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Magnifying glasses for reading aid

August 23rd, 2010

Among individuals over 40 and 50 years old, it is a common practice to stretch the arm to the limit when they try to read up-close materials. Placing a book, newspaper or menu at a normal distance will only lead to a blurry effect. This is very probably the symptom of presbyopia, an age-related vision problem. Like other groups such as the myopia, the hyperopia and even the astigmatic, patients suffering from presbyopia also need to rely on external help or vision aid. Otherwise normal reading is impossible. The solution to presbyopia through corrective eyewear is usually magnifying glasses. It is not difficult to see a senior reading a newspaper with a pair of glasses. Similar to myopia glasses and hyperopia glasses, magnifying eyeglasses are also magic that they can “bring back” normal, clear vision for presbyopic patients.

It is worth stating that presbyopia is a vision condition essentially different from myopia and hyperopia. While the latter two conditions are caused by abnormalities in eyeball shape and are called refractive errors, presbyopia is closely related with the natural lens’ aging and loss of elasticity. As a result, magnifying glasses function in a considerably different way from nearsighted and farsighted eyeglasses. Another difference between magnifying eyewear and glasses for refractive errors is that the first type can be got without a prescription. Pre-made of pre-fabricated magnifying eyeglasses are widely available over the counter. In the 1990s, ready-made magnifying spectacles became extremely popular that over 30 million pairs were sold. This medical practice is completely different from the purchase or selling of myopia and hyperopia glasses which require strictly a valid prescription.

Magnifying glasses have been highly expanded in form of lens power. The most traditional form is regular reading glasses whose whole lenses are equipped with a reading prescription. They are the first choice for people who spend a great deal of time concentrating on near reading. Multifocal forms of magnifying eyewear are thought to be more powerful because they can deal with several conditions within a single pair. Bifocals, trifocals and progressives are currently available.

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How can delicate glasses last for a long time?

August 19th, 2010

Prescription eyeglasses are needed by a large number of people on a daily basis. For this group of patients, a severe vision condition forces them to rely on an Rx eyewear during a majority of daily activities, ranging from reading a newspaper to watching TV. For those who have a long history of eyewear usage, a bothersome problem is that prescription eyeglasses are usually delicate. These delicate glasses are to some extent quite fragile under external impact. As a result, regular eyewear users have to sometimes get their glasses repaired or replaced. Replacing eyewear partially or completely certainly causes much expense. In fact, there are possible ways to minimize the risk of breaking prescription eyeglasses. Due to technological improvements in both lens and frame industries, there have been some solutions that enable eyewear to be much more durable and strong. Resorting to these solutions will generally help protect the eyewear.

The frame is responsible for holding the lenses and it should firstly be durable and impact resistant. Delicate glasses first rely on this protection from the frame. In the current market, eyewear frames made of certain materials have gained significant improvement in durability and impact resistance. Titanium, beta-titanium, stainless steel and memory metal are the best options. All of them are lightweight and impact-resistant. In particular, memory metal still features extreme flexibility, allowing the frame to be bended to a considerable degree. In terms of durability, frames made of these metals are superior to traditional plastic frames. Moreover, some unusual materials like bone and wood can hardly guarantee durability. They only flatter distinctive tastes.

Delicate glasses need safety consideration not only about the frame, but also about the lenses. To a certain degree, the lenses are the major part that is exposed directly to external impact. This makes the selection of impact-resistant and shatter-resistant lenses a necessity. Traditionally used materials like glass and regular plastics are too delicate to withstand a flying object like a tiny stone or a pen. These inferior materials have largely been abandoned. Instead, new materials like high index plastics and polycarbonate are on the rise, because of their valuable features including impact-resistance.

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Possible parts of a pair of complete eyeglasses

August 18th, 2010

Eyeglasses may be used to gain vision correction, UV protection or injury prevention. Modern eyewear products are generally similar in the overall structure, regardless of those slight differences or variations. Most people know that a pair of complete eyeglasses consists of two lenses and a frame. Well, this is absolutely true that the frame aims to hold the lenses in place and the lenses will provide related visual help. These two parts are mutual complementary and form the basic structure of an eyewear. This classification of different roles is reasonable but some details are shielded. A complete pair of eyeglasses involves many more small parts, which will be discussed in the remainder of this writing.

