Posts Tagged ‘anti-reflection coating’

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Old Age Worries

Sunday, May 1st, 2011

We all know things fall apart a bit as we age, giving us creaky joints, a need to turn the volume up a bit, and then worries about deteriorating sight. Many older patients put up with problems or even give up a hobby because they don’t ask for help in the form of new specs or a different lens option. If you’re in this position, or are a carer for an elderly person, why not delve a little deeper into how quality of life can be improved.

Driving is important to most of us in our day to day lives, but for older people it can be a vital lifeline to enable them to retain their independence. For the safety of everyone on the road, make sure eye exams are regularly attended and glasses kept up to date. An anti-reflection coating will help with night driving, something older people worry about. Tinted lenses should not be worn after dark, even if a light tint, as this can reduce the standard of vision for some patients.

Clearly labelling specs so the patient knows which are the newest pair and which are for close or far distance is a simple way to help too. Hide previous specs away when you take delivery of the new ones, and choose a different frame for close and far vision, or varifocals so you don’t have to search for the pair you need.

The health of the eyes can obviously affect the standard of vision, but sometimes when the Optician suggests referral for treatment, such as a Cataract operation, the patient will not want to go ahead. Glaucoma and cataract can involve surgery but these are simple procedures that will dramatically improve vision in the vast majority of cases. If a day or two of discomfort leads to better sight and years of improved sight, then surely that’s worth coping with? Speak to your Optician or GP for reassurance and the projected outcome of treatment.

More specific lens types may be needed to let patients carry on with their hobbies. For example, specially magnified lenses may help with sewing, so speak to your Optician if you’re struggling with anything, from reading music to tying flies for fishing we can supply specs to help you.

Don’t be afraid to seek help and admit that some things aren’t as easy as they used to be. With the assistance of your Optician you’ll have one less problem to deal with, we’re just sorry we can’t help with your creaking joints too!

Varifocal Glasses

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Party Looks

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

At the moment every magazine is full of exciting clothes and accessories, all with that essential smattering of sparkle to make you shine through the party season. We’re expected to have the essential LBD or sharp suit at the ready, along with dizzily high heels, vampish make up and the perfect bag and jewellery. But if you wear glasses, how do you make sure you still have the perfect look this season?

Wearing specs throws up several issues that you need to address. You’ll fall into one of two categories – the I-want-you-to-see-me-not-my-specs brigade, or the specs-are- hot-and-I-want-you-to-notice-them camp. Whichever describes you and your attitude to eye wear, you still want to co-ordinate, look good on photos, and make sure your efforts with make up and outfits are not wasted.

You should always add an anti-reflection coating to your glasses, which will give you safe vision after dark, and ensure that people see you and not their reflection in your lenses. This means your eye make is not wasted and that on photos your sparkling peepers look fantastic. Then the drive home will be safer too as the coating is the only thing that helps with the dazzle of oncoming headlights.

Experiment with your make up to help you decide if emphasising your lips or eyes will enhance your face and your specs the best. As a general rule, light rimless or metal specs need bolder eye make up, to make sure your eyes are a strong feature, bright chunky plastic frames need luscious lips to bring balance to the face. Depending on your colouring and that of your frames you need to choose the look to suit.

If you rely on your LBD to get you through the party season, then an update on your specs and some fresh accessories may be enough to update your entire party wardrobe. If you’re investing in a new dress, then lace is a hot look this year. A shiny black plastic frame will be the perfect antidote and stop you looking like the bad fairy that fell off the Christmas tree!

Prescription Glasses

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Winter Coat

Sunday, November 14th, 2010

With the sun getting lower and the nights getting longer, driving can be a worry for some people. If you wear glasses, dazzle and glare during the winter can be more of a problem than bright sun in the summer. The only thing that can help is an anti-reflection coating, which we recommend and offer on our lenses, and many clients enquire about them. It seems timely to talk about them now, as many of you update your glasses for safe driving during the coming months.

