Choosing New Spectacles: -

Without help, choosing new spectacles can be a daunting prospect but our qualified advice and experience can assist you to select a pair which compliment you and give you the quality of vision you need. We can help you to look your best.


Balanced Choices

The appearance , comfort and feel of new spectacles depend as much on the lenses you choose as the style of the frame. It is important to select frames which will be suitable and complement the lenses you need, and vice versa. Today's spectacles utilise the latest manufacturing technologies to best advantage to produce a wide selection of frame materials and lenses. For example, titanium is practicularly popular for frames because it is extremely lightweight, very durable and strong. Titanium and nickel-free alloys have the added bonus of being hypoallergenic, useful if your skin is allergic to some metals. Advanced materials and processes create lenses which are much lighter too, giving a greater range of choice and comfort, even if you have a higher prescription.


Selecting Your Frames

The type of frame you wear can say a lot about your personality. Rimless or thin minimalist frames make your spectacles as invisible as possible, helping to retain your natural look, A heavy, dark frame on the other hand may suggest you are serious and confident, whilst a brightly coloured frame could indicate you are outgoing. We can advise you on the shape, style and fit of the spectacles (most frames are available in a range of sizes to ensure comfort). However, it is often useful to bring someone who knows you to help you choose the frames.


New Lens Technology for Good Vision and Looking Good


Modern lens designs and materials mean that even high powered lenses do not need to look like “milk bottle bottoms”. Thinner, lighter lenses can be produced using the latest technology.

Benjamin Franklin, the American politician and inventor, invented bifocal lenses, with the line across the lens, over two hundred years ago. Although they allow you to see close up as well as at a distance they are not very flattering and leave middle distance out of focus. Varifocal lenses were introduced 50 years ago, and they allow you to see clearly at all distances without any dividing line. There are many different designs to suit different needs, such as office work, sports etc.


We also recommend anti reflection coatings on the newer lens materials. www.nikonlenswear.co.uk They reduce the amount of light reflected both on the surfaces and within the lens, and make driving at night and working in front of a computer screen more comfortable



Tinted lenses are available in a wide range of colours. Many lenses are available with photochromic tints, which automatically darken when you go out into bright sunlight and clear when you come back indoors. We also have prescription lenses which are polarised for driving, fishing and sailing. Some prescriptions can now be supplied in wrap around sunglass frames. Ask our staff for more details.



So how do you go about choosing glasses?

Our knowledgeable staff will gladly spend time with you when selecting frames for your spectacles, helping and advising over the ones that look best and suit your lifestyle. They have even had “Colour Me Beautiful” training to optimise their advice. Both practices have computer screens that enable you to see how you look in certain frames, or we can fit you with a pair of disposable contact lenses. Ultimately, the choice has to be yours, but here are a few useful pointers on choices for different complexions and face shapes:


Sunglasses

Whether you are going on a sunshine holiday, driving in low winter sun conditions, having a round of golf or out for a cycle sunglasses may enhance your vision. Which tint is best for your needs? Polarised lenses, photochromic lenses that change colour with sunlight, light or dark tints for driving and specific sporting activities, with or without prescription? Expert advice is essential to achieve the best option. Sunglasses come in a wide variety of colours and tints, and newer technology allows prescription lenses to be fitted in “Wrap Around” type frames. At Campbell Eyecare, our highly trained staff can guide you through all the available options and help you find the best sunglasses for your needs all with full UV protection.

We have a large selection of designer sunglasses, photochromic lenses, specialist sports sun protection, complete price prescription sunglasses, polarizing lenses to help reduce glare and more.

Photochromic Lenses Photocromic lenses can help your eyes cope as they react to different light conditions encountered during the day. What are photochromic lenses?

Photochromic lenses darken on exposure to sunlight and protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation. Excessive exposure can cause permanent damage to the cornea and conjunctiva. Good photochromic lenses block out 100% of the most harmful rays of the sun, 100% of the time, adapting to changes in light and darkening in seconds. Whilst sunglasses give comfort in very bright conditions by reducing the total amount of light and glare reaching the eye, they are not always convenient in changing light conditions and care must be taken that they meet Standard BS 2724 otherwise they won't protect the eye from the sun's damaging ultraviolet rays. In fact, non-UV absorbing lenses can do more harm than not wearing any protection at all because, behind a dark tint, the pupil increases in size allowing the harmful rays through.

