Spectacle wearers unite

[julesjam]

Help me feel better about having to be a glasses-wearer again! Up until recently I would wear contacts about 80% of the time but now I've got a recurring dry eye thing and have been 'downgraded' to occasional lens wear only.

I've got terrible eyesight and have worn glasses for years but I'm still feeling a bit about giving up regular lens wear.

So I need to remember what's great about glasses! And also figure out the best way to put on make up without actually pressing my face against the mirror to see what I'm doing. And also HOW MUCH make up to put on?? More? Less?? I would usually wear less/hardly any on a glasses day, but 'borderline zombie' is not a great look for work

Here is a poem from John Hegley for all you specs wearers:

"They can call me softy and ofty as they please
But I'll stand by these, my optical accessories
They stop me walking into lamp posts and trees
When its foggy, and I'm out walking with my doggie"

Brilliant! Love John Hegley

Floisme, what you said about forgetting "pretty" and going for "stylish and distinctive" really gave me pause for thought. You are absolutely right, now I'm in my late 40s I really should get over the mindset that I first acquired as an insecure speccy teen.

It does sound as though I'm not as bad as some of you sight-wise; I can certainly see my face well enough to do my hair/make-up without glasses, and they're no "Hubble Telescopes" I can't function without them, though.

My mum persuaded me not to have the pink NHS frames so I ended up with dark brown. Moving onto a cracking pair of Deidre Barlows at the age of 10.

I remember choosing frames as a child - always very chuffed with my latest 'look'. I saw some old pics of me recently when my parents were going through old photos and some of my specs were truly I remember a particularly delightful pair with red swooshy sides

So far my two DDs have escaped my terrible vision - I'm hoping it stays that way.

Yay Contreau, wear those glasses with pride! Stylish and distinctive is the way to go.

To keep all our spirits up, I'm going to try and link this photo of Julia Roberts wearing glasses wile out on the town with George Clooney:
media.zenfs.com/en-US/blogs/omgcelebnews/105628ac-9400-41dd-b991-ba8ae2067e77_JuliaRoberts_georgeClooney_111113.jpg

Let me just repeat that: she was Out With George Clooney and she was wearing glasses. Now how cool is that?

(I know she still looks pretty, which kind of undermines my argument dammit...)

These are the frames I have just bought, first glasses I've ever had that I really like!www.pretavoir.co.uk/oliver-peoples-lorell-ov5251-1281.html

That didn't work!
www.pretavoir.co.uk/oliver-peoples-lorell-ov5251-1281.html

www.pretavoir.co.uk/oliver-peoples-lorell-ov5251-1281.html

I'm tempted to order from glasses2you.co.uk after a couple of you mentioned it on here. Has anybody else got any experience of using them?

Yeah, no problems. Used other similar internet opticians too. You just type your prescription in and then select lens and frame option. Some ask for pupillary distance, and there is info on how to measure this, or you can ask them what it is at your eye test. I presume if this is not asked for they just 'centre' the lenses as standard.

Hey I really like those frames, Louwn, I'm seriously tempted by the green! Someone at work also has some nice Oliver Peoples specs. I shall definitely have a look at them next time.

They are a bigger style yet very delicate and stylish. The bolder geek frames just drown my face!

If you have a high prescription, Asda opticians automatically do the thinnest lenses at normal price ie £99 for 2 pairs. Brilliant. Last time I paid £80 alone, extra to have the lenses thinned!

Great to find this thread. I am in my 50s been wearing specs since the age of 9 and can no longer wear contacts. My prescription is very high and I need varifocals. I hate wearing specs I feel like it makes me look very plain and old, even though I have a decent figure/ skin.
Any recommendations of good opticians where someone will give advice on what styles suit me? My husband is useless and teenage daughters just want me to buy the latest trendy glasses rther than what suits my face shape. Obviously I can't decide myself as I can't see!

I love my glasses, I've only been wearing them since the middle of this year but I notice the difference now without them! Specsavers love us as 5 of us out of a family of 6 wear specs :)
Mine are definitely statement glasses but as I dress in a 50's rockabilly style I reckon I can get away with it.

Fairyliz I go to boots and would really recommend them. The staff are all very friendly and helpful - although I think it helps they know me quite we'll because I've been going so long!

