How many pairs of glasses do you have?

One of the biggest perks of being in the optical business is that I have a million pairs of glasses (only a slight exaggeration). While multiple pairs of glasses definitely contribute to a stylish wardrobe,  there are more important reasons to have more than one pair. The same way that you wear different shoes for different activities, you need different types of glasses for different visual tasks. High heels don’t work for marathons, flip flops don’t work for an interview, and when was the last time you saw someone wearing snow boots at the beach?

The most important second pair of glasses should be a quality pair of sunglasses – these are available in both prescription and plano (fancy word for non-prescription) as well as in single vision and progressive (for reading at the beach). Many of us who are on the computer for extended periods of time benefit from a specific pair of computer glasses which would incorporate an anti reflective coating with a blue light filter to help mitigate fatigue. I always tell patients to measure the exact distance between their eyes and the computer screen so we can come up with the optimal prescription. There are also special progressive designs for people who use multiple computers at multiple distances. People with hobbies sometimes have very specific needs as well. The musicians in my practice bring in their instruments and music stands and we calculate in real space what the perfect prescription should be (we have often been treated to impromptu concerts!) Crafters like myself who enjoy knitting and watching TV at the same time often need a specific pair of glasses as well. Fashion is another reason to have multiple pairs of glasses.

Going back to my shoe analogy, certain styles are intrinsically casual and would not work well at a formal event (like sneakers with a ball gown). Different colors and shapes as well as the addition of details such as crystals or interesting hardware elevate a frame from merely functional to spectacular. Building a glasses wardrobe is a creative as well as practical way to express your individuality. Our well trained staff will help you select the perfect pair(s) of glasses which will harmonize fashion, function, and fun!

Back To School – In July??

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Photo by Miesha Moriniere on Pexels.com

I was wandering down the the aisles in Target the other day buying all those wonderful things I never knew I needed. After wasting a few minutes agonizing over the merits of Rolos vs. Milky Way mini bars I escaped the endless rows of food paradise to find myself getting in the way of about ten red-shirted workers feverishly putting up a new display. After doing a tiny self congratulatory dance in my head that my days of back to school shopping were over I felt a burst of moral outrage that summer was being prematurely hijacked by an overeager business model. Seriously folks, couldn’t you have waited until August? As I made my way towards the checkout counter I began to reconsider my hasty condemnation of the sweet and innocent school supplies. Allow me to share with you a classic scenario that occurs in every eye doctor’s office the second to last week of August. Front desk staff picks up phone. “Um, hi, this is Mrs. OopsIforgot, my son is going back to college in three days and needs an appointment and a years worth of contact lens, and oh, he lost his glasses when he went kayaking down the Delaware, can you squeeze him into the schedule and get him everything he needs?” Experienced front desk staff calmly tells Mrs. OopsIforgot that Dr. Superduperbusy has been fully booked for August since June and she would put Master OopsIforgot on the waiting list. I will spare you the back and forth phone shenanigans that ensued between irate mom and calm staff member, but you get the picture. Summer is a great time for those back to school eye exams for your kids – so when those shiny, glittery school supplies start popping up on your radar make that call to our office to ensure that your kids are all set up for their annual checkups. Oh, and Target? I am sorry I ever doubted you….