Glasses or Contacts? Choose Which is Right for You

At some point, approximately 90% of Americans wear corrective lenses of some type. People who need to correct their vision often choose contact lenses or eyeglasses. Many wear a combination of both, either at the same time or at different times. Only you and your vision care specialist can determine whether glasses or contacts are right for you. Here are some things to keep in mind when making that decision.

People choose to wear glasses because they are convenient. It is possible to open your eyes in the morning, put your glasses on, and enjoy immediate perfect vision. Reading glasses can be put on and taken off in a matter of seconds. There is no sterilization to worry about and no chance of infection from normal use. They come in many different styles, colors, and shapes, and can complement your appearance. Glasses can be very affordable. They can be tinted and made into prescription sunglasses, or you can purchase special lenses that get darker when exposed to sunlight or bright light. Eyeglasses will not cause the eyes to suffer from dryness or redness.

Despite the advantages of wearing eyeglasses, there are disadvantages as well. When you wear glasses, there is a loss of clear peripheral vision. Glasses can fog up when switching from cold to warm temperature or from dry to humid air. Some people do not like the way that glasses look, while others find it hard to get used to the weight of eyeglasses on the face. Sometimes people experience a glare on their glasses, especially when the glasses are used for driving at night. There are special coatings available your eye care specialist will recommend that will reduce glare and reflection.
Unlike glasses, contact lenses do not alter your appearance. They do not get blurry or fog up in temperature extremes. There is no extra weight on your face, and contacts are usually affordable. Most people find contacts comfortable to wear.

There is a risk of infection when using contact lenses if proper sterilization techniques are not practiced. Contacts must be sterilized after each use and left to soak for a certain number of hours. Some people, especially those prone to dry eyes, find contact lenses irritating. There are many types of contact lenses; if you find that one kind bothers your eyes, your eye doctor may prescribe a different type.

Many people use glasses and contacts together or separately. Some use contacts to correct their nearsightedness and wear them most of the day, while also using glasses to read. Others wear glasses on some days and contact lenses on alternate days. Still others may wear glasses for one part of the day and switch to contacts for the rest of the day.

Your vision care specialist may recommend one type of vision correction over the other if you have certain eye diseases or are prone to eye problems. People with severe astigmatism, for example, may have a hard time wearing certain kinds of contact lenses. Speak to your eye doctor or optician to help you to decide which kind of vision correction is right for you. He or she will be able to help you evaluate your lifestyle to see whether glasses, contacts, or a combination of both is best for your particular eyes.

Read the original article at glassescrafter.com

The human eye is an amazing organ that most of us rely on every waking moment of the day.  From morning till night, our vision allows us to see beautiful Florida sunsets, our beloved family and much more.  Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, our main goal is to keep you up-to-date on everything related to eye care and eye health.

Cost Of Vision Problem In United States

Here is some important eye health information takeaway from the SugarlandEyes infographic:

• 22 million people in the United States age 40 and older have cataracts
• By age 80, more than half of all Americans have cataracts
• Medical costs associated with cataracts are estimated to be $6.8 billion annually
• 2.3 million Americans aged 40 and older have glaucoma (another 2 million don’t know they have the disease)
• Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness with cataracts being first
• 3.6 million people in the U.S. are visually impaired among people aged 40 and older
• 1 million people in the U.S. are color blind

If it’s been more than a year since your last eye exam, please feel free to drop in to any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore location or schedule an exam online. We have over 4000 thousand frames to choose from and we’re known for having a frame for every face and a price for any budget. We also have in-house optometrists that are available for full eye examinations. Check out our coupons page for current offerings as well.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.

Eye Safety - Protect Your Eyes

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.

The most important thing you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to get an annual eye examination. You may need to go more often if you have an eye disease such as Glaucoma. Many degenerative eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Cataracts and Retinal Disorders need to be caught early as it’s often too late once you get symptoms. If you notice symptoms such as pain, changes in vision or flashes of light, visit your local Optometrist right away. Early treatment from an Optometrist can prevent vision loss.  Each 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore has an Independent Optometrist. Walk-ins are welcome. All we ask is that you come 20 minutes early so we can complete all of the required paperwork. Contact us for more information.

Blepharitis and Eye Health

Blepharitis is an inflammation of the eyelids, usually caused by an excess growth of bacteria that is ordinarily found on the skin, blockage of the eyelid's oil glands, and occasionally allergies.
Blepharitis is a common eye condition, causing the eyelids to be reddened, itchy, and somewhat swollen and scaly-appearing at the base of the eyelashes. It is the most common cause of dry eyes. A dysfunction of the eyelid's oil glands that leads to blepharitis occurs because of a hormone imbalance.

What Are the Symptoms of Blepharitis?

The symptoms of blepharitis include:

• Feeling like something is in your eye
• Burning of the eye
• Sensitivity to light
• Red and swollen eyes or eyelids
• Blurry vision
• Dry eyes
• Crusting of the eyelashes

How Is Blepharitis Treated?

