Eyewear Talk

Most flexible spending accounts cover either eyeglasses frames, or prescription lenses, or prescription sunglasses. Some of them cover both frames and Rx lenses. If you have any flex money left on your account, make sure to spend them by December 31st. Usually excess flex money do not roll over to the next calendar year. Use the remaining money in your flex account today to buy a new pair of eyeglasses or prescription sunglasses. And than simply submit the invoice for your purchase to your FSA for reimbursement.

OpticsPlanet offers an exclusive collection of rx sunglasses and prescription eyeglasses by top eyewear brands. You can easily place an order on-line for single vision and multifocal prescription eyewear. We will be happy to provide you with a detailed invoice that you can submit with your plan administrator later on.

Still looking for holiday gifts? Do not worry! OpticsPlanet solves this problem for you :-). It might be even better that you did not purchase a gift earlier, a week before Christmas is the time when you get best deals on everything! We have a great collection of eyewear (and not only eyewear ;-)) products in our physical US Illinois-based stock, that are ready to be shipped right away! Just browse our web site for the best sunglasses always in stock. The selection is too wide, don’t know what to choose? No worries! We have prepared unique gift guides that will help you to choose the right thing for the right person .

Here are some great eyewear gift ideas:

Gifts for Skiers - Ski goggles is a perfect gift for ski enthusiasts. Spy Optic Bias Goggles is a great gift for women and Bolle Shark is a nice present for men. Bolle and Spy Optic make high quality ski goggles that feature no fog lenses and perfect fit.

Gifts for Fishermen - polarized sunglasses are recommended for any activity around water. Bolle Beta 10322 is premium polarized sunwear. Polarization filter fights the glare coming from any shiny surface and prevents eye fatigue. Wearing polarized sunglasses you will even be able to see fish under the water

Gifts for Ladies - Anne Klein AK3104 Sunglasses. Anne Klein manufacturers high-end designer clothing and fashion accessories. Sunglasses are one of them. Enjoy the chic and style of the classic designer eyewear.

Gifts for Military - ESS Vehicle Ops Goggles model ESS01BKMC. These tactical goggles were selected as the winning goggles in the US Army’s Combat Eye Protection (CEP) Solicitation. They feature Black frame and 2 interchangeable high-impact lenses: Clear & Smoke Gray. The goggles are designed for warfighters exposed to harsh environments as they provide an ultimate barrier against airborne debris while traveling at high speeds.

For more gift ideas including not only sunglasses, goggles, prescription sunglasses and eyeglasses, but also GPS systems, binoculars, telescopes, rangefinders, flashlights and even (!) massagers, check out our Gift Guides.

Happy Holidays!

Wiley X is one of our best-selling brands of sunglasses and goggles, 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!

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’!

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.