How to Clean Glasses

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How to Clean Glasses

Dirty and smudged glasses make it harder to see. Learn how to clean them properly for crystal clear vision and less chance of scratches.

The easiest way to keep your glasses looking fantastic and prevent scratched lenses is to clean them daily. When it comes to how to clean glasses, it’s essential to know how to do it properly, so you don’t cause unwanted damage. Keep reading to learn the best way to clean glasses, lenses and frames.

The best way to clean glasses lenses

Many people must realize that cleaning their lenses, if not done correctly, can actually be harmful. If you use everyday materials that are not safe for your glasses’ lenses, they may scratch or ruin the surface. Here are four easy steps to clean glasses lenses the right way and avoid causing any damage

Step 1 – Wash and dry your hands

The first step to having spotless glasses is ensuring your hands are clean, as you don’t want to pass grease or dirt to the cloth or lenses. Wash your hands thoroughly with soap and dry them with a lint-free towel.

Step 2 – Spray with optical cleaner

Use a dedicated lens cleaning spray on each lens of your glasses. Any optical glasses spray is suitable. You can find these at most opticians, pharmacy stores, and supermarkets.

Step 3 – Clean with a microfiber cloth

After you apply the optical cleaner, you can then use a microfiber, lint-free cloth to wipe away any smudges or debris gently. If you’re wondering where to get a proper microfiber cloth, you’re in luck. SmartBuyGlasses includes a free lens cleaning cloth with each pair of glasses.

Step 4 – Store them in a protective case

Once your glasses are all clean, the next important step is to store them properly to ensure they stay that way. Store them in a hard, protective case with their lenses facing up. This will keep your glasses from being squished.

DID YOU KNOW?

It might be convenient, but cleaning your glasses with your t-shirt or other items of clothing can actually damage th elenses. This is due to the small fibers and uneven surfaces that can create tiny scratches over time,

The best way to clean your glasses frame

You can also use the optical lens spray on your glasses’ frames since it will be gentle enough to clean general dirt. If you wear prescription glasses while performing strenuous activities, it’s important to clean them frequently to get rid of any dirt build-up.

The worst way to clean your glasses

Now that you know all the steps to best clean your glasses’ lenses and frame take a look at what is important to avoid when cleaning your eyeglasses.

Don’t use tissue paper and clothing

Never use shirts, cotton tissues, napkins, paper towels, or dishwashing soap. Using any of these can damage the lens coating over time and void any applicable warranty on the eyeglasses.

Though these everyday items might seem harmless, they are made of tiny materials and have uneven surfaces that may scratch your lenses. These scratches will distort the way light passes through your glasses and lead to vision issues or eye irritation in the future.

Don’t use saltwater

Saltwater significantly damages any lenses, especially when they have lens coatings. Many things rust or degrade when regularly exposed to the salty air near the beach or salt water.

It’s important to remember that lenses should not be exposed to salt water, as they can get damaged, and it will not count as a manufacturer’s defect. Remember to keep them in a safe place and away from the ocean on your next beach day.

Don’t use dish soap, window cleaner, or saliva

Avoid using saliva to wipe off smudges from your glasses. Saliva is unhygienic and may spread more dirt and germs around. Another thing to avoid on your glasses is any cleaning solution made for general surfaces or glass.

Beware: chemicals found in many cleaning substances are dangerous to have so close to your eyes and can ruin your lenses. You should only use an optical lens spray or cloth specifically made for eyeglasses.

When searching on the internet, most sources show how to use dish soap when cleaning eyewear lenses. However, if you’re glasses have special lens coatings like anti-reflective, UV protection, or blue light blocker, this is a big no!

Having any of these coatings and then using dish soap will, over time, strip and break down the lens coating. By striping coatings off, the lenses are more subjectable to other forms of damage.

More tips to clean your glasses

Knowing how to clean your glasses properly will keep them in great condition for a longer time, ensuring clear vision and fewer germs and dirt on your face and eyes. Here are some more tips about what you might be wondering.

How to clean blue light glasses

You can easily clean blue light glasses the same way you just learned how to clean your eyeglasses. Refer to the infographic and video previously shown for a quick refresher on what to do.

How to clean eyeglasses cloth

If your eyeglasses microfiber cloth has only been used a couple of times, you can clean it without water by simply shaking out the dirt and dust.

However, if it’s getting too dirty, you can wash it either by hand or in the washing machine. In both cases, make sure you use cold water and bleach-free mild soap and avoid any fabric softener, as it can make your glasses streaky. Let the cloth air dry when done.

How to clean sunglasses

Sunglasses can be cleaned with the same procedure you use to clean your glasses. Wash and dry your hands, spray the sunglasses lenses with optical cleaner, clean them with a microfiber cloth, and then store them in a protective case.

For more information on everything eyewear, check out our Optical Centre and speak to one of our professional opticians online today.

How to Remove Scratches From Glasses

Although you can't remove scratches from glasses, learning how to prevent them is the next best thing.

How Can I Make My Glasses Anti-Reflective?

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How to Remove Scratches From Glasses

Although you can't remove scratches from glasses, learning how to prevent them is the next best thing.

How Can I Make My Glasses Anti-Reflective?

Strictly speaking, anti-glare glasses don't exist, but there are other options.

How to Buy Glasses Online

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How to Buy Glasses Online

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Buying glasses online shouldn’t be daunting, in just a few easy steps you can find the perfect pair that suit you and your vision needs.

SUMMARY

To buy glasses online, you need to:

1. Have a valid prescription

2. Know your pupillary distance (PD)

3. Select the correct frame width

We buy many things online, from groceries to clothes, and while these things seem “normal,” some products are considered a bit more complex. Purchasing eyewear online may seem exciting, but with questions like frame fit and prescription accuracy, it can be daunting to some.

At SmartBuyGlasses we guarantee that with a few easy steps and access to our online opticians, buying prescription glasses online is simple and easy. Our customer service team is also available to help you along the way.

What do I need to buy glasses online?

When purchasing prescription eyeglasses from online glasses retailers, you will usually need three things:

Your up-to-date eye prescription
Your pupillary distance
Your vision insurance information (if you have coverage)

An updated eye prescription is necessary for purchasing prescription glasses. It’s important to always schedule your yearly eye exam with your eye doctor to identify vision problems, write your prescription, and address your eye care needs.

You don’t need a prescription if you’re purchasing blue light glasses, sunglasses, or other non-prescription eyewear. However, even if you don’t require prescription eyewear, having an eye exam at least every two years is still important to maintain eye health.

Can I order glasses online without a prescription?

If you require prescription lenses, you will need an up-to-date eye prescription during the ordering process. Your glasses prescription is essential to ensure you get the proper vision correction. If you’ve misplaced your prescription, you can use our Lens Scanner app to retrieve your prescription information from your current pair of single vision lenses.

Advantages of buying glasses online

There are many advantages to buying glasses online, convenience being one of the biggest. From the comfort of your home, you can shop for new eyewear on your own time. Shopping at your leisure removes the pressure many people face in-store.

