Talkin’ coloured contact lenses blues

Mar 27

Look deep into your lovers eyes, and you might see something you weren’t expecting … Coloured contact lenses. Their popularity is booming, and it looks like Bollywood stars are leading the charge. You can get all the colors of the rainbow, from hazel to violet to green, and they’re being seen adorning the eyes of beauties such as Aishwarya Rai and Shilpa Shetty. So why are coloured contact lenses suddenly the hottest item in town? And how can you choose the right pair for you?

Coloured contact lenses are the ultimate fashion accessory, whether it’s for that first date or a night out with the ladies, or even for a trip to the shops. Earrings or nails just won’t cut it any more. Coloured contact lenses let you change a very personal part of your appearance – your eye colour – without even having to contemplate something as drastic as cosmetic surgery. And changing up your eye colour is glamorous, something that everyone understands. There’s nothing more alluring than someone with bright, piercing eyes, and coloured contact lenses let you turn into someone a little different each time you put them on. If your job is all about looking good, then coloured contact lenses can give you that little something extra in the networking events, or in the big meetings.

So how do you make sure you’ve got the right coloured contact lenses for you? Obviously, you have to make sure the colour you choose matches your skin tone, as you don’t want to look like the queen of the harpies has just walked in. You’ll also want to think about what type of coloured contact lenses to use, as there are three types.

The first type is a visibility tint, which is usually a light green or blue tint. This doesn’t affect your eye colour, as the tint is to help you see the lens better when you’re putting it in. Try not to get these mixed up with the lenses you want to wear on a night out. The second type of lens is an enhancement tint, which is a little darker. This does indeed change the colour of your eyes, though it mostly enhances what you’ve already got. If your eyes are naturally quite light and you want to make them more intense, then these are the ones for you. The last type of coloured contact lenses is the colored tints, which are a deeper colour and can change your eye colour to something totally new. These are the ones you can really have fun with, but make sure you don’t share them with your friends, no matter how many cocktails you have!

So you’re going fishing. Which glasses should you wear?

Mar 26

Wearing glasses when you’re fishing is more important than you think, and I’m not talking about protecting your eyes from stray fishing flies. Not only are you going to be battling the fish you’re trying to reel in, but you’ll be up against something that’ll put you off your fishing quicker than you can say “thar she blows”: glare. Now, the mere mention of glare doesn’t exactly fill you with dread, or even set off minor trembling, but when you’ve got a catch in your sights, and it then seems to simply disappear, you’ll be cursing the glare like a grizzled sea captain cursing the sirens of the deep.

Glare is, of course, light reflecting off surfaces. When you’re fishing, the light reflects off the water, making it difficult to see clearly. Not only that, but the water itself becomes difficult to see into. You know when you’re trying to look into a river or lake, and you think you can see fish down there, but can’t be sure? Well, that’s the glare talking. So you need something to cut the glare out, and that something is fishing glasses.

The best fishing glasses you can find use polarized lenses. These lenses work like a Venetian blind, cutting out the frequencies of light that we experience as glare. Light that is reflected off water is focused in horizontal frequencies, meaning that having vertical filters – or ‘polarizations’ – in your glasses reduces the light that gets through to your eyes. So you experience less glare, and the water around you suddenly becomes more less opaque. Clever, huh?

At Vision Direct, we’ve got different kinds of fishing glasses. These are in a sporty, wrap-around style, so that you don’t get any sunlight coming through, and feature UV400 filters so that your eyes stay nice and safe. You might want to have a look at the Dynamix glasses, which are high performance fishing glasses. For a change of style, there’s also the Barcelona fishing glasses, and you’ll be equally at home in them on a quiet day’s fishing or eating a seafood paella on Las Ramblas.

Polarised Lenses – how it works and the different techniques used

Mar 23

Polarized lenses are used in sunglasses to cut down the glare from sunlight reflecting on water or bright objects. They have always been popular with people who spend time near water, such as fishermen or boaters. Because they reduce the glare, polarized lenses make it much easier to see and do important work. These days, polarized lenses are getting more and more popular, as their benefits are becoming well known. Those who like to spend time outdoors can also enjoy the benefits of polarized lenses, be they joggers, skiers, or cyclists. But it’s not just sportsmen and women who can use polarized lenses, as think how much easier driving would be without all that glare reflecting off other cars. There is even talk of polarized contact lenses entering the market, though this may be some time in the future.

So, how do polarized lenses work? The concept behind them is fairly simple, as they operate like a Venetian blind, limiting the amount of light that they allow through. Reflected light usually travels in a more horizontal direction, rather than being scattered, and this creates an intensity that is lacking from normal light – and this intensity is called glare. To lessen the intensity of the glare, polarized lenses are vertically polarized, letting through only a reduced amount of reflected light – different to Venetian blinds in that respect, though the principle is the same.

