Current Trends in the Fashion and Design of Eyeglass Frames

While eyewear’s primary function is to provide clear vision to help people see the world, the fashion element of eyeglasses cannot be overlooked. The design and style of a person’s eyeglass frames says a lot about who that person is and how they want the world to see them.

Match Eyewear is a leading international manufacturer of superior quality eyewear. The company has developed popular brands of eyewear collections with style, diversity and craftsmanship.

Here are the current trends in eyeglass frame fashion and design that Match Eyewear is seeing today.

Large Styles

After years of shrinking eyewear, the pendulum is beginning to swing in the other direction.  Though it began in sun wear, the trend is now prevalent in ophthalmic frames. Cosmetically, larger frames display the entire eye area, including the eyebrows, so eyes are naturally emphasized.  Design possibilities are nearly limitless with the additional area large frames provide.  Functionally, wearers find that the fuller field of view that larger frames provide offers much less distraction and obstructed vision.  Examples of this trend are the 4188 from Helium Paris and the 1106 from Adrienne Vittadini.

4188 Helium Paris

1106 Adrienne Vittadini

Being a Geek is Cool!

Geek Chic is a style in eyeglass frames making the scene everywhere including red carpet events and fashion runways, proving all over again that it will always be hip to be square. This is particularly true for ophthalmic frames.  DG13 and DG16 from Danny Gokey Eyewear offer a retro take on the trend with shape, but keep the styling current with modern textures and colors.

DG13 Danny Gokey Eyewear

DG16 Danny Gokey Eyewear

Vivid Colors for Men

Distinct colors are all over the fashion runways for Spring and men’s eyewear is no exception. Many collections this year include splashes of color like the pop of blue on 4141 from Helium Paris.

4141 Helium Paris

Elegant Embellishment

True luxury doesn’t lie merely in the cachet of a brand name.  For eyewear, luxury means creative and innovative design, superior craftsmanship, premium components and exquisite embellishments. Meticulous and elegant details like the intricately sculpted temples and Swarovski crystal accents on 1048 and 1094 from Adrienne Vittadini are perfect examples of the collection’s refined sophistication.  4207 from Helium Paris takes luxury to a new, bold level with a sleek metal logo emblem encased in Swarovski crystals at the temple.

1048 Adrienne Vittadini

1094 Adrienne Vittadini

4207 Helium Paris

To learn more about eyeglass frame designs and fashions that match your personal style and compliment your appearance, please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Shawnee Optical’s team of eye care professionals has been providing customers with a superior level of quality and friendly service for more than 35 years!

Today’s Different Lenses for Eyeglasses and the Flexibility They Offer

Just like computers and cell phones, eyeglass lenses have evolved over time and continue to do so.  As the name implies, eyeglass lenses were once exclusively made out of glass. Now, lenses can be made from glass as well as many different types of specially formulated plastics that are matched to the vision correction needs and the choices of the person who will be wearing the eyeglasses.

Today, eyeglass lenses are thinner and more lightweight than ever. When you factor in the different coatings that can be applied to lenses, they can also be resistant to scratches, dust, smudges and fogging.  Modern-day lens options also offer more flexibility and compatibility when it comes to selecting a pair of frames that provide the appearance and functionality desired.

Here’s an overview of the types of eyeglass lenses offered today:

High Index Plastic Lenses

If you wear thick “coke bottle” lenses, high index plastic lenses may be a welcome alternative. Specifically designed for people who require strong eyeglass prescriptions, these lenses offer a much thinner, lighter and attractive option compared to the traditionally thick lenses. To learn more about high index plastic lenses, please visit the following link:

https://shawneeoptical.wordpress.com/2012/11/26/slim-nice-figure-ideal-weight-and-attractive-whats-being-described-here/

Polycarbonate Lenses

Polycarbonate lenses are an impact-resistant type of plastic lens. They are a good choice for people who work or play in environments in which their eyeglass lenses may be easily dropped or scratched.  Polycarbonate lenses also provide ultraviolet protection.

