How to Clean Designer Sunglasses

Sunglasses, also commonly referred to as “shades” are dark tinted glasses used to help protect your eyes from harmful UV rays and help facilitate your vision in bright sunlight. Many people use sunglasses when outside in the sun, whether they are driving, bicycling, walking, jogging or lounging at the beach. Nowadays, there are thousands of styles, colors and brands of shades to choose from. If you are shopping for a new pair, make sure you verify that they provide adequate UV ray protection for your eyes.

Sunglasses are also viewed as an accessory, and many people use them as a fashion statement to accent their personal style. Many fashion designers, from the everyday to the high-end style houses also design sunglasses under their respective brands. It is not uncommon to see designer sunglasses on celebrities, socialites, or even average people walking around on the street.

Designer shades can accent your personal style and protect your eyes from the sun. Popular brand names include Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Prada, Chanel and Hermes among others. Prices for these fashion statements can range anywhere from $50 to thousands of dollars. Whether you spend only fifty dollars or over five hundred dollars, your designer sunglasses are an investment that you will want to protect.

Protect Your Investment In order to protect your shades properly, you must take care not to let them get any scratches on the lenses or the surface of the frames. To do this, make sure you only place them on soft surfaces. If a case is not included in your purchase, invest in a hard case that snaps shut where you can store your sunglasses when you arent using them. Also, make sure you learn how to clean your sunglasses properly and carefully. The guide below will help you.

Clean Your Sunglasses The first step to keeping your sunglasses clean is to make sure they are properly stored when you are not wearing them. If you leave your designer glasses on a table or shelf, they are likely to need more frequent cleaning as they will gather dust there. If you toss your shades into your purse without properly storing them in a case, they are likely to gather dust and debris as well. Keeping your glasses in a case will help prevent the need for frequent cleanings, thus keeping them new-looking and scratch-free.

When it is time to clean your designer shades, make sure you use clean water and a bit of soap. Even using just water is okay, but do not, under any circumstances, wipe your designer sunglasses down when they are dry. Wiping your shades without at least moistening them first can cause scratches and damage to your lenses or frames.

Make sure you are not using a regular towel, tissue or cloth when cleaning your sunglasses. Coming into contact with the wrong type of textile can easily scratch or damage your expensive shades. Instead, use a very soft cotton cloth, such as a chamois, in order to protect your glasses. Another option is to invest in a soft optical cloth to clean your glasses safely and properly.

These days, sunglass care and cleaning kits are available at eyewear boutiques or department stores. Try asking the retailer that sold you your sunglasses if they sell any such kits. Generally a sunglasses cleaning kit will include a small bottle of cleaning solution that is safe and effective for use on expensive shades, a soft cloth made of cotton or microfiber, and a carrying case. If the kits sold at your local retailer seem pricey, simply shop around online for a better deal.

How to Buy Prescription Glasses Online

Did you know that you can shop for, select and purchase your prescription glasses from the comfort of your home or office? Whether its’ your very first pair of corrective lenses or youve worn glasses all your life, there are some benefits to buying your next pair online. Buying prescription glasses online offers maximum selection, savings and comfort.

If you’ve never ordered glasses from a Web site, you may not know where to start. Fortunately, the process is pretty simple, and pretty similar across the board when it comes to different online retailers. Below is a general guideline of the steps involved with buying glasses online.

See your doctor

Before you even start shopping around for stylish frames on your lunch break, make an appointment to see your eye doctor first. You may suspect that you need glasses, but it must be verified by an eye care professional. A qualified eye doctor will also determine what strength prescription your corrective lenses should contain. Your doctor will give you a prescription for eyeglasses if you need them. Even if you already wear glasses, make sure to ask your doctor if your current prescription still works for you. When your doctor gives you the prescription, make sure she writes your Pupil Distance (PD) measurement on it so that the lenses will be centered properly for your eyes.

Browse online providers

This is the fun part – you get to shop! Start by checking out the major prescription eyeglasses retailers. Compare prices among different sites. Check out each sites shipping rates, available discounts, return policy, etcetera. Also, pay attention to each site’s special features. Some online eyeglass frame retailers provide a way for you to “try on” frames by uploading a photo and displaying it with the frames over it. Once you’ve narrowed your search down to one or two sites, try to find consumer reviews of each site’s customer service. You’ll be glad you did. Choosing one retailer to deal with for your online prescription glasses needs is smart because you’ll know what to expect, and if you do your homework, you’ll be very pleased with the value.

