EyewearTalk

Wiley X is one of our best-selling brands of sunglasses, and a reason for their popularity is innovative features that no one else offers. For many people with active lifestyles and for those need reliable protection for their profession, Wiley X is often the only brand that meets their needs.

The recently introduced 2008 collection from Wiley X shows that the label is at the top of its game when it comes to innovation.

A welcome addition is the new Women’s Street Series. Four stylish, edgy models with the unmatched craftsmanship Wiley is known for. The look is medium to large and offers a practical balance of fashion and protective coverage. Wide temples and a close-fitting wrap add to the safety of these stunning sunnies.

On the town, on your skis or on your Harley, the Wiley X Women’s Street Series is designed for every lifestyle. Capture your personality in the Lacy, Stomp, Ashley or Dalila from Wiley X!

The new year is here and everyone wants to know the fashion trend in sunglasses for 2008.

It’s still early in the season for the splashy rollouts of the new collections, but we’ll fill you in on what we’re hearing from the designers.

If you have your eye on cutting edge fashion, big is still beautiful. Larger-than-life logos like D&G by Dolce and Gabbana, DKNY Donna Karan New York, Anne Klein, Arnette, Spy Optic and Police are super-size stand outs. Bug-eyes look best on elongated faces that don’t get gobbled up by gigantic glasses.

More classic than retro, Aviator influenced styles are soaring in 2008. Ray-Ban Aviators and Serengeti Aviators are frequent flyers in this space. Serengeti is unveiling a number of new additions to their sophisticated fleet. Jumbo Aviators from D&G, DKNY, Ray-Ban, Police and Spy Optic are on the runway and ready for take off.

Making a legendary performance this year is the Ray-Ban Wayfarer with such box-office hits as the traditional Ray Ban Wayfarer Icons and the retro-inspired Ray Ban Outsiders Icons.

Be on the look out for bold colors. Technologically advanced materials offer a larger palette of frame and lens colors to choose from. Acetate frames in neons, vibrant reds and lime greens, and lens that feature gradient tints and mirror coatings.

The most significant trend of 2008, though, is to wear what looks good on you. If you’re not in the mood for big and bold, make a sleek and sophisticated statement. Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers, Ray-Ban and Serengeti take advantage of modern materials for a look that is confident and comfortable.

This season’s Ski Goggles and Snowboard Goggles from Bolle and Spy Optic offer professional-level performance in optics and frame ventilation. An advancement that I appreciate is how well the new Ski Goggles fit and how comfortable they are. However, there are days when goggles are more than necessary and a good pair of Sunglasses will do the job.

A durable plastic frame and shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses are the best choices for safe Sunglasses for sports. The plastics come in a variety of colors so you should be able to find something to go with your outfit.

Choosing lens color can be tricky.

Pink and yellow lens are recommended for overcast days because the colors provide a brighter view and enhanced contrast to bring out the contours of the slope. However, for bright days you need a darker lens. You should also consider light conditions changing throughout the day and changes as you go in and out of the ski house.

Related to lens color is polarization. Polarized Lens are great for minimizing glare off flat surfaces like snow. However, polarized lens naturally have a darkening effect so they might not be right in overcast or after early evening.

To block wind like a goggle, consider a “wrap-around” frame style which fits closer to your face and has lens that extend back on the sides. Many people appreciate the way wrap-arounds block light from the side.

Bolle excels in Sunglasses for sports. The Bolle Parole and Bolle Vigilante sunglasses offer plastic frames and polycarbonate lenses for safety. The lens are interchangeable and are easily swapped as light changes. Parole Replacement Lens and Vigilante Replacement Lens are available in a range of colors. The two glasses are similar in style but the Vigilante has a slightly larger design. An Rx Adaptor is available for prescription wearers.

Body Specs has a great deal on a flexible package that offers the best of goggles and sunglasses. The Body Specs BSG comes with a pair of clear lens and a pair of yellow, a removable foam gasket around the lenses that seals out wind and snow, and they can be used as goggles with a strap or as sunglasses with temples. The frame is plastic and the lens are polycarbonate. The BSG lens are polarized to control harsh glare and provide a sharp view. The Body Specs BSG-2 is the same package except in a size that fits a small face. The BSG-2 with Photochromic Lens have lens that become darker or lighter according to conditions.

Like Body Specs, Wiley-X offers styles that mix goggle and sunglass features. The Wileys have a foam gasket to keep out wind, and there are models that convert between a goggle strap or temples. Wiley X sunglasses are popular with the military, emergency services and motorcycle riders for durability and safety, so they make excellent sports sunglasses. Models that feature interchangeable lens include the Wiley-X SG-1, the Wiley-X JP-1 and the Wiley-X XL-1.

