Are you thinking it's time to pick up a new pair of specs? There are lots of different reasons you might need to refresh your frame game, from fashion to medical.
Don't be too hasty! You may not need to throw away your beloved glasses just yet. Check out some of the reasons below to decide if you need to pick up some new vintage eyeglasses.
Do I Need New Eyeglasses?
If you have been noticing any of the below issues with your health, your frames or changes in your life then now might be a good time for you to get some new vintage frames!
- Headaches.
- Squinting.
- Double vision.
- Blurred vision.
- Poor night vision.
- Issues seeing in sunlight.
- Changes in your lifestyle.
- Lenses won't come up clean.
- Lenses are scratched.
- You want a new look.
- It has been a year since your last eye examination.
If you have started to experience frequent headaches or changed jobs recently then it might also be time for you to start looking for a new pair of glasses that will fit your current lifestyle and be kinder to your retinas.
There are a number of different signs to look out for when making the decision on whether to purchase some new glasses or just to get your old glasses reglazed. If you have any of the below issues then it might just be time for you to start browsing our collection of rare designer vintage glasses.
Medical Reasons to Buy New Eyeglasses...
You are experiencing frequent headaches.
One of the most common signs it is time to get your eyes tested again is the occurrence of headaches after extended periods of wearing your glasses. It has been proven that if you have to strain your eyes over long periods of focus, such as reading a book or looking at your phone or laptop, you will likely start to experience a tightness in the skull behind the eyes. One of the best ways to relieve this pressure is to follow the 20:20:20 rule - Take a break every 20 minutes for at least 20 seconds and focus on something at least 20 feet away. If you follow this practice and still continue to experience headaches then it is time to book in an appointment with your local optician.
Uncomfortable eyewear that is too tight can also lead to headaches. If you feel that the temple of your glasses is pressing onto your face a little too much for your liking then over time this can manifest itself as a headache, especially with acetate frames. Luckily this is an easy fix for any eyewear expert just take your frame into your local optician and ask them to make some adjustments for your head shape and those headaches should start to disappear.
Are you squinting to read this?
Humans have developed the ability to squint in order to control the amount of light that is hitting the back of your eye to improve your contrast in vision and focus. Squinting could help to compensate for a prescription which is slightly off but over time it will cause the muscles in your eye to adjust and your issues will get worse. If you have recently had to adjust your screen setting with an increased zoom this is likely a sign you should get some new lenses fitted.
You have been experiencing double vision.
Double vision can be a sign of a more serious condition than just needing to get a new pair of specs so get yourself off to an eye specialist quickly.
Strabismus, more commonly known as cross-eyes, often comes with a side effect of double vision for many sufferers. This is not a serious condition and can usually be fixed with a stronger prismatic prescription than you are currently wearing. The term strabismus actually comes from the Greek word "strabismós" which means to squint.
The other common cause of double vision is keratoconus. This is a condition where the cornea of the eye thins and gradually bulges outward. The cone shape of the cornea will cause an increase in light sensitivity and glare, it will usually be present in both eyes, however, often one eye is more acutely affected.
Things are appearing a bit blurry and you haven't even had a pint!
If you have been on a night out and have found this article then we strongly advise it's time for you to hit the hay! Don't worry our designer vintage eyewear will still be there in the morning for you - or better yet our oversized vintage sunglasses might be what you really need!
If you are sober as a judge right now and still feeling a wavy sensation whilst reading or staring at straight lines it is very likely you need to get yourself a new prescription to adjust your vision. Blurred vision is a symptom of macular degeneration when the central section of your retina is beginning to deteriorate and can also be a sign of cataracts. If you are experiencing blurred vision don't take any chances - go and book an appointment with an eye specialist immediately!
In most cases however, slightly blurred vision is just a sign that you should be wearing glasses for particular activities.
If you find your vision is blurred whilst reading then often a basic pair of reading lenses will work perfectly to fix the issue.
If you are near-sighted and have been finding objects in the distance are not as easy to focus on as they used to be - this is a sign you need to get a new eye test done. The good news is that you can start shopping for a new pair of vintage glasses too!