Eyeglasses lenses can not be further divided that they must be complete should they function properly. But the situation of an eyewear frame is quite different. A pair of complete eyeglasses has a couple of frame parts, each of which serves in a specific way. The frame front refers to the front part of a frame that holds the lenses in place and bridges the top of the nose. In other words, this part includes typically two rings and a bridge. To some extent, this is the most important part of the frame because it connects the two separate lenses via the nose bridge. Moreover, the frame front is sometimes further divided into two eye wires and a bridge. An eye wire is the part into which a lens is inserted. And a bridge is the area between the lenses that goes over the nose and supports 90% of the eyewear weight. There are different types of frame bridge, like keyhole bridge, saddle bridge, adjustable bridge, double bridge and even triple bridge.

In addition to the frame front, there are also two end pieces to which the temples are attached. In some cases, these two end pieces are referred as the extensions of the frame front. Another two tiny parts are hinges, which connect the frame front to the temples and allow the temples to swing. This is the key part that links the frame front with the temples. The bridge mentioned above is not the only part that helps hold the frame. The two temples extending over or behind the ears also take a fraction of the frame weight. Complete eyeglasses also have two nose pads and possibly pad arms, top bar or temple tips.

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How to install the replacement frame

August 17th, 2010

Your eyeglasses frames may be seriously damaged by accident while the lenses still stay fine. You do not have to buy a new pair of sunglasses. All your need is a replacement frame, which will save your cost on the lenses purchase.

In fact, using replacement frames, just as the replacement lenses, are considered as an environmental-friendly, economical, also fashionable lifestyle.

But when you are going to install the replacement frame, you are ought to learn the following steps.

If the installing process of the replacement frames is quite complicated, you had better leave the task to the professionals. Take time to find an experienced optometrist in your city. After the replacement frames are installed with the lenses, try the glasses on and feel the comfort, if you do not feel good, you can immediately get the glasses adjusted.

But when the installing of the replacement frames is relatively simple, and you have to install the replacement frames by yourself in that situation. Then just do it. However, you should follow the steps on the lens removal and lens installation.

First, you need to remove the lenses from the frames. While doing this, you need to know first how the frames and lenses are combined together, and then do carefully to remove the old frames. You must use the cleaning cloth to grasp the lens to avoid smudging and fingerprints, and place the removal lens in a right way.

Now it’s time to install the lenses to the replacement frame. You also should know the grooves of the replacement frames so as to put the lenses in a right position. It may be a little different from the removal process. In the installing process, you should know exactly where to seat the lens first, for the proper lens place make the installing easier. In a same way with the removal, installing of the replacement frames also requires a cleaning cloth and a careful mind.

You may still feel uncomfortable about the replacement frames after the installing. Then you need to adjust the replacement frames by needle-nose pliers, a tool for adjusting the eyeglasses. Begin by making small adjustments, a little at a time. Have someone else to help on the adjustment from the second opinion. You can adjust the temple, nose pieces, hinges step by step in an extremely careful way to avoid the again damage to the replacement frames until the glasses fit you well.

If you do carefully and follow the instructions on the installing of the replacement frame, you are sure to make your glasses fantastic again.

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From nerd eyeglasses to retro eyeglasses

August 16th, 2010

Since the emergence of first pair of eyeglasses, both lens and frame industries have experienced tremendous changes. The dominant role maintained by single-vision lenses has been greatly challenged by multifocal lenses. Traditional plastic and glass lenses have been largely replaced by lenses made of superior materials like high index plastics and polycarbonate. Today, even prescription lenses can be tinted without offsetting their normal capability of vision correction. Eyeglass lenses are usually transparent and there is nearly no change in their appearance. The majority of lens changes are associated with functionality. However, the situation is completely different in the eyewear frame industry. Eyeglass frames have changed a lot in appearance along eyewear industry. And there are some interesting phenomena in this process. One is the interaction between nerd eyeglasses and retro eyeglasses.

In modern eyewear users’ mind, eyeglass frames decades ago would really be nerd and far from attractive. It is true that there was a time when many people especially teenagers refused to wear eyeglasses even if there was a vision problem. The reason was that eyeglasses at that time were quite disappointing in terms of appearance. Nerd eyeglasses could hardly gain wide acceptance among average folks. Prescription eyeglasses gain public acceptance gradually along with the process of eyewear style improvement. Today, there are even many people take eyeglasses and sunglasses solely as accessories. During this progression, it is a general trend that modern eyewear styles are more attractive than those old-fashioned ones. But there have been some classic styles playing a nerdy and retro role interactively from time to time.

Horn-rimmed eyeglasses are the best example. First becoming popular in U.S. in 1910s and 1920s, they were later considered as nerd eyeglasses in the 1940s. Then they regained popular as a retro style in the 1950s. Renaissance like this occurred several times in its history. And today, these glasses are typically representing a retro style. The implication of this example is that a typical frame style may experience changes in popularity in different times. An ever nerd model may become later as a retro one.

