Jun

30

Contact Lenses and Eye Exams

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For many people who are considering contact lenses for the first time, there is a lot to consider. First, will they be comfortable? Will the exam be painful? Will I be able to touch my own eye? Here are a few tips and information on switching to contact lenses that will help make the transition easier for you:

1.) The contact lenses eye exam is a bit different than your regular glasses exam. However, in most cases if you have had the eyeglasses exam in the last three months you can usually skip the separate contact lens exam and simply opt for a contact lens fitting. A fitting is a measurement the optometrist will take to determine the shape and curve of your eye as well as the size of your pupil. Knowing this can save you money you would have otherwise spent on a whole contact lens exam.

2.) If you are taking the entire contact lens exam, be prepared for a bit more involved process. Eyeglasses exams take into account the distance between your lenses and your eye. Contacts touch your eyeball, so that distance needs to be calculated out. Hence the different equipment for the exam, the higher cost (usually) of a contacts exam, and the necessity of a fitting.

3.) Before you leave your optometrist’s office you’ll want to make sure he or she walks you through the process of inserting and removing your contacts. Many people get home and find they cannot put the contacts in themselves. Don’t leave the office until you feel comfortable.

Jun

19

How to Ensure your Online Distributor is Credible

Filed Under Brand Wave, Inside SmartBuyGlasses | View Comments



Many people feel that buying eyewear online is a risky business. This just isn’t the case. In this day and age, buying online is as safe as buying in the store. Many online distributors even have return policies, and offer more competitive prices because they don’t have to pay for a store front, employees to stock the shelves or deal with customers. Shipping costs are quoted separately and with that addition you’ll usually still come in under the cost of in-store shopping.

There are a few easy ways to tell if your online distributor is credible. First, there are regional and national bodies designed to monitor online companies to ensure people are not making a profit by ripping of unwitting customers. Where sellers on eBay and Craigslist are often unmonitored, online stores are regulated and watched, this makes them a bit safer already than your mass market online stores.

Any online store should offer a phone number to contact customer service. You should be able to give them a call before you purchase anything to see how responsive they are and how willing they are to answer questions and concerns. Most good online companies are more than willing to chat with you, they want your continued patronage. If you find a company with no phone contact details (or online forms) then I’d shy away from it.

Finally, online stores should have customer testimonials and information on how the company helps the community. Look for a ‘community involvement’ page to see if your online distributor has a heart, and if they do you can always call and ensure they really are donating to these charities. If they are, then it’s a good sign your company is legitimate.

Apr

17

Free Shipping on All Designer Eyewear!

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What’s better than everyday low prices on the best names in designer eyewear like Ray Ban, Police and Armani? – Free shipping on designer eyewear! Now, for a limited time, get free shipping on all orders over the Easter holiday from SmartBuyGlasses.com.


SmartBuyGlasses.com has the designer eyewear fashion you crave. Check out the latest trends in eyewear fashion, and the most purchased/most viewed items. Check out the optimization on each product ranging from polarization, scratch and water resistance coatings, polycarbonate and other lens options and much, much more. With over twenty top eyewear design names, SmartBuyGlasses.com has the fashion design you’ve been looking for at prices you’ll love.

Mar

16

Oscar Winners and their Favorite Designers

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The 2009 Oscar awards came deserving stars who support some of the fashion world’s biggest brands, like Dior and Ray Ban.


Kate Winslet gave a tear-jerking performance as Hanna Schmitz in the Oscar nominated film The Reader, and took away a much deserved best actress award. Winslet, who is known for taking challenging emotional and political roles on the silver screen, is known off the screen for her innovative use of high fashion mixed with a street-wise look. Winslet’s favorite accessories are her sunglasses and her wardrobe of purses. Dior, whose designs best enhance Winslet’s high cheekbones and small mouth, are her sunglasses of choice. She has been seen across Hollywood and even on vacation in classic girl-next-door attire but ever ready to dress it up with designer accessories. With the financial crisis in full swing in the USA, accessorizing is the only affordable way to stay chic.


Sean Penn, who won best actor for his portrayal as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected political figure in America, is known off the screen as a passionate political activist and philanthropist. You might remember him during hurricane Katrina paddling through flooded streets with a shot gun, looking for survivors. His much deserved best actor award for Milk comes at good timing for Penn. Sean Penn’s fashion choices coincide with his friendship with the folks from Jackass and Bam, where he has made several guest appearances. Like the teens he hangs out with, Penn enjoys Ray Ban 3026 as his sunglasses of choice. For men’s fashion during the financial crisis, you can expect to see selective accessories, namely sunglasses and shoes, and cheap copies for belts, wallets or other gear that is not as noticeable. For Oscar worth style, check out Ray Bans and Dior, this year’s biggest winners in Hollywood.

