WOULD YOU PREFER YOUR CHILD HAD GOOD PRESCRIPTION LENSES LATER OR GOOD SUNGLASSES NOW?

A child's eye has no natural protection. So up to the age of 1 90% of the UVA and more than 50% of the UVB received by the eye reach the retina. The lens of a child's eye is totally transparent and the pupil is very wide, so a child receives a much higher dose of harmful solar radiation than an adult. Unprotected exposure to solar radiation means penetration of the maximum sunlight that the eye can take and can cause irreversible injury to the ocular tissue.

"Gadget" sunglasses should be banned. They do not filter UV rays and cause the pupils to dilate. The child feels protected and opens their eyes wide towards the sun. The eye then receives a much too high dose of harmful radiation.

Choose frames suitable for the "morphology" of children. Frames should be wraparound to cover the child's eyes fully and allow as little solar radiation through as possible.

EASY ON THE EYES

Aside from the very important function of guarding your eyes from sun-related eye disease, sunglasses provide a variety of additional benefits, such as:

•  Protecting the eyes from wind, dust and pollen
•  Preserving good night vision (when worn during the day and not at night)
•  Comforting dry eyes
•  Enhancing contrast
•  Reducing tearing, squinting and eyestrain

LENSES & LIFESTYLES

Who knew a lens could do so much? The right lenses can drastically alter performance while outdoors. Get up to speed with the latest in lens options:
Photochromic Lenses:
These changeable lenses automatically darken and lighten to provide the right level of protection and comfort over a wide range of light conditions.
Polarized Lenses:
Polarized lenses work exceptionally well to filter out reflective glare from shiny surfaces like water, pavement and dashboards. They improve contrast and visibility while reducing squinting and eyestrain.
Impact Resistant Lenses
All sunglasses in the U.S. must meet FDA impact requirements. Until recently, the only lens material recommended for high impact or competitive sport use was polycarbonate. Now there are new high strength lens materials, including polyurethane, which brings new performance options to sunwear.
Tints
Certain tints that control the amount and type of light that reaches the eye can improve performance by enhancing contrast, colors and visibility.
Anti Reflective Lenses
These lenses dramatically reduce distracting reflections improving contrast, visual acuity and comfort in difficult lighting situations.

WHY UPDATE YOUR EYEWEAR?

•  It's the first thing people see!
•  It's your most obvious accessory!
•  It's important for self-confidence!
•  It's the most compelling fashion statement!
•  It enhances your personality and individuality!
•  It compliments your features!
•  It makes you look and feel great!

MAKE UP WITH GLASSES

When wearing eyeglasses, fashion and image guru Diane Irons recommends going a little darker, a little bolder to make your eyes stand out.

  1. Cream-based eyeshadow will allow the lens to illuminate the eye.
  2. Liquid or cake eyeliner will define the shape of the eye
  3. Apply at least two coats of mascara to bring the eyes to the focus. Before applying, be sure to blot the wand with a tissue to remove excess mascara. This will give a more natural look under your glasses.
  4. Curl lashes to create a wide eyed look.
  5. If your close-up vision is compromised, you should use a magnifying mirror with at least a 5-7x magnification to bring details into focus.

TAKING SHAPE

Ever wonder how to describe a preppie eyeglass shape? Or how to define a bowtie or butterfly? And what is a Jackie O sunglass really? Check out these seven basic eyeglass shapes.

PREPPIE: Call it Preppy, P3, or teardrop, but don't call it round. The preppie style has a slight downward droop on the bottom rim that keeps it from being a true round.

AVIATOR: Like the preppie design, the aviator has a downward - but more exaggerated - droop. Additionally, aviators traditionally feature a double bridge.

CAT EYE: An almond style design, the cat eye - also referred to as an upsweep - slants upward, like a cat's eye. The slant runs the gamut from gentle to extreme.

BOWTIE: A variation on the rectangle, the bowtie's bottom rim curves upward and into the bridge.

JACKIE O: Taking its name from the exemplary icon of the 20th century, a Jackie O frame - or more frequently a sunglass - is a rounded oval ranging from slightly oversize to enormous and often encased in thick zyl.

BUTTERFLY: Similar to a bowtie with its curved bottom rim, the butterfly is also enhanced with an upward curve on the outer eyerims - like a butterfly in flight.

SQUARE: Although sometimes used interchangeably with the term "rectangle" when describing eyeglass shapes, a square is not a rectangle. It's a square with four equal sides. RECTANGLE: Not a square! from 20/20, June 2003

Creative Tinting Brings Creative Results

Here are some creative ways to tint lenses in rimless eyewear that will enhance facial features and help minimize signs of aging.

For strong prescriptions, polish the lens edges. This creates a darker-colored outline around the lenses that minimize the appearance of thick lenses.

To provide a mini face-lift, make lens tints slightly darker at the 10:00 and 11:00 position on the right lens and at the 1:00 and 2:00 on the left lens. It also works like eyeshadow to accent eyes.

To give the cheeks color, tint the bottom of lenses with a rose or peach colored tint. The result will be much like blush-on makeup.

LOOKING SHARP

Glasses are the ultimate accessory! Choose a frame that compliments your facial structure. Look for a style that balances properly on your face. Here are some guidelines:

A long narrow face looks best in oval frames.

A round face is most flattered by an angled or squared shape.

Soften a square face with round or oval frames.

Shorten a long nose with light, wire frames.

If your eyes tilt up a little (or your face is starting to tilt down!), frames that tilt up can help give you a visual face-lift.

To pick the best frames, use the Specs Around Town eye-care professional's expertise. Julie, Katie, Mindy and Katy see faces and eyes of all shapes and colors and can be very helpful when it comes to selecting frames.