SpectacleFrames.org

I like wearing spectacles, and even though huge advances in contact lenses and Lasik surgery have been made, they still don’t work for everyone. Some people just really hate wearing contact lenses, even though their prescription may be very good otherwise. Other folks, like me, just don’t need their glasses that much and find a good pair of spectacles much more convenient than stopping and putting in contact lenses. Take a fresh look at the ins and outs of modern day spectacle frames and lenses.

Materials

Materials come in all forms just like styles do, and which material you choose is going to depend largely on how your glasses are treated day to day.  You may pay big money for titanium spectacle frames only to find that you really didn’t need all that flexibility.  By the same note, I don’t recommend frameless glasses if you are deep sea crab fishing as they just won’t hold up to the wear.  But that’s another story! Plastics are wonderful because not only are they affordable and lightweight, they are also sturdy and they come in every color under the sun.  Stainless steel frames is also a good choice, and is affordable as well as light weight and cost effective.

Glasses are very much a fashion accessory, the right style is crucial

Frame Styles

Keep in harmony with your face shape, if you have a super tiny heart shaped face don’t get huge bug eyed black glasses, unless you want to look like a dragonfly. Try to stay within the confines of your size, and lenses frames should be proportional to how big your face is. Blue eyes should stay away from blue frames, and men should probably not wear small narrow frames, as most look like they were borrowed from the wife’s purse.  Ladies with a square shape to the face should likewise stay away from square spectacles, instead try ovals to soften the lines and bring attention to the eyes.

Providers

Lens Crafters is a pretty good company, Pearle Vision is fast but very expensive (they can usually get your glasses ready within a few hours, and boy you can expect to pay for it. Vista Optical is also another good company for frames and at least in most areas have a pretty good deal on frames going at any one time.  Even the local mom and pop optometrist can get the job done, though they are usually more expensive than and not as fast as some of the larger chains.

Image Credit: MaxFX/PhotoExpress

Make sure you choose your spectacles frames carefully. Even if you update your specs every few years, a well made frame may last through several sets of lenses! If you are into designer spectacle frames they can come with a considerable price tag, and if you can spread the cost of this over even 2 sets of lenses this can amount to hundreds of dollars.