More specifically, polarized sunglasses use a filter to help eliminate the reflected light we see as glare. This filter doesn’t allow light of certain wavelengths to pass through, as they are not aligned with the particles in that filter. At first, these filters were made of a chemical compound coated on a transparent glass or plastic lens, much like a film. This was sometimes subject to delamination, meaning that the film peeled off. These days, the filter is suspended in the lens through using moulds in manufacturing. Rather than put the filter on the lens in the form of a film, instead the filter is suspended in the lens mould, which then has molten plastic poured into it. This then hardens, giving you a solid lens rather than a layered one.

With polarized lenses being used by those suffering from poor vision and other problems, it doesn’t seem too far fetched that polarized contact lenses will also soon be on the market. And with advances in technology and manufacturing, that could be sooner rather than later.

Vision direct – we sell glasses too!

Mar 22

You know, here at Vision Direct, we spoil you. And we like it. We’re like proud fathers, Santa Claus, and the Tooth Fairy all rolled into one. It’s not enough that we have over 5 million contact lenses sitting on our shelves for you, that we have more solutions than a calculator, and accessories that would make a Super Sweet 16 party girl positively green with envy. Oh no. We also have glasses. Lots of glasses. In fact, Vision Direct glasses come in all shapes and sizes, and whether it’s reading glasses you need, or something to keep you looking good on the slopes, we’ve got them all.

For many of us, of course, wearing glasses isn’t an option – it’s a necessity. Pick up a book – electronic or otherwise – and out come the reading glasses. But fret not, Vision Direct glasses have got you covered, with a whole range of reading glasses to suit every style. We’ve got thick black frames for that bookish look, and if you want something a bit more discreet and classy, we’ve got some frameless glasses too.

Whether you’re cycling in the towns or the countryside, the need to protect and care for your eyes doesn’t change. Vision Direct glasses can keep your eyes safe from dust and sunlight when you’re hitting those roads hard, and our boffins have even come up with a pair of sunglasses that get lighter as the sun goes down. And if that’s not enough, we’ve also got some sport safety glasses that are so tough they can withstand steel projectiles – flies and dust particles are nothing for these bad boys.

Now, there’s nothing that Vision Direct likes more than skiing. The skis just don’t cut it under water. We know that a good many of you also love to ski – or maybe snowboard, if you’re that way inclined – so we’ve got some ski goggles that are right up your alley. They offer UV protection, and can even be worn with a pair of Vision Direct glasses. For those of you who like to look a little fiercer, there are the Eliminator snowboard goggles – perfect for when you’re chasing MI6 agents through the Alps, and nothing else will do. And swimmers, we haven’t forgotten you: we have prescription goggles that you can wear if you suffer from myopia or hyperopia, as swimming whilst wearing contact lenses is definite no-no.

Why you should neglect the high street and buy online.

Mar 21

It is, in case you hadn’t noticed, the year is 2012. That means that the world as we know it is coming to an end: the Mayan calendar, riots on the streets of Tottenham, the Lib Dems in power, Man City poised to win the league … The list is endless. But there’s no need to panic, just hunker down in your bunker and ride the storm out. But this does means no more heading out to the high street for your eyewear, shopping for online contact lenses instead.

There are other benefits to online contact lenses other than staying safe from plague, pestilence, and whatever else the year can throw at you. Buying things online is invariably cheaper, and contact lenses are the same. Without the overheads that high street retailers have to think about, Vision Direct can reduce prices on a whole lot of contact lenses, which is good news for the likes of you and I. The reductions stretch as far as 70% off. It doesn’t end there, either, as the lenses get delivered to your door. For free. And if you don’t feel satisfied, you can return them using FREEPOST. So there’s no reason to step outside whatsoever.

What with Vision Direct not being like a common or garden high street store, there’s also a lot more room for storage. This is great news for our customers, as it means more choice. In fact, it means the choice of 5 million lenses. Imagine all of those on the shelves. Actually, don’t, it’ll blow your mind.

As for quality, well some opticians will tell you that online contact lenses are substandard, and not as good as the high street. To this we can only say “Poppycock!” The contact lenses that you can buy online are of exactly the same quality as those you can buy on the high street. The optician just doesn’t want you going elsewhere. But why pay over the odds for your contact lenses when you can get them cheaper online? It just doesn’t add up. But if you do your sums right, you’ll see that buying online contact lenses makes perfect sense.