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Helpful coatings for regular lens eyeglasses

August 15th, 2010

While shopping for a pair of prescription eyeglasses at a local store or over the Internet, most people would firstly remind the optician of precise lens fitting according to the submitted prescription. This is generally the most important task since Rx eyeglasses are firstly expected to offer proper vision aid. But after having this point checked, there are some extra tasks that should be done. For instance, every patient would be asked to select a favorable frame in specific size, shape and color. These are nearly all parameters of the frame. It seems like that the lenses are completely beyond control, except for the determined power or powers. Today, most customers will buy complete pairs of lens eyeglasses with a frame and two lenses. Yet the fact is that there are also some optional points about the lenses. It is possible for regular eyewear users to get extra benefit from two generic types of lens coatings.

Scratch-resistant coating is probably the most popular lens coating and it can be beneficial to every glass user. On one hand, no glass or plastic lenses are born with the ability of scratch resistance. On the other hand, no eyewear user can ensure that the glasses will be under complete protection and be free from dropping onto the floor, or cleaning with a paper towel occasionally. Any mishap to the fragile lenses may lead to a scratch, which will certain affect the wearer’s vision. Lens eyeglasses with a built-in scratch-resistant coating can protect themselves against a scratch. It is worth reminding that it is still necessary to keep these glasses in a cushioned case, clean them with a microfiber cloth and use recommended cleaning solution.

Another beneficial coating for regular lens eyeglasses is called anti-fog coating. Regular eyeglasses will get fogged when the wearer enters an indoor, warm environment from outdoors. This will more commonly happen in a rainy day. For eyewear users living in a cold climate, such an experience will occur from time to time. Moreover, this problem may even cause a danger in police officers and other first responders. The good news is that lens coating companies have developed anti-fog coating as a perfect solution. Lenses applied with such a coating will stay clear during the transition period mentioned above.

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Decorative elements for artsy glasses

August 15th, 2010

When wearing a pair of prescription eyeglasses is inevitable, most people will choose to get an attractive model. Maximizing the possible benefits is definitely a natural thought among Rx eyewear users. It is absolutely true that the large group of users requires a diverse set of eyewear models or styles. The reason is simple that people usually have different tastes about a certain type of product. Eyeglasses will be placed on the face and they are certainly an obvious device that will be noticed by others. Thus getting an item that helps in adding personal beauty becomes quite critical. Among customers with various tastes, some particularly like artsy glasses. Artsy means “seeming or wanting to be very artistic or interested in the arts”. According to this explanation, customers preferring these glasses usually have an arty taste.

It is a common practice for people with an unusual taste to buy products which can help them express such a taste. Artsy glasses are among those products, so that they will naturally gain a certain degree of acceptance in the market. These glasses can show an artsy effect through the overall appearance. Yet it is also possible to grant those wearers such an effect through using some decorative elements on the frame. All of us know that eyeglass frames are usually made of plastics and metals. Silver, gold and wood are also sometimes used to produce eyewear frames. But without additional decoration, frames made of even those unusual materials are hard to create an artsy look. The good news is that eyewear frame designers have made certain decorative ingredients a reality.

Customers expecting artsy glasses will usually focus on the overall appearance. This allows some delicate materials to play an important role. For instance, leather is sometimes used on temples or across frame fronts to create an artsy effect, even if it is not as durable or practical as other materials. In addition, semi-precious and precious stones and crystals are possibly used in eyewear temples. Diamonds are also rarely used to create a similar look. And customers with a tight budget can resort to rhinestones as an alternative.

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Occupational eyeglasses eyewear

August 12th, 2010

The industry of eyeglasses eyewear has been largely expanded and currently there are single-vision glasses and multifocal glasses for different groups of people. The average life span among individuals in developed and thriving countries stays on the rise. There is a big group who are still working after 50 or even 60 years old. It is quite understandable that some people want to work as long as possible. However, some of the elderly folks may find that their vision condition is a big obstacle even if they have still enough body energy. Like young people who rely on myopia glasses or hyperopia glasses during work or entertainment, the senior group possibly has to resort to Rx eyeglasses for help. For this special group, regular single-vision glasses are no longer competent due to the existence of presbyopia. Caused by the eye’s natural aging, this condition will affect almost all elderly people.