Find your frames

If you are a person that has a flair for fashion and enjoys selecting new styles for yourself, you will enjoy this process. Others may choose to keep it simple and focus on price. No matter what your approach, you will need to review various available options before selecting one. If you already know what you are looking for, it should be easy to find. You can select frames by shape, material, colour, brand name, or price. When you find eyeglass frames that you like, place them in the Web sites shopping cart.

The ordering process

Once you have selected your frames and placed them in your online shopping cart, you’re ready to fill out your order form. Most sites will direct you there if you click on “Check Out,” or some similar option. The form will request the usual identification information including name, address, phone number, email, etcetera. There will be a space on the form for your eyeglass prescription. Make sure to enter it just as your doctor wrote it down. Most sites will verify the prescription with your doctor, and some will get it directly from your doctor’s office, so make sure to have their contact information handy. After choosing your shipping option and submitting payment via credit card, you should receive a confirmation email. Though shipping times vary, you can expect to receive your glasses no later than three weeks from when you order them.

Is It Unhealthy to Switch Prescription Glasses from Day to Day?

Have you ever heard a mom tell her child not to wear someone elses glasses because it will ruin his eyes? This common belief comes from the thought that straining to see out of a wrong prescription can damage your eyes. Similarly, some believe that it is unhealthy to switch prescription glasses from day to day. Is there any truth to this thought, or is it simple an “old wives” tale?

The Truth About Your Eyes

So can a different prescription harm your eyes? The answer to this question begins with understanding what causes eye problems to begin with. Poor eyesight is caused by the shape of the eye. While prolonged exposure to certain activities, such as reading or watching TV, when the eye is developing can change its shape, in general you cannot damage the shape of your eye by one or two actions, such as wearing someone elses glasses or changing between prescriptions from day to day.

Why Do You Need to Switch?

If you are concerned about the safety of switching between prescription glasses on a regular basis, consider the reason why you need to switch. Are you switching between reading glasses and glasses for nearsightedness? Do you need to wear safety lenses at work? Perhaps you are switching between regular prescription glasses and prescription sunglasses. Some people even feel that a weaker prescription works better for them when they are using the computer or reading, and a stronger prescription is necessary when driving or looking long distances.

Possible Alternatives

If you are concerned about constantly switching between prescriptions, you may have some alternatives. If you are switching because you need reading glasses and regular glasses, you have probably found this to be incredibly inconvenient. You have to always remember to bring your reading glasses with you, and they are very easy to forget. You also have to switch every time the need to read arises, whether to write a check at the grocery store, scan the magazines to find an interesting headline, or check the price of your purchases before putting them in your cart. An alternative to this situation is to get bifocals. Todays bifocals are as fashionable as regular glasses, and bifocal contact lenses are also available this will eliminate the hassle of always dealing with two pairs of glasses.

Perhaps you are wishing to wear sunglasses but want to avoid the look of clip-ons. One option for you would be to purchase special lenses that darken when you are in the sun. Otherwise, keep your prescription sunglasses in the car, and switch when you are driving. There is no danger in doing this, although it is a slight hassle.

Another option for some people may be to have laser surgery to eliminate the need for glasses. This is not always ideal, due in part to the cost and also to the risks associated with laser eye surgery. Be sure to discuss all of the potential risks before you sign up for this procedure.

So Is There Any Danger?

Research has shown that switching between prescription glasses from day to day does not cause permanent damage, so if it works for you, go ahead and do it. However, some people experience headaches when they switch from one pair of cheap glasses to another as their eyes attempt to adjust to the new prescription. Also, eyestrain is a common problem associated with switching from one prescription to another. These issues do not cause permanent damage, but they can be uncomfortable. However, if you do not suffer from eyestrain or headaches, and switching makes life more convenient, then continue to do it without worry!

What Is the Latest Fashion Trend for Eyeglasses?

Trends in eyeglasses may seem as though they change more often than your prescription. If you are in the market for new glasses, here are some of the things you need to know about recent trends.

Big Is in, but Only Sometimes

Big frames are in style right now, but only for sunglasses. What does this mean for you as you shop for new eyeglasses? You may consider splurging for prescription sunglasses with big, bold frames. These protect your eyes well and add that ‘Hollywood’ flair to your overall look.

Thick Frames Are All the Rage

Look at a picture of your relatives from the 70s, and you will notice that they wore thick, boxy, plastic frames. Todays glasses take a modern spin on this style. The lenses are smaller and rectangular in shape, but the thick, dark frames are definitely in, creating a sort of ‘geek chic’ look. In addition, colored plastic frames are in style, and many people are enjoying coordinating their glasses to match their outfits. Imagine donning a pair of pink glasses with your favorite pink blouse, and then trading them for a blue pair for that evening dress you own.

