Davina Dosanjh of Richard Petrie Optometrists in Littleover shares her advice on choosing the best frames, lenses and sunglasses
It’s that time of year again when we start to think about purchasing sunglasses and protecting our eyes from the sun, but it’s not just harmful UV rays that our eyes have to contend with during the summer months.
Daylight contains a natural form of blue light that helps us to stay awake during the day, but too much of it can lead to eye strain, eye fatigue and sleeplessness. Televisions, computers, mobile phones, tablets and even Sat Navs emit this blue light, so it’s hardly surprising that 83 per cent of people experience eye discomfort during or after using digital devices. Let’s face it, the vast majority of us would admit to watching television or reading something on our tablet before bed and then struggling to drop off to sleep!
To prevent sleeplessness and eye strain there is a type of lens available that neutralises blue light. These are ideal for people who suffer from eye fatigue or spend hours using digital devices each day, such as office workers, students and those who regularly play games.
To cope with the increasing level of sunlight – at home or abroad – adaptive lenses are great for both adults and children. They transform from completely clear indoors to fully dark in the brightest sunlight and constantly adapt to the changing light, so they’re always exactly the shade you need them to be. Transitions Signature lenses do all of this and can fit into any type of frame.
When it comes to choosing frames, there are plenty of places that can offer inspiration – whether you’re looking for the latest trends from Fashion Week or the timeless looks captured in Oscar-winning films. Retro is undoubtedly a key trend this season. For men it’s the Nineties-inspired frames such as the bold black or tortoiseshell designs worn by Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill in ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’. Ted Baker’s full rimmed plastic tortoiseshell frames and Calvin Klein’s half frames fit the bill perfectly.
For sunglasses that echo the 1970s look seen on Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper in ‘American Hustle’, there’s Lacoste and Maui Jim aviator sunglasses.
On the red carpet at the Oscars, the accent was on 1950s glamour. Women can take tortoiseshell inspiration from Cate Blanchett in ‘Blue Jasmine’, but retro cat eye frames are by far the most popular look for ladies this season. Frames and sunglasses by designer Chloé offer some of the best cat eye styles available.
As for colour, the recent catwalk shows were divided between soft pastels and bold bright shades. Pro Design frames come in a huge range of colours – from lilac and purple to mint green and emerald. Calvin Klein, Ted Baker and Pro Design also offer two-tone options, so wearers can have the best of both worlds.
Let’s just hope that we get the weather to match our new summer looks!