An anti-reflection coating is not like a tinted lens, in that it doesn’t add colour to the lens, nor does it cut down the light entering the eye. It’s actually almost invisible, and you can usually only see it on the back surface if you tilt the lens under bright light. Then you see a coloured shimmer, like oil on water, and this residual colour is usually a greeny-blue. The purpose of the coating is to let as much visible light as possible through to the eye. Without the coating, some light gets reflected back when you look around you, and this interferes with your vision.

With an anti-reflection layer added to your lenses, you get many benefits. Sight is clearer and sharper, and under artificial light your eyes feel more comfortable. Computer users always report that their eyes feel less tired, and it’s the only thing that helps with night driving, reducing the dazzle effect of oncoming headlights. Without the coating headlights can seem like a confusion of multiple lights, with it you can see what’s coming towards you and have more sense of the distances involved. It also lets people see you clearly, because you can look straight through them and it almost looks as if there are no lenses there.

On higher lens powers, particularly if you are short sighted, your specs will also look better with the coating. It helps to reduce those unsightly white reflection rings that appear around the edges of your lenses, giving rise to the dreaded bottle bottom effect. A winner all round, the best winter coat you’ll ever choose!

Glasses Online

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Driving Forward with Prescription Glasses

Sunday, October 3rd, 2010

Some worrying research has hit the headlines this week, in the shape of yet another poll that suggests our roads are full of drivers with less than perfect sight. As the nights draw in, good vision becomes even more important, to aid in those split second decisions that really could be life or death. The poll surveyed just under two and a half thousand drivers, so a significant piece of research. Results showed that just over half – 53% do not wear the specs or contact lenses that they have been prescribed for driving. An astounding statistic – surely if you’ve been told you’re illegal to drive with uncorrected vision you would make some effort to actually put the specs on!

Delving deeper into this, a random selection of road users were spot checked. 9% could not manage the required driving standard of reading a number plate at 20 metres distance. The age of the drivers had an impact on this – the number rose to 18% in the over 55s.

Looking over the other results of the original poll, 23% admitted that their sight was less than perfect. So this is not an issue of ignorance, theses drivers are aware that they are putting themselves and others at risk by not wearing their glasses or attending for regular sight tests. 11% felt that their sight was worse at night. The Government put a great deal of effort into publicising the dangers of drink driving, but some emphasis should also go into the issue of making sure our drivers can see clearly too. Obviously if your sight is not corrected it will be affected by low light conditions too, with weather conditions giving rise to poor visibility also causing problems.

So as a responsible driver, what do you do? Have an eye test every two years, or more often of your optician recommends it. Please note we are bound by strict regulations – we don’t suggest tests unless we are concerned about your sight changing, and we don’t prescribe glasses if you don’t need them! Then make sure your specs are updated, and possibly add an anti-reflection coating if you’re worried about night driving. The Internet Glasses Company prices mean that fear of a big bill need not be a factor in keeping you safe on the roads. And at least you’ll be able to see all those other squinting people who aren’t as sensible as you!

Prescription varifocal glasses online

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A Little Extra

Wednesday, May 5th, 2010

When you order specs, from the High Street or the online optician, there are some extra bits that you have the option of buying. Are they worth it? What do you gain form adding them to your glasses? Have a quick check and see if those little extras will enhance your life….

Thinner Lenses – these will benefit you if your prescription is more than plus 2.00 or more than minus 4.00 in the sphere section. Thin lenses are light weight, have less white rings reflected in the lens (goodbye bottle bottoms!!) and look nicer in your frames. They are not worth it if your lens power is less than stated above, unless the weight of your specs is unbearable.

Anti-Reflection Coating – this will benefit you if you use a computer and/or drive at night. They cut eyestrain and fatigue, make your sight sharper, and make your specs look better as people can see your eyes, not their reflection! The only downside is that they do show up smudges, so don’t pick this option if you’re in the middle of a building site!

Photochromic Lenses (Reaction lenses) – these go dark in the sun, so opt for them if you like nipping in and out of doors, and enjoy hobbies such as sight-seeing and walking. If you drive a great deal you may wish to opt for permanent tints instead, as photochromics are not at their best behind the windscreen, where they don’t go dark enough for some people.