Shopping online for glasses also gives you access to a more extensive selection of frames, making it easier to find a new pair. Online you can browse various brands, styles, and colours. Prices online tend to be more affordable, and with the opportunity to compare prices, you are guaranteed to find the perfect pair at the best price.

Ordering prescription glasses online

Buying a pair of glasses shouldn’t cause any stress or for you to pay too much money. If it’s your first time purchasing eyeglasses online, follow these simple steps.

1. See an eye doctor to get an updated prescription

As mentioned, seeing an Optometrist for an eye exam and receiving an updated prescription is the first step in buying glasses online and ensuring clear vision. At SmartBuyGlasses, you have the option to upload, manually enter, or send in your prescription after the check-out process.

2. Choose your frame width

Purchasing glasses that fit properly is essential. Glasses should fit your face correctly in order to provide the best correction. Our ‘medium’ frame width works well for most people, but we carry glasses with frame measurements from 38mm-69mm. We also offer a low bridge fit, ideal for those with higher cheekbones and a flatter nose bridge.

Your pupillary distance (PD) and frame measurement from your current glasses can help determine the best size for you. PD reveals how far your pupils are from one another and is helpful in centring your frames on your face.

Check the inside arm of your current glasses frame for the lens width, nose bridge size, and temple arm length. Whether you’re happy with the fit of your existing frames or want to change something, these numbers can aid you in the selection process.

DID YOU KNOW

Buying glasses online is not only easy and convenient but can also be fun. With virtual try-on technology, you can now see how glasses will look on you before purchasing.

How can I get my pupillary distance?

Your PD will usually be measured as part of an eye exam and then written on your prescription. If you misplace your prescription, there are two simple ways to get your PD; use our Pupillary Distance app to retrieve the details or measure it yourself.

The Pupillary Distance app enables you to get your PD quickly and easily with only your phone or computer, and a card with a magnetic strip. If you don’t have access to the tools required to use our app, you can easily measure your PD yourself. All you need is a ruler and a mirror. To measure your PD at home:

Stand in front of a mirror and hold a ruler to the bridge of your nose or against the line of your eyebrows.
Close your right eye and align the ruler’s zero with your left pupil.
Keep the ruler still, then close your left eye and open your right eye.
The number aligned with your right pupil’s center is your PD measurement.

3. Find frames that suit your face shape

While you can wear any glasses frames you want, certain frame styles suit particular face shapes. If you’re unsure of your face shape, follow these easy steps.

Look in the mirror and outline your reflection on the mirror with a bar of soap or lipstick.
Consider the shape you’ve just drawn; compare and match it to a standard face shape below.

After you’ve understood your face shape, it’s time to choose a complimenting frame.

How do I know what style of glasses to get?

If you have an oval face, you can wear almost any style, including oversized glasses, rectangular, square, round, or cat-eyed frames. For those with a square face, you should opt for oval or round glasses to soften your features. You can use rectangular, square, or cat-eye glasses to add sharp angles and definition if you have a round face shape.

People with heart-shaped faces tend to have wider foreheads and a narrow chin. This shape works well with various styles, including rectangle, oval, and cat-eye. The least common face shape is diamond; a geometric, rectangular, or oval frame would work well for this shape.

4. Find a frame that suits your style

Of course, it’s important to understand what frames may look best on you, but it’s also important to consider your style and what may make you feel the best. Everyone has a certain sense of style, whether subtle or bold, neutral or bright, or anything in between; finding eyewear to match your aesthetic is essential.

Consider the type of glasses frames you want. Do you prefer rimless or full-rim frames? Be sure to consider the frame material as well. Metal or titanium frames are minimalistic and sleek. Plastic frames are generally lightweight and comfortable for everyday wear.

Don’t forget about colour. These days, frames are available in all colour blocks, gradients, and patterns. Think about how and where you’ll wear your glasses or sunglasses, then select the frames that best fit your lifestyle and complete your wardrobe.

5. Choose your lenses and coatings

Now that you’ve chosen frames, it’s time to select your lenses. With a wide range of lenses available, it may be hard to know which to select. Most frames can be fitted with prescription lenses, including single vision and progressive, and coatings like blue light block. Every lens has its benefits, so it’s essential to understand what you need from your new eyeglasses.

Your prescription for eyeglasses will guide you in choosing your lenses for vision correction. If you want to reduce eye strain caused by too much screen time, an anti-glare coating can be added to your lenses.

SmartBuyGlasses has many different lens options and will recommend lenses based on the frames you choose to ensure they’re not too thick or thin. Lenses are available at different widths, with anti-reflective coatings, UV protection, and other features. To learn more about different lenses, head to our Lens Hub to read more.

6. Place your order

Now that you’ve found your perfect frames and added lenses, it’s time to place your order. Before purchasing, check with your insurance provider to see if they will cover all or some of your frame or lens costs.

At check out, enter your payment details, and if you have vision insurance, be sure to download an invoice and claim a reimbursement directly with your provider. It’s important to note that SmartBuyGlasses offers 100-day returns and a 2-year warranty so you can feel confident when you shop online.

Can I try on glasses when ordering online?

With advances in virtual AI technology, you can now try on over 10,000 glasses before purchasing your new pair using our Virtual Try-On tool. With so many frame styles, a virtual try-on is helpful as you begin your search.

To get started, all you need is your phone or computer. You’ll take a short video of yourself and then are free to try on frame after frame for as long as you want, eliminating any pressure or embarrassment you may experience in a retail store.

Is it a good idea to buy glasses online?

Buying glasses online has many benefits. Finding quality glasses online doesn’t have to be complicated or costly. Besides taking advantage of online savings, you can avoid shopping in-store, where you may only be able to try on up to five frames.

Shopping online for eyewear opens the door to an endless amount of frames and lenses. It allows you to experiment and find a frame style that may not be available in-store.

Buying glasses online

Hopefully, how to buy glasses online is a bit clearer, and you’re ready to try it. SmartBuyGlasses carries one of the largest eyewear selections for men, women, and kids. We know buying eyeglasses can be stressful, but with high-quality frames and lenses, we make the search and purchase process as seamless as possible.

After your purchase, your new eyeglasses will arrive right to your doorsteps in just a few business days. After you’ve received your glasses, try them on to ensure the frames fit properly. It’s important to note that getting used to new glasses, especially those with new lenses, may take a few days to get used to.

Be sure to take proper care of your eyeglasses, clean the lenses properly and keep them in their case when they’re not being worn. If you still have questions or need help, head to our Optical Centre and speak with one of our in-house Opticians. They’re here to answer any of your eyeglasses, lenses, and lens materials questions.

Prescription Safety Glasses Buying Guide

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Prescription Safety Glasses Buying Guide

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If you've got imperfect vision and you also need to wear protective safety glasses for work or sport, you can combine your safety glasses with prescription lenses.

