Woman World Web

July 27th, 2009 by Adam Webster

Not so long ago, getting prescription eyeglasses meant you were a nerd who had strained your eyes with too much study — or you were getting really, really old! Today, however, prescription eyeglasses are proving more popular than ever as a fashion accessory as much as a function necessity.

It’s true. Even the best innovations in eye care, such as vision correction surgery or contact lenses, won’t work for everyone. Think of a rock star such as Bono or Elvis Costello. Can you imagine them without their prescription eyeglasses? Then take note, because you can have both the function needed to correct your vision and the fashion that will make you look like your favorite celebrity.

Those who wear prescription eyeglasses already know that designers such as Calvin Klein, Sean John, Adrienne Vittidini, Marc Jacobs, Anne Klein and many others also produce high-fashion eyeglass frames. These well-known brands are drawing both women and men to stylish frames for their prescription eyeglasses.

For the younger crowd, that world-famous wizard Harry Potter has cast a spell over youngsters who need to get prescription eyeglasses. Thanks to Harry, children no longer resist getting glasses - as long as they’re fun. Durability is key to choosing kids’ eyeglasses, so new enhancements such as flexible frames and spring hinges are welcome additions.

Materials for eyeglass frames also sport innovations, such as the introduction of wood and bamboo. Because it’s an easily renewable resource, bamboo in particular is becoming a popular material for those concerned about the environmental impact of the manufacture of plastic or metal frames.

Other types of lenses are based on research into how light works and how it moves through the eye. For instance, lenses based on wavefront technology are manufactured on the basis of extremely precise measurements about how light moves through a person’s eye. Using these measurements to create lenses significantly sharpens clarity of vision. They’re the ultimate in personalized eyewear!

Women and men alike are creating wardrobes of prescription eyeglasses to match their clothing. Women especially like having eyeglass frames in a rainbow of styles and colors, just as they have an array of shoes, handbags and other accessories. Thus we can find women with sharp, clean-looking frames for work swapping out their traditional styles for frames embedded with gems or bearing iridescent ornaments for evening wear.

In addition to needing vision correction for reading, people with presbyopia who are fond of sports and recreational activities may find that they need specialized prescription eyeglasses. After all, a devoted softball player wouldn’t want that horsehide to get indistinct when it comes across the plate. And every golfer needs to be able to see well in order to tee up.

Originally developed for professional athletes, sport sunglasses and performance prescription eyeglasses can ensure good vision for any outdoor activity. There are even designs for diving masks, swim goggles, ski goggles and shooting glasses for hunters.

Even though your need for prescription eyeglasses means you’re getting older, you don’t have to sacrifice a stylish appearance. Besides choosing the right lenses for your needs, your personal appearance and your lifestyle are the best guides to choosing the right prescription eyeglasses.

Choosing lenses is only part of the fun of getting prescription eyeglasses these days. Top fashion designers such as Anne Klein, Marc Jacobs, Sean John and Calvin Klein now make eyeglass frames as well. Gone are the days of stiff plastic or tarnished metal frames. Instead, prescription eyeglasses wearers can build an entire wardrobe of existing colors and styles that make eyeglasses one of the trendiest fashion accessories.

Whatever you choose, make sure you really like the look and fit of your prescription eyeglasses. Ask your optician or optical store in advance about their return, exchange or refund policies before you buy.