Posts Tagged ‘photochromics’

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!

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Glasses Fashion, Helpfull Info | No Comments »

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!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Glasses Fashion, Helpfull Info | No Comments »

The Truth About Photochromatic Lenses!

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

Photochromic lenses are one of the cleverest inventions we can think of in every day use – how cool is this? You go out in the sun – they go dark. You come indoors – they go clear again. All without flicking a switch or the wearer thinking about it at all. A remarkably clever concept that for millions of happy customers makes every day life that little bit easier. We’d like to answer some of the queries we come across about these intelligent lenses.

My old photochromic lenses look really dark compared to my new ones – do they make them in lighter shades?

The older the lenses, the darker they will stay. Over time and constant exposure to UV they stay darker, so a new pair will always look lighter.

Will they look dark indoors?

No – it’s the Ultra Violet in sunlight that makes them react, so only direct exposure to the sun will make them change. This is why some windscreens will inhibit the reaction, as they filter UV out.

I broke one lens and the optician says I have to replace both, why?

As the lenses are worn the colour will alter over time. The colour won’t match if you try to replace one lens.

I’m quite short sighted, the optician says my lenses will look dark round the edges. Why?!

If you’re short sighted your lenses are thicker round the edge than at the centre. The higher your prescription, the more exaggerated the effect. Photochromic lenses contain crystals which react on exposure to UV, rather like the film in a camera. The thicker the lens, the more dense the crystals, so thick areas will look darker.

Do they give UV protection if they react to UV?

Yes, check the brand you’re ordering if this is a concern to you, but all the brands we are aware of don’t let UV through to the eye.


What difference do the colours make?

The common colours nowadays are grey or brown. They go equally dark, brown is warmer to look through, but does alter colours slightly. Grey is cooler, but much more neutral.

Can you drive in them at night, do they count as tinted lenses?

Although they always have a pale residual tint, photochromics are practically clear n the absence of UV. Therefore they are perfectly safe to wear at night.

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Helpfull Info | No Comments »

Changes For The Better

Sunday, April 26th, 2009

Now some sunshine has finally seen off the gloom of winter, you thoughts may be turning to summer wear, and more specifically, summer eye wear. You can have clear specs and sunglasses, but have you considered lenses that change in the sunlight? Photochromic lenses adapt to the light conditions, going dark if sunlight – and therefore UV is present.

Corning first invented this miracle glass over thirty five years ago. Silver Halide crystals within the lens material change colour when exposed to UV. The lenses don’t change indoors under bright light, (some people worry that they’ll look like undercover rock stars wearing their sunglasses inside!) outdoors they go as dark as sunglasses when you need them.

From the original glass photochromics we now have an array of different products and manufacturers, and this type of lens is now as successful in plastic as it is in glass. The ideal lens needs to change instantly when you step from dark to light and back again. There is always a very light tint on the lenses even when indoors, but on nowadays this is very pale.

The most popular colours are grey and brown, which are usually matched to the frame. The only real problem with these lenses is that the colour does alter over time, so if you ever chip one, both need to be re-ordered. They also always look dark on photos – so if you’re at a wedding be prepared for the Mafia boss look! These little glitches aside, photochromics may be the perfect for you this Summer – as long as the sun does shine on us!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Glasses Fashion, Helpfull Info, News | No Comments »