With lockdowns being lifted around the world, millions of prescription glasses wearers will be eager to spend more time outside in the coming weeks. As well as wearing masks, prescription safety glasses are a brilliant way of protecting yourself and your virus-vulnerable eyes on the go.

We’ve compiled a guide to the ins and outs of prescription safety glasses, as well as given a couple of pointers for where to buy them.

How do safety glasses work?

Safety glasses are built on a fairly simple concept: protecting the eyes as much as possible. This is generally done by covering or sealing the areas surrounding your eyes (like with wraparound prescription safety glasses or prescription safety glasses with side shields).

Usually made from polycarbonate or other durable plastics, safety glasses are a brilliant way to defend your eyes from irritants like chemicals or sawdust.

While they’re usually seen in laboratories or factories, the recent pandemic has created a new level of demand, allowing for a more diverse, competitive range of safety glasses on the market, e.g. prescription bifocal safety glasses.

Prescription safety glasses for work

Different jobs have different requirements for personal protective equipment (PPE). Some activities may require side shields, goggles or even full face protection. In every country, there will be regulations in place to help determine which type of safety eyewear is most appropriate.

As a rule of thumb, jobs like carpentry, plumbing or machine work will require face protection; if you need a prescription anyway, purchasing prescription safety glasses is really important for your own (and your colleagues’) health and safety.

DID YOU KNOW?

Safety glasses are commonly used in sports like racquetball and fishing.

Prescription safety glasses for sport

If you’re a prescription glasses wearer and you regularly take to the field, you should really consider prescription safety glasses like these from Progear. Having your full vision available could be key to winning a match or event – plus, there’s no risk of them falling off and breaking; the vast majority have elasticated head straps.

If they were good enough for professional sportsmen like Edgar Davids, you can bet they’ll help you out in games.

Prescription safety glasses: COVID-19

Since the start of 2020, people have rightfully been paying more attention to protective gear in casual or public settings. To slow the spread of COVID-19, the prevailing advice is to cover your ‘mucus membranes’ – i.e. your mouth and nose – with a face mask.

However, your eyes are still a very accessible point of entry for coronavirus. By switching from regular prescription glasses to prescription safety glasses (or even just using safety glasses that fit over prescription glasses like these), you can further take measures to protect yourself in high-risk settings.

Safety glasses and face coverings from SmartBuyGlasses: best prescription safety glasses

Now that you’ve read about the necessity of safety glasses for different purposes, it’s important to know where to get prescription safety glasses online.

At SmartBuyGlasses, we sell a range of cheap prescription safety glasses and face masks – you can see if there’s anything you like by clicking here – we recommend these Salice safety glasses.

If you’re interested in knowing more about protective eyewear, read our guide to face shields here. Or, browse our selection of eye health content here

Anti-glare Glasses

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Anti-glare Glasses

Glare is a nuisance. That's why anti-glare glasses were developed. Find out about the different kinds and their benefits here.

Did you know that standard lenses transmit around 91% of light to the eye? The remaining 9% is lost to surface reflection. Anti-glare glasses help solve this problem, among others.

Many don’t know the role played by reflection when wearing prescription glasses and aren’t sure whether or not to get anti-glare glasses. It’s important to be able to make an informed decision, so we’ve gone ahead and put together this guide to explain it.

What are anti-glare glasses?

Lens coatings are vital in improving vision clarity and the durability of your eyeglass lenses. There are many types, and they can be applied to glasses regardless of whether you wear single-vision, bifocal, or progressive lenses.

One of the available lens coatings you can choose from is anti-glare coating, also called anti-reflective coating. This is a microscopic multilayered coating that’s applied to your lenses to reduce their ability to reflect lights. As a result, it helps keep your vision clear.

How does anti-reflective coating work?

Thanks to their anti-glare coating, anti-glare glasses reduce the amount of light that reflects off lenses. This results in more light passing through the lens and greater visual clarity.

Not only do they help you see better, but they also help reduce the light visibly reflected by the lens, which can be annoying at times.

Anti-glare glasses benefits

There are more benefits to anti-reflective glasses than you might think; here are some of the advantages of choosing anti-glare coatings:

Adding an anti-glare coating to your night driving glasses can improve vision in low-light conditions, which results in safer driving.
Anti-glare coatings improve clarity when working in front of a screen, resulting in reduced eye strain.
Anti-glare coatings can reduce visual fatigue caused by reflections, resulting in less eye strain.
Your eyes are more visible through anti-reflective lenses, which helps keep eye contact when wearing glasses and makes for better photos if taken wearing eyewear.

If you wear glasses all day, every day, anti-reflective coating is likely a good choice for you. It will give you the most natural visual experience and place less strain on your eyes.

Disadvantages of anti-glare glasses

You may also experience a few disadvantages when wearing anti-glare glasses, including the fact that you’ll need to clean your lenses more often. This is because, due to its nature, the anti-glare lens coating can highlight dirt or dust.

Scratches will also be more visible, which means your anti-glare lenses will need to be handled with extra care. To learn more on how to properly take care of your glasses, check out our tutorial below.

DID YOU KNOW?

In addition to reducing glare and lens reflections, anti-glare coating also reduces your exposure to blue light.

Do I need anti-glare on my glasses?

Anti-glare coating is not strictly necessary, however we recommend it as it will improve everyday comfort and the overall performance of your lenses. It can be applied to almost all types of glasses, including sunglasses.

Can you add anti-glare to glasses after purchase?

No, unfortunately anti-glare coating cannot be added to your lenses after purchase. However, there are many affordable frame options you can get with anti-glare coating that won’t break the bank.

Are anti-glare and blue-light glasses the same?

No, anti-glare and blue light glasses are not the same. Blue light block and anti-glare are two different types of coatings, designed for different purposes.

As the name implies, blue-light block coating blocks the wavelengths of blue light from reaching your eyes. Anti-glare coating doesn’t block light, instead, it reduces reflection.

Blue light block coating can be added as an additional coating to your lenses when purchasing your glasses – that way you’ll experience the benefits of both these coatings.

How to care for glasses with anti-glare coating

As mentioned above, anti-glare glasses might need to be handled with more care than regular glasses. To make sure your glasses are always cared for properly, remember to:

Store the glasses in their protective case when you’re not wearing them.
Always use a microfibre cloth when wiping off their lenses.
Use an optical spray to keep them extra clean.

Remember to avoid cleaning your glasses with shirts or chemical cleaners, as this might damage your glasses.

What’s the best coating for me

For more information on the different types of lens coatings available, you can read this article here. Ultimately, the best lens coatings for you will depend on your lifestyle and vision needs.

If you have questions on lens coatings and which to choose feel free to reach out, our opticians will be happy to help you find the best solution.

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Digital Eye Strain

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How to Recognise and Prevent Digital Eye Strain

If you’re using digital screens for long periods of time, you could be suffering from digital eye strain. Learn what the symptoms are and how you can avoid them.

