On reflection...

Let’s face it – there are probably other things you’d like to spend your money on rather than some new glasses. However, if you’re one of the millions of people in the UK who wears glasses on a daily basis it’s probably worth investing in a good pair that will meet your day to day needs. 


Whilst a lot of thought goes into the choice of frame – and so it should, this is what people are going to see you in every day! – less thought goes into the type of lenses that will be going in these frames. 


Amongst the many options of tints, lightweight lenses and transitions, multi-anti reflection coating lenses can benefit almost everyone. They work by reducing the amount of light which is reflected off the front and back surfaces of the lens, as well as round the edges. 


So what does this mean? Well it might not sound like much, but reducing reflection can help in a number of ways, depending on your lifestyle and how you use your glasses. For example, multi-anti reflection lenses provide a hydrophobic surface, which means that spots of water are prevented from forming on them. This could prove handy if you spend your time in the great outdoors, either during the week or stood on the touchline at a weekend cheering on your team. Or perhaps you drive a lot at night – Multi-anti reflective lenses really help reduce glare, greatly improving your safety.  


And on a personal level they’re also great for showing off your eyes. Rather than have the light reflecting off your lenses and hiding your eyes, Multi-Anti reflection coating prevents this, turning your glasses from a shield into a frame for your best assets. Why hide your eyes away? They’re the most expressive part of your face, so make sure everyone can see them, all of the time.

With fully coated lenses from £30 at Tesco Opticians, the cost doesn’t need to be prohibitive either. If you’re wearing them every day for almost 2 years, it works out at 4p per day – a small price to pay for the benefits the lenses can bring.


When deciding on your lenses the main thing is to make sure your glasses fit your lifestyle. Discuss with your optician when you wear glasses, what hobbies you have, what lifestyle factors could effect your choices. After all, why should you change your habits? Shouldn’t your glasses meet your needs? 


To find out more about the range of lenses on offer, book an appointment on 0845 601 3479 for a free eye test and lens consultation. 

What you need to know about AMD

AMD; have you heard of it? No it’s not the latest dance act from Europe or a new tween actor, AMD (or Age-related macular degeneration) is a serious eye condition that is a leading cause of blindness in the UK. According to a study by the College of Optometry, 50% of British adults have never heard of AMD, which considering the severity of the condition, is concerning.

Age-related Macular Degeneration is a condition which affects an area of the retina, at the back of the eye, called the macular. As this are degenerates your central vision can become distorted and blurry, or even over time a blank patch.

There are commonly two types of AMD – wet and dry. Wet is less common and develops rapidly, whereas dry AMD develops gradually and can be diagnosed in the early stages. Neither can be treated though, but detecting the early signs of AMD means that support can be sought and put in place.

Whilst there is no cure or treatment, certain things have been said to help minimise your chances of developing the condition. As we’ve discussed previously in this blog, diet can have an impact on the health of your eyes and eating green veg, oily fish may help to slow down the development of the condition. Smoking also has an impact, doubling your chances of developing AMD.

Regular eye examinations are essential in checking the overall health of your eyes and monitoring any potential deterioration. Dr Susan Blakeney, optometric adviser to the College of Optometrists "I also recommend to patients that they regularly check the vision in each eye separately so that they can spot early changes. It is easy to do and only takes a couple of seconds, yet it could save your sight. You can do it by looking at a bit of graph paper and checking if you see any distortion or blank spots."

If you are concerned about AMD, or want to find out more visit NHS Choices or call 0845 601 3479 to book an appointment with one of our qualified Optometrists.

Preparing for the Easter get-away.

The Easter bank holiday is nearly upon us and millions of motorists are preparing to travel in the UK. The AA are anticipating as many as 14 million cars on the roads from 22^nd April, especially with the combined Royal Wedding / May Day bank holidays. So if you are shouldering either some or all of the driving responsibility at any stage over the Easter get-away, don’t forget about checking to see if your vision is up to scratch too.

In the hustle and bustle of preparing for your Easter break, remembering your glasses is probably the last thing on your mind. There’s fun to be had, sunshine to enjoy – all too often resulting in starting a journey under prepared. So how can you ensure that you’re safe to drive?

According to the DVLA, all motorists should be able to read a registration plate from 20 metres. Trying this with and without your glasses should be the first stage of assessing whether or not you might need an eye test. If you can’t read the number plate at all, you are not legally allowed to drive. If you could only read the plate with the aid of contact lenses or glasses, you must ensure that they are worn at all times throughout the journey.

