Spectacles

Q. Are colour changing lenses any good?
A. Photochromatic lenses have been available for over 20 years, and react to light conditions automatically, to provide glare reduction. Available in glass and plastic, and in all lens types, they offer an alternative to separate prescription sunglasses. We have found that, in the right conditions, they darken to a comparable level to traditional sunglasses, but are slightly temperature sensitive. If it is very hot, they tend to darken less well.

Q. Do anti-glare coatings help?
A. Anti-reflection coatings are very sophisticated layers put on both surfaces of your lenses. They almost eliminate unwanted reflections and make the lenses transmit more light, with less distortion. Particularly useful for night driving, working with computers and in artificial light, we consider an AR coating to be essential for most people. However, we have found that they can scratch more easily, and require careful cleaning, rather like a camera lens, from which the technology originates. The very latest coatings, however, are oil and water resistant making them much easier to clean and more durable than earlier types.

Q. What are varifocals and is it true that some people don’t like them?
A. Varifocals, often referred to as Varilux(a brand name) are lenses designed to let you focus from near to far, and all distances in between, without changing specs. A bifocal, by comparison, has only two distances built into it, with an obvious line in between the two zones. Varifocals are seamless, making them more attractive, and give the wearer- middle distance vision. Early designs suffered from peripheral distortion, making some people ‘seasick’. There are now dozens of different designs available, and with careful consultation, our qualified staff will be able to supply a lens that best suits your requirements. Such is the confidence in these lenses that the leading manufacturers, such as Carl Zeiss and Essilor offer a Guaranteed Success service. Traditional bifocals are slowly dying out, to be replaced by this new technology.

Q. I have a strong prescription, will my glasses be thick?
A. Exotic materials and computer design means that we can now make a lens that exactly fits your frame, creating lenses that are thinner and lighter than ever. Our qualified Dispensing Opticians can calculate the exact weight and thickness of your glasses, and show you a print out of comparable lens designs. We will carefully help you to find the ideal frame and lens combination to ensure that your new glasses are the best ever.

Q. Are those bendy frames really unbreakable?
A. Essentially, yes. The market leader, Flexon, gives an unconditional guarantee for two years on its frames. Made from a titanium alloy, discovered by accident in the 1960’s, they can be bent through 360 degrees safely! This means that, in normal use, they cannot break. As a result, the frames are much thinner and lighter than conventional materials used to make a ‘strong’ frame. Come in and try for yourself, seeing is believing. Also available for children!!

Q. Rimless glasses don’t look very strong, are they?
A. Rimless specs, open lenses held together with a bridge and two sides, are the lightest glasses available, and offer an uncluttered, ‘minimalist’ look. Although the frame is often made of titanium, the lenses are mounted by drilling through them, an obvious weak spot. We suggest that rimless specs are kept as your special pair, and not used in high-risk situations. The latest version, Lindberg, weigh less than a sugar cube! Enjoy the style, the lack of weight, and the increased freedom of wearing them, but be aware of their shortcomings. We liken them to designer clothes, lovely, but you wouldn’t do the gardening in them!

Q. I’m thinking of buying my glasses online. What will I need to get?
A. We would usually advise against buying spectacles online, for your glasses to work they must be accurately made and fitted, which is impossible when you purchase them online. Also, the quality of the lenses and frames often leave a lot to be desired. If you insist on trying this, you will need a copy of your prescription, which we will issue to you. In addition, you will also need the centration details for the lenses and advice on how best to interpret your prescription to your personal requirements. It is IMPOSSIBLE for us to provide this information based on an online picture only.

We suggest that, if you buy a frame online, come in with it and let us take the required measurements for you, before returning it for lenses to be fitted. When your completed glasses are finally sent to you, bring them in to be accurately set up and checked. The fee for this service is currently £30.

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Contact lenses

Q. Can my lenses ‘slip behind my eye’?
A. NO! The lining of the upper and lower lids doubles back to form the clear membrane conjunctiva covering the front of the whites of your eyes, forming an envelope that stops anything from ‘sliding round the back’.

Q. How long do they last, and do the expiry dates matter?
A. Your practitioner will advise you how long you can use each pair of lenses. With soft lenses this is usually from one day up to a month, depending on lens type. These lifespans are assessed by independent experts and are not an excuse to charge you more money! Some lenses, usually the gas permeable designs, can last much longer, two years is not unusual. In all cases careful lens hygiene is paramount. Expiry dates should be checked before using your lenses and solutions, and of course they matter, otherwise they wouldn’t have them.

Q. Can I swim in my leneses?
A. Soft lenses, including disposables, are easily corrupted by swimming pool water, nses?so should be removed before swimming or worn under leak-proof goggles. Showering should be done with eyes closed. See our Handling Tips section for more information.

Q. What if I fall asleep in my lenses?
A. Don’t panic when you wake! Some lenses are designed to be slept in, see ORTHO-K and Continuous wear, but most lenses are still classed as daily wear only. Modern lenses are made from very breathable materials, and with luck, you’ll be OK. Don’t try to remove them immediately, wait about 30 minutes, and put some suitable eye drops or saline in your eyes to assist the rehydration process. Once removed, throw them away, and don’t use lenses for at least the next 24 hours. If your eye becomes sore or red, seek assistance.

Q. Can I use eye drops with my lenses?
A. Only if they clearly state that they are suitable for use with contact lenses. Some comfort drops are designed specifically for use with lenses, and can be beneficial on a long flight or in a smoky bar.