Trivex Lenses

Similar to polycarbonate lenses, Trivex lenses are made from a special type of plastic that is thin, lightweight and impact-resistant.  Trivex lenses provide better vision correction than polycarbonate lenses for some people.

Photochromic Lenses

Photochromic lenses can be made from either plastic or glass. When exposed to sunlight, this type of eyeglass lens changes from clear to tinted eliminating the need for prescription sunglasses.

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are commonly found in sunglasses. These types of lenses reduce glare and the light reflected from water, snow or a flat surface.

Regardless of the type of lens, the purpose remains the same. They all are made to focus light correctly on the retina in order to provide clear vision.

Learn more about the options and features available for eyeglasses from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for eye care and eye wear for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Anti-Reflective Coating: Enhancing How You See the World and How the World Sees You

Anti-reflective coating (also known as anti-glare or AR) is a special treatment for eyeglasses where a very thin coating is applied to both sides of the lenses. Anti-reflective coating enhances both clear vision and the appearance of eyeglasses by eliminating reflections of light from the front and back surfaces of lenses.

Enhancing How You See the World   

Removing reflections from the surface of lenses reduces glare which makes it easier see while driving at night. In addition to reducing glare, AR allows more light to reach the eyes instead of being reflected away. This enhances comfort and visual clarity when using such things as a smart phone, a tablet, a computer or simply reading a book.

Enhancing How the World Sees You

Anti-reflective coating also improves the appearance of eyeglasses. Lenses without AR coating create reflections that   obscure the eyes of a person wearing glasses. Anti-reflective coating enables the lenses in a pair of eyeglasses to appear almost invisible.

Anti-reflective coating can be a great choice that allows a pair of eyeglasses to perform and look their best. Talk to your eye care and eye wear professional about anti-reflective coating for your eyeglasses.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Slim, Nice Figure, Ideal Weight and Attractive. What’s Being Described Here?

If you answered eyeglass lenses, you are correct!

Hi-index lenses offer people who wear eyeglasses with lens choices that are thin, light and attractive.

For people who have strong prescriptions for nearsightedness, farsightedness or astigmatism, hi-index lenses are a great way to avoid lenses that are thick, heavy and distort the natural appearance of your eyes.

The lenses in a pair of eyeglasses correct vision by bending or refracting light as it passes through each lens.  With conventional plastic and glass lenses, the more light that needs bent, the thicker the lenses must be.

Hi-index lenses are different.  Here’s how they work and the benefits they offer:

Increased Light Bending Abilities

Hi-index lenses are made of a special material that is able to bend or refract light much more efficiently than conventional lenses.  This means less lens material needs to be used to bend the appropriate amount of light that corrects vision.

Thin Construction

Due to the increased ability to bend light, hi-index lenses are much thinner than conventional plastic and glass lenses. Therefore, the profiles of eyeglasses are not dominated by thick lenses when hi-index lenses are used.

Comfortable Wear

Because less material is used with hi-index lenses, they do not weigh as much as conventional lenses. This makes them light weight and comfortable to wear.

Attractive

The fashions of today’s most popular frames have either very thin rims or no rims at all (rimless frames). The thickness of the lens becomes very important with these styles of eyeglass frames.  When lenses are too thick, the balance between the frames and lenses becomes disproportionate, resulting in a pair of eyeglasses that are not as cosmetically appealing as they could be with hi-index lenses.

Ask Your Eye Doctor About Hi-Index Lenses

Discuss hi-index lenses with your eye doctor to see if they are an option for you and your vision correction needs.  They may provide you with the function, comfort and appearance you desire in a pair of eyeglasses.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Three Main Types of Retinal Detachment

The retina is a thin, light-sensitive membrane covering the rear of the eye. It’s the part of the eye where images are focused by the cornea and lens. The images displayed on the retina are transmitted to the visual centers of the brain by the optic nerve. In fact, the retina is technically part of the body’s central nervous system and is considered brain tissue.

Approximately 95% of the retina is responsible for side vision or peripheral vision. The remaining 5% located in the very center of the retina is known as the macula and allows for central vision.

