They are an accessory like any other but because we need rather than want glasses, we resent paying for them and treat our eyewear purchases like a chore. Usually, the only criteria we have in our heads when shopping for spectacles is the price.
Fall in love with shopping for eyewear! If you have a prescription, glasses will be your most-worn accessory so put some thought into what you want and choose a pair you really love. If it’s your first time shopping for prescription glasses, I highly recommend going into your local Optician's for help but for those more seasoned glasses-wearers, I will also talk about how to buy glasses online.
If you only have a small prescription, you will probably be able to wear any frames. However, some people’s prescriptions really impact the styles they can wear. You’ll know this if you have a very high prescription because you’ll likely have quite thick lenses, meaning you can’t wear especially thin, lightweight frames. The distance between your pupils will also affect the frames you can choose - my eyes are closer together than the average person’s so I can’t wear fashionably big styles because my prescription simply wouldn’t work the way it's supposed to. Remember when narrow, rectangular glasses were in fashion? That was my favourite time.
Not everyone can wear contact lenses but it's worth trying them if you can. I like to wear contact lenses on holiday because that means I can wear whatever sunglasses I like, whereas I’m limited to the petite range when shopping for prescription sunglasses. (If you can’t find what you want in the petite range, have a look at the teen options too!)
There are plenty of funky designs out there for both glasses and sunglasses and if that’s your style, go for it! If, like me, you wear your spectacles every single day, your best bet is a classic shape in a neutral colour like the Rayban Wayfarer. My glasses broke recently and I ordered the exact same pair from Glasses Direct because I know they work well with the rest of my wardrobe. They are minimal and stylish - perfect for everyday.
I chose Raybans because I liked the style and I knew I would get the wear out of them but budget eyewear ranges are often great quality too. If you spend more money, you’ll get extra features like spring hinges for durability but as long as you look after them, any pair of glasses should last you a long time - as long as you don’t sit on them!
Glasses Direct are a fantastic option if you are comfortable inputting your own prescription. If buying online, make sure you ask your optometrist for your 'PD' (pupillary distance, i.e. the distance between your pupils) because you’ll need this to order your frames. When ordering online, have a look at the inside arm of the frames you already own - you’ll see two 2-digit numbers and a 3-digit number. These are the measurements of your current frames. Try to stick close to these numbers when choosing your new frames.
If you don’t have a prescription, the world is your oyster when it comes to sunglasses. You can basically wear whatever you like as it won't affect your vision, but of course some styles will suit you more than others. Try as many on as possible and have a good look in the mirror to see which styles suit you best. Ask someone to help you choose - someone you trust to give an honest opinion!
Most sunglasses have plastic frames and you may struggle to wear these if the bridge of your nose is shallow. If you love plastic frames, keep an eye out for ones with nose-pads attached, like my Gok Wan sunnies above. You can take these into your local Specsavers to be adjusted so they fit your nose perfectly, whereas the nose section of purely plastic frames can only be manipulated so much. This is especially important if you have a prescription because not only will it keep your glasses from falling down but the fit also affects your vision.
If you just started wearing glasses and you’re devastated that you can’t wear your favourite designer sunglasses anymore, you can take them into an opticians to have the lenses changed. Just bear in mind that they won’t be exactly the same colour that you’re used to and the opticians will not be liable if they break in the process, so if they’re very precious, try wearing them with contact lenses. When buying a new pair of prescription sunglasses, it's useful to know that you are not limited to the pairs of sunglasses that are out on the shelves - you can ask for a tint to be put into any frames you like, even if the display pair are not tinted.
Also, if they ask if you if you wanted polarised sunglasses? Say YES. They are expensive lenses but they are SO worth it. Your vision will be so much clearer whether you wear a prescription or not.
I hope this was helpful to you whether you have a prescription or not! I post on this blog every weekend and also post fashion content regularly on my instagram, @emma_does_fashion so if you like the photos in this post you might like to follow me on Instagram too!
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