Blepharitis cannot be cured. However, it can be treated and controlled through proper eyelid hygiene. Left untreated, blepharitis can cause more serious conditions such as scarring or injury to the eye's tissue. If you have blepharitis, take the steps listed below to help treat and cleanse your eye:

• Take a clean washcloth and wet it in very warm water. Wring the washcloth and place it over the closed eyelids for five minutes. Re-wet as necessary to maintain desired temperature. This will help to soften crusts and loosen oily debris.
• Place the warm, wet washcloth over the index finger and apply a diluted solution of 50% baby shampoo or mild soap.
• Cleanse one eye at a time, closing the eye you are cleansing, and rubbing the washcloth or your finger over the eyelashes and lid margins several times using horizontal strokes.
• Rinse thoroughly with a clean, warm, wet washcloth. Pat dry.

If the blepharitis is related to a problem with the oil glands, treatment may involve applying testosterone eye cream to the eyelids. Your doctor may also suggest a procedure known as LipiFlow, a 12-minute procedure that gently heats the clogged glands and applies mild pressure to “milk out” the unhealthy gland oils.

How Do I Prevent Blepharitis?
There are many everyday steps that you can take to prevent blepharitis. This includes removing all eye makeup before bedtime and not applying eyeliner on the back edges of the eyelids behind the eyelashes.

If you are in the early stages of treating blepharitis, avoid the use of eye makeup to prevent further irritation. Once you begin using makeup again, replace your products used in or near the eyelids because they may be contaminated.

To read the original article click here

Do you have any interesting eye health tips to share? Please feel free to share them With Us 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore. We’d love to hear from you.

Don’t forget, if you’re on the market for new glasses, you should check out our Discount Page for great savings on Eyeglasses, Sunglasses and Contact Lenses. You can also drop in and meet with an on-site Optometrist with no appointment needed. All we ask is that you come in 15 minutes prior to your desired appointment time to fill out the required paperwork.

Choose a Perfect Pair To Suit Your Face

Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, we help thousands of Orlando, Melbourne City and Orange City residents purchase eyeglasses, contact lenses and sunglasses every day. We know purchasing new eyeglasses can be a challenge.
You need to take is to determine your face shape (one of our 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore associates can help you with this too). Afterwards, bring a friend down to the shop and try on as many pairs as you can.  You can also research eyeglasses and sunglasses online to see which frames you like. We carry over 4000 frames here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore and our tagline is, “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any Budget.”

Stop Your Vision from Getting Worse

Some people are born with poor eyesight, while others develop poor eyesight when they are young. Almost everyone experiences some deterioration in their eyesight as they age. How can you stop your vision from getting worse?

Nutrition
In today’s health-conscious society, the prevalent theory is that proper nutrition will slow down, and perhaps even improve, deteriorating vision. While studies have not proved this to be 100 percent effective, it certainly does no harm to one’s vision and definitely improves health.

Foods important to good vision are high in fiber and in vitamins such as C, D, and beta carotene or Vitamin A. Examples of such foods are carrots, spinach, kale, broccoli, raw cabbage, cauliflower, grapes, blueberries, bilberries, and cranberries. Sunflower seeds, flax seeds, and almonds are also good sources.

Egg yolks are a good source of lutein and zeaxanthin, both of which are thought to be beneficial in protecting vision and slowing macular degeneration, which is the leading cause of poor vision and blindness in elderly people

Omega-3 fatty acids are also essential to eye health. They’re found in supplements and fatty fish like Atlantic mackerel, herring, salmon, rainbow trout, tuna, and sardines. Omega-3s have many health benefits ranging from lowering cholesterol and blood sugar, to reducing the risk of macular degeneration.

Lenses
For most people correcting vision is as simple as seeing a qualified optometrist and getting a prescription for contact lenses or glasses.

Contact lenses have become popular for many reasons. Some people don’t like the way they look in glasses, or find them cumbersome depending on their lifestyle. Contact lenses are also available in many different colors that allow the wearer to change their eye color or even the appearance of their eyes if they choose cosmetic lenses. Contact lenses should be fitted properly to avoid injuring the eye, and care must be taken to avoid infection.

Eyeglasses are the most common option for improving vision and, in some cases, stopping it from deteriorating. Eyeglasses come in two parts, the lens, which is where the prescription from the eye doctor comes in, and the frame, which the wearer usually gets to choose. Lenses may be made of glass or plastic. Thickness is determined by the strength of the prescription. Most people with very poor vision choose plastic lenses because they are lighter than glass. Frames also come in several different styles, colors and may be plastic or metal, and costs vary greatly according to the options chosen.

To read the original article click here

The most important thing you can do to keep your eyes healthy is to get an annual eye examination. You may need to go more often if you have an eye disease such as Glaucoma. Many degenerative eye diseases such as Glaucoma, Cataracts and Retinal Disorders need to be caught early as it’s often too late once you get symptoms. If you notice symptoms such as pain, changes in vision or flashes of light, visit your local Optometrist right away. Early treatment from an Optometrist can prevent vision loss.  Each 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore has an Independent Optometrist. Walk-ins are welcome. All we ask is that you come 20 minutes early so we can complete all of the required paperwork. Contact us for more information.

