Posts Tagged ‘prescription glasses’

« Older Entries

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!

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

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.’

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

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.

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

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.

Tags: ,
Posted in Helpfull Info | No Comments »

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.

Tags: ,
Posted in Helpfull Info | No Comments »

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.

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

Road Test – Photochromic Lenses (Reactions)

Friday, June 11th, 2010

Ever since I’ve had prescription glasses, I’ve carried two pairs of specs around with me. I’ve got a metal clear lens pair and a funky huge plastic frame with dark lenses in it as my sunglasses. Making an attempt to travel light on a sightseeing weekend trip to Paris, I decided to have a try with some lenses which go dark in the sun.

When the spex arrived I was pleased with the look of the tint. I chose a thick rimmed burgundy metal frame, with grey lenses. They’re supposed to be nearly clear in the dark, and sunglass tinted in the sun. They look like there’s no colour there in the evening, and I was pleased that the frames look good without the tint. They are also anti-scratch, but I’ll still be careful with them and they look very shiny and new at the moment!

The next day I wore them to drive to work, but they didn’t go very dark behind the windscreen. I had been warned about this, so I thought I’d keep my sunglass tinted specs in the car from now on. When I went out in my lunch hour, they went super dark and I really found the tint effective. I liked the look of the lenses when they were dark in the frame, and found the lens just as good as my sunspec tint.

So I took them on my trip to Paris, and the best thing was being able to nip in and out of shops – and the museums of course! – Without constantly changing my glasses around. Out in the sunshine the tint was perfect, and plenty dark enough. The colour was nice and it didn’t alter the way I saw colours of flowers etc. I also found it soothing to wear.

After a month of wearing the photochromic lenses, I’ve found that I’ve rarely had to dig out the prescription sunglasses that I thought I would need for driving. The photochromic lenses work more efficiently now and they are fine for all but the very brightest days. I’m really pleased, and I’ve got more room in my handbag!

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

Life Through a Lens!

Thursday, July 16th, 2009

More and more of you are taking the plunge and trying your first teetering steps into the brave new world of varifocals. We rarely get problems nowadays, but we do get queries about the first few days of wearing them. So here are some of the common issues, and suggestions to help you deal with them.
As you probably know, varifocals combine three prescriptions in one. This makes life easier, but the process by which they are made means that you do have to work with them for them to help you. All of the niggles outlined below do wear off as you get used to the glasses, so the first important suggestion is to make sure that you wear them constantly for the first few days, to make sure you adjust to them as quickly as possible.

The thing that most people notice straight away is that there are areas of distortion at the outside edges of the lenses. You do learn to ignore this very quickly, and the easy way to do this is to make sure you fully turn your head when you look to the side. This is the natural way to move, but we all tense up a little when we have new prescription glasses. Try to forget that you have them on!

The distortion means that your world may look a little odd! Doorways look as if they’re sloping, papers look as if they taper off, desk tops slope away from you. Occasionally this can almost make you feel sea sick, but usually only for an hour or two. Ignore it and it really will go away! Stick with the specs and after a couple of days your world will right itself again.

Most people are fully happy with their varifocals after 2 – 3 days, and wonder how they ever managed without them. You’ll be the same, so just rejoice in the fact that you’ll be a fully fledged varifocal wearer in no time!

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

Mind The Gap

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Customers often ask us about the weird moment when you look up from close work to distance, and your sight takes a moment to catch up. It happens to specs wearers and those with no spectacle prescription. As it’s come up quite a bit we thought we’d go through this for you.

Lenses are not just the bits of plastic or glass set in spectacle frames. We all have a lens inside each eye – it’s called the crystalline lens, and along with other structures in your eyes in helps you to focus. The lens is a clever little thing that changes shape to let you focus both close too and far away. It does all this work without us even having to think about it, although as we get older – forty onwards – it loses this ability and we need reading glasses.

At any age though, the lens is still doing it’s best to help you see close up. This is why you get that little visual gap – as you focus on different distances your lens and your brain have to catch up and let you re-focus. Of course you notice it more if you’re tired, or have been concentrating hard on anything at a specific distance. It’s nothing to worry about, although you should always make sure that your prescription glasses are up to date, to give your eyes all the help they need.

When you’re working close too, give your eyes a frequent rest by looking around the room at different distances, and remembering to blink, as this washes a fresh layer of tears across the eyes to lubricate them. If you only wear reading glasses you could consider swapping to varifocals, as they let you look comfortably into the distance without having to take your specs off.

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

See Your Hundredth Birthday!

Sunday, May 17th, 2009

Even if you’re a fitness freak or a gym bunny, the one aspect of health you may not have thought about is looking after your eyes. We all focus on a balanced diet, moderate exercise, and looking after ourselves, but do we pay attention to one of the most important organs in our bodies?

Keeping your eyes healthy is really a matter of prevention, and a few simple steps can go a long way towards preserving your sight and general ocular (eye) health. A vital step is to have regular check ups with a qualified Optician, also called an Optometrist. They recommend tests every two years to check your eye health, tell you if you need glasses, and will even pick up some general health issues too.

If you smoke – give up! Smoking is a factor in the eye disease Macular Degeneration, and as soon as you stop you are halting any damage. Macular Degeneration causes loss of central vision, which means you won’t be able to see to read or drive. It may also be a factor in formation of cataracts.

A good balanced diet will obviously help your general health, but can also maintain healthy eyes and vision too. Natural carteniods, found in green leafy vegetables have a positive effect on the retina and therefore protect against Macular problems. If you don’t eat a wide variety of fruit and vegetables you might consider taking a supplement to maintain eye health.

There are many supplements on the market. Ingredients to look for are antioxidants, zinc, selenium, Vitamins A, B, C, and E, Lutein and Zeaxanthin. Antioxidants and zinc reduce the risk of Macular Degeneration. Selenium and the Antioxidant vitamins A C and E encourage mucus production, which keeps the soft tissue around the eye – the conjunctiva healthy. Vitamin C may also protect the eyes against cataract formation. Vitamin B complex is vital to healthy function of the Optic nerve. Lutein and Zeaxanthin occur naturally in the retina, the light sensitive layer that lines the back of the eye. These nutrients protect the retina by absorbing blue light, which can damage the Retina.

You may not have realised that keeping your body fit keeps eyes fit too. It improves oxygen levels in the eyes, and a recent study has shown that children who play outside and therefore focus at long distances are less likely to become myopic (short sighted) They also benefit from being out in natural light too.

If you wear prescription glasses then take good care of them and ensure that they are kept clean and up to date. Talk to the Dispensing Optician when you visit your Optician’s practice to make sure that you have UV protection if necessary, and the correct tints for your needs. They will also help you with protective glasses for sport or at work.

Looking after your eyes takes very little but reaps huge rewards. We’re all living for longer – won’t it be nice to actually see the cake at your hundredth birthday party?!

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

« Older Entries