Posts Tagged ‘glasses online’

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Retro Chic

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

We all know that fashion is cyclical, and if you keep everything it’ll reappear in Topshop one day soon – did we think we’d ever see shoulder pads, leggings and batwing sleeves again? Did we want to?! Eye wear is just another branch of fashion, and fashion designers are taking an ever increasing interest in what we wear on our faces as well as our bodies. Frames have been creeping into Eighties territory for some time now, with sizes increasing, shapes softening, and red and white making a comeback. Are we horrified or excited?!

Back in the Seventies and Eighties big frames meant thick and heavy specs. The new wear to wear the size is in thin materials, with thin lenses too to reduce weight. New shapes are easier to wear, less extreme than the originals. Round is back too, taking over from sharp angular shapes, but the good news is that fashion seems to be less cut and dried than in the past. We have large and small frames sitting side by side on the display, oval and rectangular. The designers seem to be waking up to the fact that we don’t all want the same thing!

New materials mean that the shiny harsh golds and yellow tinged tortoise browns are thankfully consigned to the past, with subtle metals and soft colours bringing a fresh look to old shapes. Past and present blend with classic styles brought up to date in Noughties colour schemes and detail. Look for soft rounded squares and gentle Aviators that echo the disco era but still look on trend today. Aviators are a unisex style this time around, particularly for sunglasses where they give a really casual and relaxed beach babe look. (See Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz for inspiration!)

Big frames give you a large field of vision and make a real statement on the face, so don’t dismiss the return of these old friends as a mare fashion fad – just hope that shoulder pads will be much more of a one season trend!

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Choices Choices……..

Tuesday, August 17th, 2010

As retailers like ourselves provide the consumer with economical eye wear choices, the days of single visual solutions are long gone. Our clients can now have an eye wear wardrobe with combinations of specs and contact lenses to help them at work or play. Are you missing out on any ways to make your life easier?

Richard – Teacher age 50 – Short sighted for distance:

‘I wear specs for work every day because I need to see stuff on my desk, my computer and the kids around the classroom. At home I take my glasses off if I want to read a book, as my close work is just as easy without them. I have daily wear contact lenses for the weekend, when I play squash or golf.’

Ellen – IT Consultant age 23 – Short sighted for distance:

‘I wear my glasses for driving and TV etc, I’ve got two pairs of clear ones with an anti-reflection layer and a dark lens pair for prescription sunglasses. I play different sports 3 times a week, so I have monthly disposable lenses which I also wear if I’m going out with friends. I just clean and store them and put them in when I need them.’

Susan – Boutique Owner age 48 – Long Sighted for distance:

‘I hate my prescription glasses because they magnify my eyes, however much I spend on thin lenses. I wear contact lenses all through the week; they’re varifocal so I can see at any distance in them. On Sundays if I’m not going out I wear my varifocal specs to give my eyes a rest. My real indulgence is the five pairs of Designer sunglasses I’ve got to go over my contacts!!’

Grace – Student age 16 – Short Sighted for distance:

‘I started wearing glasses about 3 years ago, and I think they’re quite cool. I’ve got a thick black frame and some thin red ones, and I wear them to go with different clothes. For tennis I’ve got daily throw away contact lenses, and sometimes I use them for going out, if I can afford it!’

Edward – Retired age 64 – Long Sighted for distance:

‘Since retiring I’ve found my days filled with taxing activities like golf, swimming, and my art club, so I ditched my office glasses and got some new ones! I have varifocals that do dark in sunlight for sport, but I can’t wear them to paint because they alter colours, so I’ve got a clear pair too. I use goggles with my prescription in for swimming, or on holiday I swim in my varifocals. I’ve got contact lenses for distance sight only that I like for golf, because I struggle to look down at the ball in my varifocals.’

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Moving Forward

Monday, August 16th, 2010

Opticians used to have a bit of a fusty image – tiny display windows full of tired old frames, faded posters and spiders, NHS specs and serious looking chaps in bow ties. Thank goodness we’ve shrugged all that off! Today we’re designer retailers gleaming with technology, state of the art equipment and lots of new blood entering the profession. And every single week, new innovations take Optics even further into the future.