Bipolar Disorder

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.
20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.

What Does Your Eyeglasses Prescription Mean?

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore carries over 4000 quality and designer frames. Accordingly, our tagline is, “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any Budget”. We pride ourselves on assisting Orlando residents find everything they need when it comes to vision care. From prescription lenses to progressives, we can assist you find exactly what you’re looking for.

If you wear glasses or contacts, you’ve probable looked at your prescription at least once and wondered what it all means. The terminology is meant for those in the industry. While optometrists and ophthalmologists may understand the language on a prescription for glasses or contacts, it often helps to know what the words mean for your own understanding.
To help clear up any confusion regarding what your eyeglasses prescription really means, it is important to understand a few basic words and abbreviations that can be found on the prescription. It may look a bit daunting, but understanding your eyeglasses prescription is easier than you might have thought.
The two most important of these mystery terms and abbreviations are OD (Oculus Dextrus) and OS (Oculus Sinister). These are Latin terms that mean right eye and left eye, respectively.

Listed after these OD and OS abbreviations are numbers preceded by either a plus sign (+) or a minus sign (-). A plus sign indicates that the designated eye is farsighted, while a minus sign indicates that the designated eye is nearsighted. This is measured in diopters, the unit of measurement that indicates the nearsightedness or farsightedness of the eye. Diopters are normally abbreviated to a simple D, so an OD -1.25 indicates that a patient is one and one quarter of a diopter farsighted in their right eye.

Having to get glasses or contact lenses can be frustrating enough, but when you don’t understand the prescription, it can be extremely frustrating. Understanding your prescription is important, and is made easy by grasping these few basic concepts. The next time your eye doctor gives you a prescription for new glasses, you will know what to expect.

Read the original article on Glassescrafter.com

Drop in at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, we help thousands of Orlando, Melbourne City and Orange City residents purchase eyeglasses, contact lenses and sunglasses every day. We know purchasing new eyeglasses can be a challenge. Inexpensive reading glasses at the store are cheaper than prescription lenses. Is visiting an eye doctor and getting a prescription worth the extra cost?

History Of EyeGlasses

Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, we help thousands of Orlando, Melbourne City and Orange City residents purchase eyeglasses, contact lenses and sunglasses every day. We know purchasing new eyeglasses can be a challenge. Today we’re discussing frequently asked questions.
Inexpensive reading glasses at the store are cheaper than prescription lenses. Is visiting an eye doctor and getting a prescription worth the extra cost?


It’s important to schedule an eye examination with a optometrist if your child displays any of these symptoms. Don’t forget, you can visit an eye doctor at any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore without an appointment. All we ask is that you show up 15 minutes early to your desired appointment time to fill out the required paperwork.

What is the Purpose of Prism in Eyeglasses?

The simple definition of a prism is a solid object that has the same cross-section along the entire length of its shape. When you cut straight across an object, the cut portion is called a cross-section. Draw any shape using straight lines. Now use your imagination to see it extend upward and that is a prism.

In eyeglasses, prisms are used primarily for double vision, positional correction, or convergence correction.

Prism eyeglasses are enough to correct these abnormalities if the person has nearly normal vision in their level of nearsightedness or farsightedness. However, if one of the eyes has greatly reduced vision or blindness, there could be physical or neurological issues causing the diplopia. This would then require surgery to repair the eye muscles in addition to the use of the corrective prism lenses.

Standard eyeglasses usually correct two types of eyesight errors, or a combination of both:  focal distance (near or farsightedness), or unusual curving of the cornea (astigmatism and cylinder).
Prism lenses are necessary to aid in getting the eyes to work together. One or both eyes tend to pull up, down, to the left, or to the right. The use of prism in the lenses tricks the brain into thinking the eyes are working together by shifting the image only slightly up, down, left, or right.

Recently, prisms have been helping people with hemianopia. This condition causes blindness in half of the visual field in both eyes—either the left or the right field. It is most common to brain injury and stroke victims, and sometimes each eye is defective in exactly the same way. Other times, each eye is affected differently. Less common is the lack of sight in the upper or lower fields of vision.
Quadrantanopia is the same condition, but one quarter of the eye is blind. The particular field affected can be left, right, upper, or lower, and can also be the same or different in each eye.

Since peripheral vision is most often affected, prisms are ground into the lenses to show an image outside the range of sight, simply by placing the prisms within the viewer’s sighted area. This alerts them to something which would normally not be seen and they can then turn to observe it more closely, thereby avoiding running into people or objects simply from lack of seeing them.
Read the Original article on GlassesCrafter.com

About Us
20/20 Eyeglass Superstore carries over 4000 quality and designer frames. Accordingly, our tagline is, “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any Budget”. We pride ourselves on assisting Orlando residents find everything they need when it comes to vision care. From prescription lenses to progressives, we can assist you find exactly what you’re looking for.