JacknoneReacher that's a good tip about asda - I normally don't even bother with 2 for 1 deals as it's so expensive to get the lenses it kind of cancels out any savings on the frames.

Having said that, I did suddenly remember the other day that I did a 2 for 1 on specs several years ago, so thought I'd have a dig around for my old frames. Thought they were long gone, but I actually found them, and lo and behold - they are still in good nick, the right prescription (I think??!) and look really good! One a nice dark blue wire frame (for the straight librarian look), one a sort of burgundy/purple plastic frame - borderline hipster, bought before ironic geek glasses even existed!! So now I have a great wee range of frames to choose from. I was so delighted to track them down again - I love finding an old piece of clothing that still fits/is in fashion - so finding two pairs of old specs is like hitting the jackpot!

Darn you! You have all cost me £415!

I have been thinking about ditching the full time lens wearing but have never found glasses I really like.

Anyway, after spending half an hour in a proper shop I've just ordered a pair of Oliver Peoples. They are beautiful and I can't believe I have to wait ten days for them.

Great that you've found frames you like but sorry about the £££s! I pay a similar amount and I know it hurts but I keep repeating 'cost per wear' to myself. Have you got a link?

Fairyliz, sorry I missed your post. I would shop around; go into lots of opticians, check their selection and watch how they are with customers. I like to use an independent optician because I find they're more likely to go the extra mile for you. There's advice on Pinterest about frames: the general gist is to choose a shape that balances out your face e.g. if your face is round then avoid round frames. Personally, I just try on loads until I find some that I like and I take photos because, like you, I can't see myself! Also don't rule out everything your daughters say. Modern frames - provided they suit you - can really update your whole look. (I hope that doesn't sound like I think you need updating!) Trends in glasses change quite slowly so there's not much danger of them suddenly going out of fashion.

I got these. I could have ordered over the internet and paid less but I wanted the reassurance if having pupillary distance etc done properly. I read a which review of ordering online and was concerned about the quality.

I really like them Kosher. Thanks, that's two good links I've seen on here for Oliver Peoples, I'll definitely have a browse on there when I get new frames, which is probably next year [rubs hands].

I've never bought frames over the Internet either but I do look there for ideas. My optician can normally then get hold of them on a sale or return basis so that I don't have to buy if I change my mind when I see them. But I don't know how many opticians will do that for you?

Had mine a few weeks (oliver peoples linked up the thread) and love them. Been wearing them loads more than I did my previous pair to give my eyes a rest from contacts in the office.

Glad to hear. I want mine to arrive now. Can't believe I have to wait over a week for them!

Woo specs! Much as I like them, and they do look OK on me - I just can't get on with those hipster long rectangular frames. I think it's because my eyes are quite round?? Anyhoo, I find when I'm in the cinema (which is really all I wear my specs for) the screen doesn't fit and also I find them hard to walk in because my nose is slightly curved and they don't sit on my face very well. They slide down.

It's VERY annoying that it seems that all the shops round my way try to push you into buying the rectangular frames and it's pretty much all they stock.

Last time buying, I managed to come across these and they fit MUCH better. They also suit me better:

www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-CALVIN-KLEIN-EYEGLASSES-CK-147-570-45-24-140-/160857160687

Dunno why they're labelled as vintage, I only got them about 4 years ago. Maybe they'd been in the shop for a while??

Didn't stop the eyewear pusher from trying to get me to buy the thick rimmed black hipster jobbies. They looked like they were wearing me! I'm also pretty fair skinned. If I got them, I'd have had to take up poetry and listen to jazz.

She made it very plain she was not impressed with my choice and kept saying John Lennon. At the time, Gaga was wearing a lot of round glasses so I figured she could go fuck herself (eyewear lady not Gaga).

Keep an eye(!) on TK Maxx online. They have designer frames for incredibly cheap prices, and you can return the frames instore if you don't like them. I got a pair of Chloe frames the other week for £12.99 - £99 lenses at Specsavers (and I don't have the most straightforward prescription) and bingo designer specs for £112. I know this is still quite pricey but its a lot cheaper than buying frames at the opticians.

Very useful stuff here - thanks!