New glasses wearer

Spudlet · 2022-04-26T08:26:16+00:00

I’ve had reading glasses for screen working for years, but when I went for an eye test yesterday, the optician said it was time to start thinking about wearing my glasses all the time 😳 I’m about to turn 40, and was already fed up about it, tbh! Now this… I always think glasses look great on other people, but I hate how they look on me. I wore my old glasses for most of the day yesterday, after seeing the optician, and I will admit my eyes felt a lot less tired by the evening… now obviously these are my old readers, so they probably aren’t adjusted to fit as well as they could, but I’m not finding them comfortable at all. And when I caught sight of myself in window reflections, I looked a bit like Anna Delvey, which is not really the look I want… and I can’t imagine being able to go for a run wearing these, they’re going to annoy me too much. I’m really not loving this new thing I have to think about, tbh. I will be choosing my frames from the budget end of Specsavers, so any tips on choosing a pair that are nice, not outdated, and will be comfy? Do I bother with prescription sunglasses? Or shall I just say fuck it and go straight in with contact lenses?

Original poster

Spudlet · 26/04/2022 09:28

Omg, apologies for the multiple threads, the server kept crashing. I’ll report the duplicates!

OP posts:

Mol1628 · 26/04/2022 09:55

I always find Specsavers basic range nice! Good quality and simple modern styles to suit lots of tastes.

I would try contact lenses too though. They’re great for driving (sunglasses can just be left in the car and put on when needed) going out in the rain, exercising etc etc. But you’ll probably be advised to get both as generally it’s advised not to wear contacts full time, you do need a bit of a break.

JofraArchersFastestBall · 26/04/2022 09:56

I think specsavers do some very nice, cheaper glasses.

I've needed glasses since I was young. Used to hate them and wore contacts from about 16 to 26, but now I love them. It takes a bit of trial and error to find a pair you feel great in, but it's worth it if you're wearing them every day. My mum is a glasses wearer, and she recently had cataract operations and didn't need them any more. She felt naked without them, and 'luckily' now her eyes have healed and settled she needs a pair again!

I think perhaps for your first pair it might be worth going to an independent optician and seeing if they can advise you on style and fit. Perhaps slightly more expensive, but you'd be more likely to wear them. I buy online, but that's easier if you know what size and style suits you first.

Lots of places do at home trials, if you wanted to try various styles in the comfort of your own home. I love bloobloom and ace&tate.

JofraArchersFastestBall · 26/04/2022 10:02

Also, I find prescription sunglasses a good idea in theory, but a pain in real life. I hate having to take them off and faff about putting my normal glasses on every time I go inside and vice versa when I go back into the sun. Plus I'm scared of losing my real glasses and taking them of and on when out and about stresses me out. I just wear a hat.

Original poster

Spudlet · 26/04/2022 10:15

I did venture into the independent opticians in town hoping for a bit of advice, but I didn’t get any and their frames were all designer and £200+, so I slunk away again 😳

I have to say I do like my Specsavers basic ones that I have, I just think I’m a bit too unkempt to carry off glasses every day! Yesterday I had day old hair in a messy ponytail and a black turtleneck on, and my big glasses…

Maybe I’ll go for a fairly basic pair then try contacts? It’s difficult to know what to do because the optician was a bit wishy washy about whether I really needed to wear them
all the time, he was a bit like ‘It’s up to you’ as opposed to ‘You absolutely should’ 🤷‍♀️

OP posts:

MargaritasOnMe · 26/04/2022 10:16

I've been wearing glasses full time since I was 7. I don't even notice them anymore. Contact lenses are useful when you want to exercise and also I wear them in the summer with normal sunglasses. I just get cheap dailies online and they are fine. For me prescription sunglasses are a pain in the neck because they are so expensive, don't need to be worn all the time (so more likely to get lost or broken) and the couple that I have tried over the years just looked ridiculous imo - I'm limited on frame style by my prescription. So I wouldn't personally recommend them although have plenty of friends who love theirs! The best way to pick glasses that suit is to try on loads of different styles! Think about what suits and flatters your face, don't worry about trends. I have a small face and fair skin so those dark, heavy frames that were popular a couple of years ago looked dreadful on me. Also be conscious of how comfortable they are to wear - I like a larger frame that I can see everything through. I've tried smaller ones and it annoys me when large amounts of my periphery vision are blurred.

Mol1628 · 26/04/2022 10:34

I’ve been to a few independent opticians in my time and always found them a bit rubbish! I like Specsavers or Boots.

hihellohihello · 26/04/2022 10:40

I've got to say a good thing about wearing glasses as you get older is that they totally disguise under eye shadows and wrinkles so that is a plus. I prefer the way I look in glasses now! 😁

A lot of online sites allow you to try on virtually and the glasses are so inexpensive it is possibly to have several pairs to go with different outfits. They do sunglasses too. All you need is a prescription which you copy onto the order form.

hihellohihello · 26/04/2022 10:40

I've got to say a good thing about wearing glasses as you get older is that they totally disguise under eye shadows and wrinkles so that is a plus. I prefer the way I look in glasses now! 😁

A lot of online sites allow you to try on virtually and the glasses are so inexpensive it is possibly to have several pairs to go with different outfits. They do sunglasses too. All you need is a prescription which you copy onto the order form.