Blindness and Visually Impaired World Wide

It’s important to stay up to date on eye health information, especially because some eye conditions like Glaucoma have no symptoms.  As an adult, you might ask yourself, “Why get an eye exam?” Getting an annual eye exam can easily be forgotten, especially with work, family and other obligations.

 

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is Central Florida’s premier eyecare provider with three locations in Winter Park, Melbourne, and Orange City.  We are proud to feature thousands of frame styles, lenses from the leading manufacturers, and sunglasses from the brands you love and trust.
Every family owned 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore location features its own independent doctor of optometry as well as an in-house lab to ensure you receive your new customized glasses in as little as one hour.  Our technicians maintain the highest standards of technical skills with the latest in eyecare technology.

Tips for Eye Cosmetic Safety

Mascara and eye shadow may enhance your appearance, but eye cosmetics can easily harm your vision. Adopting these eye makeup safety tips will help keep your eyes pretty and healthy.

Mascara, eye shadow, and eyeliner can certainly do the trick. But if putting on eye cosmetics is part of your daily ritual, you should know about some potential dangers to your eyes. In fact, being just as diligent about removing eye makeup at night is more important than applying them each morning.
Eye cosmetics are generally safe materials — as long as you use them properly. Over time, all kinds of gunk can grow in those pretty little cosmetic packages. Bacteria and fungi can multiply, and if you continue to decorate your eyes with this makeup, you're transferring those germs directly to your eyes.

Dos and Don’ts of Using Eye Cosmetics

Here’s how you can make sure your eyes are pretty and healthy — these cosmetic safety tips will minimize your eyes' exposure to bacteria:

• Don't hold onto old makeup — throw it away after a few months.
• Don't use mascara that's dried out — and never attempt to moisten it with your saliva or water. It’s best to replace mascara every two to four months, or sooner if it’s dried.
• Keep eye cosmetics cool — always at 85° F or below (that means don't keep them in your car or in a steamy bathroom).
• Don't mix and match cosmetics. Use what's intended for your eyes on your eyes only — don't use the same pencil for both lips and eyes, as that can introduce bacteria.
• Avoid kohl eyeliners — they may contain dangerous levels of lead. And avoid permanent coloring and dyes for eyelashes, as they can cause irreversible eye damage if not used correctly.
• Never share your cosmetics with a friend.

Tips for Applying Eye Cosmetics Safely
It's also important to apply your eye makeup safely to help prevent injury. Getting anything that close to your eye can potentially cause damage — so when you're painstakingly drawing that perfect line, take care not to get the cosmetics in your eye.

• Never put your eye cosmetics on while you're driving or riding in a car. Y
• Skip eye cosmetics when you've got an irritated or infected ey
• Keep eye cosmetics outside of your eye
• Always wash your hands before you dig into your makeup bag and start applying eye cosmetics.
• Avoid eye cosmetics that are iridescent, glittery, or shiny
• Make sure that all eye cosmetic applicators are clean before you use them

reaf the original article on Everydayhealth.com

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.
Click here to schedule an eye exam

See Crystal Clear With Eyeglasses

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore carries over 4000 quality and designer frames. Accordingly, our tagline is, “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any Budget”. We pride ourselves on assisting Orlando residents find everything they need when it comes to vision care. From prescription lenses to progressives, we can assist you find exactly what you’re looking for.

No matter what you need, we can assist you with finding exactly the right style and budget. Remember, we’re known for having “A Frame for Every Face and a Price for Any Budget!”. We look forward to seeing you soon.

3 Ways To Check If You Have Presbyopia

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.  Check out our previous post on the importance of eye exams for more information.  If you’re worried about what happens during an eye exam, check out this video from About.com which shows what happens during an eye exam.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.

Take A Moment To Blink Your Eyes

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned and operated business with locations in Orlando, Melbourne and Orange City.

Drop into 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore for all your eye care needs. We have a frame for every face and a price for any budget. We also have Independent Optometrists located on site who will be happy to examine your vision. Walk-in’s are welcome but we ask that you come 15 minutes prior to your desired appointment time.

How to Clean Your Eyeglasses

Interestingly, almost 50% of Americans wear prescription glasses and most of them are guilty of not knowing how to clean their glasses correctly.

After making a significant financial investment in a pair of eyeglasses, be sure to take good care of them. The glasses will last longer and serve you better if you keep them clean and in good repair. Here are some ways to properly clean eyeglasses, and how to care for them in order to prolong their life.

While most lenses are made of plastic, you still will need to be careful when cleaning them. Depending on how dirty they are, use either a wet or dry cleaning method. If the glasses are just slightly dusty, use a dry, lint-free cloth to gently wipe the front and back of each lens. Dirtier eyeglasses, or those with sticky residue on them, will need a more thorough washing with soap and water.