There’s no denying that our world is shifting to even more screen time with our access to TV, computers and phones. As we now spend an average of 8 hours a day looking at digital screens, it’s time to focus on taking care of our eye health. Unfortunately, there is no avoiding this issue, but there are things we can do to prevent eye strain.

We must take our eye health seriously, just like we do for our physical and mental health. If you’re worried about your vision or someone close to you, keep reading to learn more about digital eye strain, its symptoms and ways to avoid it.

What is digital eye strain?

Digital eye strain, also known as Computer Vision Syndrome, is an unfortunate eye and vision-related problem caused by prolonged computer use (American Optometric Association 2022). Over the last few decades, these issues have become more common, with 2 out of 3 people reporting symptoms (Chu, A 2023).

If you use a computer or digital screen for extended periods, you most likely suffer from symptoms whether you realise it or not. Computer Vision Syndrome is common in children and adults and can lead to severe effects if left untreated.

What does a strained eye feel like?

When you suffer from strained eyes, they may feel sore, achy or tired. You may experience light sensitivity and discomfort when moving your eyes or focusing on everyday objects. In severe cases, you might even experience headaches or blurred vision.

What causes digital eye strain?

Digital eye strain can be caused by concentrating on reading text on a computer screen or digital device, which causes more strain than reading a book. Other causes of digital eye strain include:

Screen glare
Inadequate lighting
Poor posture while using a digital device
Using a digital device too close or far from your eyes
Uncorrected/detected eye-vision problems
Less frequent blinking than usual when using a digital device
Extended exposure to blue light emitted from digital screens
Infrequent breaks from your digital devices

Unfortunately, what causes digital eye strain is not just one factor but a combination of them all. It’s important to be aware of all the factors to ensure you adjust each one that applies to you.

What causes eye strain in one eye?

It’s not uncommon to feel the symptoms of eye strain in just one eye rather than both. This can be caused by a variety of factors, like a change in your glasses prescription or an eye injury. Of course, looking at digital screens, reading in low light or performing tasks that require intense focus can all contribute to eye strain in one eye.

Other factors such as allergies, dry eyes or eye infections can also cause a feeling of eye strain in just one eye. It’s important to identify the underlying cause of eye strain to prevent further discomfort and protect your vision.

Digital eye strain symptoms

Computer Vision Syndrome and digital eye strain can be highly uncomfortable, resulting in painful physical symptoms like eye fatigue, blurred or double vision, neck and shoulder pain, and more.

Much like the causes of digital eye strain, the symptoms you feel may be a combination of a few or all of them in worst-case scenarios. If symptoms aren’t treated, you may also suffer from extreme digital eye strain that can cause vertigo, nausea and twitching of facial muscles like the area around your eyes.

Digital eye strain treatments

Small changes in your everyday behaviors and environment are generally enough to treat digital eye strain. But if you are frequently suffering, you may need to combine a mix of different treatments and implement them in your daily activities.

1. Update your prescription glasses

As our eyes and vision needs can continuously change over time, it’s essential to make sure you are updating your glasses or contact lenses and having yearly eye checks. Up-to-date contact lens prescription and lenses may be required to match your vision needs for computer viewing. You can also customise your corrective lenses to include coatings that improve your eyesight and comfort.

DID YOU KNOW

2 out of 3 people suffer from painful symptoms of digital eye strain, which can be prevented with small, easy changes to your everyday routine and computer setup.

2. Rest your eyes with the 20-20-20 rule

Follow the 20-20-20 rule to give your eyes a well-deserved rest. The 20-20-20 rule is an easy exercise that you can implement everywhere. Every 20 minutes, give your eyes a 20-second rest by focusing on something 20 feet away. Repeating this throughout the day will help with eye fatigue and soreness.

3. Make sure your posture and computer position is correct

If your job is computer-based or you study online, ensure you have the ideal posture and computer position to reduce your Computer Vision Syndrome symptoms. Your screen should be 4-5 inches below your eyesight and 20-28 inches away from your eyes. Sitting upright with a well-supported back is vital. Add a footrest to support your feet and back to increase comfort.

4. Ensure your lighting works for you

Poor lighting, brightness and harsh glare from direct sunlight can affect what you see on your screen. Try to relocate your monitor, close your curtains or shades to fix these issues and experiment with your screen settings. Increasing your font size and adjusting your screen to the warmer end of the colour spectrum can help alleviate the effects of eye strain.

5. Try some blue light blocking lenses

Add blue light blocking lenses to your prescription glasses to stay protected from the harmful blue light rays emitted from your screen. These lenses can be added to any glasses easily and will help reduce eye strain and fatigue caused by digital devices.

How long does eye strain take to heal?

Depending on the severity of your eye strain and the cause, you can recover within a few minutes to a few days. It’s important to remember that your digital eye strain won’t heal unless you are taking active steps to relieve your symptoms.

Who is at risk of getting digital eye strain?

No matter your age, you’re at risk if you have access to screens. Anyone looking at their computer, phone, or TV for two or more hours in a row can be at risk of developing painful symptoms. Of course, anyone who works, studies or spends prolonged time on digital screens can be at a higher risk than others.

How to prevent digital eye strain?

Now that you know what causes digital eye strain and how to treat your screen fatigue at home, you should be able to adjust your regular habits to reduce strain and avoid severe symptoms. If you feel your computer screen is the biggest trigger, consider looking into computer glasses that could also prevent painful cases of eye strain.

Ensure you get a regular eye exam from your eye doctor so you can stay on top of any underlining eye issues and keep your overall eye health in check. For more information and eye health tips, ask our certified online Opticians any questions you may have.

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How to Improve Vision

Let's go over practical tips on improving eyesight. Knowing proper eye care can save you from future issues.

What Are Blue Light Glasses?

Discover how blue light affects our eyes and dive into how blue light glasses work.

How Can I Make My Glasses Anti-Reflective?

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How Can I Make My Glasses Anti-Reflective?

Anti-reflective (AR) coatings are a simple upgrade that can make a big difference in your vision and comfort.

As we’re all aware, the main function of glasses is to allow us to enjoy a clear, sharp field of vision and therefore live life in greater comfort.

However, if you wear glasses regularly, you’re probably familiar with the annoying reflections and glare from lenses.

Modern lens technology has found smart solutions to fix this, and anti-reflective coating is one of them. Here, we’ll explain how it works and why it might be the perfect upgrade for your eyeglasses.

What is glare and how does it affect your eyesight?

Do you ever feel discomfort when looking directly at sources of light through your glasses? This could be due to glare.

Glare is defined as a strong, dazzling light. Although it often comes directly from a light source, it can also happen when light is reflected off an object, such as glass, water and certain metals.

Due to the glare we experience from highly reflective surfaces, viewing these objects closer to a light source becomes difficult.

What are anti-reflective glasses?

There are several types of coatings you can add to your eyeglass lenses to improve your viewing experience. These include impact resistance, hydrophobic, UV and blue light protection and, of course, anti-reflective coatings.