John Lennon Inspired Frames

Completely round glasses, such as those often worn by John Lennon, are also popular right now. Again, the frames are usually plastic, and they come in a variety of fashionable colors and patterns. Tortoiseshell is one option for those that want a little bit of color in their specs.

Rimless Glasses

Believe it or not, you can now buy glasses that have no rims. These have a noseband and some decoration on the earpieces, but there is nothing surrounding the lens. They can make quite a statement and draw attention to your eyes, rather than to your glasses.

Classic Styles Always Work

Thin, metal rims surrounding a lens shape that fits your face, whether circular, oval, or even square, are almost always an option. You can buy designer frames in these styles, and you will know that your glasses will match just about any outfit you may be wearing. Sometimes less is more, and these understated glasses will be fashionable for many years, help draw attention to your eyes, not your glasses, and work well in corporate America.

Dont Forget Your Face Shape

Wearing the latest trends is great, but only if they look good on you. Everyone has a unique face shape, and some frames will not look good on you. First think about the position of your eyes on your face. Make sure that your eyes fall within the center of the frames you are looking to buy. Also, consider your faces width. You should only have a small space between the edge of the frames and the side of your face.

Your eyebrow is another consideration. Never buy glasses that cross your brow line, and make sure that they are either quite a bit below or above your brows. Choose lenses that fit the proportions of your body as well. If you are slender and short, thick, bulky glasses are going to look out of place on your face. This applies to choosing rimless glasses as well.

The Bottom Line

While you may think you know what type of glasses you want and what latest trend you wish to wear, you cannot truly know what glasses will look great on you until you try them on. If you are going to order glasses online, visit a store so that you can try on several different styles and find the one that fits your face shape well before you order online. When you put on a pair of glasses that is trendy and looks good on you, you will know that they are the perfect pair the moment you look in the mirror!

Can Special Effects Lenses Be Used Multiple Times or Only Once?

With the increasing popularity of special effects contact lenses, a common question that arises is – “How many times will I be able to use them?” The answer to this question is dependent upon many factors – who manufactured the lenses, what purpose the were designed for and how well you take care of them could all be major factors in how many times you can wear your special effects lenses.

Quality and Design

You’ve heard the old saying, “you get what you pay for?” Well, expect it to hold true for special effects contact lenses as it does for many of life’s important purchases including eyeglasses. If you only spent three dollars for your cat eye special effects contact lenses from the Halloween section at the convenience store at the gas station, don’t expect to get very many wears out of them. You’re more likely to end up with an eye infection than a long term fashion accessory from such a purchase.

If you go to a licensed eye care professional and spend money on a nicely designed and quality lens, then you could very easily wear them for several months without having any problems what so ever.

It isn’t necessarily the cost that determines exactly how many wears you’ll get out of your special effects lenses though, you could pay top dollar for a pair of one time lenses that were custom made. The possibilities are almost limitless when it comes to design, amazing artists can hand craft painted designs, the likes of which would have been impossible just a few years ago, onto clear lenses for special sequences and scenes on TV or in movies. It’s likely though that some of these ornate designs would be very uncomfortable or would hinder vision to the point that it wouldn’t be advisable to wear them for more than a few hours.

Even if you do go through the proper sources to obtain your lenses and pay for a quality product from a licensed distributor of contact lenses, it’s very possible that the type of lens you choose may only be suitable for a single wear. You need to check with your optometrist to see if the design you want is available in an extended wear lens or whether the manufacturer only makes it in a disposable or single wear style.

How you take Care of Them

You can buy top quality extended wear special effects contact lenses that could last you probably as long as you’d like them to, but if you don’t take care of them as per the instructions they won’t last nearly as long as they could. People who already wear contact lenses regularly and know the process of keeping them in good condition shouldn’t have any problem caring for special effects lenses, the cleaning and storage process may even be exactly the same as their prescription lenses. Some specialty lenses may require extra care to ensure a long life, but it should be very similar to regular contact lens maintenance.

You may, however, want to go the extra mile with your special effects lenses as far as care is concerned because good ones will likely cost you a lot more to replace than a regular set of contact lenses such as Acuvue – especially if they are prescription, and a similar pair may be much more difficult to find. Even if you are very careful with your special effects lenses, they can still get lost, or rip and become unusable, that’s why it’s best to take every precaution when it comes to the care and storage of these special lenses.

If you are in the market for a pair of special effects lenses that will be with you for a while, your best bet is to pay the extra money for a high quality extended wear lens, and then take care of it as best as you possibly can – that way, barring any unforeseen accidents, you can have your lenses for as long as you want to wear them.

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