Multifocal glasses like bifocals, trifocals and progressives are the suitable items for the senior. These devices help deal with two or three vision problems that are equally bothersome. But for those who still work on a regular basis, normal types of multifocal glasses are not helpful enough. Eyewear designers have in turn developed occupational eyeglasses eyewear for specific jobs. These are actually variations of bifocals or trifocals. In the following part, we introduce some of these examples.

An auto mechanic suffering from presbyopia may find a pair of bifocal glasses with Double-D lenses especially helpful. As widely known, such a worker needs to look down to read and look overhead to view the undercarriage of a car on a lift. As a result, it is necessary to gain clear up-close vision in both of the directions. Double-D bifocal lenses are thus the perfect solution. Librarians and mail clerks are also good candidates to this form of occupational eyewear.

Another form of occupational eyeglasses eyewear uses E-D lenses. Such a lens has a distance correction in the top half and an intermediate correction in the bottom half. There is still a D-shaped segment offering near correction in the lower half of the lens. This lens design provides a wide field for intermediate vision and also enables wearers to see close-up and in the distance. Television production people are target users of these glasses.

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Funky glasses made of unusual materials

August 12th, 2010

Customers with little experience of buying eyeglasses may get surprised at the diverse and colorful options at a large optical shop. Reputable online eyewear sites of a large scale will probably bring a more exciting experience to traditional customers. Well, modern eyeglass users do have a large number of options. Suffering from a vision problem never means the necessity to wear a pair of geek or nerd prescription eyeglasses. Instead, modernistic Rx eyeglasses can always help in enhancing personal facial beauty. After the past decade’s fast development, the eyewear industry has greatly expanded and to some extent been mature. Some customers with special tastes may find it is disappointing that many brands are providing similar frame styles, not to say the standard functions. For this group of people, funky glasses may be the right choice. Funky eyeglasses refer to those items that are unusual and fashionable.

In the near future, it is difficult for eyewear designers to create innovative frame structures, shapes or colors. Lots of eyewear users have to make a choice among frameless, full-frame and semi-rimless styles, as well as several usual shapes. But for users who want to get a pair of funky glasses, turning attention to frame material is likely a good idea. It is true that the eyewear market in the past decades has been dominated by frames made of plastics and metals. And another fact is that new materials like memory plastic and memory metal continue to emerge. But these are usual and widely used materials, being inadequate to bring an unusual look or facial effect.

Frame materials that are suitable for developing funky glasses should be those unusual ones, such as wood, bone, buffalo horn and leather. Have you imagined that these materials are feasible to make or decorate eyewear frames? Compared with regular plastics and metals, these special ingredients will definitely bring a funky experience. In particular, eyeglass frames made completely of wood, bone or buffalo horn are usually handmade, one-of-a-kind pieces. They are perfect for customers with a distinctive taste.

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Reader eyeglasses for presbyopic patients

August 11th, 2010

Reader eyeglasses, reading glasses and simply readers actually refer to the same product. They are regular eyeglasses for presbyopia correction. Name variations are not the key point. The key point lies in the help they can offer. And before discussing in depth the functionality of reading glasses, it is necessary to detail the reason, symptoms and signs of presbyopia that is the source causing the use of reading eyewear. This condition usually occurs at about 40 and will bother a vast majority of people over this age. Most people can not escape this eyesight problem because they are caused by the eye’s natural aging process, an irreversible process. In some cases, presbyopia is called an age-related condition and differs from these eye refractive errors including astigmatism, myopia and hyperopia. These refractive errors are linked with generic and environmental factors which lead to irregularly shaped eyeballs. Exactly, presbyopia stem from a gradual thickening and loss of flexibility of the eye’s natural lens.

It is usually a necessity for presbyopic patients to ask reader eyeglasses for help because there are consequently bothersome symptoms. One phenomenon that can be found among presbyopic patients is that they usually hold books, magazines and even menus at arm’s length, in which distance they can focus properly. Otherwise, everything close-up is blurry. And some serious conditions like headaches, eye strain and fatigue may follow. Using a pair of reading glasses can help prevent nearly all these symptoms. With readers on the face, it is no longer needed to hold reading materials as far as possible intentionally.

Today, there are custom-made and pre-made reading glasses, both of which are widely used. Some brands even offer multifocal reading glasses that can deal with other vision problems at the same time. These glasses take a same principle in correcting presbyopia. As the target buyers of reader eyeglasses, patients who develop presbyopia may find it is helpful to know that there are still some other solutions to this condition. Contacts lenses in multifocal form are also widely used for presbyopic correction. And for a relatively permanent treatment, it is possible to replace the aging lenses with artificial multifocal lenses through an eye surgery.

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