fashion eyeglasses

the latest in men’s eyeglass fashion

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Most men are interested in comfort, fit and durability when it comes to eyeglasses. While they also want style, men typically won’t forsake comfort and fit just to look good.

Comfort and fit

Men: Here are some key areas to check out to make sure the eyeglass frames you choose will be comfortable and fit well.

To ensure the temples (the pieces that extend to your ears) aren’t too snug on sides of your head, choose frames are wide enough for your face. The edge of the frames should protrude slightly beyond your face so the temples don’t put pressure on your head as they extend back to your ears.

Next, make sure the temples are long enough. Many frame styles are available in more than one temple length. So if you find a frame you like but the temples seem too short, ask your optician if a longer temple is available. For a comfortable fit, the curve at the end of the temple should extend over your ear without pressing down upon it.

Also, check the nosepiece for comfort and fit. Many glasses have soft, silicone nose pads that can be adjusted for a customized fit. For frames without adjustable nose pads, the frame should fit securely without pinching the bridge of your nose.

When you pick up your new eyeglasses, move your head up and down, and bend over (as if to pick up something up from the floor) to see how well your glasses stay in place. With properly adjusted nose pads and temples, your glasses should stay comfortably in place.

Durability

For extra-durable eyeglasses, consider choosing frames made from titanium, stainless steel or “memory metal.” Titanium and stainless steel are stronger and more durable than other metal frame materials, and frames made of memory metal, a titanium-based alloy, return to their original shape even if they are severely bent or twisted.

What about fashion? Five trends in men’s eyeglasses

Men’s frame styling has become more masculine in recent years, with classic shapes and sizes now re-born with a modern twist.

  1. Masculine shapes such as aviator glasses and double brow-bar styles have seen a resurgence in popularity, but in fresh colors and materials and slightly pared-down in size.
  2. Larger and bolder eyeglass frames are becoming popular again for men. Keep in mind that the biggest styles work best on men with larger body types. Smaller frames are still around, and still work well with smaller faces.
  3. Rimless and semi-rimless styles (where the eyeglass lens is held in place to the temple simply by a screw or a wire) are perfect for the man who wants a modern or minimalist look. Combine rimless frames with anti-reflective lenses and the glasses practically disappear.
  4. Titanium frames are very popular with men and rate high in both the function and fashion categories. These premium metal frames are super lightweight, non-corrosive, very durable and stylish as well.
  5. For a younger, hip or retro look, many men are turning to plastic frames. Lightweight and comfortable, plastic frames come in a wide variety of styles including bold, black ’50s-style frames and modern designs with layers of colors laminated together to create a unique effect.

Time to upgrade?

Are your glasses uncomfortable? Want a new look? Visit us today to see the latest styles comfortable, fashionable frames for men of all ages.

For more information on men’s eyeglasses, visit All About Vision®.

Article ©2008 Access Media Group LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction other than for one-time personal use is strictly prohibited.

Women’s Eyeglass Frames

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Need new eyeglasses? The choices in women’s frames are nearly unlimited. But that’s sometimes the problem: How do you find the frames styles that look best on you?

Narrowing down your choices

Ask yourself a few questions before shopping for eyewear:

  • Do I want a frame that’s delicate or bold, retro or modern, conservative or “out there”?
  • Do I plan to wear this frame at work? For social occasions?
  • What colors am I drawn to and look best on me?
  • What are the main colors in my wardrobe?
  • What face shape do I have?
  • What do I like about my current eyeglasses? What do I dislike?

The answers to these questions will help your optician narrow your search to frames that you are most likely to be happy with.

Judging fit and comfort

According to eyewear industry research, most women are more interested in the way eyeglasses look, while most men are more interested in comfort and fit. But let’s face it. If the frame doesn’t fit well or isn’t comfortable, you won’t want to wear it.

Here are some tips about how to judge the fit of frames:

  • To ensure the temples aren’t too snug on sides of your head, choose frames that are wide enough for your face. The edge of the frames should protrude slightly beyond your face so the temples don’t put pressure on your head as they extend back to your ears.
  • Are the temples long enough? The curve at the end of the temple should extend over your ear without pressing down upon it.
  • Check the nosepiece for comfort and fit. Many glasses have soft, silicone nose pads that can be adjusted for a customized fit. For frames without adjustable nose pads, the frame should fit securely without pinching the bridge of your nose.
  • When you pick up your new eyeglasses, move your head up and down, and bend over (as if to pick up something up from the floor) to see how well your glasses stay in place. With the properly adjusted nose pads and temples, your glasses should stay comfortably in place.

How many frames do you need?

Most women don’t hesitate to buy more than one pair of shoes, so why balk at buying more than one pair of eyeglasses?

Your eyewear is as much a fashion accessory as anything else you wear. And while few of us have an unlimited budget, money spent on multiple pairs of eyeglasses is well spent – especially if you have a varied wardrobe for work, home and social wear.

If you’re really on a tight budget, then by all means choose one frame that you’ll be happy wearing with any outfit and in any situation. But it doesn’t mean you have to choose a plain, thin metal frame if you really like eyewear that’s bold and colorful. Remember, this frame is going to be on your face every single day, and you have to like how it looks on you.

Let us help

Our optical dispensary has a large selection of the latest styles in women’s frames. We can help you find the best eyewear to complement your facial features, shape and coloring, and help you choose frames that match your personality and wardrobe.

PeC has the latest trends in performance sunglasses

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Performance EyeCare Illinois Sport Sunglasses

The interest in performance-oriented sunglasses has surged in recent years, as well as outdoor activities such as mountain biking, snowboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, golfing and in-line skating.

The boom in outdoor sports activities like mountain biking, snowboarding, rock climbing, kayaking, skiing, golfing and in-line skating has also created a demand for sports- and performance-oriented sunglasses.

These special-purpose sunglasses are designed to be exceptionally light and comfortable, able to withstand extreme conditions and stay comfortably in place during any activity.

Lenses

Perhaps the most important aspect of effective sports sunwear is the optical quality and visual enhancement properties of the lenses. In particular, sports and performance lenses are available in a wide variety of tints to modify light in certain ways to enhance contrast. This allows you to see certain objects (a tennis ball, for example) with greater clarity to enhance your reaction time.

Polycarbonate lenses are the lens of choice for most sport sunglasses because they are lightweight, super strong and more impact-resistant than lenses made of other materials.

Polarized lenses are also in demand, because they reduce glare from light reflecting off flat surfaces such as water or a field of snow. There is, however, some debate about the advisability of polarized lenses for sports like downhill and mogul skiing, since seeing sunlight reflecting from icy patches on the slopes is often beneficial.

Frames

The frames for performance and sport sunglasses are made of lightweight and durable materials such as polyamide, which keeps its shape even under stress. Styles are typically aerodynamic, with sleek lines. No-slip temple grips and nose pads are popular features to help keep the eyewear in place despite wearer perspiration during the heat of competition.

What’s your sport?

Each sport has its own unique visual requirements, which has led to the development of sport-specific sunglasses. Frames and lenses are now available that are targeted specifically to the golfer, the cyclist, the boater, the rock climber and so on.

For example, a certain lens tint might help a golfer notice subtle changes in the direction of the blades of grass on a green that could affect the line of their putt, while a completely different tint might be better to help a hunter see the contrast of a flying bird against an overcast sky.

If you prefer to be a Jack (or Jill) of all sports, there are also multipurpose sports sunglasses that feature interchangeable lenses with different tints for different sports and lighting conditions.

For more information on prescription sunglasses, visit your local Performance Eyecare location!