Also known as anti-glare lenses, anti-reflective (AR) coatings reduce reflections on the outer surface of lenses by allowing more light to pass through them.

Have you ever been unable to see a person’s eyes due to the reflection on their glasses? These reflections are an aesthetic concern for some, especially in photos or video calls. AR coatings help eliminate these unwanted reflections, ensuring your eyes remain visible.

Beyond aesthetics, AR coatings also improve visual clarity. By allowing more light to pass through instead of bouncing it off, the halos that form around bright lights are removed from view, improving visual acuity as a result.

This can reduce eye strain in various conditions while making everyday activities more comfortable, such as driving at night and using digital devices.

While some retailers use the term “anti-glare coating,” it’s important to note that the correct terminology is “anti-reflective coating.” If you’re looking for a lens technology that only reduces glare, polarised lenses are the best solution, although they are only available for sunglasses.

How does an anti-reflective coating work?

AR coatings are made of layers of metal oxides. Simply put, anti-reflective coating cancels out the light reflected on the surface of the lenses and allows more light to pass through them and reach your eyes.

The more light that reaches your eyes, the more clearly you can see. This is all achieved by a fairly complex scientific process called the optical interference model.

Basically, the layers of the anti-reflective coating work together to introduce “destructive” light waves, which, as their name suggests, destroy the reflection on the lenses.

Uncoated lenses allow about 92% of light to pass through them. Anti-reflective coating increases that number to 99%, giving the wearer greater visual acuity.

Caring for glasses with anti-reflective lenses

Contrary to what you may think, an anti-reflective coating can make your glasses easier to clean and care for. Most AR coatings give the lens surface a hydrophobic finish, which repels water and dirt, so the lenses don’t smudge so easily.

That said, you may have to clean them more frequently as dust is more visible on them. Like with any glasses, always use a microfibre cloth to clean instead of a t-shirt, tissue, or other materials that may cause tiny abrasions.

It’s also useful to wet the lenses beforehand to further protect them from the risk of friction-induced scratches.

Ask your optician to recommend which cleaning products can be safely used to clean your anti-reflective glasses. The harsh chemicals in some products can damage this type of coating.

Benefits of anti-reflective coatings

The most noticeable benefit of AR coatings is the improved appearance of the lenses. Without reflections, the wearer’s eyes are more visible, making conversation and eye contact in general easier.

For the wearer, the absence of reflections on their lenses is less distracting, especially in situations such as driving at night, working in a brightly lit environment, or in front of digital screens. As a result, your eyes are put under less strain.

AR lens coatings also improve visual acuity, meaning your vision will be sharper, thanks to the extra light getting through to your eyes.

This coating is particularly useful on high-index lenses, as these can reflect up to 50% more light than other lenses. This makes an AR coating almost essential for high-index prescription lens wearers.

When it comes to sunglasses, the dark lens tint generally negates the need for an AR coating on the outside of the lenses. However, it can still be applied on the inside of the lenses for greater comfort when the sun is behind you.

DID YOU KNOW?

Every anti-reflective coating gives the lenses it’s applied to a very subtle tint. This tint is most often either green, brown, or yellow.

Anti-reflective vs polarised lenses

Both AR coatings and polarised lenses greatly reduce glare, but the way they do it and the situations they serve best may differ.

As you now know, AR coatings allow more light to pass through the lens, reducing distractions from glare, improving visual clarity and eye contact. They are helpful for everyday eyeglasses, and particularly beneficial for driving at night or digital device usage.

Polarised lenses, on the other hand, block horizontal light waves, which are responsible for creating glare from surfaces like water, road and snow, providing the wearer with sharper vision. Best used in outdoor activities, these lenses are typically heavily tinted, making them unsuitable for regular eyeglasses.

If you spend a lot of time outdoors and participate in activities such as driving, fishing and skiing, polarised glasses may be a valuable addition for you. But if adding an extra coat of benefits to your regular prescription glasses is what you’re looking for, AR coating will be the best choice.

Either way, both options offer the valuable benefits of anti-glare, improving your visual comfort and clarity based on your lifestyle needs.

How can I make my glasses anti-reflective?

As is usually the case when it comes to eyewear choices, your own vision requirements and lifestyle will dictate what the best option for you is.

If, after reading this article, you believe anti-reflective lens coating is worth the investment, here’s how you can get your anti-glare glasses:

Explore our wide range of eyewear and find your favourite pair. Feel free to experiment with our Virtual Try-On Tool to see what frames look like on you before you buy.
When adding your new frames to the cart, click the “Choose Lenses” option.
Choose the type of lens you need, such as single vision, progressive or plano (non-prescription). Add your prescription details if you need lenses with corrective power.
Select a “Lens Package” with anti-reflective coating. All our lens packages aside from our free 1.5 index lenses include this.
Choose any additional add-ons and proceed to checkout.

And that’s, you’re anti-glare glasses will arrive in no time!

If you’re still unsure if AR coating is right for you, feel free to explore our Lens Hub or reach out to one of our opticians– they’re here to answer any questions and can help you make the best choice for your needs.

Sunglasses: Myths and Misconceptions

Learn the truth behind common myths about sunglasses

How to Test Blue Light Glasses

Discover the different types of blue light glasses and how to test their efficacy at-home.

How to Tell if Your Sunglasses Are Polarised

Learn why you may need polarised lenses and how to tell if your glasses already have polarisation or not.

Sunglasses: Myths and Misconceptions

Learn the truth behind common myths about sunglasses

How to Test Blue Light Glasses

Discover the different types of blue light glasses and how to test their efficacy at-home.

How to Tell if Your Sunglasses Are Polarised

Learn why you may need polarised lenses and how to tell if your glasses already have polarisation or not.

Strabismus: Explanation and Treatment Options

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Strabismus: Explanation and Treatment Options

What is strabismus? Learn about its causes, symptoms (including when they appear) and treatments.

SUMMARY

Most commonly found in children, strabismus happens when the eye muscles fail to align the eyes properly.

There are different types of strabismus based on the direction of the misaligned eye and whether it’s constant or intermittent.

Treatment options include eyeglasses, prism lenses, patching, visual therapy and surgery.

Have you ever wondered if there are glasses able to correct strabismus? Or if any other treatments can help? Find all the information you need about strabismus, what it is, why it occurs, and all the treatment options.

What is strabismus?

Strabismus (also sometimes known as crossed eyes) is a condition where one of the eyes is not aligned with the other – i.e.; it looks in a different direction from the other eye.

Six muscles control the movement of the eyes. Under normal conditions, these muscles work together and point the eyes in the same direction. When strabismus occurs, one of the eyes works differently and has a problem keeping ocular alignment.

Proper eye alignment is needed to avoid seeing double, for good depth perception, and to prevent poor vision in the turned eye. When the eyes are misaligned, the brain receives two different images. This may create double vision and confusion. However, over time, the brain will start to ignore the image received from the turned eye.

