that the lenses are as thin as possible. The Lab is kept as dust free as possible, as our men in white coats try to prevent scratches and surface flaws from spoiling your lenses. When your lenses have been completed, which may mean many separate stages of adding power, applying tints or coatings, and verification, they are then cut into your frame.

Our equipment traces your frame, inputs your measurements, and then places the lenses at the correct orientation. It grinds away the excess plastic and the edges are polished. We check the lenses again before popping them into your frames, when they are examined for errors or defects. Everything has to be 100% perfect before it gets to you!

The frames are then tweaked to make sure they are not twisted or out of alignment, and this is our chance to admire our finished work! Life in the lab is never boring – it’s very satisfying to produce a bespoke job that not only looks good but will help someone in their daily lives.

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Specs for all Occasions

Friday, April 23rd, 2010

Thanks to the rise of good quality, affordable, fashionable and functional glasses available over the net, spectacle wearers have never had it so good in terms of choice and economy. Gone are the days when we had one pair of glasses that we wore for doing the shopping, work, and posh events. If you’re new to specs wear, or just thinking of updating your eyewear options, here are a few thoughts on what you need to see and look good for Summer!

Work/Daily Wear – you may be a high flying exec, or embroiled in the school run, but either way you need a frame to suit your everyday lifestyle. Think about the clothes you wear, and pick a frame that matches your daily uniform in terms of colour and style. For the office it may need to be sharp, smart, and non-frilly! For a more home based lifestyle, soft colours and detail but not shiny bling. A neutral shade that tones with your hair will match any outfit and make you look co-ordinated with little effort.

Evening Wear – this is an occasion to pile on the bling. Pick some shimmer or sparkle, in a darker colour to suit glam make-up and dramatic jewellery. If you’re an LBD kind of girl then black with diamante will be the perfect accessory. If you like an array of evening wear then you could go for a shiny metal that goes with your usual choice of jewellery.

Sports Wear – If you have a particular penchant for cycling, squash, or swimming, then you may need a specific type of frame or tint to suit your sport. You need to cover the aspects of safety, sun protection, and comfort. There are sport specific tints and frames that will raise your game, so talk to your optician, online or in person for help.

Sun Wear – With the depleted ozone layer and our awareness of eye disease such as Macular Degeneration, we all know that our skin and our eyes need protection in the sun. You can go for prescription sunglasses, which stay dark all the time, or photochromics (Reactions) which will adapt to the light conditions. Prescription sunnies look more like proper sunglasses, but you do have to remember to keep a clear pair with you. Photochromics don’t involve as much chopping and changing, but for some they are never dark enough. Weigh up the pros and cons for your lifestyle before deciding.

Hobby Wear – If you have a specific hobby then you may need a different prescription or type of frame to make life easier. We can alter your prescription for specific distances and situations, and suggest lens types that will work for you. Just tell us what you do and we’ll do the rest!

Mail us anytime if you need a specialist pair of glasses, or for advice on your eye care needs. The choice is endless, and the right eyewear for the right situation will make life much easier!

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Celeb Watch April 2010

Thursday, April 22nd, 2010

Summer may finally be on it’s way Celeb Watchers! Even Brad and Angie might be coming into bloom again, along with the nude colour palette, SATC 2, and wedges. How can we stand the excitement?! A little retail therapy might help us to calm down, as always, so many shops, so little time….thank heavens for Net-a-Porter and 24 hour online purchasing, what joy!! So lets get a little Celeb divine inspiration….

Marina Diamandis – glittering even without those delicious backing diamonds, in the ever cool Wayfarer. Black is the only choice with her raven tresses, shine on Marina!

Gerard Butler – did he ditch Jen, or is it the other way round, or where they ever an item or are they now? Jen has more variety in her love life than Victoria Beckham has Birkins! Exhausting! Anyway, Gerard was fooling nobody, hiding behind a fairly chic Aviator with chunky wide sides.

Cheryl Cole – Sizzling and single, stunning in a huge black plastic that accentuates those razor sharp cheekbones. Hope your attitude towards Ashley is just as strong as your look

Madonna – Visiting Malawi with her girls, funky as ever in dark lenses with an uplifting shot of gold across the brow. The material girl was doing her bit for the children of Malawi, good works and good looks Madge!

Madonna in dark lenses

Madonna in dark lenses

An exciting week all-in-all, Celeb watchers, and the good news is that with a bit of dedication to fashion we can let the election pass us by in a flurry of crunchy carrier bags and the thrill of the (pur)chase. Although it’s worth noting what Sarah Brown and SamCam are wearing and avoiding it at all costs….

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Stopping Short Sightedness

Wednesday, April 21st, 2010

After years of the struggle to find a way of curing short sightedness, scientists in Australia are in the early stages of research which will control the progression of defects in the short sighted eye! So can we finally throw away our specs, contact lenses and the thought of laser surgery forever?

An eye is short sighted because the eyeball, from back to front, is the wrong length, and light isn’t focussed correctly, so what we see is blurred. Specs and contact lenses re-focus the light so that if falls in the correct place and we see clearly. Laser surgery works by altering the curve of the front of the eye, so that light is focussed properly, but it’s a pretty drastic solution!

The Australian researchers have been working on spectacle lenses which play with peripheral vision. (That’s what we see around the edges!) They are working on creating lenses that work differently to standard spectacle lenses to control our short sightedness and stop it progressing. There have been many suggestions through the years to alter the length of the eye, and to understand why myopia occurs. The social stigma of wearing glasses and the sheer inconvenience of specs will always drive us forward in trying to correct visual defects by more permanent methods. There are already techniques such Orthokeratology, where you wear specially prescribed contact lenses at night to reverse myopia.