Needing to have glasses or contact lenses at all points of the journey means you need to remember to take them with you! Keeping a spare pair in the car for emergencies is just as important as keeping a spare tyre. Have a look for offers at your opticians on buy one get one free for frames, or try low priced frames, such as Tesco Opticians £10 glasses. This way, even if you forget your regular glasses, or they get lost or damaged during the journey, you’re still safe to drive.

If you are at all concerned that your eyesight might not be up to scratch then there’s still time to head down to your local Tesco Opticians. All of our eye tests are free, so even if you’re just a bit uncertain, it won’t cost you anything to check and make sure your eyes are road worthy. As the driver you are responsible not only for your own safety, but also the safety of your passengers, so a quick trip to the opticians can give you peace of mind that your eyes are up to the task ahead.

So while you’re checking oil and water, making sure your tyres are fully inflated and planning the quickest route, just spare a moment to consider the most important component of your journey – the driver’s eyesight. Making time for a test is vital to you and your passenger’s safety, so don’t delay it. Call 0845 601 3479 and book your free sight test today and enjoy your Easter get-away!

Titanium glasses

We’re pleased to announce the launch of Technik, a new range of titanium glasses, available in stores now. So what’s so great about the titanium range?

1. Lightweight: Titanium is much lighter than other metals, making the frames incredibly comfortable.
2. Malleable: Titanium is highly malleable (bendy), making them incredibly resistant to daily use.
3. Durable: Combine the flexibility of titanium with the fact that there are no screws or hinges and they become incredibly long lasting. There’s no danger of the arms coming loose or bending out of shape over time.
4. Thin lenses: The lack of screws mean that they can take super thin lenses. This isn’t only a better look, but also contributes to keeping them as light as possible. It also means that the lenses are much more secure in the frames, making it less likely that they will come loose and fall out.
5. Easy to colour: The properties of titanium mean that the metal is easy to colour, giving designers lot of scope to create fashionable, stylish frames.
6. Value for money: Whilst titanium glasses certainly aren’t the cheapest available, they probably offer the best value for money in terms of lasting well and resisting to daily wear and tear. 
7. Celebrity following: From Justin Timberlake to Megan Fox, titanium frames are proving popular with A-list celebs. Even NASA have given titanium frames their seal of approval and currently use the material for their astronauts. But when you look at their style, value, resilience – why wouldn’t they be popular?!

For lasting quality, titanium frames seem to be the way forward. Our Technik range won’t break the bank starting at £125 wwith our standard single vision lenses or for just £60 more upgrade to our Thin and Light lenses for an extra sleek and durable look.

Pop into your local store to have a look or call 0845 601 3749 to make an appointment.

Top 10 Movie Glasses - The Girls

Last week we posted our top 10 movie men in glasses, so in the interests of equality this week we’re bringing you the girls. Finding lovely ladies in lenses was a bit trickier than their male counterparts, but luckily the guys here at Tesco Opticians were more than eager to suggest their top 10 female movie starts in glasses. Have a look and let us know what you think!

1.    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s
Probably one of the most iconic film and fashion images of the past 50 years, who can forget Holly Golightly peering over the top of her oversized shades into the window of Tiffany’s? This style has been recreated by celebrities throughout the years,  but no-one pulls it off quite as well as Hepburn.

2.    Meryl Streep in The Devil Wears Prada
This stylish movie chronicling a young intern’s adventures at a New York Fashion magazine cast Streep in the role of the formidable Miranda Priestly, widely believed to be based on Vogue’s Anna Wintour. Her character is the epitome of chic and makes these bold rimless frames a must have fashion item.

3.    Scarlett Johansson in The Spirit
The first of our vamps, Johansson donned these stunning, bold glasses for her role as XXX in The Spirit. These frames have bags of attitude making them instantly memorable. If you want to make a statement, these are the glasses to do it with – and don’t forget the lippy!

 

4.    Drew Barrymore in Charlie’s Angels
The second vamp in our top ten is Drew Barrymore. Similar to Johansson’s glasses, these bold, designer frames give instant impact, turning Barrymore from laid back cool to femme fatal. Great for peeking over, these glasses get our thumbs up for being striking and sexy.

5.    Linda Cordellini in Scooby Doo
One of the most famous bespectacled cartoon characters, Velma from Scooby Doo, was brought to life in the 200X film of the same name. The original ‘geek chic’ for girls, these statement specs are undoubtedly one of the most famous pairs in movie history. The orange polo neck however is optional.