If the retina becomes damaged or separates from the back wall of the eye, it’s a condition known as retinal detachment.  When a retinal detachment occurs, it’s a serious condition that needs attention. A retinal detachment causes the retina to separate from its blood and nutritional supply which could lead to loss of peripheral vision, central vision or both.

There are three (3) main types of retinal detachment:

Rhegmatogenous Retinal Detachment (RRD)

This is the most common type of retinal detachment. The term rhegmatogenous means “arising from a rupture or a fracture”.  Rhegmatogeous retinal detachment occurs when there is a hole or a tear in the retina. The break in the retina allows the gel-like substance from the vitreous cavity of the eye to seep through the opening causing the retina to detach from the eye wall.

Tractional Retinal Detachment (TRD)

A tractional retinal detachment is a retinal detachment caused by the gel like substance within the vitreous cavity of the eye pulling on the retina which eventually causes the retina to detach from the rear eye wall.

Exudative Retinal Detachment (ERD)

An exudative retinal detachment occurs as a result of a leak under the retina which allows the gel-like vitreous substance to enter behind the retina. These types of leaks are typically caused by inflammation.

Symptoms of Retinal Detachment

Flashing lights and eye floaters are common early symptoms associated with a retinal tear or retinal detachment.  If a dark shadow or dark curtain obscures a portion of vision, this is also an indicator of retinal detachment.  Anyone who experiences these symptoms should schedule an exam with their eye doctor immediately.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Can Your Student See the Blackboard – or Rather, Whiteboard at School?

Remember when teachers used to write with chalk on blackboards? Today, those blackboards, chalk and erasers have been largely replaced with whiteboards, markers and Power Point presentations.

The question parents and teachers ask their students still remains just about the same:

“Are you having any trouble seeing the blackboard whiteboard at school?”

Parents and teachers know vision plays a vital role in a student’s ability to learn.  In today’s technology driven world, a student’s reliance on clear vision for learning is greater than ever. Research studies show a direct link between vision and a student’s performance in the classroom.

More Information Learned Visually

Various research studies conducted in educational theory show that visual learning is among the very best methods for teaching students of all ages how to learn.

According to the research, students remember information at a much higher rate when that information is presented visually.

Visual Clarity Improves Learning 

Studies also show that visual clarity of the information being studied greatly impacts the ease at which it is learned and the attitude of the student.  Students have a positive approach to the information if they can see it clearly and easily. This has huge implications on learning. A student’s feelings and perceptions about learning determine the student’s level of motivation, comprehension and retention. Crisp and clear vision is critical for optimal academic performance. If a student has a vision problem, they are likely to be frustrated with school and develop a poor attitude towards their education.

Color Vision for Whiteboards and Computer Screens

The increasing use of whiteboards and Power Point presentations in the classroom allow teachers to use a wide variety of colors in their teaching. If a student has an issue with their color vision (color blindness), they may not be able to see or distinguish important parts of the teacher’s presentation. This can have a significant impact on understanding a teaching lesson and learning. Boys are more likely to have issues with color vision than girls.

Importance of Regular Eye Exams

Academic performance is yet another reason why attending regular scheduled eye exams are so important. Talk to your eye doctor about your child’s academic performance and whether they are having trouble seeing the information presented to them in the classroom. It can be surprising how well a student’s grades improve when vision problems are corrected.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com. While on the website, notice the special eyeglass frames offered just for children. Shawnee Optical’s KidSpecs program provides kids of all ages with hundreds of frames choices. After all, kids want to look good too!

A Few Tips for Protecting Your Family’s Eyes This Summer

Summertime brings with it a number of potential hazards for every member of your family’s eye health. From excessive sun exposure to chemicals in swimming pools to projectiles from lawn mowers, special consideration should be given to each summer activity with regards to eye protection and eye health.

Here are a few tips for safe-guarding the eyes of every member of your family this summer:

Wear a Hat and Sunglasses

Sun bathing in your back yard, boating on Lake Erie, spending the day at your county fair or experiencing the thrills of the roller coasters at Cedar Point all bring with them the potential for over exposure to the sun’s powerful ultraviolet (UV) rays.  Too many UV rays can cause a variety of eye problems from burned corneas to accelerating the development of cataracts.