Strabismus can be constant or intermittent, which means it can either be constantly present or only be present at times. Other two types include:

Unilateral strabismus occurs when the misalignment affects the same eye.
Alternating strabismus happens when your eyes may take turns being misaligned.

Based on the direction of the misaligned eye, there are four types of strabismus:

Esotropia: inward turning
Exotropia: outward turning
Hypertropia: upward turning
Hypotropia: downward turning

DID YOU KNOW

Strabismus usually appears during the first three years of age, but cases of adult strabismus are also very common.

Strabismus symptoms

Based on what age the strabismus occurs, different symptoms may appear. In adults, signs of strabismus might include:

Weakness in the eye
Vision changes (double vision, blurry vision, loss of depth perception)
Constant tilting of the head to see an image clearly

Strabismus is one of the most common eye conditions in children. Children can either be born with strabismus or acquire it later. Strabismus should be diagnosed as early as possible to prevent vision loss and be able to take the necessary precautions. Signs of strabismus (crossed eyes) in children can include:

The eyes are always turned outward or inward during the first three months of age
After the first three months of age, one or both eyes are crossing in
Red-eye infection in one eye

If not diagnosed and treated early, strabismus can result in amblyopia, also called ‘lazy eye.’ Amblyopia causes vision to not develop properly in the misaligned eye and can eventually lead to complete vision loss. Another complication is double vision, not to mention the personal side effects of having a misaligned eye.

When do the symptoms of strabismus appear?

By the age of three to four months, the infant’s eyes should be able to focus on small items and remain straight. The baby should easily focus on objects both near and far away. Strabismus is common among infants and usually appears by the time the child is three years old.

False strabismus can make it seem like the child has a misaligned eye when the eyes are aimed in the same direction. With the baby’s growth and development, the eyes will no longer appear crossed.

What causes strabismus?

As previously explained, strabismus occurs when the six muscles that control our eye movements don’t work correctly. 30% of the children with strabismus have inherited the condition from their family history and have a family member with a similar problem.

Down syndrome (20-60% of patients with Down syndrome are affected)
Stroke (is the leading cause of strabismus in adults)
Head injuries (if the damaged area of the brain is responsible for the control of eye movement)
Brain tumors
Poor vision in one eye

The eyes are always turned outward or inward during the first three months of age
After the first three months of age, one or both eyes are crossing in
Red-eye infection in one eye

How is strabismus diagnosed?

Strabismus is diagnosed after a complete eye examination with an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The exam can include different things, such as:

The examination of patient history to determine if any other complications may cause strabismus and affect it.
Examination of eye health to determine the overall health of the eye; based on when the patient has been diagnosed, there might already be some damage to the eye.
Visual acuity test to measure the visual acuity and determine how much vision is being affected in the misaligned eye.
Alignment and focusing tests assess how well the eyes align and move together.

Once all tests are done and completed, based on the diagnosis, your eyecare specialist can discuss with you and suggest treatment options.

Can strabismus be prevented?

Unfortunately, strabismus cannot be prevented; however, if detected early and properly treated, it can be corrected. When it comes to strabismus treatments, there are several options:

Eyeglasses or contacts
Patching: covering the misaligned eye with a patch every day for a few hours can help remind the brain which ‘correct eye’ needs attention. This can sometimes lead to a better alignment of the misaligned eye.
Prism lenses: these lenses are thicker than usual lenses and can alter the light that reaches the eye; this results in the eye having to move less to see properly. In some cases, prism lenses can eliminate eye turning.
Visual therapy: your eyecare specialist might prescribe a few visual activities to improve eye coordination and eye focusing. These eye muscle exercises can be done with a professional’s help or at home.
Eye muscle surgery: this intervention changes the length and position of the muscles around the eye so they don’t look misaligned anymore. After this type of surgery, visual therapy is often advised.
Medications

Based on the severity of the strabismus, some treatments might be more effective than others. Cases of mild strabismus may only require glasses or patching, while severe cases might require eye muscle surgery.

Can strabismus be fixed?

Adult strabismus can be treated in various ways; just like for children, not treating strabismus can be extremely dangerous for the eye’s overall health.

Studies show that improvement is possible at any age when it comes to strabismus. The recovery speed might differ, but adults can still achieve great results by doing visual therapy, wearing glasses, and taking all the necessary measurements to improve.

Adult strabismus surgery is also very common, mainly because it is easier for adults to undergo surgery than for children.

False strabismus can make it seem like the child has a misaligned eye when the eyes are aimed in the same direction. With the baby’s growth and development, the eyes will no longer appear crossed.

Glasses for strabismus

When it comes to glasses, it is important to note that there are no special glasses that correct strabismus.

After consulting with an ophthalmologist, the treatment of strabismus can include wearing corrective lenses. In some cases of mild strabismus, prescription glasses can even correct the alignment. Based on the condition of the eye, the doctor can either suggest prism lenses or not.

Do glasses help with strabismus?

Again, depending on how severe the strabismus is, eyeglasses might be able to correct the alignment and are mainly used in patients with uncorrected refractive errors.

Although it is impossible to prevent, strabismus can be treated. With the help of an ophthalmologist and if diagnosed in time, being proactive about treatment can prevent vision loss and even correct the misaligned eye.

If you have more questions about other eye conditions or general eye health, head to our Optical Center to learn more or speak to one of our certified online Opticians.

A Guide to Oakley Lenses

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A Guide to Oakley Lenses

Oakley utilizes the latest in lens technology to deliver durable and high-quality lenses for all vision needs.

Are you thinking about purchasing Oakley® sunglasses but don’t know which lenses to go for? Or maybe you want to know what are Oakley prizm lenses?

This article will help you decide if Oakley lenses are right for you and which type suits your lifestyle. Whether you only wear sunglasses on bright days or are looking for sunglasses to aid your performance in sports, there are Oakley lenses for you.

Oakley lenses

Oakley began in 1975 and has now become one of the leading brands for sport performance products worldwide. With cutting-edge style and high-quality materials, Oakley is at the forefront of innovative lens technology.

Lenses from Oakley are distinguished by striking colors and shapes, which are adaptable for various outdoor activities. Oakley lenses have anti-smudge barriers, which help to repel dirt and debris, keeping the lens cleaner for longer.

Different types of Oakley lenses

SmartBuyGlasses has a range of different types of Oakley lenses for you to choose from. Each Oakley lens has different coatings and shapes, including iridium, polarised, and prizm lenses.

What are Oakley Prizm™ lenses?

Oakley Prizm lenses are designed to enhance colour and contrast so that the wearer can see more clearly, and are designed specifically for athletes. Darker lenses can make it harder to see when playing sports, so instead, Oakley Prizm lenses filter out light that affects vision, boosting certain wavelengths of color vision for improved detail.

As well as enhancing the world around you, Oakley Prizm lenses amp up good light to improve contrast and help decrease eye fatigue.

Oakley Prizm lenses are best suited for activities such as:

DID YOU KNOW?