Q. My lenses have UV protection in them already, do I need sunglasses as well?
A. The UV filters in lenses assist in glare protection, but do not protect you from the stronger rays in bright conditions. You should always use high quality sunglasses which also shield your eyes from dust and wind.

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Sight examinations

Q. Can anyone have a "free" NHS eye test?
A. Sadly, no. Under current regulations only children, senior citizens, people receiving certain benefits, and those with certain medical conditions which may affect eyesight, can request a standard examination under the NHS.

Q. I hear talk about extra procedures using high-tech equipment, why are these necessary?
A. In ocular science, technology has advanced massively in recent years, in a similar way to other fields of medicine. This advanced equipment, such as a Fundus Camera, allows us to see more of your eyes than ever before, and to be able to record and monitor the changes with unparalled accuracy. The majority of these tests are currently not available as part of the basic NHS test, so you will be asked to pay a small extra charge for them in most cases. This is extremely important in the case of higher risk groups who qualify for a free? NHS test, as it will not include these advanced procedures.

Q. Will my optician be properly qualified to test my eyes?
A. Yes. All our qualified staff are registered with the General Optical Council, and all attend ongoing training throughout the year to ensure that they remain up to date. We do not have in-house? qualifications, only nationally recognised levels of excellence.

Q. Why do you sometimes blow a puff of air into my eyes?
A. This is one of the checks we use to monitor for Glaucoma, a potentially very serious condition affecting usually the over 40 age group.

Q. Why do you ask me so many questions about my work or health, what does that have to do with my vision?
A. Underlying health issues and medication can have a significant effect on your sight and the health of your eyes, which is why we need to know. Also, modern optics isn't just about distance or reading glasses? it's about leisure, driving, music, VDU,
laptops, diving, golf etc etc. We have solutions for problems you may not even realise you have!

Q. How often do I need to have an eye test?
A. We usually expect to see an adult every two years for a routine sight examination, younger children every six months, and older kids about once a year. Children require more frequent testing as their eyes are developing at a faster rate. The optometrist will always advise you when you will next need to visit, and we will send you a reminder to make the appointment. Contact lens wearers have a different type of examination and usually need follow up checks more frequently than spectacle wearers.

Q. What should I bring with me for my test?
• A note of any medicines or tablets that you may be taking
• Proof of any benefits you may be receiving
• Your current specs (if worn), even if broken!
• An example of any specific visual problem that you may be encountering eg embroidery sample, or sheet music

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Sunglasses

Q. What constitutes a good? pair of sunglasses?
A. To some people, good means stylish, to others it means comfortable, it may mean safety, or value. In other words, we all have different ideas about good?. Most wearers expect their sunglasses to offer good protection from glare, but may not be aware that there are different categories of filters for differing conditions. Some may be too pale for driving or sailing, and some skiing tints are too dark and therefore illegal for driving with. Some frames weigh next to nothing, some are unbreakable; others have desirable fashion house logos on them!

Q. Glass or plastic lenses, what's best?
A. A tough one, this. Glass is optically slightly superior to plastic, but the difference is very slight with the best plastic lenses. Most plastic lenses are virtually unbreakable, and have ant-scratch coatings on them, whereas glass lenses have to be safety toughened, a process that makes them heavier, but very scratch resistant indeed. The majority of performance brands have a mixture of glass and plastic-lensed sunspecs in their ranges.

Q. What about the colour changing lenses (photochromics)?
A. Another tough one! If you buy non-prescription sunglasses, chances are you want them for wearing in the sun, and would take them off if you went inside. This makes the general purpose broad-swing(almost clear to quite dark) photochromic lenses a little pointless. However, we are now moving into a new era of narrow swing photochromics(medium-dark to very dark), which mean that the lens is a little lighter on a cloudy day, but goes very dark in bright sunlight. Expect to see more of these in the coming months.

Q. Are expensive glasses better than cheap ones?
A. Usually yes. High end sunspecs will be either:
A designer brand, with very high quality, beautifully styled frames, and lenses which will satisfy general glare requirements, exclusive and desirable, very distinctive.
or:
Technical eyewear with various solutions to glare issues, including a range of products for, say, sailing, fishing, skiing, tennis, golf, driving. The frames will usually be simpler, often very tough, and more likely to be wrap around.

There is generally a comprehensive spares service available as well, to keep them in good condition. Budget sunspecs often copy some of these features and may look very similar, but they will be inferior in almost every respect.

Q. What are polarised lenses?
A. Polarised lenses have a special layer sandwiched into the lens matrix. This layer eliminates ALL reflected glare, and is especially useful when sailing, skiing on bright days, and fishing. It is not automatically the best choice for everyday use, however, as the polarising effect offers little benefit in direct light, and can slightly disrupt your perception of uneven terrain, eg. When mountain biking.

Q. Mirrored lenses-what?s all that about?
A. Love or loathe them, they're here to stay. A front surface mirror is designed to reflect a percentage of the light reaching it before the lens filters begin to act on it. This has the effect of significantly reducing the light transmission of the lens, which can be useful in extremely bright conditions, such as skiing. Some of the latest lenses have relatively light tints plus a mirror, making them easier to use in lower lighting levels, but with sufficient glare protection if the weather brightens up. Others have harder, brighter, mirrors that turn you into Robocop!

Q. How should I approach buying sunglasses?
A. You get what you pay for, so be realistic. It's best to come in and discuss your requirements with one of our staff, and we will happily show you suitable sunglasses. Finally, remember that a ski suit is useless on the beach, likewise ski glasses are for skiing, beach glasses for the beach, cycle glass for...you get the idea!

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