Many of us dreaded getting glasses when we were younger. We were afraid of being labeled dorky, geeky, or nerdy. Oh, how the tables have turned. Glasses are all the rage these days, with some people even buying fake glasses because they like the aesthetic appeal.
Going to the optometrist to get new glasses is now more exciting than terrifying. You might need to completely change your prescription, or maybe you just got tired of your current frames. Whether this is your first pair of glasses or you’re a veteran at wearing eyewear, there are a few factors you need to consider.
Do You Want Anti-glare?
You might be asking yourself – what is anti-glare? Luckily, the name is pretty self-explanatory. Anti-glare is a coating applied to your glasses that reduces glare. They do more than this, though. They reduce strain on your eyes when you’re spending a lot of time looking at reflective things.
You know when you’re driving on the highway at night and all of the lights kind of blur into one big, colorful mess? Anti-glare will help with that.
Do You Want Anti-scratch?
Similarly to anti-glare, anti-scratch is a protective coating that is placed over your lenses to prevent them from getting scratched, as the name would suggest. If you work where there is a lot of dust, you should definitely consider this.
Often when we clean our glasses and there are small pieces of dust on them, the dust creates friction against the lenses and causes microscopic tears in the glasses, which can be very frustrating.
How Often Will You Wear Them?
You might only need to wear your glasses during certain times, like when reading or driving. Or you might use contacts for the majority of the time and only use your glasses when you’re home. Either way, if you wear your glasses less often, you could probably get away with a thinner frame. If you’ll be wearing your glasses for most of the time, you should probably opt for thicker frames, since they are less likely to break.
Your Personal Preference
You can ask for as many opinions as you want, but in the end you need to pick glasses that you like and that work for you. Are they comfortable? Do you like them? Can you see yourself wearing them for a while without getting bored of them? If the answer to those questions is yes, you should definitely take them.
Everyone’s opinion differs, so some people might like neutral glasses while others prefer to make a statement. Go with your own choice, since you’ll be the one wearing them.
Do You Want Sunglasses?
While you’re getting glasses, you might as well want to grab some prescription sunglass as well, especially if you’re on the road during daylight a lot. Our eyes weaken over time when constantly being exposed to bright light, so sunglasses are definitely important when you want to protect them.
If you don’t constantly want to switch between your normal glasses and your sunglasses, you can always get transition glasses, which change to a darker shade when exposed to light. The opinions on these seem to be split in half: some people love them, while others hate them. Check out the pros and cons of transition glasses if you’re not sure whether they’d work for you.
Consider Your Lifestyle
You need glasses that suit your lifestyle. People who are moving around a lot or do physical labor might need stronger, sturdier glasses with a thicker frame, while people who don’t might be able to get away with thin, flimsy glasses that don’t have much substance
To sum it up, someone in data science would need different glasses than someone in construction, because their lifestyles differ so greatly and what works for one won’t necessarily work for the other.
What Shape Is Your Face?
You might see a pair of glasses on a rack or one someone else and think that they are the most gorgeous pair of glasses you’ve ever seen, but when you put them on yourself, they just look wrong. This is because the shape of your face plays a role in what the shape of your frames should be.The first step is to determine your face shape and then to determine what glasses suit your face shape. Of course, no two people are alike so it might be best to try on a few different shapes anyway to see what looks and feels best. You can also ask your optometrist for advice.