hihellohihello · 26/04/2022 10:41

I've got to say a good thing about wearing glasses as you get older is that they totally disguise under eye shadows and wrinkles so that is a plus. I prefer the way I look in glasses now! 😁

A lot of online sites allow you to try on virtually and the glasses are so inexpensive it is possibly to have several pairs to go with different outfits. They do sunglasses too. All you need is a prescription which you copy onto the order form.

hihellohihello · 26/04/2022 10:41

I've got to say a good thing about wearing glasses as you get older is that they totally disguise under eye shadows and wrinkles so that is a plus. I prefer the way I look in glasses now! 😁

A lot of online sites allow you to try on virtually and the glasses are so inexpensive it is possibly to have several pairs to go with different outfits. They do sunglasses too. All you need is a prescription which you copy onto the order form.

hihellohihello · 26/04/2022 10:42

Sorry about multiple posts there seems to be a glitch with the app.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/04/2022 10:45

Why would you need to wear readers all day, surely that isn't right?

I think it's really worth getting reactalite lenses, you can get grey or brown ones, I much prefer the grey tint.That way you put them on and they darken automatically if it's sunny or bright.

I don't rate Specsavers personally for anything but a really basic prescription.

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/04/2022 10:45

Why would you need to wear readers all day, surely that isn't right?

I think it's really worth getting reactalite lenses, you can get grey or brown ones, I much prefer the grey tint.That way you put them on and they darken automatically if it's sunny or bright.

I don't rate Specsavers personally for anything but a really basic prescription.

Original poster

Spudlet · 26/04/2022 10:57

I'm longsighted so initially had glasses for working at a computer - the optician said he was tweaking my prescription now and that I should consider wearing my glasses all the time, and wear them when driving. So I wore my current glasses most of the day yesterday and did notice a difference tbh.

Specsavers is about the only optician in the area - there isn't a Boots optician locally (small market towns are the only places close). The nearest Boots would mean driving 30-odd miles to the nearest city, and tbh I can't afford either the time or the fuel! So it's Specsavers, or the very expensive independent one. And I can't afford £200+ just for the frames, so there we go.

My mum was extolling the virtues of Reactalights (she's a lifelong glasses-wearer), but tbh I think they'd drive me mad...! I would rather be in control of when I put sunglasses on myself.

I'll have a look online for some options, thank you all :)

OP posts:

MrsPelligrinoPetrichor · 26/04/2022 11:02

Spudlet · 26/04/2022 10:57

I'm longsighted so initially had glasses for working at a computer - the optician said he was tweaking my prescription now and that I should consider wearing my glasses all the time, and wear them when driving. So I wore my current glasses most of the day yesterday and did notice a difference tbh.

Specsavers is about the only optician in the area - there isn't a Boots optician locally (small market towns are the only places close). The nearest Boots would mean driving 30-odd miles to the nearest city, and tbh I can't afford either the time or the fuel! So it's Specsavers, or the very expensive independent one. And I can't afford £200+ just for the frames, so there we go.

My mum was extolling the virtues of Reactalights (she's a lifelong glasses-wearer), but tbh I think they'd drive me mad...! I would rather be in control of when I put sunglasses on myself.

I'll have a look online for some options, thank you all :)

You won't be able to tell when the reactalites are working, they're not like putting sunglasses on, they're not just dark or clear.

Mol1628 · 26/04/2022 11:17

I don’t like the reactions lenses. I know people that have them and in in between lights they just look really odd.

hepaticanobilis · 26/04/2022 12:04

I've worn glasses "full time" since my early twenties (rapidly approaching 40 now) but I don't wear them for exercise or sometimes even when I go for a walk - my vision is fine when it comes to just generally seeing what's around me, I only notice the difference when watching TV or reading signage further away or something like that. I have some normal non-prescription sunglasses I wear instead. So I think you can easily just not wear them when you go for a run.

In terms of styles, I recommend just trying lots on. You will find what works for you. There are so many different styles available now there's something for everyone, and every frame style looks so different - definitely worth just trying! Some online opticians also do a free home trial if you want to order 5 pairs of frames to try (Glasses Direct for example has a good budget range). I've found Specsavers staff pretty good at helping with the frame selection too although that was pre-pandemic, not sure if there are still any restrictions around trying on 20 pairs.

Original poster

Spudlet · 26/04/2022 12:13

They were fine with me trying lots on yesterday, you just have to put them all into a little tray after you've touched them so they can be cleaned between people. I just chickened out of choosing without a second opinion there! I am going to go back with DH (he will have to stand outside and tell me from there) and my mum on Facetime, and select some - I have to ring for an appointment though so will get round to it...

I really like our local Specsavers tbh, I've been taking DS in there since he was tiny, and they always remember him and are really patient with him. I'm sure it varies between branches, but ours is really good IMO.

OP posts:

GettingStuffed · 26/04/2022 13:31

Tip your face down slightly, if they slip you'll be forever pushing them up. Also pay attention to the person doing the dispensing, I had my heart set on a purple plastic frame instead of my usual metal ones, she tried to talk me out of them because I've by a small nose and I'd be forever pushing them up. She was right. I was so looking forward to buying a new metal pair but was diagnosed with a couple of eye conditions so can't get new glasses until they get checked out at hospital

IloveJudgeJudy · 26/04/2022 14:03

I definitely rate my local Specsavers. They don't always have the best selection of frames but I've found the workers there very talented in assisting with frame choice. There's never a problem if you need to return them.