Opticians love their gadgets, and every conference or training session is awash with talk of the latest screening equipment, and more recently, prodding i-phones and chatting about what apps they can play with! An eye test chart app has been around for ages, plus various manufacturers’ information. The latest is an app that lets the user take an interactive vision test to get a pass or fail and information on corrective lenses. This then directs you to an optician for a full examination.

One of the biggest spectacle frame manufacturers in the world, Marchon eyewear, has announced the launch of 3D vision, creating 3D eyewear for Optical practices. Their 3D lenses use circular polarisation technology which will be compatible with RealD cinemas, upcoming technology that will be used in Laptops, TVS and monitors.

Dry eyes are an eye health problem that causes short term discomfort and potential long term damage. Dry atmospheres due to air conditioning and electrical equipment, increased VDU use that reduces our blink rate, and the effects of some drugs can all lead to dry eye problems. Old approaches used to include bathing the eye in home made solutions and artificial tears in drop form. We now have a few new options, including specially formulated eyelid wipes, seed filled eye masks that you heat in the microwave, and even a goggle kit that allows the sufferer to steam the eye area!

Whatever your eye health or visual problems, new treatments and solutions will appear to help you, so take advantage of the fact that we constantly move forward thanks to ever evolving technology.

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Screen Test

Sunday, August 15th, 2010

We still get many enquiries from computer users, frustrated with their specs at the screen. It’s become a big problem, as we all use computers more and more in our work and leisure time. So here are the options for different situations……

If you’re under the age of presbyopia, usually around your mid-forties, your ordinary specs will let you see at any distance, and your eyes do the work for you. If you’re short sighted you’ll see the screen without your specs on, if long-sighted you may feel you need them on, depending on your prescription.

Once you reach your mid-forties, you need a separate prescription for distance and reading, and over the fifty mark, a separate one for the VDU too.

If you have no prescription for distance – you may need your reading specs if the screen is close too and the font is small. Weaker reading specs will probably do the job perfectly well, so dig out your old reading glasses from your last test and try them out! If you need to look up into the distance as well as at the screen, opt for varifocals, which let you do everything in one pair of glasses.

If you’re long or short sighted for distance, varifocals again let you do everything without swapping specs about. For some people the angle of their head or position of their screen may make varifocals tricky for long periods of use, so tell us your distance and reading prescription and we’ll calculate a computer distance strength for you. This single vision option gives you a wide area to use without craning your neck.

A little test for you to run though before you next see the Optician – am I physically comfortable at the computer – do I have to tilt my head or keep shifting to see comfortably? Am I visually comfortable – do I have to squint or keep moving back and forth to see clearly? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, then think about how long you spend at the screen, what you do in conjunction with your desk work, and consider in investing in specs for the screen.

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It’s Only Natural

Saturday, August 14th, 2010

We’re lucky in 2010 to have a staggering choice of materials to use in any product we need to buy. Every object that we select and use is available in a range of choices that we can select to suit our budget, lifestyle and even how green we are! Spec frames are obviously no exception, with new variations of metal and plastic under constant developed by manufacturers. Last month a frame made of eco-friendly and sustainable bamboo was launched, and while we’re looking forward to the future of specs, let’s take a look at what we had to use in the past……

The very first examples of spectacle frames were fashioned from an ingenious range of natural materials. Leather, wood, bone and horn have all been used to hold spectacle lenses. An obvious advantage was that these were all very skin friendly, provoking none of the allergic reactions that some people suffer from today. Just not very friendly for the previous owner of the bone or horn!

For the rich there was of course gold and silver, used to make elegant and delicate frames in every variety from full rims to Lorgnettes and Quizzers. Again, pure metals were hypo-allergenic, lightweight, and did not deteriorate when in contact with skin acids.

The most famous natural product was tortoiseshell, actually the shell of the poor old Hawksbill Turtle. This produced beautiful frames, with a high polish and a glowing rich brown colour. We still produce plastics today that try to imitate the rich lustre of natural shell. They could even be repaired by splicing together new shards of shell. Sadly this was not good for the Hawksbill, and like so many species it suffered heavily from it’s desirability to man.