So even if we’re presently hanging onto our specs and contact lenses, there may be hope for the future, if the researchers are far sighted enough!

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Frames – Does Fashion Really Matter?

Tuesday, April 20th, 2010

We very often hear – particularly from men!! – that fashion doesn’t matter at all when it comes to specs. “They’re just to help me see, I don’t care what I look like.” “They’re only specs, who cares what they’re like,” etc etc are common comments when faced with the challenge of finding a new eye wear. So does it matter?

If first impressions count, and people make assumptions about us within seconds of meeting us, then of course glasses are as vital to your appearance as hair, clothes, make up and other accessories. If you’re a techno geek and you appear in ten year old specs, would you look as if you know about the latest and greatest products on the market? If you’re in business do you look as if you’re ahead of your game in battered, frumpy, or out of date specs? Of course you don’t, and just as most of us don’t wear the same clothes as we did ten years ago, we really shouldn’t neglect our specs when it comes to updating our look.

New glasses, just like new hair, can knock ten years of you in an instant. If you change your hair colour, or the way you do your make-up, then change your specs too. An alteration to your colouring will alter the way your specs reflect light and colour back on your face. Trends come and go with glasses as with any other aspect of fashion, so check out a few magazines, websites, and simply faces on the High Street to get an idea of what’s in vogue.

Within current trends, work on a colour and shape that will flatter your looks and your lifestyle. Even a subtle change in shape – remember when we went from round to oval – will update and reinvigorate your look. And at least with specs fashion you don’t have to worry about being mutton dressed as lamb. There are a very few styles that are age specific, so you can fearlessly choose whatever you fancy without worrying about whether you are too old.

As faces are what we focus on first, your specs never go unnoticed, so don’t think that they don’t matter. Cheaper and less painful than a face lift, you can refresh yourself and leap into fashion with a simple pair of new specs!

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Reducing the Risk

Monday, April 19th, 2010

Glaucoma is a common eye disease which can wreak havoc in a sufferer’s life. Production and drainage of fluid within the eye becomes unbalanced for various reasons, raising pressure within the eye and ultimately damaging the optic nerve. Although it’s easily detected and treated too many patients slip through the net, due to not having their eyes checked regularly. So the first piece of advice is to keep up with your eye tests, especially if you are over the age of forty, and if you have a family history of Glaucoma. But can you do anything else to reduce your risk?

Watch what you drink – We’re told to drink plenty of water for our general health, but there is some evidence to support the fact that excessive water consumption can raise the production of aqueous fluid in the eye. This will increase pressure within the eye, an early sign of Glaucoma. If you are susceptible to the disease, and your regulation of the fluid you produce is not good, then this may increase your risk. So drink plenty, but not vast amounts at any one time. Caffeine, particularly coffee can raise pressure, so drink in moderation, or switch to tea!

Stay Fit – Keeping active and regularly taking moderate exercise can reduce the internal pressure of the eye, just a modest 20 minutes of brisk walking about five times a week will help. Your good work will wear off about a month after you stop, so keep at it! Strenuous activities however, such as weight lifting, will temporarily affect pressure, so it’s best avoided if you are at risk.

Think about supplements – Selenium is a mineral which many people are aware of as a healthy supplement to eye health. Excessive amounts will actually cause Glaucoma, so eat a varied diet, including plenty of cereal, nuts, seafood and dairy products to get your Selenium, but avoid over consumption via supplements if you have other risk factors. Gingko Bilboa, used to enhance brain function and aid memory loss, also has many positive effects on the eye. So a supplement of Gingko can be beneficial

Smoking – of course this is an obvious one! It has such a disastrous affect on the body that of course it’s implicated as a risk factor with Glaucoma too – another incentive to quit!

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Going for Gold

Sunday, April 18th, 2010

With the popularity of plastic frames over the past couple of years, simplicity has fallen a little by the wayside. In the fight to find stand out specs, colour and pattern and bling have graced our faces via our frames. If however you’re the shrinking violet type, then you may want something a little quieter and softer. This season’s new gold may be just what you’re looking for…..

Back in the good old days, a gold coloured frame had some gold content, and it could be rolled gold, or plated. Nowadays we have cheaper, more versatile alternatives, as gold only came in one shade, and could tarnish as the plating wore off. You can now get different shades of gold colour – from rich yellow tones to cooler pale alternatives. You may need to experiment a little to find the right shade for you. If you wear gold jewellery make sure you’re wearing it when you try your frames on, you don’t want a clash that makes either the frames or your precious jewellery look fake.

As well as colour variations there are textures too. Satin gold, cool and slightly matte, is flattering on many skin tones, and can be subtle and understated compared to harsh shiny gold. Go for the latter if you want to make more of a statement. Many frames use an interesting mix of shiny and matte to highlight shapes and play down boring details like the bridge!

Etched, inlaid, or engraved patterns add light and shade without colour. A smattering of crystals or details like pearls can also add feminine detail. Interesting shapes are also brought into focus by the simplicity of gold, so have a play with new angles and contours.

If you’re a bit bolder, gold works really well in retro styles, such as big droopy Aviators and deep chunky metals. Go for brash and bright yellow gold with these shapes, for that cool Seventies disco vibe. Add a green tint if you want to complete the look, then embrace your inner diva and celebrate gorgeous gold!!

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