How eyes are used in different cultures

Mar 20

Eyes, we are told, are windows to the soul, revealing our innermost thoughts and fears. And you don’t have to administer a Blade Runner-style “Voight-Kampf” test, either – any amateur poker player could tell you that, too. Wearing contact lenses that hide your dilating pupils won’t get you out of trouble either. Making eye contact around the poker table or a dystopian LA is all very well, but if you’re going overseas then you might want to think again before you start staring at someone from across a crowded room.

Over the pond in America, eye contact is much like it is here in the UK. Making good eye contact with someone is an important part of communication, and shows that you’re interested in what they have to say. Breaking your gaze or not looking at them is a sure fire way of showing that you’re either not concentrating or not interested. And there’s more: those who can keep good eye contact are considered confident and even bold, whereas those who look away or down are thought of as diffident.

Back in Europe, making eye contact is a mark of politeness during business or conversation. In some European nations, making eye contact out in the street is a friendly gesture – and perhaps even an amorous one. Do that and you might be dusting off your GCSE French quicker than you can say entente cordiale. In general though, our European brethren treat eye contact much like we do, and making and keeping eye contact is an important part of communication and body language.

Once you touch down in Asia, however, the rules start to change. Instead of a mark of confidence, eye contact – particularly prolonged eye contact – is rude. In Japan, where deference is important and social etiquette is always observed, not looking at someone when they speak is a mark of respect. Eye contact is usually made around 25% of the time during a conversation. For the Chinese, not making eye contact in crowded places gives some privacy away from the teeming hordes of 1.3 billion others, but during conversation it’s perfectly normal to make eye contact. Business is a little different, as making prolonged eye contact with a superior or someone in authority is inappropriate. But out of the confines of the office, it’s, er, business as usual and you can make jovial eye contact ‘til your hearts content.

Things are much the same in the Arab world, where prolonged eye contact with your bosses or other authority is seen as inappropriate, but is otherwise fine in more casual situations. When you’re going overseas, of course, it’s always best to remember that old maxim, and when in Rome, do as the Romans do.

What differentiates designer sunglasses?

Mar 19

Summer is on the way, which means it’s time to start preparing for beach season and get that bikini body ready. It might be too early for the beach, but designer sunglasses don’t need summer to tell them when it’s ok to come out. Vision Direct has all the brands and styles you need to keep you looking hot all year round, so why not take a moment to cast an eye over the latest models?

The trendy look right now is the wayfarer. Worn by movie stars, celebs, and cool kids the world over, these say hipster with a capital HIP. You don’t need to be a hipster to wear a pair. Ray Ban know a thing or two about sunglasses, and their retro-stylings are just the ticket. A tortoise/havana colour scheme definitely says you’re on your way (back) to the future, and you’ll have the Hoxton crowd green with envy – even without a hoverboard and DeLorean.

Not everyone wants that 80s look, though. There are times when only glamour will suffice, be it on the ski slopes of Val d’Isere or when you pop to the newsagents in your jogging bottoms. Not many designer sunglasses scream designer like Versace or Dolce & Gabbana, and their slick Italian design perfectly complements an LV bag and toy dog when Chelsea is calling and only the very best will do.

For the sportsmen and women amongst you, Oakley and Head sunglasses are tried and tested. From putting in the hard yakka on the morning run, to lounging on the boundary on a fine Home Counties afternoon, you’ll want to keep streamlined and protected. Oakley has been providing designer sunglasses to the discerning athlete since 1975, and as they come from California, they know all about sun protection.

If you’re looking for something a little different, some glamour with a bit of a testosterone thrown in for good measure, Italian manufacturer Police have got the designer sunglasses for you. Ultra modern, these are for those of you just as comfortable posing next to the pool as you are strutting the streets of Milan.

What are the reasons behind eye colour?

Mar 16

Your eye colour, much like your hair colour, is genetic. Mixing genes is a little like mixing paint, but as there are dominant and recessive genes, you can rarely be sure what your baby will look like until the little fellow is actually born. It’s the same case with the iris, the coloured part of the eye. You cannot be 100% sure what colour your baby’s eyes will be, but you can predict the likelihood to a certain degree. There are many different possibilities: there are two pairs of genes on each chromosome, some dominant, some recessive.

Usually, babies are born with blue eyes. But this baby blue can darken if the brown pigment melanin develops as the baby grows older. This means that children can have different eye colour to that of their parents. Darker colours are more dominant, so brown tends to dominate green, and green usually dominates blue. Having a brown-eyed parent doesn’t always guarantee a brown-eyed boy (or girl), two brown-eyed parents can in fact have a baby with blue eyes. But the likelihood increases as the gene for brown eyes is dominant, while the blue eyes gene is recessive. On the contrary, two blue-eyed parents only have blue-eyed genes, therefore they can actually only get a blue-eyed child.

