Posts Tagged ‘online opticians’

Third Time Lucky!

Monday, September 14th, 2009

I know we all listen to advice from our friends and relations, and generally, going by their experiences and ideas helps us to make choices. Well, I wish I hadn’t listened! My life has changed thanks to my new varifocals, so here’s what I’ve learnt for myself!

My Mum had tried varifocals, and so had my Dad. Now admittedly this was a while ago, and I know things change, but they had ended up spending out on glasses they couldn’t use, and getting very frustrated going back to their bifocals. I was not looking forward to reaching the milestone of needing glasses for reading. My optician said that I was quite young (39 and a half!) to need readers, but need them I did, and for a while sticking my specs on for small print worked just fine.

As I use a VDU more and more, I now can’t cope with taking glasses on and off. So I did some online research and talked to the dispensing optician at the practice I usually visit. I found out a couple of reasons why they probably didn’t work for Mum and Dad. In Dad’s case, he tried them twenty years ago, and varifocal lenses were very different then. He needed them for his desk job, and the way they were made in those days meant they were great for drivers etc, but not so good at work. Times have now changed, and lenses are even specifically designed for computer users.

With Mum, she suffers from neck problems, so she couldn’t make the lenses work with her posture. Nowadays they might give her a different lens design, or measure them to suit her individual needs. I was still worried about taking the plunge – times are hard and varifocals are not the cheapest. Lots of online opticians don’t make them, so I was pleased to find the IGC, and when I mailed them an optician rang me back. He said that if I didn’t like them he’d have them back! I felt confident to give them a go – and I’ve never looked back. I don’t even think about my specs now, I just keep them on. I might even persuade Mum and Dad to try again – assuming it wasn’t just that I’m third time lucky in our family!

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A Weight off My Nose!

Friday, July 24th, 2009

I’ve just made a major investment in new glasses, and for the first time I’ve admitted how short sighted I am and sought some advice about having lenses that suit my lens power. The new glasses are lovely and the relief for my poor nose! So I’m sharing my story in case it helps anyone else out there!

I suddenly got short sighted at about 25, so although I’m now on the wrong side of forty I’m still not too blind without my specs. The sphere bit of my lenses is -4.50. This has gradually crept up over the years, so my glasses have got heavy as my lenses get thicker. (Apparently the more short sighted you are, the chunkier the outside rim of the lenses will be.) The look of the lenses has never bothered me, as I like loud, coloured plastic frames, and my lens is always hidden in the frame.

Two years ago I broke my nose (a four year old hit me with a tractor, thanks very much!) and the whole experience of glasses has never been the same since. My nose looks ok but is really sensitive to pressure. I discovered online opticians so I got a couple of pairs of specs, the weight feels a bit different in each one, and that helped. This time though when I got new ones I had thinned down lenses. These lenses are as strong as  my usual ones, but they are made of thinner plastic, so they are  not as chunky at the edges. I also chose a little frame, to cut down on how much lens I’ve got. The difference is amazing, and I’m now sending my other frames away to have thin lens put in those too. I thought my eyes weren’t that bad, but the IGC said that the lens thinning takes about about a third off the lens, which made all the difference to me – even after my impromptu nose job!

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Spring into Action

Wednesday, July 22nd, 2009

If you like to stylishly perch your specs on top of your head, or enjoy swinging them about by a poor little arm, then you may know the frustration of loose, slipping, bent out of shape frames. Of course it gets worse in the summer when you’re a little warm and your glasses drive you potty by constantly zooming down your nose. If it’s time to treat yourself to a new pair then do yourself a favor – go for a spring hinge and it’ll change your life!

The spring hinge is not a new invention, but it constantly changes to fit new frame shapes and styles. The spring is housed in neat little block on the joint where the frame front joins the side arm. It can be a long block, or some frames have a tiny little spring hidden in the joint. Most online opticians or optical stores will be able to point out these little treasures to you.

Springs are usually fitted to children’s frames, most men’s frames, and more and more ladies. As technology allows the manufacturers to make ever neater and smaller hinges then the spring pops up all over the place! Even semi-rimless and rimless feature them now, whereas once upon a time they were too bulky for fine frames. Titanium frames are exceptionally strong so you find them on these frames less often.

The benefits of the spring are many. Firstly it holds it’s shape really well, so if you fall asleep in them, use them for heading the ball, or prop them on your head to hold you fringe back, they will bounce back into shape. They’ll also take the strain if the side suffers an impact. Secondly, the screws stay in the joints better as there is less strain on them, so you won’t have to admit to having a screw loose – well no more than usual!

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Suited and Booted!

Tuesday, July 14th, 2009

I had glasses as a teenager, and to be honest never gave that much thought to them. My Mum picked them for me because I was too busy playing Tetris in the optician waiting room, and I just stuck them on when I was watching my James Bond videos. As I didn’t wear them all the time I didn’t bother with what they looked like.

I’ve since come round to the way of thinking that if real men can wear moisturiser, then they can wear cool glasses too. I like style as well as function – and what better partner to my i phone and macbook than specs that say I know a thing or two about fashion!

My girlfriend got me looking at online opticians, and started me thinking about specs. I’m now the proud owner of what she tells me is an eyewear wardrobe! I’ve got some geeky plastic frames which I like for work. They’re very comfortable and serious looking, cool with my dark suits. They’ve got a tiny bit of logo detail, but not too much.

I’ve got lenses that change in the sun in a more sporty frame, which I wear out of work. They are dark blue because I like casual denims and fat face type stuff, and they kind of co ordinate without me having to worry about it! They’re not exactly sunglasses but they do the job, and I wear them for driving.

Having not enjoyed wearing specs I now really like them, and if I’m known as that guy in the cool Guccis then that’s fine by me! The idea of buying them online appeals too, fire up the macbook and it’s there at my fingertips, and I don’t even have to go shopping!

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Easy as A B See!

Tuesday, March 31st, 2009

Nowadays we all know that eating well and exercising sensibly can improve our general fitness, and protect ourselves from disease too. It’s now proven that your eyes benefit from a healthy lifestyle too.

Even if you buy prescription glasses online, don’t forget to have eye examinations regularly. Opticians check the health of the eyes as well as giving you the prescription for your glasses, and online opticians won’t accept prescriptions unless they are up to date.

Exercise keeps eyes fit too! Scientists in Australian have just completed a study which proves that children are less likely to become short sighted if they spend plenty of time playing outside, benefiting from focussing long distance and from natural light. Exercise also improves oxygen levels in the eyes.

Smoking wreaks havoc throughout the body, and in the eyes has been linked to cataract development. Eating plenty of green vegetables and carrots provides vitamins to keep the eyes healthy, and you can also buy supplements to maintain or even improve your vision. Look for formulations with antioxidants, zinc, selenium, Vitamins A, C, and E, and magnesium. Lutein is of vital importance for eye health too.

Make sure your prescription glasses are of the correct strength, free of scratches, and give full UV protection if you spend a lot of time on the water or snow.

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