Eyewear
Fashion Frames
The current fashion trend is oversized frames with esoteric shapes, bright colours, thick plastic rims and thick temples.
Pros:
- Attracts attention
- Great for sunglasses providing good coverage
Cons:
- Heavy and uncomfortable. Weight ranging from 30 to 50+ grams compared to rimless weighing in from 12+ grams.
- With thick frame fronts, the centre of gravity is towards the front of the frame and the glasses will tend to slide down the nose and fit low. Whilst we’re on earth there is no escape from gravity.
- If you have eye bags, they take centre stage and are perfectly framed in the eye pieces . If you have a Plus (convex) prescription your eye bags will be magnified.
- To hold the frame in place, the temples are curled around the tops of the ears, this could cause discomfort and pain because of the forward and downward weight. Alternatively, the frame arms clamp onto the head but the pressure may become unbearable or lead to “tram lines”.
- Thick/wide sides would block peripheral vision which is crucial for driving.
The DVLA requires a minimum field of vision of at least 120 degrees horizontally for Group 1 drivers (cars and motorcycles), with extensions of at least 50 degrees left and right ( a total of 220 degrees).
If your glasses significantly restrict your peripheral vision and you fail to meet the minimum field of vision requirements, it could lead to a driving test failure or a need to report it to DVLA if you’ve been advised you may not meet the visual standards. When the driving visual field test is performed the subject should be wearing the sun/glasses that would be usually worn in the car for driving. In the case of an accident, you may not be covered by your insurance company and you may be at fault.
Choosing Frames
- We often hear from our newcomers: ” I’ve been looking for a frame for months sometimes years, I can’t find what I like”. Others say ” I hate the frames I’m wearing…they are so heavy”. “I’m looking for something different”… With our carefully selected frames by our optometrist bearing in mind patient prescriptions and facial features our “off the peg” frames give you wide options that would prove to provide longterm enjoyment of your glasses.
- However you can also have your new glasses made to order or completely bespoke. Since this takes time and choices cannot be changed only committed clients would be considered for this type of frame fitting. Please enquire and make an appointment to have a longterm result you would feel proud to wear everyday.
- We are stockists of Lindberg, Tom Davies, Silhouette and Modo which are globally recognised frames known for their technical innovation, styling and trend setting designs. Lindberg is from Denmark, Tom Davies is a British designer with his manufacturing facility in Brentford, London. It is one of the few frame ranges made in the UK. Silhouette is from Austria. Modo is American designed and manufactured with both eco-friendly and high quality materials. We stock a number of other brands to suit a wide range of pockets as well. We have found over the years that mass fashion brands tend to be overstated elegance. Typically, the mass approach is one size fits all, mass production and esoteric designs that last for a season or two. We should really be thinking about the greenhouse footprints involved in both the manufacture and disposal of our eyewear!
Lindberg
Lindberg has been working with titanium since 1984 and has mastered working with this light, flexible, durable and hypoallergenic material to a fine art. Lindberg has won in excess of 100+ international design awards for their innovation and technical excellence. Lindberg frames are known for their light weightedness, unique colours and durability of both their structure and colour.
Lindberg frames originally designed by an optometrist and innovated by his architect business partner are precision products and they require specialist lens glazing expertise and precision.
The frames are lightweight and when fitted well are comfortable and a pleasure to wear. In the unqualified hands it can be a different story. They are a pleasure to work with if you know how, have the right hands, tools and service parts.
Tom Davies
Tom Davies is a British designer who revolutionised eye wear in 2002 when he offered bespoke eyewear. In 2007 – Tom opens his first factory in Shenzhen. In 2019 Tom moves production to the UK to Brentford, London. His frames are hand made with high quality acetate, buffalo horn and titanium. Tom Davies frames may be ready to wear “off the peg” or a re-order of the same frames whereby within reason their eye, bridge, arms sizes and colours may be modified. With further Bespoke changes the shape, style, frame curvature, thickness and style of arms may be ordered. This process of Bespoke order would take between 6-8 weeks to manufacture. The result is a well fitting aethetically pleasing frame without compromise.
Other Frames
We are stockists for a number of other brands. Silhouette, Modo and Eco.