So while you’re gazing into your loved-one’s eyes in a distant reverie, try to remember that not everyone has such luck with eye colour. It can change with age, usually fading rather than getting stronger. If your eye colour starts to lose its lustre, however, you can have a look for coloured contact lenses online. These can also be used by those who suffer from heterochromia iridium, which leaves you with odd coloured eyes, as well as orange parts around the pupil – like the sun in eclipse. If you suffer from heterochromia iridium, you’ll be in good company: musician David Bowie, Ghostbuster Dan Aykroyd, and Alexander the Great are amongst those who suffer or suffered from the condition.

Albinism is another condition that can change the colour of your eyes. This is a complete lack of melanin in the body, giving that white skin and hair, and red eyes. Albinos can suffer from vision defects such as astigmatism and nystagmus, though these conditions can be corrected with contact lenses. Online stores will stock them, though it’s always best to check with your eye doctor first.

Some say that your eye colour changes with your mood, because different moods affect the dilation of the pupil, which compresses the pigmentation in the iris, altering it slightly. So certain emotions can change the colour of your eye – though scientists aren’t sure if your eyes change to dollar signs when you see a lot of money, or hearts when you’re in love. But scientists still regard steam coming from your ears as a universally accepted sign of anger.

What is Iridology?

Mar 15

Iridology is the somewhat contentious method of identifying diseases related to organs and body tissue through studying the colours, patterns and other aspects of the iris – the coloured part of the eye. Now, this might sound strange but iridology is a practice that has been in use since the 1600s, long before you or I were born.

So how does iridology work? It’s relatively simple: all you need is a torch, a magnifying glass, or maybe a microscope. Oh, and an iridology chart. The iridologist uses the aforementioned items to peer at the patient’s iris, and, after cross-referencing parts of the iris with their chart, they make a diagnosis. Iridologists say that each part of the iris relates to an area or system in the body, allowing them to pinpoint what part of your body you should worry about. Their analysis doesn’t diagnose specific diseases or ailments, but instead shows potential weaknesses in organs or organ systems, before any other physical symptoms become apparent. They can even make these diagnoses if you’re wearing contact lenses.

When you have your first consultation, your iridologist will ask you the usual doctor-patient questions, such as medication you’re currently taking, whether you smoke and drink, and any conditions you might have or have had. After your iris is examined, the iridologist will give you advice on lifestyle, posture, and diet. They can tell you about – amongst other things – problems with your liver, pancreatic disturbances, gastro-intestinal maladies, your general immune system and anything else.

Now, homeopathy is not for everyone, and who are we to argue with the power of herbs and Chinese medicine. But if you’re worried about your eyes, then it’s best to visit your eye doctor. Iridology – if it is in fact not just hokum disguised as science – provides a more holistic solution to your body’s problems. For the here and now, stick to the guys in the white coats with medical degrees.

How your eye affects the rest of your body

Mar 14

Now for something completely different: science. But don’t let that put you off, because without it, where would we all be? Probably fighting over a waterhole and smashing things with bones, or watching apples falling from trees without even a passing fancy, that’s where. But if it’s apples you want to watch, then think about those little wonders of creation that let you do it. No, not television – today we’re talking about your eyes.

There is a song that any biologist worth his salt knows that tells you about bone connectivity. What that ditty fails to mention is that your eye bone, sorry, eye is connected to your brain through the optic nerve. Also known as “cranial nerve 2” – which sounds like it might be a particularly cerebral post-punk band – the optic nerves transmit what you see from the retina to the brain. If you damage your optic nerve, you’ll be left with permanent and quite possibly severe loss of vision. This is because optic nerves don’t regenerate or ‘grow back’. Modern science can keep your body running even when it starts to break down, but the eyes and the optic nerves are so specialised that you cannot get replacements. If you need the odd tweak, however, online contact lenses can provide respite.

It is of course light reflecting off objects that allows you to see. Light consists of a spectrum of different colours, and things either absorb or reflect these different colours. Once the light enters our eyes, it travels through the optic nerves into our brain, which then does its thing and we perceive objects in 3D and colour, rather than vibrating atoms and light. Clever stuff. Unlike humans, most animals are unable to see in colour, and instead see only shades of grey. For humans, colour perception is somewhat subjective. A red piece of paper doesn’t just reflect “red” light, if absorbs other frequencies of visible light, meaning that its redness is dependent on contrast with surroundings. Red against a pink background doesn’t look very red, but against a white background it’ll stand out like lipstick on a guilty man’s collar.