UV Coating – If you’re an outdoor person, but don’t like dark lenses, these will protect your eyes against UV damage in all conditions. The UV protection is built into photochromic and tinted lenses, so you don’t need to add it to these options.

Tints – these are useful to turn a prescription pair of specs into sunglasses, you can go as dark as you like and in a colour that suits your chosen frame. Keep them in the car for daytime driving, but remember they are illegal for night driving, you always need to keep a clear pair with you.

Life may even be a little easier with these little extras, so have a serious think about what could benefit your lifestyle.

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Love Those Lashes!

Thursday, April 15th, 2010

Eyelashes have become big business in the past few years, with lash extensions, false eyelashes, and a bewildering array of mascara innovations filling the beauty counters. Spectacle wearers often feel that their eyes can be hidden by specs, so make up is extra important in enhancing your eyes even behind your specs.

Firstly, always choose an anti-reflection coating for your glasses, this will allow people to see you, not their reflection in your lenses. Secondly, the latest bigger frame styles will frame your eyes, not chop across them. Thirdly, make sure your specs fit so that your lashes don’t brush on the lenses, at best this means mascara streaks across your vision, at worst painful ingrown lashes and infections.

When you have the specs sorted, think about your make-up. There are masses of new products to try, so don’t stick to the same old trusty mascara. There are lash thickening, lengthening formulas, wands that vibrate, double layer formulas, those that add texture and curl.

Then there are the products of science that allow us to grow our own, thicker longer more luscious lashes. Latisse is a prescription only product, originally developed for Glaucoma patients, with the added side effect of making lashed grow thicker and darker. It may be available in the UK from 2011, and has paved the way for more research and development. Lancome is the first manufacturer to launch a treatment mascara, Precious Cells, which will be available from May1st. Both Revlon and Clinique have products in the pipeline for later this year, so there’s hope for us all!

If you wear contact lenses, you may have to experiment with mascaras to find one that doesn’t irritate your eyes and can be worn with your lenses. Obviously always apply it after you’ve put your lenses in! Take the lenses out before removing eye make up, in case you get eye make up remover in the eye and it contaminates the lens.

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The Middle Way

Friday, March 26th, 2010

If you struggle with clear sight for a particular job or hobby, then it may interest you to know that we can calculate the perfect prescription to give you perfect vision. For far distance, that is driving, walking around, TV etc, the strength of your glasses is a set power. For close work it’s a different matter, as the amount of magnification you get is in proportion to your working distance.

If you have a hobby where you work at a set distance, we can alter your spec strength to give you the correct magnification. These are called middle distance lenses. If you do fine embroidery or tie flies in your spare time then you need high magnification but at a close distance. If you make curtains or spend all day at a computer then you need a little less power at a further distance. We’ve made specs for reading music, applying false nails, and quilling – whatever that is!!

So how do you acquire these magical, tailor made specs? All you need to do is measure your working distance – you just need a willing friend and a tape measure! Then ask your optician or online optical store to calculate the power you need, based on your reading prescription. Use the specs only at the working distance you have requested, and make sure you work in good clear light to get the most out of them.

If you’re going stronger than usual you may need a smaller frame, as your lenses will be thicker and heavier than in your normal reading glasses. If you wear them for long periods of time it may be worth investing in flatter, lightweight lenses. If you want them for the computer then add an anti-reflection coating, it will help to reduce the glare from the screen and make your vision more comfortable. Tell us what you want the glasses for and we might be able to make suggestions like these to make life easier.

If these super specs are for work, ask your employer if they are willing to contribute towards the cost. If glasses are for the VDU then your employer is legally obliged to help you, and pay for your eye exam.

So here’s our challenge – tell us what you need specs for and we’ll work out the power and help you with other ideas. Can you come up with anything we haven’t heard before?!!

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Night Driving Nightmare!

Monday, February 15th, 2010

Of all of the stresses and strains of modern life, one activity that worries many of our clients is driving at night. As the baby boomers grow older they are still leading busy, active lives, and none of us want to give up the way of life we are used to. So why does night driving pose a problem, and what can we do about it?