6.    Julia Roberts in Notting Hill
These cute shades are definitely befitting of any starlet, although it’s debateable how great a disguise they provide! Small with a eye catching design, these shades are definitely more edgy than glamorous – perfect for a casual day of bumping into people!

7.    Marilyn Monroe in How to Marry a Millionaire
The 50’s are making a comeback this season and we couldn’t leave out the one and only Marilyn Monroe working this statement pair. The circular style works with her soft features, making this vintage look  bold, sassy and stylish – just like Monroe herself.

8.    Angelina Jolie in Mr and Mrs Smith
The last pair of sunglasses in our list one of a number of pairs Jolie wears throughout the film, but these yellow tinted ones really stand out (or maybe it’s because Brad’s wearing them too?!). Apparently the yellow lens helps glare from the sun, enabling accurate vision – kind of essential when you’re an assassin. 

9.    Nicole Kidman in Eyes Wide Shut
This was the last film that Cruise and Kidman appeared in as a married couple, and her studious look had to make it into our top ten. Less Harry Potter and more John Lennon, these oval frames are delicate and subtle – quite different to the storyline of the film!

10.    America Ferrera in Ugly Betty
Ok, so we know this isn’t a movie, but we couldn’t leave out New York’s fashion protégée, Ugly Betty! She might have slowly got more style sense throughout the seasons, but those glasses have always been bang on and we wouldn’t change her for anything! 

Top 10 Movie Glasses – The Boys

The revival of the humble spectacle over recent months has created a bit of a debate here at Tesco Opticians. Glasses are no longer a symbol of the geeky misfit, but have become a coveted fashion accessory to set off any outfit. So we started thinking – which of our favourite movie actors rocked the bespectacled look? Our choices are below – see what you think and let us know if we’ve missed anyone!

 

           1.      Tom Cruise in Top Gun

Ok, so technically these are sunglasses, but they’re still oh so cool.  Luckily for all those wannabe Mavericks out there, aviators are back and don’t need to break the bank. Have a look at ours - online now for £40

           2.      Toby Maguire in Spiderman 2

Everyone knows all good superheroes cunningly disguise their identity behind a pair of glasses and Spiderman is no exception (despite the fact he wears a mask...). Toby Maguire looks studiously stylish in this pair of classic black frames.

         
        
         3.      Matt Damon in The Talented Mr Ripley

Matt Damon’s character Tom Ripley showed us that even homicidal sociopaths could look cool in the right pair of frames. Get the look with a 50’s inspired frame by Carrera  – stealing identities is optional!

     4. Daniel Radcliffe in Harry Potter

Whilst a teenage wizard might not be making an appearance on the front page of Vogue any time soon, there is no denying that Harry Potter has taken circulr specs to an iconic status. And the older actor Daniel Radcliffe gets, the more stylish the glasses become. If you want to get the magic look we have a pair for just £10 



     5. Christopher Reeves in Superman

Another Superhero in our top ten! Who could forget Clark Kent’s foolproof disguise? No-one would ever guess he was from Krypton and had super human powers once he donned his oversized, circular glasses. While we can’t turn you into Superman, we do have some similar frames for only £10! 

     6. Robert De Niro in Taxi Driver

Another sunglasses entry, but we couldn’t miss out De Niro’s Travis Bickle in our top ten. Slightly smaller than Cruise’s aviators these have a more urban feel making them a real statement design. Not one for shrinking violets – bit like the film then.



    7. Colin Firth in A Single Man

With Tom Ford as director, A Single Man was always going to be as much about style as substance. Set in 1962, Colin Firth’s glasses are a great example of retro chic. The bold, oversized, square black frames look great with a sharp suit (maybe a Tom Ford one?) and we have some for just £60 

     8. Ryan Phillippe in Cruel Intentions

Moody, dark and undoubtedly designer. Phillipe’s character Sebastian Velmont used this pair of stylish shades to throw smoldering glances at unsuspecting New York girls. If you promise to treat the ladies better than Sebastian, then try our £40 Gant sunglasses and get schmoozing.



    9. Mike Myers in Austin Powers

Slightly less chic than Colin Firth’s glasses, but still deserve to be in the Top Ten Movie glasses for their sheer sense of fun! These chunky, oversized, black plastic frames are seeing a revival this season, but maybe hold off on the blue velvet suit?

     
10. Jon Header in Napoleon Dynamite

So you might not be racing out to re-create this look, but we couldn’t leave off the one and only Napoleon Dynamite! Perhaps the starter of the current ‘Geek Chic’ look (or maybe not) we’ve aptly named our version of this iconic design ‘Legend’. Give it a go – for £35 you too could be dynamite!