More powder to ya’!

There are some holiday gifts we receive as children that we remember all our lives as truly special. We often receive them in recognition for our maturity and ability to be responsible.

If this is a time to give a special gift to a child you know, Ray-Ban Junior Sunglasses, from the world’s best known eyewear brand, will touch their soul.

The Juniors have all the sophistication and craftsmanship of Ray-Ban Sunglasses for adults in a smaller size that fits a child’s face. Since the glasses are smaller versions of the classic Raybans, the Junior Raybans are also recommended for adults who wear small glasses.

Along with the latest designs from RayBan that are turning heads from Maui to Milan, the Ray Ban Junior Collection also includes such legendary styles as the Ray Ban Junior Aviator and Ray Ban Junior Wayfarer.

As the recognized leader in quality sunwear, parents trust Ray Ban for sunglasses that are safe for their children. Ray-Ban Junior frames are built to withstand the demands of a young, active lifestyle, and the lenses are made of shatter-resistant polycarbonate. All of the Ray Bans Junior Sunglasses provide 100% protection against harmful ultraviolet radiation (UV).

OpticsPlanet is an authorized distributor of Ray-Ban Eye Wear with special holiday savings and free shipping on 100% genuine and authentic RayBan Junior Sun Glasses.

It’s a special time for a special child who’s ready for Ray-Ban Junior.

It’s beginning to look a lot like ski season. Yesss!

A customer said she was buying ski goggles as a Christmas present for her husband to replace a pair he’s had since 8th grade. She said the old pair, literally, disintegrated.

If you can trace your goggles back to when Jean-Claude Killy swept the slalom, giant slalom and downhill in the 1968 Olympics, it’s probably a good time to treat yourself to a new pair.

OpticsPlanet is ready get you seeing and looking great on the slopes with trail-blazing deals on this season’s best Ski and Snowboard Goggles from Bolle Ski Goggles and Spy Optic Goggles.

Both brands offer similar features in lens technology which include anti-fogging, scratch-resistance and 100% UV protection. Each brand makes available a comprehensive range of replacement lenses in colors that cover all light conditions.

Both brands excel in frame designs with advanced ventilation features.

Spy Optic has a lot of experience making goggles for motorcycle racing and Spy Optic Goggles use an advanced foam that controls moisture against your face. However, Bolle Ski Goggles also use the latest foam and it feels like you’re not wearing goggles at all.

Both brands offer small-sized goggles designed especially for children and adults with smaller faces. See the Bolle Boost Kids Goggles and the Spy Optic Comet that are smaller in size and big on features!

Women should see the Spy Optic Bias for a goggle designed especially to fit them.

Bolle has the lead in ski goggles for people who wear prescription glasses. There are two excellent choices for Rx wearers: over-the glasses (OTG) and the Bolle Goggle Rx Adapter.

The OTG provide ample room in the frame to comfortably wear glasses without making the goggles bulky. See the Bolle X9 and Boost Goggle for great OTGs.

The Bolle Prescription Adapter For Goggles is available for a number of the Bolle Ski Goggles models. It snaps easily and securely on the inside and is large enough to provide a wide peripheral view. See the Bolle Goggle Rx Adapter Installation Guide. Our Rx lens are prepared by an authorized Bolle lab to Bolle specifications. A Blank Bolle Rx Goggle Adapter is also available for your own optician to prepare your lens.

Along with improved technology, the new goggles are much more stylish than the ones we wore when our boots had laces. When I “apres ski”, people see my colorful band and designer logo and just assume I know how to ski, and then they ask for my autograph.

As a Product Specialist in the Eyewear Group at OpticsPlanet, I like to think our superior customer service is what brings people to our store. Of course, good customer service doesn’t hurt, but our main attraction may be great prices on the best name brands.

Our commitment to the best prices on the best brands is what guides us in the Eyewear Group, and we are proud to announce that we are an authorized distributor of the eyewear collections of the Luxottica Group. These collections represent some of the most prestigious designer names including Ray-Ban, D&G by Dolce & Gabbana, DKNY Donna Karan New York, Anne Klein, Brooks Brothers and Arnette, among others.

Of course, each label has it’s own personality. In general, all of the Luxoticca Group labels tend to appeal to people who appreciate quality craftsmanship and leading-edge fashion, but there are certain names that especially express a unique identity. Anne Klein is famous for innovative fashion for women, DKNY Donna Karan New York is edgy urban and Arnette is California cool.