As we move back towards protecting the planet and our resources, the intensive manufacture of plastics for spectacle frames may lead us back to the days of looking at natural materials. Let’s hope we can do so by finding renewable resources and without resorting to endangering any more species.

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The Small Print

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Even in this day and age of Kindles and i-pads the good old fashioned book is still a much loved and cherished part of many people’s lives. From devoted book worms that couldn’t live without the scent of paper and the feel of a weighty tome, to beach loving blockbuster holiday readers, many of us love to curl up with the latest bestseller. When we pass the milestone of our fortieth birthday, most of us will need reading glasses within the next few years. If reading is your passion, how can great specs help to fan the flames?!

The most important thing is to visit your optician and get the strength you need for a comfortable reading distance. Even if you then pop out and buy a handful of ready readers, you’ll be saving eye strain and the onset of crow’s feet by wearing the correct power. If you want to see tiny print close too or big print at lap distance, tell your Optician, who can then adjust the prescription for your requirements.

Make sure the light is good when you are reading. The best specs will not help you if lighting is poor, and the problem is worse if you’re looking at low contrast materials like magazines with coloured print and background. An anti-reflection layer on the lenses will reduce glare from white paper and be more soothing to tired eyes. While a light tint won’t bother most people, it can affect sight for some, so you may need a clear lens for close work.

If you wear varifocals on a daily basis you may want a simple pair of single vision reading glasses for long periods stuck into your favourite Dan Browne or Terry Pratchett, or for reading in bed. If you like to sink under the covers then varifocals may be at the wrong distance or angle for comfort.

If you suffer from Dyslexia there are specialized tints and filters which may improve your sight and make reading easier. If you haven’t investigated this within the past few years then do enquire – they give very good results for some patients. If you’re elderly and glasses won’t do the trick for you, then a specialized magnifier or low vision aid may give you the help you need. There are many solutions out there for different types of reading problem, so seek help if you’re struggling. The simple pleasures of the printed word should be easily accessible to everyone.

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The Fear Factor

Wednesday, August 11th, 2010

People can be very squeamish about eyes, and of course frightened of losing their sight. As we age, other health issues can escalate and visiting the Optician is yet another appointment to worry about. The most common eye conditions that affect the over 60’s can however be treated if caught early, so don’t delay, keep up to date with your check ups and take action on any problems.

Statistics suggest that up to a quarter of a million people living in Britain risk blindness from undiagnosed Glaucoma, a disease which can often be successfully treated with drops. Some patients need surgery, but treatment is straightforward and preferable to losing your sight. As there are no symptoms that the patient is aware of initially, it’s important to attend for regular eye tests.

Cataracts occur when the crystalline lens within the eye becomes opaque. It can result from trauma, UV exposure, or simply ageing. It’s easily treated by surgery, but 25% of people suffering from blindness over the age of 75 have Cataracts, and this could be corrected. Annually in the UK the NHS is responsible for over 300,00 Cataract surgeries.

ARMD – Age Related Macular Degeneration – is the commonest cause of blindness in the Western World. In the UK it affects the lives of over 600,000 people. Monitoring by your Optician can spot the earliest signs, when changes to diet and dietary supplements can help to control the condition. The very fast progress of the wet form of the disease needs immediate treatment, so early detection is essential.

Dry Eye Syndrome is the commonest form of eye irritation in the over 65s, leading to discomfort and problems with vision. There are various therapies which can deal the symptoms, no patient needs to suffer without trying different remedies and drug regimes.

If you have an elderly relative make sure they can visit the optician, or arrange a home visit. Even if eye conditions can’t be treated then solutions such as low vision aids might make a significant difference to the daily life, and everyone should take advantage of any treatments available.

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Any questions?

Wednesday, August 26th, 2009

The experience of having your eyes tested – secluded in a darkened room with a healthcare professional, glasses taken away from you, impending costs – can render the strongest amongst us a little dazed and confused. Even if you buy glasses online, you do however have to keep your spectacle prescription up to date, and it’s also important to get your eye health checked. So here are some answers to a few of the questions you may have liked to ask….