Run warm water over each lens, front and back. Carefully run a small amount of mild hand soap over the lenses. Rinse immediately with warm water, and repeat if necessary. Dry with a soft towel or, if you don’t need to wear the glasses right away, leave them on a flat surface to dry.

Eyeglass cleaners and sprays are available for those who prefer them. Some of these are designed to be used with a dry cloth, and others are to be used in place of hand soap when washing glasses under running water. An optician can give you more information and a recommendation about these products.

When cleaning eyeglasses, be sure not to distort or bend the frames or nose pieces. Certain types of metal frames, especially those made of thin wire, are easily bent. If you do accidentally bend them and can’t easily fix them, take them to an optician as soon as possible for repair.

Each time you clean your glasses, check the screws that hold the frame together. Sometimes they become loose, and it is much easier to tighten a screw than it is to find it after it falls out. Use a very small screwdriver to tighten any screws that become loose. If it is a recurring problem, see an optician for a larger screw. Another option is to use a small drop of clear nail polish to seal the screw in place. This is not a permanent solution, but should last at least a couple of weeks until you are able to see an eye care specialist.

When putting eyeglasses down, do not rest them on the lenses. This will scratch them, and it is difficult to see through scuffed and scratched lenses. If you do get a small, shallow scratch on a lens, ask an optician about using a polishing kit to buff the scratch out. They are not recommended for lenses with certain coatings, so ask before using and follow all directions to avoid harming the glasses. If you notice a deep scratch, see an optician for a replacement lens.

With proper cleaning and care, eyeglasses should last several years. Just a few minutes each day to clean and examine them will be worth the effort to prolong the life of your glasses.

Read the original article on Glasscrafter.com

We hope you enjoyed our article on how to clean your eyeglasses. If you have any further questions or comments, please feel free to contact us anytime. We look forward to hearing from you.

Contact Lenses

Contact lenses are worn by millions of Orlando residents for a variety of reasons. Some people don’t like the appearance of frames and others want to change the color of their eyes. Contact lenses also provide wearers with more peripheral vision and they don’t accumulate moisture from rain or snow.

If you’re on the fence regarding contact lenses or eyeglasses, it’s important to consider your lifestyle. If you love to play sports, contact lenses might be a good choice. Another option is buying both – contact lenses and eyeglasses. This way you can have the best of both worlds!

How Glasses Correct Your Vision

Have you ever wondered why you have to start each day by putting on your glasses? If you wear glasses, you already know they help you to see better, but you may not know exactly how they correct your vision. Eye glasses work in the same manner whether they are for nearsightedness or farsightedness. The eye glass lens is curved so that it bends the light rays that hit your eyes so you can see images clearly.

Understanding how glasses correct your vision begins with a basic understanding of how the eye works. At the back of the eye is the retina, a layer of cells that react to light. The reaction is sent to the brain, and the brain translates the activity of the cells into an image, or the thing that you see.
When your eye looks at something, the light rays come together, or focus, inside your eye. In someone with perfect vision, the rays focus directly on the surface of the retina. The image also must shrink, and it needs to be curved, because the retina is curved. The pupil and cornea are responsible for shrinking, focusing, and curving the image. If they have any irregularities, your vision will be blurry.

Nearsighted individuals cannot clearly see things that are distant. This happens because the light rays come into focus in front of the retina. Farsighted individuals have the opposite problem. The shape of their eyes causes the light rays to come into focus behind the retina, causing things that are near to them to be out of focus. Some people have blurry vision due to an astigmatism, or a condition where the curvature of the eye is irregular, creating a second focal point within the eye. All three of these common problems can be corrected with glasses.

Eyeglass lenses are curved pieces of glass. The curvature of the lens bends the light rays as they approach your eye. This helps the rays focus on your retina, instead of behind or in front of it.
There are two main types of lenses used in eye glasses or contacts. Convex lenses, curve in slightly, are used for nearsighted people. This bends the light towards the bottom and top of the lens, thus pushing the focal point back towards the retina. Farsighted individuals need a concave lens. The light that passes through a concave lens is bent towards the center, pushing the focal point forward. The goal of the correction is to have the focal point hit the retina exactly where it should for ideal vision. The degree of the lens’s curve changes with the strength of the prescription.

If you wear glasses or contact lenses, you are in good company. Around 160 million people in the United States alone wear corrective lenses to improve their vision. From that statistic, it seems that perfect vision is a rare occurrence. So when you get up tomorrow, put your glasses on with a little better understanding about how they work.

To read the original article click here.

Drop into 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore for all your eye care needs. We have a frame for every face and a price for any budget. We also have Independent Optometrists located on site who will be happy to examine your vision. Walk-in’s are welcome but we ask that you come 15 minutes prior to your desired appointment time.

How to Choose Right Eyeglasses

There are literally thousands of options when it comes to buying eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses in Orlando. There are also many options when it comes to finding the perfect frames for your face shape. As almost everyone in Orlando knows, our tagline is, “A Frame For Every Face and a Price For Any Budget”, and we think 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is your perfect choice for your next vision related purchase.