Night driving is an issue due to the optical effects of the windows and mirrors that surround us as we drive, and then if you have a visual defect you are adding to the problem of dazzle and reflection. Wearing glasses creates an ‘edge’ to your clear vision, and the added refraction as light hits the front and back surface of the spectacle lens creates extra interference that confuses and obstructs a clear view of the road and oncoming traffic.

Patients with eye diseases such as Glaucoma may also suffer from haloes round lights, which adds to the sense of confusion and discomfort. Contact lens wearers and patients who have had laser surgery may also be aware of haloes, which make it difficult to judge the distance of lights and therefore oncoming vehicles.

So what can you do for safer night driving? Firstly, even if you have a really low power prescription, make sure your glasses are up to date and always wear them at night. Make sure they are properly adjusted and carry a spare pair in the car. Contact lens patients may need to switch lens type to reduce the halo effect. The smallest scratch on a spectacle lens that does not bother you in daylight may seriously hamper your sight at night if it’s in your line of vision.

Never wear any sort of tint at night, and think about adding an anti-reflection coating to your glasses. This allows all of the light through and ensures maximum clarity. It does not add colour to the lens but will cut glare. You’re looking after the lives of yourself and your passengers if you take a little time to ensure you are doing all you can to drive safely after dark.

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Bully For You

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

We all have an image of a geeky, bullied child in our minds, the clever kid who wears specs and is the target for the playground tough nuts. We would hope that in these enlightened times wearing glasses does not make you the target that it once did. Specs are cool nowadays, they’re trendy, funky, desirable.

If you were bullied as a child then the scars run deep. Many adults are not keen to wear their specs because they remember how they felt as a child victim. Gok Wan has spoken about his experiences in childhood, and how bullying affects self-esteem. He now revels in being a spec wearer, and it’s an important part of his image.

Geek chic is such a hot look at present that you may even look back with fondness at your childhood specs and see how trendy they were. If it’s good enough for Dr Who then it’s good enough for you! If you’re still not sure about wearing your glasses, then think carefully when choosing your new frames. See them as an accessory, a fashion item, a treat like any other exciting purchase.

Go for thin lenses and an anti-reflection coating to make your specs look as good as possible, and to get rid of the dreaded bottle bottom look. Funky frames with detail are interesting and a good way to express your personality. For a fraction of the cost of a designer handbag you get a wearable piece of fashion that’s totally you. That Gucci, Marc Jacobs or Christian Dior can be yours – and it’s a necessity not a luxury!

A browse amongst online optician sites will let you look in the comfort of your own home, if you find visiting the opticians traumatic. Look at it this way – not everyone is lucky enough to need specs!

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Do You Have Time To Reflect?!

Sunday, May 3rd, 2009

If we told you that you could have more comfortable sight at the computer, be safer driving at night, and even look better, wouldn’t you jump at the chance?! Today’s technology can achieve all of this with one addition to your prescription lenses. This wonder product is an anti-reflection coating, and if you’re a clued up spectacle shopper you’ll have heard it mentioned, so lets take a look at it in more detail.

Wearing specs creates all of the problems above. Your shiny new spec lenses reflect light like a mirror, making you see ghost images. Reflections from the front and back surface of the spec lens also interfere with clear sight. This can be tiring as well as distracting, and in the case of night driving possibly dangerous as it makes it difficult to see headlights clearly.

Anti-reflection coatings are not visible like a tint, although you can see them if you tilt the glasses under a strong light. Then you can see an effect a bit like oil on water. The coating is a complex process, so now for the science bit! Think of light travelling as a wave, and if you can make the light waves travel out of phase with each other they will cancel each other out. Layers of coatings are used to cancel out different wavelengths of light.

The result for you is dramatically reduced reflection and therefore sharper, clearer vision. If you have a strong glasses prescription then your lenses won’t have that bottle bottom effect that we all want to avoid. The other advantage – as your glasses will look totally clear, when your other half is gazing into your eyes, they’ll see you, and not just themselves reflected back!

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