Category: Eyewear

Prescription sunglasses for mountain biking. Mountain biking is great fun and mountain bikes get to be used what they were made for.

I remember when I first went mountain biking in the lake district years ago. We took a semi-challenging route so as not to appear completely novice like in the group.

That was a gruelling few hours and we got back barely able to walk and covered in mud. I was wearing my glasses and kept stopping because of stuff going in my eyes.

We had the gear to protect ourselves from the mud on our clothes but hadn’t thought of protection for the eyes!! I didn’t even know that anything for that purpose existed.

Forward to the present and thankfully there are options available for those of us who need glasses and want full wrap sunglasses.

Dunlop Prescription Sunglasses for Better Mountain Biking

Dunlop make an excellent pair of sports sunglasses that come with polarised lenses, a prescription insert that clips on the back and even a wind/dirt guard.

The sides of the frame are adjustable for different side angles (called the pantoscopic angle) and the sides even detach to allow the attachment of a strap, giving further stability when riding.

The package cost including your prescription in standard index lenses is £99.95 which is great value when you consider all the options it gives you.

If that sound like its doing too much for you, you opt for the Salice sports frames. These are wrap around frames with interchangeable lenses between clear and mirrored tint.

They also include prescription inserts. The sides are fixed and they come in two colours. White with blue mirror lens or black with silver mirror lenses.

This package including your prescription in standard index lenses is £79.95, again a great value package.

So if you are looking for prescription sunglasses for mountain biking adventures, come in and try out these sports eyewear. Contact us and we can call you back to arrange an appointment.

Ray Ban prescription glasses in Ealing. Ubiquitous with fashion sunglasses that is good quality and optically well made. Ray-Ban is always popular and fans often build up personal collections of these frames. Their ophthalmic range is also well made and come in a variety of styles and materials.

Modern acetate frames are great as they come in a wide array of colours an designs. Ray Ban also do Liteforce which are a much lighter plastic similar to TR90. If opting for Liteforce stay clear of lens cleaners directly on the frame as this can cause the frame to become brittle.

The rimless range also use Liteforce technology to balance the front with the sides of the frame. Together with high index lenses you receive a very light package.

If you are looking for Ray-Ban prescription eyewear speak to us for deals on Ray-Ban prescription eyewear and sunglasses.

Ray-Ban prescription eyewear costs £199 for two pairs and come with your prescription in standard index lenses, scratch resistance coating, and anti-glare coatings. If you are unable to find the frame you would like, you can give us the model number and we can then order them in for you.

Choosing glasses to suit your face will make all the difference to your overall look

Did you know that the shape of your face will decide which style of glasses will suit you and also which ones won’t? This handy advice will help you determine which type of glasses compliment your facial features, taking into account your face shape.

Oval

If you have an oval face you are likely to have a round chin and a round forehead. In fact all aspects of your face are in proportion with each other. If you were to look in the mirror your face is likely to give the illusion of being longer with your forehead being a slightly wider width in comparison with your jaw line.

For these reasons wider frames will be your perfect choice, but if you are lucky enough to have an oval face, your face will suit all types of frames. Remember to also take into consideration your hair colour and complexion though.

Rectangular

For those with a rectangular face, you are likely to have a long face with a strong jaw line and square chin. A large square frame will give the appearance of a shorter face and the illusion of a more balanced look. A modern style frame is recommended.

Triangle

Triangular faced people have a broad forehead which tapers down to a narrow chin. A frame that will provide emphasis on the bottom half of your face is required. A frame that is wider at the bottom will help achieve this look. A set of glasses that are rimless, light in colour and material would also work. In other words glasses that are heavy and dark in appearance should be avoided.

Square

Of those that have a square face, you are very likely to also have a strong jaw line accompanied by a broad forehead. A square face is slightly different to a rectangular face because the width and length are in proportion with each other.

The purpose of frames for those with square faces is to soften the angles and ultimately give the appearance of a longer face. A narrow frame will provide depth and will help soften the jaw line and also give the appearance of a longer nose. If you were to consider square shaped frames, you would be gaining the opposite effect and very likely to look out of balance with the rest of your face.

Round

As the name suggests, you have a round face with a round chin and full cheeks. Therefore a frame should make the face appear longer and narrower. The dimensions of your face may be similar but there are no angles to create definition.