Mar

10

Eyewear in LOST

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To get the look of Charlie Pace from Lost (Dominic Monaghan) try Ray Ban RB4082 model sunglasses in black with gradient purple lenses, a T-shirt with a ridiculous image or saying on it and cargo shorts. To get the fugitive and alluring look of Kate (Evangeline Lilly) try a pair of Dolce & Gabbana DG6020 sunglasses in black with gradient lenses, a low cut but ‘girl next door’ T-shirt and Bermuda shorts. Though taken months apart, these images show the two stars have an addiction not only to each other, but to their eyewear!


As most hard-core fanatics of LOST know, Evangeline Lilly (Kate) and Dominic Monaghan (Charlie) have been dating since 2004, when they met on the set of the LOST series in Hawaii, USA. Though a native hobbit from the UK, Charlie charmed Ms. Lilly, a Canadian model, instantly. Their romance, a uniquely thriving one, is unheard of in Hollywood, and the two continue to grow together learning new hobbies. Dominic has introduced Evangeline to surfing while she has in turn taught him to climb. They announced their engagement in 2006 when Dominic also let slip his eagerness to have a child. Though Dominic’s character was axed on the hit show Lost, Evangeline continues to film weekly episodes from their home in Hawaii.


While Lilly and Monaghan are an unlikely pairing considering their contrasting characters on Lost, their romance is one of adventure and style. Mimic their coolness with Dolce & Gabbana and the ever cool Ray Ban brand.

Mar

8

Kid’s Sunglasses

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Though some may say that asking whether to get Versace or Dior for your child’s eyeglasses could cause damage to their sense of responsibility and lead them to feel entitled, these critics are overlooking the importance of your child’s need to see clearly and your child’s intense fear of embarrassment at school. Cut corners elsewhere, but not when it comes to your child’s vision.


Children are an often overlooked group when it comes to eyewear. Perhaps a child is unaware that the world should not appear blurry. Perhaps they are unaware that not seeing a page clearly could be the cause of poor reading marks. It is massively important that parents have their children’s eyes checked frequently throughout their development, as problems can arise throughout one’s childhood. Many with vision problems that do not have them at birth will acquire them during puberty. It is thus imperative that children between the ages of 8-15 receive eye exams yearly. Buying your middle school child stylish designer eyewear will ensure they are not embarrassed to wear their specs in school, and thus will be able to focus on their subjects.


Children often forget to care for their eyes. Games like staring at the sun can lead to eye damage, and children need to be taught to be careful of the sun’s warm but dangerous rays. Buy sunglasses for your children and makes sure you lead by example by wearing yours when outdoors. Do not buy sunglasses that do not have UV protection. No joke or “cute” sunglasses will do. Bolle has a line of children’s sunglasses that are age specific, and tailored to meet the needs of a child. They are sleek and stylish, and thus something the child will treasure, but also they do not pretend to be “cute” and instead mimic adult fashion in miniature, which your child will surely appreciate.

Mar

7

Tina Fey Glasses

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In addition to an already stunning cast, Tina Fey’s hit NBC series 30Rock has attracted some of Hollywood’s hottest stars for guest appearances. Yet, for all its comic allure, men are crazy about Tina Fey, whose real age is well beyond the normal Hollywood hottie’s. Her trademark look, dark form-fit clothing and casual pants, is topped off with a pair of plastic horn rimmed Gucci glasses.


Tina Fey, who based the show on her experiences as the head writer for Saturday Night Live, wears Gucci 1579 glasses throughout the show. Despite the fact that Fey does not need glasses, they have become her on and off-stage trademark, marking the ever-emerging trend of eyeglasses as style rather than mere visual aids. Throughout the series 30Rock Liz Lemon (Fey’s character) is complaining that she is not taken seriously. By wearing the horn rimmed glasses she is asserting her right to be a leader through her wardrobe.


Although Jack Donaghy (Alec Baldwin) constantly mocks Lemon’s clothing, he hardly comments on her designer eyewear look. In fact, across the web you’ll find more and more images of women donning eyewear very similar to the Tina Fey look. Since she skyrocketed to mainstream popularity with her portrayal of Sarah Palin on Saturday Night Live, sales of black horn rimmed glasses have skyrocketed. In fact, Tina Fey proves that career women can have it all. She has been happily married since 2001 (a rarity in the American elite) and has won several outstanding acting and writing awards and is now one of the most recognizable women in comedy.