Oakley frames are also designed using the latest technology in sportswear to craft performance enhancing eyewear.

Oakley Iridium® lenses

Oakley Iridium lenses are mirrored lenses, which have a reflective optical coating on the lenses. These lenses have a proprietary tint and molecular anti-glare coating, which help to balance light reflection, transmission, and absorption of the lens. You can choose from various tints, including black, ice, jade, chrome, and fire.

Chrome and fire tints are ideal for everyday wear and are suitable for all purposes, whereas the other tints are better for sports. Some Oakley sunglasses can have a combination of Oakley Prizm lenses and Iridium lenses, providing optimal vision for athletes.

Oakley Ruby Iridium

Oakley Ruby Iridium lenses are ideal for mountain biking, hiking, and running because, during these activities, you tend to experience glare.

Exposing your eyes to harsh light from the sun can make it difficult to see, but with Oakley Ruby Iridium lenses, glare is reduced, and contrasting colors are balanced. We recommend these lenses if you spend time in bright lighting and sunny conditions.

Oakley Black Iridium

Oakley HD polarised lenses

Oakley polarised lenses have a coating to specifically filter out light and reduce glare, protecting eyes from long-term UV damage, and reducing eye strain. When horizontal rays of sunlight hit polarised sunglasses, they reflect more light, and you see less glare.

Polarisation is similar to adding blinds to your window, reducing the sun entering the room. If you spend a lot of time outdoors or playing watersports, Oakley polarised sunglasses are perfect for your lifestyle. The best part is, many Oakley Iridium and Prizm lenses can be combined with polarisation, providing the best protection from the sun.

At SmartBuyGlasses we do not sell Oakley lenses but a range of Oakley sunglasses in an assortment of colours and patterns. Whether you’re a keen athlete or enjoy leisurely days outside, Oakley has a pair of sunglasses to suit every lifestyle.

If you are unsure which lens is best for you, contact our in-house opticians for additional support. Or, if you are looking for Oakley replacement lenses, browse our Oakley sunglasses online.

Folding Reading Glasses- No More Bulky Specs Cases

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Folding Reading Glasses- No More Bulky Specs Cases

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Folding reading glasses can fit snugly in your pocket. Learn more about them and check out some of our recommendations for the best pairs.

Folding reading glasses merge the convenience of folding glasses and the benefits of reading glasses. Let’s take a deeper look into how they make our lives easier.

Folding glasses are designed to fold in half at the nose bridge for convenient storing. If you have small bags or are looking to keep your glasses in your car, then foldable glasses are a great option. Foldable glasses also make for a great pair of backups.

No one wants to drag around two pairs of glasses in case something happens to their original pair. However, with a pair of foldable glasses, being extra cautious is no longer an inconvenience. You can be sure that you are always prepared without dealing with your second pair taking up extra space.

Reading glasses can help the wearer to see or read objects in close range such as small text, mobile phones, and computer screens. As one approaches the age of 40, they may develop symptoms of presbyopia. This is when the crystalline lenses in your eyes become less flexible and hence, make you struggle to focus on text up close.

Now, you’ll be able to read small texts and see small objects without having to squint or feel self-conscious in social contexts. Folding reading glasses are especially convenient to have around. Often, those who wear reading glasses don’t wear them all the time.

Typically, cheap reading glasses are used for reading small print or text on the computer. Whether you wear traditional reading glasses or computer reading glasses, you could benefit from having a conveniently transportable pair. After all, you never know when you might need them.

Who needs folding reading glasses?

Those who don’t need to wear reading glasses for an extended period of time. Say you’re traveling and are reading maps, restaurant menus, or tour guides, but struggle to just read the small text.

Folding reading glasses come to the rescue as they’re sleek enough to slide into your pocket, backpack, or purse. Just use them when you need them and put them back.

Those who feel self-conscious wearing glasses. If you are one of those people who need glasses only to see particular things-such as text up close, or distant objects, but don’t like to wear contact lenses, and will go at any lengths to avoid wearing them, folding reading glasses are for you.

So, just take out your folding reading glasses from your pocket or clutch, elegantly slide them on your face, use them for the few minutes that they’re needed, and hide them again as if nothing happened.

Presbyopic patients with busy lifestyles. If you have presbyopic symptoms, you most likely need reading glasses in certain situations. Now, if you lead a busy lifestyle where you are caught unaware in need of reading glasses and you’re not carrying around a bulky case at that moment, we’ve got you.

With folding reading glasses, you can conveniently always have your mini reading glasses at your disposal in your pocket or clutch. They’re lightweight, barely take up space and save you from the hassle of having to depend on your friend’s pair of glasses or asking someone to read things out to you.

With foldable reading glasses, you don’t have to carry around a bulky case just for reading a menu at a restaurant or reading a text from your phone screen. You want to be able to pop your glasses on and off without having the carry-around hassle.

That’s where folding reading glasses come in. They are easily considered the best reading glasses by some simply for their practicality. After all, the whole point of over-the-counter reading glasses is that they’re a convenient alternative to prescription glasses.

What strength reading glasses do you need?

Since presbyopia is of a progressive nature, we suggest starting out with low powered reading glasses for patients in their 40s and high powered lenses for those in their 60’s. Glasses with +1.00 power are considered to be of low strength and have relatively lesser magnification, whilst those with +3.50 are considered to be high power lenses.

If you’ll be using reading glasses primarily while using the computer, we advise choosing a lower reading glass power. A lower reading glass power is used when the viewing distance is longer.

In contrast, if you’ll be using reading glasses to see objects that are very close or very small, you’ll need stronger strength lenses with higher magnification than what the age-based reading glasses power chart would recommend.

Generally speaking, if there are two reading glasses between which you can’t choose, it’s better to select the ones with lower power because more often than not, reading glasses that are too strong may cause more discomfort than the weaker powered ones.

DID YOU KNOW?

Reading glasses aren’t the only type available with foldable frames, you can also get folding sunglasses and other prescription models.

Prescription folding reading glasses

While it might be convenient to purchase over-the-counter reading glasses, there are some advantages to getting a prescription for your reading glasses. The main reason for this being that your eyes might need different corrections, which can only be done with a prescription from your eye doctor.

Best folding reading glasses

When it comes to ordering prescription reading glasses online, the process is rather simple. With SmartBuyGlasses you can shop from over 180 designer brands and match your frames to your personal prescription. For cheap reading glasses, SmartBuy Readers offers a wide range of quality frames for under C$40.

If top-notch quality and timeless sleekness are what you’re after, check out folding reading glasses by Porsche Design. Crafted with stainless steel and high tech polyamide, these reading glasses are tough on durability and light in weight.

If you like the idea of convenient foldable reading glasses, you’ll love foldable sunglasses! Like reading glasses, most people don’t wear their sunglasses all day and they spend the majority of the time taking up space in your car or bag.

However, just like reading glasses, there are endless benefits of wearing sunglasses and when you need them, you need them. That’s why foldable sunglasses are just as great as folding reading glasses! Read more about Persol lens technology here.