A pair of frames that give the illusion of a long face will draw emphasis to the eyes and provide definition to your face. If you’re not sure what face shape you are or which frames will suit you call into Chapman Opticians and one of our qualified staff will talk you through your best options. And of course the surest way to see what suits you is to try the glasses on. So now you know how to choose glasses to suit your face.

The lenses you choose will often determine how happy you are with your new glasses. The possibilities are endless, so how do you know if you’re making the right choice?

Hopefully this brief guide will provide you with the information you need to maximise your quality of vision. After all, they do say seeing is believing!

Your lenses will influence four factors; appearance, comfort, functionality, and vision. We’ll break this down for you below.

Lens materials

Different materials will change multiple elements of your finished lenses.

Most modern lenses are made from a variation of plastic materials. They offer a light weight upgrade from the old glass variety with greatly improved safety.

CR39 Standard Plastic – Ideal for prescriptions up to +/- 2.75D

Excellent optics – Low cost

Downside: Thickness – Only blocks around 60% of UV light.

1.53 Trivex – Recommended for rimless glazing or sports wear.

Superior impact resistance – Blocks 100% UV – Lightest lens material available

1.61 Plastic – Recommended for prescriptions from +/- 2.75D to +/- 3.75D

Thin and light –  Blocks 100% UV – Less costly than 1.67AS or 1.74AS lenses.

Downside: Not as thin or flat as an aspheric lens.

1.67 Aspheric – Up to 30% Thinner – Recommended for prescriptions from +/- 3.75 and above.

Very thin and light – Blocks 100% UV – Aspheric design reduces the magnifying effect of the lens, making the eyes appear more natural to others. Also increases the wearers peripheral clarity compared to spherical lenses.

1.74 – 1.76 Aspheric – Up to 40% Thinner – Perfect for +/- 4.25D and above.

Thinnest possible lens option, giving you the thinnest and most attractive lenses available. Blocks 100% UV – Aspheric design reduces the magnifying effect of the lenses, making the eyes appear more natural to others. Also increases the wearers peripheral clarity compared to spherical lenses.

Downside: Most expensive option.

Lens Coatings and Tints

Anti-Glare

Absolutely essential on any lens. Not only do they improve the over all look of the spectacles, they also enhance vision.

The anti-reflective properties eliminate ugly reflections on surface of the lens which hide the wearers eyes, making them almost invisible so you can make better eye contact with others.

Lens reflections also reduce contrast and clarity, especially at night, so removing them will aid in improving and enhancing your vision. Leading to crisp, clearer vision in all lighting situations.

Kodak BluProtect

Similar to an anti-glare lens but with the added benefit of filtering harmful blue light emitted by artificial lighting such as computer screens, tablet devices and mobile phones.

Blue light has been found to cause eye strain and fatigue, BluProtect lenses are designed to combat these effects to ensure more visual comfort in the digital world.

Light Reactive Tints

Light reactive lenses which go dark when outside in the sun and then clear when you go back indoors. A nice all-round, everyday solution. Reactive lenses also offer full UV protection.

Solid Tints

The sunglass solution. A simple, permanent tint available in a multitude of colours to suit each style. Ideal for outdoor use in the brightest conditions.

Polarised Lenses

All the benefits of a solid sunglass tint and more. Polarised lenses filter out almost all glare created from reflected sunlight. Be it water, snow, the horrible dashboard reflection in your car windscreen on bright sunny days, polarised lenses are the perfect glare reducing solution.

Varifocals, Bi-Focals or Single vision?

The right option depends on your lifestyle and individual needs. If you aren’t already wearing glasses for near or far-sightedness then you’ll eventually need help to read smaller, fine print. Usually around the age of 40.

This condition is called Presbyopia. Unfortunately its age-related and you cannot escape it, don’t worry though its perfectly normal and spectacles will counter the effects.

Varifocals

Also called progressive addition lenses (PALS) are the most common correction for presbyopic patients that also require correction for distance vision. They provide the appearance of a single vision lens with no visible dividing lines between the viewing portions.

The lens power gradually increases as you look further down the lens providing a more natural transition from distance to near than bi-focal lenses.

This gradual transition provides an intermediate viewing zone, perfect for computer use and viewing your dashboard when driving.

With today’s advancing technology it’s easy to adapt to varifocal lenses.

Bi-Focals

As with a varifocal lens, a bi-focal provides both distance and near vision zones. There will be a visible dividing segment between the two which is available as a flat top, round or curved design.