We are constantly trying to make it easier for you to find what you want. We have grouped our glasses into categories such as gender, age, frame color, lens color, etc., and included menus to quickly display a selected style. See the drop-down menus on the Rayban Brand Page or on the D&G by Dolce and Gabbana Brand Page for samples of this feature.

As an authorized dealer of every brand we sell, our glasses are 100% authentic, brand new and come with the full manufacturer warranty. We do not sell replicas, imitations, fakes or cheap sunglasses. The lenses for our Prescription Sunglasses and Rx Eyeglasses are prepared to manufacturer specification by a manufacturer authorized lab. See Luxottica Group Designer Sunglasses & Fashion Eyewear for a list of our Luxottica labels.

Think of OpticsPlanet when you think of the top names in Designer Sunglasses, Prescription Eyeglasses and Fashion Frame Eye Glasses.

At OpticsPlanet, a big part of our work is helping customers get the right size glasses. Of course, size is important when it comes to how the glasses look on you and how comfortable they are. Most glasses are not available in a wide range of sizes, but the limited range fits most people very well. In this blog, I will suggest some of glasses using a small, medium and large size guide.

Serengeti offers their superb lens technology in small, medium and large sizes with different frame and lens colors in their Serengeti Aviator standard sunglasses. The different sizes of the Aviator are also available with prescription lens at Serengeti Small Aviator Prescription Sun Glasses, Serengeti Rx Prescription Medium Aviator and Serengeti Large Aviator Rx Sunglasses. The Aviator with progressive bifocal lenses is only available in small and medium sizes at Serengeti Small Aviator Progressive Rx Sun Glasses and Serengeti Rx Progressive Medium Aviator.

American Optical offers their AO Original Pilot standard sun glasses in a variety of colors with different temple options in 52mm, 55mm and 57mm sizes that correspond to small medium and large.

Adults who need to fit a smaller face should consider glasses that are sized to fit children. The AO Original Pilot 45mm Sunglasses are suggested for adults with smaller faces as well as for children. The Ray-Ban Juniors from Ray Ban are an excellent choice for those with smaller faces who want to wear classic Raybans!

Here in the Eyewear Group at OpticsPlanet, we have special expertise in glasses for larger faces. One of our Product Specialists, Pam, has been trying to find glasses for her husband, Rich, who has a larger face. His is a larger face and not just a large-average.

According to Pam, people with larger faces must make sure their glasses are big enough for proper appearance. The rule-of-thumb is that glasses should be as wide as your face. Rich has had glasses that were too narrow for his face and they left marks where the temples rubbed his skin. Pushing your glasses up on top of your head will widen a frame but doing this too much can overly stretch them. Glasses with spring hinges such as Serengeti’s S-Flex offer a little more give for the larger-average faces.

The only glasses that fit Rich well are the Spiral from Bolle. The SG-1 from Wiley-X was close but not comfortable. The Coopers from Spy Optics weren’t big enough and neither were any of the Serengetis.

Even with the best information, it can be hard to be sure you are getting the right size. If you order online, check that the dealer has a Return Policy.

Knowing your glasses size is especially important when you buy glasses online. If you haven’t had a chance to try on the frames in a store, you want to make sure the glasses will fit for comfort and looks.

When I try on glasses in the store, I always look at the measurement information that is printed on the inside of one of the temples or on the bridge. You don’t have to try on too many glasses before you begin to know your size.

The size information is a set of three numbers that are measurements in millimeters. For example, I recently bought frames that are size 54-19-140. The first number (54) is the horizontal width of one lens. The second number (19) is the distance between lenses, and the third number (140) is the length of one of the temples. I am a larger person and this is the bigger size in this style. The smaller frame is 52-17-140.

At OpticsPlanet, we provide this size information on each page that describes our Sunglasses, Prescription Sunglasses and Eyeglasses.

The first thing I consider when choosing the right size is to make sure the glasses are at least as wide as my face. Otherwise, the glasses will look and feel too small. The width of glasses includes the horizontal width of one lens times two (one for each lens) PLUS the distance between the lenses PLUS the distance the temples stick out which can be a few millimeters. It is helpful if you know the width of your face, otherwise, after you try on a few pairs, you’ll know the minimum horizontal lens width you need.

I don’t use the value for the distance between lenses as a guide for fitting over my nose. The number can be misleading especially if the shape of the lenses bring them close together at the bridge. I use the number to get a sense of the overall width of the frames.