Mar

5

A Guide to Get a Man to Love Fashion

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Want to see your man in designer eyewear, a shirt with buttons and pants with pleats? The best thing to do is to appeal to what your man already craves – adventure. More than anything else, most men want to partake in some sort of military or other secret activity where they get to use hand signals, wear face paint and ride into the sunset on a Harley in a leather jacket and shades…well, maybe not the sunset part. If you want your man to dress in designer gear, then start with these simple tips:


1) Always start with the sunglasses. Nothing says bad ass like a pair of creative, black, angular sunglasses that come with a hard case and are scratch-resistant and durable. Smith Sunglasses are the perfect pair of designer eyewear for your soon-to-be adventurer. Pick something that is edgy and slightly outside your man’s comfort zone, stylistically. As people begin to compliment his creative choice in eyewear, he will begin to take an interest in what else he can accessorize.


2) Always go with the wallet and watch combo as a second step in designerizing your beau. Hugo Boss has some great wallets, and if you want to match up both gifts for continuity, they also have great men’s shades. Similarly, Police sunglasses, like Smith, are a man’s design and championed by the king of men- Antonio Bandares, and they have great watches to complement the sunglasses you’ve already purchased.


3) The third and final step in making your man a designer fashion follower is the leather jacket. Here is where you clinch his self image. Be careful to pick a jacket that is in line with the wallet, watch and sunglasses you’ve already helped him choose. Remember, these are the accessories he’ll be wearing when he whisks you off on the Harley he trades the Sedan for.

Feb

22

Designer 3D Glasses

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In a rare collaboration of three companies towards one goal, D-mented Entertainment has joined arms with Ray-Ban’s Luxottica Group and Kerner Optical for the creation and launch of personal 3-D designer eyewear. In an era of Disney, DreamWorks and other 3D films (like the amazing Beowulf 3D creation), these companies believe viewers will crave high-quality, designer 3D eyewear to bring to these films in lieu of the cardboard or plastic 3D glasses provided by cinemas. Though a bit of a commercial risk, the 3D glasses, I admit, would be an amazing accessory for any avid film buff. A truly must have for those who make visiting the 3D Imax a ritual.


The 3D lenses will be mounted in Ray-Ban Wayfarer frames, adding a touch of class and timelessness to the already innovative idea of 3D designer eyewear. Kerner Optical is working on making prescription-capable 3D lenses, in addition to other features soon to be announced.


These companies collaborated because they firmly believe that 3D will be the next major wave of innovation in the home entertainment industry. Soon, you home TV will be 3D capable, and whole sections of films will be made 3D ready through a soon-to-be affordable conversion. Computer designers are working on 3D computers while video games have already breeched the gap with virtual reality. Though not ready for the mass consumer population, 3D games are sure to be announced soon. Thus, this trinity of cooperation foresees a world of 3D electronics and soon, everyone will want a pair of their own, high-quality, safe and classy designer 3D glasses.


The final Ray-Ban product is set to be released soon.

Dec

9

Trends of 2008 and Expectations for 2009

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2008 was a year of reemergences. Vintage styles as far back as the 40’s were back in style among the elite and Hollywood stars as the US and UK experienced a mainstream flashback to the 70’s with large, rounded sunglasses and bold, square eyeglasses reemerging as the top style accessory for 2008.



We expect the vintage fad to continue well into 2009, so don’t throw out your Jackie O’s with the New Year. In addition, we expect the vintage flashback to grow stronger in 1950-60s style, meaning old newscaster style black frames, Wayfarers and Aviators.


Peresol has a fantastic vintage inspired line of sunglasses in light brown with brown lenses, perfect for men and women alike. Dior, also, has picked up on the vintage trend. Check out their latest line of retro eyewear for 2008-2009 (see picture of Dior retro style shades). Police 1561 brand and style are my favorite vintage throw-back and look classy in black of brown. The Police shades are subtle, unique and show a bit of class, and are my top pick for vintage eyewear for 2009.


Tortoise shell is expected to come into style in 2009, as are slightly horn-rimmed eyewear styles. Note that Hollywood has been enjoying these throw-back styles for several months, usually a prime indicator of mainstream fashion trends for the following year.


Whatever your pick of vintage, whether subtle 50’s style or full-fledges 70’s flare, be sure to jump on the bandwagon with your retro eyewear in 2009.

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