Why wear prescription photochromics? Photochromic lenses offer great flexibility to anyone needing prescription eye wear, protecting the eyes indoors and out at all times. They are made in your normal prescription so your spectacles will correct your vision and give UV protection. Photochromic lenses meet all your various needs by combining the benefits of prescription spectacles / contact lenses and sunglasses. Choose photochromic lenses

Who wears photochromic lenses? Photochromics are versatile enough to suit almost every occasion. For golf or tennis players, where good vision is as important as comfort and protection, or schoolteachers supervising playground or sports activities as well as spending time in the classroom, photochromic lenses are ideal.

For enhanced performance your optician will tell you whether your photochromic lenses can be treated with hard coating, anti-glare and/or water repellent treatments. When combined, all three treatments make them ideal for sports and prevents misting when coming from outdoors to indoors. Driving in photochromic lenses Whilst driving, your photochromic lenses may not become as dark as they do outside. This is nothing to worry about, whether the lenses are activated or not your eyes are still being fully protected by the windscreen, which blocks out the harmful ultraviolet light that would normally make the photochromic lenses darken.

What about extreme conditions of sunlight? People exposed to intense periods of extreme heat and high levels of UV should consider a second pair of prescription sunglasses made to the British Standard 2724. But in most day to day situations and activities, photochromic lenses are the most versatile option for prescription wearers. Tips for handling and taking care of your frames and lenses Follow the advice of your optometrist or dispensing optician about how to look after your photochromic lenses. Here are some basic guidelines: Keep your lenses and frames clean.

To clean lenses, your practitioner will advise you whether you should dip them into warm, soapy water and rinse them under running water, or use a spray and special microfibre cloth suitable for plastic lenses. Use two hands to remove your spectacles, using even pressure on both side pieces. Keep your glasses in a case. Open the case fully and gently pull them out (sliding them in and out may dull the lenses).

Although there is no reliable evidence to suggest that even long-term intensive use of VDUs is damaging to the eyes, it is true that VDU users tend to complain of eye strain more than non-users. This is likely to be due to fatigue through causes such as: - Insufficient and infrequent rest periods - Incorrect positioning of the screen and/or documents - Unsuitable lighting - Poorly designed work area - An uncorrected eyesight fault such as long sight, short sight, astigmatism or presbyopia - The eyes not working 'as a team' Any of these conditions could lead to fatigue; all can be overcome through good design of the working environment and by regular eyecare.

Take frequent breaks When you work at a VDU your eyes can be focused on the screen for long periods so it is important to take a brief rest and give your eyes a break every 20 minutes or so.

You should have sufficient space behind the screen for you to be able to look beyond it and relax your eyes. Screen settings and position You should adjust your VDU to levels of brightness and contrast that you find comfortable. Keep the screen clean and free of dust and fingermarks. If possible, position it so that windows or other light sources are to the side rather than in front or behind it - if you can see a window or light unit reflected in the screen, move the VDU until the reflections disappear, or adjust blinds or curtains. The surface of the screen should be between 33 and 100cm from your eyes and if you are working from copy documents these should be placed at roughly the same distance to avoid continual re-focusing. Lighting Try to eliminate as much glare as possible from the region around your screen. This is not always straightforward, but as a general rule: - The office lighting should be set at a level which allows the documents and screen to be read easily.

Additional lighting - such as an Anglepoise lamp - may sometimes be necessary to achieve this. - Avoid an uncurtained window directly in front of or behind your working position - Any window reflected in the screen should be fitted with blinds or curtains - Walls and desk surfaces should be non-reflective and neutral in colour - Your legal entitlement as a VDU user Since 1993 EC legislation has placed responsibilities on employers whose employees regularly use VDUs as part of their work.

These regulations are also designed to protect users who may work for an employer from home, or any other location which is not the employer's main office. If you are classified as a user, your employer must: - Provide a full eye examination free of charge to you when you commence VDU work and at regular intervals thereafter - Provide a full eye examination free of charge to you if you are experiencing visual problems which may be due to working with a VDU - Pay for a pair of basic glasses if it is shown that you require these specifically for VDU use, or an equivalent amount of money towards a pair of your choice - Provide adequate breaks or changes of activity to reduce general visual fatigue - Provide health and safety training information relating to the workstation.