Putting on a hat with a visor and wearing a good pair of sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays can save you from painful eye problems and distorted vision both now and in the future.  Make sure every member of the family wears a hat and proper sunglasses from the youngest child to mom and dad.

Wear Safety Goggles

Mowing the lawn, trimming hedges, building a bird house or sawing wood for the camp fire all have great potential for generating projectiles that could damage someone’s eye.  Before starting any of these activities, invest in a quality pair of safety goggles that are specifically made to protect your eyes during these types of projects. Sunglasses or your regular eyeglasses probably don’t provide the protection you need in these situations. Anyone who is helping or in the vicinity when these activities are being performed should be wearing safety goggles too.

Avoid Strong Chemicals

Swimming in a pool with too much chlorine or other chemicals can lead to red eyes, burning eyes and dry eyes.  These eye conditions can all be very uncomfortable and irritating. If your eyes start to sting or hurt when swimming, simply get out of the pool and rinse your eyes with clean water. Then, don’t go back in the pool unless the chemicals have been balanced. If burning or irritation of the eyes persists for more than a few hours, you should contact your eye doctor.

Get Eyes Examined and Talk to Your Eye Doctor

Summer is a great time to get caught up on eye exams for every member of the family. While at your eye exam, talk to your eye doctor about your family’s summertime activities and what he or she recommends to protect each family member’s precious vision.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 35 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Children Shouldn’t Be Scared of Cycloplegic Refraction

The term “cycloplegic refraction” certainly sounds intimidating. Tell this to a child and it can be understandably frightening.  As with many unknowns, a little knowledge and setting expectations can take away unnecessary fears.

What is Cycloplegic Refraction?

Cycloplegic refraction is nothing more than a procedure used by eye doctors to gain an accurate reading of a person’s refractive error to help them see more clearly and comfortably.

Refractive error is the inability of a person’s eye to bend light correctly. If light is not refracted properly as it enters the eye, the result is distorted vision.

During the testing in an eye exam, a patient’s eyes may auto- focus, or accommodate, which leads to inaccurate and inconclusive testing results. When your eyes are auto focusing, your eye doctor cannot decisively determine your true eye prescription.

Cycloplegic refraction temporarily stops the eye’s ability to auto focus allowing your eye doctor to correctly ascertain your prescription and optimize your ability to see clearly and comfortably.

Why is Cycloplegic Refraction Common with Children?     

Cycloplegic refraction is often times used with children. Children have a strong ability to unknowingly accommodate, or auto-focus, their vision which makes eye exams yield inaccurate or incomplete results.

As described above, cycloplegic refraction briefly suspends a child’s ability to auto-focus. This provides the eye doctor with an uninterrupted opportunity to obtain an exact reading on the child’s refractive error and derive a true and accurate prescription.

What to Expect with Cycloplegic Refraction

Cycloplegic eye drops are placed in the patient’s eye to prevent the ciliary muscle of the eye from contracting and relaxing. This muscle is attached to the crystalline lens of the eye and controls the shape of lens.

There are a variety of cycloplegic eye drops which differ in strength and duration.  When these eye drops are applied, it causes the pupils to dilate and vision will become blurred for a few hours. Some patients also experience tearing and redness in the eyes.

Not Just for Children

Cycloplegic refraction is not exclusively for children. Adults sometimes need this procedure performed to gain a more precise eye prescription. If eyeglasses do not provide the level of clarity needed, this procedure may be appropriate to deliver a refined eyeglass prescription.

Learn more about quality eye care and eye wear from a company and a team of eye care professionals who have been providing a superior level of service for more than 30 years. Please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Eye Glasses: a History and the Future

Eye glasses are in the process of changing significantly. The eye glasses of tomorrow will be noticeably different than the variety of lenses and frames being offered today.

Eye Glasses History Lesson

Historians generally give credit to Italian monks for fabricating the first pair of eyeglasses at some point between the years 1285 – 1290. These spectacles, as they were commonly called, were used for reading.  Eye glasses to correct distance vision are estimated to have been crafted in the early 1400’s.