What on earth is an astigmatism?!! Opticians throw this word around, but patients often don’t really understand what this means. Astigmatism is just another part of your prescription – nothing sinister, nothing to worry about – it just means that your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a football. You need one power in your glasses to correct the long axis of the rugby ball, and one to correct the short. It may vary through your life, it may come and go. Without your glasses on what you see will be a stretched image in one direction.

Will wearing glasses make my eyes weaker? No, long term wearing or not wearing your glasses will not alter your sight. You just get used to seeing clearly with them on! You’ll also get a headache  if you strain to see something without them.

Do varifocals have to go in big frames? No – nowadays they can be fitted into even quite shallow frames. No optician will make them up for you if the depth is not sufficient.


Does using a VDU damage your eyes? No research has proven this, but be aware of a few simple rules. Blink often and give your eyes a rest by looking away from the screen at regular intervals. Wear your glasses if you’re been prescribed them for computer distance. An anti-reflection layer added to your lenses will reduce uncomfortable glare.

My prescription is high, why do my lenses always have to be so heavy? The thickness and therefore the weight of a spectacle lens is governed by the power, so higher prescriptions will always be heavier. You can reduce the thickness by choosing a thinned down lens, and a small frame. A plastic frame will spread the weight evenly across your nose.

Any other questions? Contact your optician, even if it’s after the event. Watch this space or mail the IGC, we’re always happy to help.

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Eye Health

Saturday, July 25th, 2009

We asked our resident optician for an update on common eye diseases that he sees when he’s in practice. A huge part of an optician’s work is about eye health, not just prescribing glasses. Early diagnosis and referral is vital for successful treatment, so keep up to date with your eye exams, and be sure that any any early warning signs are picked up.

As the population ages, cataracts are seen more often. Cataract is simply a change that occurs in the crystalline lens that’s inside the front of the eye. It can become opaque with age, although smoking and UV exposure are contributing factors. It’s more common in the over fifty five age group. Treatment is as simple as extracting a tooth – the diseased lens is removed and replaced with a plastic lens. Early symptoms that the patient notices are are needing more light, colours not seeming as sharp, and more glare than usual.

Glaucoma is a common eye problem where the fluids inside the eye cause an increase in pressure. The optician puffs air onto the eye to read your eye pressure, and combined with his examination of the retina he can spot signs of Glaucoma. If it not detected at an early stage it can damage the optic nerve and lead to permanent loss of sight. It can be a hereditary disease, although it’s also more common in the over forties, diabetics, and Afro-Carribeans. Treatment is usually with eye drops, although surgery is sometimes necessary.

Diabetic patients can suffer from diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease where new blood vessels form in the retina and can then leak. Once leakage has occured this can affect the vision and the general health of the eye. Early diagnosis is crucial because the patient can then be referred, for stabilization of their diabetes, or in some cases for laser surgery to seal the blood vessels.

All of these conditions respond well to treatment if the earliest signs are detected. So even if you buy your glasses online, don’t neglect your eye health by neglecting your optician!

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Are You Up to Scratch ?!

Saturday, May 2nd, 2009

I’m really enjoying buying my glasses online, because up until the net optician appeared on the scene I had a very expensive hobby – buying new prescription lenses because I kept scratching the ******* things!!! I just hope that some of you out there have done it and it’s not just me…….

When I was little my specs were changed every six months, so they were the type of NHS specials that Jarvis Cocker would kill for. I was before my time with the Jack Duckworth look due to the permanent lumps of very sticky plaster holding the arms on. Lenses were not anti-scratch then, and it showed! I gouged them on twigs in the garden, by using them to dig my favourite car out of the sandpit, (oops!) on the pavement when I fell over in them, and on the zip of my Mum’s cardie.

I put them in my cricket bag with a matchbox, my school bag with a metal ruler, and then the spare pair got wrecked after our holiday in the box with the shells I’d collected. I also discovered that if you try and remove the scratches with your Mum’s nail file it really doesn’t help…..

Nowadays I have a scratch resistant layer on my glasses. Please note the word resistant – it doesn’t help if you put your car keys in your pocket with them, or your dog runs off with them and his little puppy teeth find them soothing to chew. It helps with everyday wear and tear though, and now I’m shopping at the online optician I don’t have the expense or the embarrassment!

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