 

The first priority when selecting eyeglasses is to choose frames that offer the best possible vision for your prescription strength. After that, glasses can be chosen for their appearance and style.

All frames are not equally suitable for all prescriptions. Progressive lenses often need a slightly larger surface to function at their best. Prescriptions that address myopia may need smaller frames that center on the wearer’s eyes. Some people find that their vision improves with plastic frames, since the thick edges handle light reflection very well.

Make sure the eyeglasses fit the face. If glasses are purchased at the optometrist’s office, trained personnel will measure the wearer’s face and suggest glasses that will fit properly. The wearer will need the information about those measurements to order a pair of eyeglasses online.
Choose eyeglass frames that suit the shape of the wearer’s face and his coloring. Usually, this means that the frame shape should contrast with the shape of the face and the size of the frame should be scaled to the size of the face.

Eyeglass color should complement the wearer’s skin tone, eye color, and hair color. People with “cool” coloring have a slightly blue or pink undertone to their skin color. Black, blue-gray, plum, and dark tortoiseshell eyeglass frames are recommended for people with cool coloring. People with “warm” coloring have yellow undertones to their skin. Khaki, camel, gold, and light tortoiseshell eyeglass frames look good on people with warm coloring.

Eyeglasses should also reflect the wearer’s style and personality. Many people have more than one pair of glasses for just that purpose. Neutral colors and conservative shapes are traditional office wear, while sharply geometric shapes, bright colors, and ornamentation look great in less conventional settings.

Eyeglasses are also matched to special activities. Prescription skiing goggles and diving masks, for example, are readily available. Many athletes have sports glasses with tinted lenses or tinted contact lenses to increase the sharpness of their vision under specific circumstances. Yellow enhancement improves performance for tennis players, who usually use yellow balls. Rose lenses make it easier for skiers to see shades of gray that mark bumps under the snow.

People who play contact sports should always wear shatter-resistant polycarbonate lenses. Flexible frames and spring hinges are good choices for anyone with an active lifestyle. They’re an especially good choice for children’s eyeglasses.

The right eyeglasses will improve vision -- but they will also enhance the wearer’s looks, reflect his personality, enhance his performance, and increase his safety. That’s a lot of benefits for one simple pair of glasses.

To read the original article click here

If you’re interested in purchasing new frames for your winter wardrobe, check out our savings section for great deals. We look forward to seeing you in the store soon!

Things to Do with Old Eyeglass Glasses

Wondering what to do with those old glasses of yours?You know the ones, with the outdated frames and a prescription from 15 years ago? Believe it or not, there are many things you can do with old glasses.

Recycle them. Pop out the glass lenses and put them in a glass recycling bin. If the frames are metal or plastic, you can recycle those also, if your city offers those recycling services.

Save them. Glasses make a great accessory to many costumes. Remember Harry Potter? Children all over the world were clamoring for glasses on Halloween. Include them in your daughter or granddaughter's stash of dress-up clothing.

Hand your old glasses down. If they are simple reading glasses, chances are someone in your family could use them after you've graduated out of them. Ask around with your family and friends.

Use them again. If you like the frames, ask your local optical shop to switch out the lenses for your current prescription, or make them into sunglasses. Alternately, if the prescription is good but the frames are outdated, simply purchase new frames.

Make your old glasses into a work of art. Be creative. Attach a pair of glasses to a pot for a plant, and glue a nose and a mouth underneath them. Create a sock or paper puppet with your grandchildren, and give it glasses. Pop out the lenses, paint them with glass paint, and hang them from a hoop to make a beautiful wind chime. Or, simply let your artist child paint them with acrylic paint. She might enjoy painting on something other than paper. As an added bonus, let her attach sparkling rhinestones to the frames as well.

Get silly. Put your old glasses on your children's snowman. It will be the best looking snowman on the block. Set the glasses gently on your pet’s face and take pictures to share with family and friends.
Send them on a trip. Visions Aid Overseas is a charity that sends optometrists overseas, along with glasses, to help communities in developing countries.

Pile them neatly into a decorative bowl and set it next to a stack of serious novels. This will make you look like an intellectual. Bonus points if you have an actual library in your home.

Use them as a gag gift for your friends and family members who are having a milestone birthday, such as a 40th birthday. Attach them neatly to the top of a gift box, in the center of the bow, or wrap them up and include a hat so that both their eyes and imminent baldness are covered.

Read the original article published on Glassescrafter.com

Donate them. Many charities, collect glasses to give to people in need who can't afford them. Ask your eye doctor if he knows of such a charity, or simply give them to a thrift store such as Goodwill. You could also ask the director of a nearby nursing home or retirement center if they are in need of glasses for their residents.