Men’s folding reading glasses

With SmartBuyGlasses you can also search our prescription folding reading glasses by Persol, a leading designer brand. When you order the Persol PO9714VM folding reading glasses all you have to do is add your reading glasses’ prescription at check out. It’s really as simple as that!

And now you have your prescription folding reading glasses ready to be delivered directly to your door.What’s more, these are the ultimate mini folding reading glasses that are so sleek that they’ll fit in your pocket!

Another remarkable pair to opt for would be the CliC Vunetic Tenore Black. These glasses are magnetically joined at the bridge of the nose and framed with 20% acetate polymers and 80% TR90, a material that makes this pair capable of flexing and twisting without breaking.

These folding reading glasses are made in Italy and when worn, give a touch of glamor that distinguishes the wearer from others.

Now that you’ve learned about the benefits of folding reading glasses, what are you waiting for? Check out our collection of cheap reading glasses. You may also be interested in learning about single vision lenses for your next pair of readers.

Order Kids Glasses Online

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What Do You Need in Order to Buy Kids’ Glasses

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There can be more things to take into consideration when buying glasses for children as opposed to buying them for yourself. This article covers all the essentials in that regard.

When buying kids eyewear it is especially important that you choose the best possible design and quality in order to assure optimal eye health and comfort to your child.

However, buying glasses online can always feel a little like a lottery, you haven’t tried them on so you aren’t sure if they will fit or suit your face shape, and without holding them in your hands you can’t get a feel for their weight or robustness.

For this reason, we have put together a series of tips that you will need to take into consideration when buying your kids glasses online, to ensure that you get the best glasses for your child.

Before buying kids glasses you should keep the following info in mind:

How should glasses fit on a child?

A child’s glasses frame should fit right into the eye socket from top to button and shouldn’t expand down the kid’s cheek. If a child is wearing a frame like this, it will cause unnecessary weight on the nose.

However, it’s no secret that children are growing. In relation to buying kids glasses and fitting glasses, this means that there may be a problem with kids glasses frames sliding down their noses. This can cause exasperation and discomfort for your child.

The solution to this is to either buy kids glasses with metal frames and adjustable nose pads, or plastic kids glasses frames with specifically molded bridge parts.

Plastic has always been the traditional option as it is viewed as more durable and less expensive.

However, modern metal children glasses frames now offer similar levels of resistance for comparable prices, as well as the extra feature of offering cable temples (which essentially hook over the back of your child’s ear), which are sturdier and reduce the chances of kids glasses sliding or falling off.

The PD or pupillary distance

The PD is the distance between the centre of each pupil. It’s crucial when fitting glasses correctly as it affects the way your child’s glasses lenses are positioned in their frames, and so will impact the accuracy of your child’s vision correction.

In some extreme cases, not having the correct PD measurement can result in dizziness, headaches, and blurred vision.

All opticians measure this distance so it will most likely be noted on your child’s prescription. If it is not however, then you can either, revisit the optician and ask him to take the measurement for you, or read our article on how to measure the pupillary distance.

DID YOU KNOW?

In 2019, 25.3% of children aged 2–17 years wore glasses or contact lenses.

Lens thickness & materials

The thickness of the lens is dictated by the strength of your child’s prescription glasses. The higher the prescription (ie. the more vision correction needed), then the thicker the lenses will be. Your optician is best placed to advise you on the optimum lens thickness for your child’s prescription glasses.

Be aware that due to recent advances in technology, many lens makers can now “slim down” lenses that once needed to be very thick.

The material of the lens should also be carefully considered. Traditional glass lenses have now given way in the most part to high quality plastic and polycarbonate lenses. Whilst you can still buy glass lenses, they are not advisable for children’s glasses due to obvious safety reasons, as well as being a much heavier material.

For children, Trivex and polycarbonate lenses are usually recommended as they are lighter than plastic or glass lenses, and much more durable and impact-resistant. This allows for longer lasting comfort. So when buying kids glasses online always make sure you know the material of the lens you are purchasing.

Warranties

Many online optical retailers have warranty plans in place that cover damaged or broken eyewear at little to no cost. If your child is very young, or a first time glasses wearer, it’s recommended that you look into the warranty plans of each provider before you decide to buy.

Check that it includes all the services you are looking for, e.g. lens replacement or free scratch repair. It could save you a lot of money in the future.

Spring hinges

A lifesaver for those whose children are slightly more “rough and tumble”. Spring hinges are glasses whose temples are fitted with springs at the hinges in order to provide more flexibility when the temple is moved back and forth.

They increase resistance and durability and minimize expensive temple repair costs. They ensure flexibility in the arms of the glasses and don’t snap and break as easily as regular hinges.

Back up pairs

There is always the possibility that the worst happens and your child’s glasses break beyond repair (even beyond a “scotch tape and string” job). Therefore it’s highly recommended to have a pair of back-up kids glasses that are stored away and used only when necessary.

Many optical companies offer great value with their in house brands, which means that an extra pair of glasses doesn’t have to be an expensive option. SmartBuyGlasses has a wide range of low priced, quality frames in their SmartBuy collection.

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How to Clean Glasses

The best way to clean glasses lenses

Step 1 – Wash and dry your hands

Step 2 – Spray with optical cleaner

Step 3 – Clean with a microfiber cloth

Step 4 – Store them in a protective case

DID YOU KNOW?

The best way to clean your glasses frame

The worst way to clean your glasses

Don’t use tissue paper and clothing

Don’t use saltwater

Don’t use dish soap, window cleaner, or saliva

More tips to clean your glasses

How to clean blue light glasses

How to clean eyeglasses cloth

How to clean sunglasses

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How to Buy Glasses Online

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SUMMARY

What do I need to buy glasses online?

Can I order glasses online without a prescription?

Advantages of buying glasses online

Ordering prescription glasses online

1. See an eye doctor to get an updated prescription

2. Choose your frame width

DID YOU KNOW

How can I get my pupillary distance?

3. Find frames that suit your face shape

How do I know what style of glasses to get?

4. Find a frame that suits your style

5. Choose your lenses and coatings

6. Place your order

Can I try on glasses when ordering online?

Is it a good idea to buy glasses online?

Buying glasses online

Prescription Safety Glasses Buying Guide

Ask our opticians

How do safety glasses work?

Prescription safety glasses for work

DID YOU KNOW?

Prescription safety glasses for sport

Prescription safety glasses: COVID-19

Safety glasses and face coverings from SmartBuyGlasses: best prescription safety glasses

Ask our opticians

Anti-glare Glasses

What are anti-glare glasses?

How does anti-reflective coating work?

Anti-glare glasses benefits

Disadvantages of anti-glare glasses

DID YOU KNOW?

Do I need anti-glare on my glasses?

Can you add anti-glare to glasses after purchase?

Are anti-glare and blue-light glasses the same?

How to care for glasses with anti-glare coating

What’s the best coating for me

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