One of our Founding Fathers, Benjamin Franklin, invented bifocal lenses in the year 1784 which allowed for correction of both distance vision and near vision in the same lens. An Englishman, Sir George Airy, designed lenses to correct astigmatism in 1825.

Trifocal lenses which have three specific powers (one for near vision, one for intermediate vision and one for distance vision) were produced by inventor and musician John Hawkins in the year 1826.

In 1958, Essilor International introduced progressive multifocal lenses which further enhanced lenses with multiple powers for distance, intermediate and near vision.

Innovations in Eye Glasses

Technology is playing an increasing role in the evolution of eyeglasses. Lenses have been developed and continue to be refined whereby the entire lens adjusts with your vision needs.

Electronic eye glasses have been designed with a special type of lens filled with a clear crystal liquid layer that can be electronically controlled automatically or manually. A touch of the finger to the side of the frames or a tilt of the head in a certain direction changes the entire lens to serve your vision needs. If you want to read something, a tilt of the head downward will cause the eyeglasses to automatically adjust the entire lens for near vision. A split-second swipe of the finger across the temples of your frames will allow you to look up from what you were reading and see a distant object clearly through the convenience and comfort of the entire lens.

Electronic glasses are powered by a battery and need to be re-charged. They are currently offered to the public but as you may guess with any emerging technology, they are rather pricey today.

Computing via Eyeglasses

While not targeted towards vision correction, electronic display eyeglasses are being developed that use eye movements to control presentation of information. These eyeglasses contain a microchip that takes data from a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant) and displays it directly on the person’s retina, creating an illusion that the images and text are a few feet away. Eye movements can control menus, search information, play video and conduct many other tasks routinely performed on desktops, laptops and mobile devices today.

This advancement in eye wear is still in the prototype phase. The technology is not yet at a point where its purchase and every day use are feasible.

Discuss emerging eye wear technologies that may serve your unique vision needs, lifestyle and budget with your eye doctor at your next eye exam. The options and the choices are changing.

To learn about a company and a team of eye care professionals that have been providing their patients with quality eye care and eye wear for more than 30 years, please visit www.shawneeoptical.com.

Back to School Checklist: Make Your Student’s Eye Care #1

The start of another school year is just around the corner. Many of us have made our list of things we need to do and purchase in order to properly prepare our children for another year of formal education. When you’re out visiting the mall buying new clothes or filling up your shopping cart with notebooks, pens, pencils, backpacks, organizers and similar school supply items, don’t forget to squeeze in a worthwhile visit to the eye doctor for an exam. In fact, eye care for your student(s) should be at the top of your list. Here’s why:

The Best Learning Method

Extensive research in educational theory has shown that visual learning is among the very best methods for teaching students of all ages how to learn. According to research, students remember information at a much higher rate when that information is presented visually. The optimal presentation for learning and retaining information is a blend of (1) visually seeing the information; (2) verbally saying or hearing the information and; (3) physically writing the information.

Visual Clarity Affects Learning

How do you react when you see a complex diagram or an abundance of written text? Is your first reaction to jump right in and study it further or do you reluctantly approach it? How do your children (students) approach information like this?

Many studies show that visual clarity of information being studied greatly impacts the ease at which it is learned. Whether it’s a chart on a projection screen, an article in a newspaper or a page in a textbook, most people will have a positive approach to the information if they can see it clearly and easily. This has huge implications on learning. Positive or negative feelings and perceptions determine the levels of motivation, comprehension and retention that will be achieved.

Crisp, clear and accurate vision is the firm foundation from which successful academic performance can be built.

Easy to Read is Perceived as Easy to Do

Studies show that when information and instructions are easy to read, people tend to think it will not take much time and effort and dive right in. On the other hand, when information and instructions are not easy to read, people perceive the task to be difficult, time consuming and are reluctant to approach it.

Communicate with Your Eye Doctor

Talk to your eye doctor and discuss ways to enhance all areas of your child’s visual health. More than likely, it will enhance his or her academic performance and confidence.  This applies to students of all ages.

To learn more about quality eye care and eye wear, please visit http://www.shawneeoptical.com.