Donating your old eyeglasses is a great way to pay it forward. Your spectacles will bring joy and good vision into someone’s life. 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is happy to collect, recycle and donate old eyeglasses to people in need. Don’t forget, bring in your old eyeglasses to any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore location and we’ll give you $30 off your next pair, pay for your eye examination, and donate your old glasses to those in need. We’ll also give you 15% off your total purchase if you mention this online ad. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Protect Your Eyes From Injury

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.  Check out our previous post on the importance of eye exams for more information.  If you’re worried about what happens during an eye exam, check out this video from About.com which shows what happens during an eye exam.

How Frame Sizes Work

Looking good while seeing clearly is easy with all of the available lenses and coatings out there.

You found them. Created by your favorite designer. In the perfect shape. And they are just the right color. You have spent days searching for the most spectacular eyeglass frames ever to come into existence. Then your dreams shatter. Your doctor tells you they just won’t work with your prescription lenses and now you have to start all over again.

Even though fashion may be in the forefront of your mind when selecting frames, remember that form does indeed follow function. Certain lenses just won’t fit into certain frames. Maybe your lenses are too thick or too small to work with a particular frame. Keeping your prescription lenses in mind when selecting your frames will save you a lot of time, and maybe even some heartbreak.

However, do not lose hope! New innovations in lens technology are widening the selection of frames for nearly every prescription. Hi-Index lenses are making higher prescriptions available in a thinner lens so there is less of a “soda bottle” effect. Progressive lenses provide multifocal vision without a lined lens. You can even have lenses whose tinting level varies with the degree of light they are exposed to, by choosing a photochromic lens.

Looking good while seeing clearly is easy with all of the available lenses and coatings out there. Just talk to your doctor about your options and then picking out that dream frame will be simple. After all, your eyeglasses are just another expression of your individuality, right?
Read the original article on davisvision.com

Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, we help thousands of Orlando, Melbourne City and Orange City residents purchase eyeglasses, contact lenses and sunglasses every day. We know purchasing new eyeglasses can be a challenge.

10 Things You Probably Dont Know About Your Eyes

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.

Drop into 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore for all your eye care needs. We have a frame for every face and a price for any budget. We also have Independent Optometrists located on site who will be happy to examine your vision. Walk-in’s are welcome but we ask that you come 15 minutes prior to your desired appointment time.

What the Sun Does To Your Eyes

The human eye is an amazing organ that most of us rely on every waking moment of the day.  From morning till night, our vision allows us to see beautiful Florida sunsets, our beloved family and much more.  Here at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore, our main goal is to keep you up-to-date on everything related to eye care and eye health.

There are hundreds of options when it comes to purchasing eyeglasses, sunglasses and contact lenses in Orlando. There are also thousands of options when it comes to finding the perfect frames for your face. As you know, our tagline is, “A Frame For Every Face and a Price For Any Budget”, so we think 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is the perfect choice for all your vision care needs.

It’s important to schedule an eye examination with a optometrist if your child displays any of these symptoms. Don’t forget, you can visit an eye doctor at any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore without an appointment. All we ask is that you show up 15 minutes early to your desired appointment time to fill out the required paperwork.

Why Cataracts Develop And How to Lower Your Risk

The eye’s clear lens plays an important role in the remarkable process of sight. It focuses light—just like a camera’s lens— on the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. The lens adjusts its focus, changing shape so that we can see things clearly both up close and far away.

Light is then transformed into nerve signals that travel to the brain, which interprets the light as an image, creating our experience of sight.
The lens is made up of protein and water. As we age, some of the protein may clump together and begin to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract.

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision loss among American seniors. Worldwide, they are the number one cause of vision loss.

Seeing the World Through a Cataract 
A cataract forms slowly and painlessly. In the beginning, it affects only a small area of the eye, and vision changes might not be noticeable. As it gradually progresses, the cataract grows larger. It clouds the lens and prevents it from focusing properly.

A cataract may change your vision in one of two ways:

• Eyesight becomes blurred, as though you were looking through a cloudy piece of glass or at an impressionist painting. Lights may seem too bright. Halos may appear around them.
• The lens takes on a yellowish-brownish color. This tinting does not affect the sharpness of the image, but makes colors seem faded. Night vision may be poor.

If you have any of the above symptoms, make an appointment to see your eye care provider for a comprehensive exam.

Vigorous exercise and healthy eating may help prevent vision loss.

Are You at Risk for Cataracts? 
Your chances of developing a cataract increase as you get older. Other risk factors include being female, a family history of cataracts, eye inflammation or injury, surgery for another eye problem, hypertension, diabetes, smoking, long-term use of steroids, heavy alcohol use and prolonged exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet light.

A separate study of over 1,800 women ages 50 to 79 determined that those who followed nationally recommended dietary guidelines most closely had a 37 percent lower risk of cataracts.
Focus on Eye-Healthy Foods
Lutein and zeaxanthin: Brightly colored fruits and vegetables such as broccoli, spinach, kale, corn, green beans, peas, oranges and tangerines.
Essential fatty acids: Fatty fish such as tuna, salmon or herring, whole-grain foods, chicken and eggs.
Vitamin C: Fruits and vegetables, including oranges, grapefruit, strawberries, papaya, green peppers and tomatoes.