Your night vision is getting worse and yet you have been eating carrot soup for weeks.
The old tale about carrots giving you night vision was actually started by the British air-force during World War 2 - It was such a good story that it is still believed by many to this day. However, if you have been eating a healthy diet and have recently found activities such as night driving or walking in the dark have become a lot harder it could be an early sign of cataracts. Which in my book is a good enough reason to go and see an optician pretty sharpish.
You can't seem to go out without your sunglasses on these days.
We all like to be divas every now and again, personally, I rarely go anywhere without a pair of vintage sunglasses on my face. But when it is no longer becoming a fashion choice it might be a sign that the muscles in your eyes are getting a bit weak. If you are having issues adjusting from dark lit rooms to bright sunlight then it is a sign that you would benefit from a fresh prescription being fitted to your eyeglasses.
Non-Medical Reasons to Get New Glasses Frames...
Have you got a new job or changed your career?
Looking to make a great impression with your new boss? You could do worse than going and getting your eyes tested. It may seem odd but, beyond a new pair of glasses helping you create a stellar first impression, they can actually make you more productive and efficient in your work.
If your chosen occupation will leave you spending a lot of time staring at a computer screen it could be worth getting a prescription with some Blue Light Filter coating to help reduce the chance of eye strain.
If you are one of the lucky ones (or unlucky in UK Winters!) who get to spend most of your time outdoors, it might be worth getting a new prescription fitted with a more durable lens with hard coating and anti-scratch properties.
Are you having trouble cleaning your frames?
Have you found the elbow grease isn't cutting through anymore and your frames and lenses just won't shine up the way they used to? Make sure you have been doing it right by having a quick gander at our guide to cleaning vintage glasses.
Often the lens coatings that have been applied to a pair of prescription lenses that have seen their fair share of wear and tear (try saying that 10 times fast!) will have started to break down. So if you can't get them to clean anymore then it is time to get some new glasses. If you have fallen in love with the frame though don't despair we are happy to reglaze your existing frames for you - just purchase the prescription you need and send the frame into our lab for fitting.
Have you scratched your current lenses?
Whilst you might be tempted to hold off getting new glasses just because your lenses are scratched it will not actually benefit you. Looking through lenses with scratches can lead to eye strain as your brain does all the work to remove the duff spot on your glasses.
We offer an affordable reglazing service from just £50 so it doesn't need to cost the earth either! Just send us a copy of your prescription and we will advise on what is the best level for you, plus we offer free colour UV tinting too.
Is it time for a fresh look?
Every now again we all need to freshen up our style right? Ed & Sarna Vintage Eyewear stock thousands of designer vintage glasses to suit all budgets. We are happy to advise on what frames will work best for you - book a FREE online appointment and view a handpicked selection of our frames via a zoom call and learn more about our vintage eyewear all from the comfort of your own home.
It's been a year since your last eye examination.
Going to the optician is nowhere near as scary as going to the dentist. Plus with most major high street stores now offering free eye tests covered by the NHS, there is no reason not to get your eyes tested every 12 months.
A comprehensive eye test will look for changes in your vision and allow you to ensure you have the right lenses for your needs. A typical eye exam will have 4 parts - the visual acuity test, the colour blindness test, the ocular motility test and a depth perception test.
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Visual acuity test – You will try to read a basic eye chart to test the clarity of your vision.
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Colour blindness test – This test is used to see if you have issues detecting certain colours.
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Ocular motility test – Which will test out the strength of your eye muscles and help in determining the cause of any eye strain you have been experiencing.
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Depth perception test – Is actually relatively fun and you may be required to wear some 3D glasses in order to point out which objects appear closest and furthest from you.
It is highly recommended that you get a new eye test done every 12 months, so if it has been a while book yourself in today. Don't worry about buying any of their boring frames though! Just get the test and send us a copy and we will let you know if they can easily be fitted to any of our vintage frames.
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DISCLAIMER
*All advice given above is by no means a substitute for medical advice and if you are experiencing any of the issues mentioned above please book an appointment with a qualified eye doctor.