Sometimes, there isn’t a lot of choice in the length of the temples. A number like 140 is common. However, for myself, I have found that a temple that is longer than 140 is more comfortable and provides greater stability. A temple that is too short may not have enough length for proper final fitting and adjustment. Also, a temple that is the proper length looks better by going straight back across your head and not angled up. The temple length number can be misleading. A frame that wraps may have a temple length that appears to be short, but you need to take the wrap into consideration which pushes the temples back over your ears.

When you know the size that fits you best, you can confidently by glasses online and take advantage of great savings on the best brands. See our Sunglasses Guide and our Rx Prescription Guide for more information about choosing glasses that fit well.

At OpticsPlanet, we have a flexible Return Policy and many of our customers order several pairs of glasses at a time with the idea to keep what they like and return the others for a full refund. This is a good way to try glasses you buy online.

We have a lot of experience helping customers with special size needs such as smaller or larger frames. I will talk about our recommendations for those situations in a future blog. In the mean time, people with smaller faces should consider child size frames such as the Ray-Ban Junior. The junior Raybans are way cool smaller versions of the classics. For larger faces, see the Ray Ban Highstreet, the S-flex models by Serengeti and the Bolle Spiral.

The internet continues to work to the advantage of the consumer. In the case of Sunglasses and Prescription Eyewear, the internet has made it possible for more retailers to compete for your business with lower prices and better service.

The availability of inexpensive prescription eyeglasses means my dream of having a wardrobe full of stylish frames to match any of my many moods is within the realm of reality. I have been seriously searching Google for sites that sell glasses and I think I know each dealer by heart and can recite every model number in their catalog. Now that I know there are stores on the internet that sell prescription glasses for $7.00, I am in disbelief when I see the prices in the stores at the mall.

Cheap-chic means different things to different people. For those who want the best price on the best labels, such as Ray-Ban, Serengeti, D&G or Spy Optic, you will be rewarded if you do your Google homework. Look for dealers who only sell authentic product with warranty. My goal is more on the side of quantity than quality so I’m willing to forego a familiar logo.

I’m still deciding on which dealer to try first. I want to keep the level of risk low in case it doesn’t work out right away. I am hoping to find a dealer I can return to many times.

Not all of the discount dealers instill the kind of confidence that makes me willing to turn over my credit-card information to them. I become especially concerned when a web site does not list key pieces of contact information or does not describe a return policy.

I’ll keep you informed of my progress.

Now is the time to take advantage of the savings that are possible by ordering your own prescription glasses on the internet. On the internet, you can choose from the latest styles from the best brand names, and, along with looking great, you’ll feel great because of all the money you saved.

There are many sources on the web that explain what all those funny numbers mean in your prescription. At OpticsPlanet, we have a Guide To Ordering Prescription Glasses and a Prescription Glasses FAQ. There really aren’t that many numbers and it’s a great feeling of empowerment when you know you can go anywhere you want, prescription in hand, and order glasses.

Bi-focal wearers are not excluded from this party and I want to explain the extra steps that are required for this group to order glasses. I recommend you also see our Bi-focal Prescription Guide.

When you see a frame you like, you need to check whether or not it can be used with bi-focal lenses. If it can be used with bi-focals, you need to check if the lenses are standard bi-focals or the no-line progressive style. The availability of a lens and frame combination may depend on the store so it might be worth checking a few places if you don’t find what you want right away.

An important prescription measurement that needs to be taken for bi-focals is the “Segment Height.” This is the location that divides the lens, top and bottom, between the far and distant vision portions. This measurement needs to be taken for the specific frames so you need to bring the frames to your optician for the reading.

At OpticsPlanet, we have a Trial Program so you can “rent” a frame at a nominal charge and have the segment height taken. The program includes some of our most popular frames. If you don’t see the frame you want in our program, we suggest that you order from our Non-prescription Sunglasses, have the measurement taken, and return the glasses for a full refund. Make sure that the optician does not make permanent marks on the trial lenses.

Along with the segment height, your bi-focal prescription includes a value called “Add” which is the difference between your far and near prescriptions. Whether your prescription is bi-focal or single-vision, make sure your optician provides you with your pupil distance.

That’s all there is to it. You will never need to complain again about how much you had to pay for bi-focals. OpticsPlanet is the leading online retailer of Prescription Sunglasses and Prescription Eyeglasses at unbeatable prices. Throughout our web site, there are links to the single-vision and bi-focal version of many of our frames.