The downside to bi-focal lenses is the loss of the intermediate viewing zone provided in varifocals. They do however provide wider lens areas for reading and computer work than progressive lenses.

Standard Single Vision

Most commonly used for pre-presbyopic patients to correct near or far-sightedness.

These lenses have one single power throughout the lens and provide the perfect solution for those who just use glasses for specific tasks, such as driving or reading.

Occupational Lenses

Occupational lenses are designed to be used for a specific task or hobby and are not used for general purpose wear. They are specialised to each individuals needs and come in a variety or forms.

One example is the Kodak Softwear lens. A varifocal designed for the office, extended vision for near use where the top section incorporates a wide intermediate viewing zone.

I’ll touch more on these in a future post as there is a multitude of ways to enhance your vision for specific tasks.

Don’t forget, when buying glasses there is no substitute for professional advice, if you have any questions or concerns pop in and speak to one of our friendly Dispensing Opticians. Thanks for reading!

During the winter, light levels in general can be low. Many people find it more of a struggle to see clearly especially during these months. Insufficient task lighting can mean everything is more difficult. You can improve things considerably by having an eye test and ensuring you have the right glasses.

Glasses will actually make a massive difference to a wearer’s life. Essentially they function by correcting what is termed: ‘errors of refraction’. What are these errors? Well, they are split into main groups

• Myopia or short sight
• Focus change or accommodation
• Long sight (hypermetropia/hyperopia)
• Presbyopia
• Astigmatism

With the massive demands we place on our eyesight every day it is worth treating eyes with considerable respect and consider if they might need some additional help. Read on to discover why you may be asking ‘Do I need glasses?’ and if not, why you should.

Myopia

Can you see things clearly when they are close to you but when you look into the distance everything is blurred? Does that sound familiar? Then it is likely you are myopic and should have an eye test to determine the extent of your short sightedness. Some find that things only become distinctive when they are within 5-10 cms of the eye.

This doesn’t necessarily mean you will need to wear glasses all the time. You may choose to use them to watch a screen, in the cinema or television and driving of course. Some find that close work is easy enough without them. But the difference will be like someone having ‘cleaned the windows’!

What about Reading Glasses?

These are very useful for near vision. If you are a hobbyist, model maker, knitter, embroiderer, avid reader or just someone who loves jigsaw puzzles and crosswords you may well find a pair of near sight or ‘reading glasses’ will brighten up your world. It can certainly make threading a needle or finding that tricky piece so much simpler and quicker.

It’s a fact that after 40 – 45 years of age there is some degeneration in eyesight and many approaching middle age will require glasses. So why struggle without? Don’t be tempted to buy off the shelf ‘reading glasses’ as the quality can be questionable and potentially harmful to your eyes.

Accommodation

This is not about where you live! Answer these two questions:

• Do your eyes struggle to focus when you have been looking at a computer keyboard for any length of time?
• Do you struggle to focus when you have been reading and someone calls to you and you look up?

This is what accommodation means in this context. As we age it becomes slightly more difficult to change focus and glasses can make a tremendous difference to our every day lives; so why continue to struggle when there is a simple and practical solution?

Long sight

Means people have no difficulty seeing a number plate at a distance of say 6 metres. Yet ask them to read a menu and it is a different story. You may find you will not need glasses all the time only when reading or doing close work.

Presbyopia

If you don’t want to know this then look away now! Presbyopia is about the degeneration of the eye. Call it ageing if you like. You will notice it is difficult to read at arm’s length and this is when varifocals and bifocals can come into their own. At this point it is a great idea to make eye checks more regularly as they can be such an indicator of overall health. We may not be aware just how much our eyes are deteriorating but a professional can help.

Astigmatism

These are interesting because they vary tremendously between individuals. You may find your cornea is slightly different in shape from what is considered a normal curve. Think of it like this. Your cornea might be shaped like a rugby ball as compared to the usual soccer ball shape. If you were paying attention in Physics class you will know this change in shape can mean your eyes vary in their power and sometimes things can appear quite blurred. This is easily corrected by the right pair of glasses.

The problems associated with all of these conditions can be easily solved; and with the huge range of lenses, light frames and fashionable glasses you can have a new image and see your world clearly.

Consult your optician if you have any questions at all about any of these conditions. We are always here to help.