Vitamin E: Vegetable oils, almonds, pecans, sweet potatoes, sunflower seeds.
Zinc: Extra-lean red meat, poultry, liver, shellfish, milk, baked beans, whole grains
It’s long been known that ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun can harm eyes.

Read the original article on davisvision.com

If we feel that your eyes require further testing, we’ll gladly schedule you a full eye exam with our in-house optometrist. Please note there is a charge for this appointment.  You are free to schedule an appointment with another optometrist if you wish.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned and operated business with locations throughout central Florida.  We look forward to becoming your trusted source for everything related to eye care, glasses and contacts.  Should you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us anytime.

Eyeglass Basics You Should Know

When buying eyeglasses, most people are unaware of the lenses that are available to them. With evolving technology, lenses have become much more advanced and just as important as eyeglass frames.
We've created this simple guide to educate and help you better understand the types of lenses and wide assortment of lens options that are available. While reading this guide, you should ask yourself some questions like:

• Do I spend a lot of time outdoors?
• Do I play impact sports?
• Do I spend a lot of time driving in a car, particularly at night?
• Do my eyes become easily irritated by the sun?
• Do I spend a lot of time in front of a computer?
• Do I wear eyeglasses more than 2-3 hours per day?

The answers to these questions will help you determine what lenses will work best for you and your lifestyle.

Types of Lenses

After an eye exam, your provider will know your prescription and be able to recommend the type of lenses that you need. Most people require single vision lenses to correct nearsightedness or farsightedness or a multi-focal lens (i.e. bifocal, trifocal and progressive lenses) when there is more than one vision problem to correct. In rare cases, some people require lenticular lenses to treat serious eye conditions such as cataracts.

Lens Materials

Once you know what type of lenses you need, you and your eye care professional will need to decide what type of materials your lenses should be made of. It is best to have a list of questions to ask your doctor to ensure that your lenses are as functional as they are fashionable.

High-Index Lenses: These lenses are manufactured using a specialized plastic that refracts light better than normal plastic lenses. High-index lenses are thinner, lighter and more comfortable than traditional plastic lenses.

Polycarbonate Lenses: These lenses are made of a hardened plastic that are more impact- resistant than standard plastic lenses and have ultra-violet (UV) protection manufactured directly in the lenses.

Photochromic Lenses:  Photochromic lenses will change from clear lenses into dark-colored lenses, similar in color to that of sunglasses, when exposed to the ultra-violet (UV) rays found in sunlight.

Polarized Lenses: . Polarized lenses, which are often used in sunglasses, will eliminate glare that is caused when direct light is reflected from a horizontal surface like snow, ice, sand or water. By eliminating glare, UVA and UVB these lenses are also extremely helpful to people that have decreased vision from eye conditions such as cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Lens Coatings

There are a multitude of coatings available for lenses today. All of the coatings listed below can be added to lenses during the manufacturing of your eyeglasses. The type of coating(s) you and your provider may select will depend on your lifestyle and what is most beneficial to you.

Scratch-Resistant Coating: This type of coating is highly beneficial because it protects and extends the life of your lenses.

Anti-Reflective (AR) Coating: This type of coating reduces the amount of reflection on the lenses, which increases the amount of light that is able to pass through the lens.

Ultra-Violet (UV) Coating: It is extremely important to protect yourself from the long-term damages of UV rays from sunlight.  UV coating will help block these harmful rays as light passes through your lenses.

Read the original article on davisvision.com

Purchasing eyeglasses should be looked upon as an investment, so think about your lifestyle needs carefully when picking out lenses because you can achieve both functionality and fashion success with the right type of lenses and available coatings.

If you’re experiencing changes in your vision or visible changes to your eyes, these can be early warning signs of serious eye conditions.  No matter how busy you are, you must put aside some time for yourself to get your eyes looked at by a certified optometrist.  Check out our previous post on the importance of eye exams for more information.  If you’re worried about what happens during an eye exam, check out this video from About.com which shows what happens during an eye exam.

Eye Health Index

It’s important to stay up to date on eye health information, especially because some eye conditions like Glaucoma have no symptoms.  As an adult, you might ask yourself, “Why get an eye exam?” Getting an annual eye exam can easily be forgotten, especially with work, family and other obligations.  Make sure you set a reminder in your smartphone or pencil it in to your calendar to get a regular eye exam every year.

If it’s been more than a year since your last eye exam, please feel free to drop in to any 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore location or schedule an exam online. We have over 4000 thousand frames to choose from and we’re known for having a frame for every face and a price for any budget. We also have in-house optometrists that are available for full eye examinations. Check out our coupons page for current offerings as well.

20/20 Eyeglass Superstore is a family owned company that has been serving the Orange City, Melbourne and Winter Park areas for many years.  We look forward to becoming your number one source for all your eye care and eye fashion needs.  You can also follow us on Facebook or Twitter to stay up to date on eye trends and eye health.