Keep you informed about the Regulations, particularly those relating to eyesight, rest breaks and guidance on work station minimum requirements. Spectacles Only a small proportion of users will need spectacles specifically for working at a VDU and the majority of these will be what is known as presbyopic. Presbyopia affects us all as we get older. Around the age of 45 people begin to find they lose the ability to focus on objects that are close up. Spectacles with single vision, bifocal or varifocal lenses can all be used successfully for VDU work. Contact lenses are also suitable, but wearers should try to blink regularly which keeps the lenses comfortable.

When you concentrate on the screen for long periods, your normal blinking rate slows down. Presbyopic contact lens wearers may need additional reading glasses. Reflection-free lenses Reflection-free lenses are well worth considering for VDU users. Because they eliminate almost all reflections VDU glare is considerably reduced, providing clearer and sharper vision. The eye examination If, as a VDU user, you are entitled to a free eye examination, make a note of the following points that will help your eyecare practitioner assess the effect that VDU work may be having on your sight: - The date of your last eye examination - How long you have worked with VDUs - The number of hours per day that you work at a VDU - The distance from your eyes to the screen, keyboard and any documents you refer to while working - The position of the screen (eg. above or below eye level, to the left or right of your sitting position) - The size of the screen you use, its resolution and refresh rates (if known) - Any symptoms associated with VDU work
Photochromic lenses are available in glass and plastic.

Historically, glass offered the best photochromic eye protection with a faster reaction and darker tint when activated. Recent innovations and some of the newer products available have shown that plastic's performance has caught up and is now very versatile. Glass photochromic lenses are often twice as heavy as plastic. They are not uniform in tint (which affects the colour of the lens when activated by sunlight) and are not shatter resistant.

Plastic photochromic lenses, on the other hand, are both shatter and scratch resistant. Ask your optometrist or dispensing optician about the latest product and tint range for you particular prescription. Does the colour of the lens make a difference? Traditionally, grey is the most popular colour in photochromic lenses, but tints can vary. Recent research shows that a brown tint is largely preferred in Europe and is widely available in most practices.

Pale complexions


Try lightweight metal frames or those with a hint of colour such as rose or amber. Tortoise shell frames can look extremely good on some fair people as long as they are not too dark, but avoid clear crystal frames as they are too colourless for most pale complexions. Blue or green tinged frames also tend to drain colour from cool cheeks.


Dark complexions


People with olive, Mediterranean, golden or Asian skin and rich black hair often look stunning in silver, gold or clear frames. Also try burgundy and brown colours, but black can be too heavy.


Black skins


All metallic frames suit black skins. Amber usually works well too, but black is either wonderful or awful, depending on style. Be careful with colours - they rarely contribute to overall style unless they're bright, fun and specially chosen to work with a specific outfit.


Oval faces


An oval face has a slightly wider forehead than jaw, well balanced and softly rounded. This face can look good in just about any frame, but try angular or rounded aviators (not large, old-fashioned ones).


Round faces


For faces that are short and fairly wide with full cheeks and a round chin, choose slimming styles. Slightly elongated shapes work well as long as they are not too shallow, while square, or even up-swept styles can help to highlight the upper face. Avoid small and round or very large shapes that make the face look even rounder.


Heart-shaped faces


These faces have a small, neat chin and mouth, tapering up and out to a broader forehead. Frames to try include delicate, rounded or squarish styles. Avoid heart-shaped styles that echo the shape of the jaw.


Square faces


For faces that are strong and angular, or short and wide, the best frames to try are round or oval styles that soften the jawline. Avoid any shapes that emphasise squareness.


Long faces

These are faces with high cheek bones, a deep forehead and a strong or chiselled jaw line. Try wider frames that counteract the face's narrowness. Frames with a strong top line or rounded 'owl' styles can work well. Avoid small, square styles.



Why do my lenses stick out from the frame?

Long sighted people have lenses that are thick in the middle and thin at the edge. Short sighted people have lenses which are thick at the edge and thin in the middle.

To reduce the weight and thickness of your spectacle lenses choose one of the newer, thinner and lighter materials and select a smaller frame. Our staff can advise you on the suitability of your lens power for different options.