How to Choose Eyewear: Tips for Comfort and Style

Choosing eyewear goes beyond just correcting your vision, it involves finding a pair of eyeglasses that fit your lifestyle. With so many options available, it’s hard to know where to begin.

Fortunately, our team at Andover & Winfield Family Optometry are experts at helping individuals select eyeglasses or prescription sunglasses. Whether you’re a seasoned glasses wearer or searching for your first pair, this article will provide you with helpful tips on how to choose eyewear, including sunglasses, eyeglasses, and prescription lenses, so you can feel comfortable and stylish all day long.

Factors to Consider When Choosing Eyewear

When you first step foot in the optical shop, you’ll be met with lots of eyewear options. You may be tempted to simply try a few pairs and choose the pair you think looks best on your face. While this approach may seem reasonable, style should not be the only thing you consider when choosing eyewear.

You must also consider several factors, including:

• Your lifestyle and activity level
• Your environment
• Materials used to make the frame
• Lens coatings
• Your prescription

Quality eyewear is an investment that impacts your daily life, so take a moment and carefully consider these factors before making your selection. This will ensure your eyewear is comfortable and meets your needs for years to come.

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Style Meets Function: Selecting Frames that Suit Your Lifestyle

After you’ve tried on a few frames and zoned in on a particular style of eyewear, it’s time to dig a little deeper to determine if that style will complement your lifestyle.

Think about your day-to-day routine and what situations you usually find yourself in. Perhaps you’re in front of a computer all day, or maybe you’re always on the move, juggling a variety of tasks. Whatever your lifestyle, consider how your eyewear will fit in. Ask yourself if the frames you like will provide you with the necessary comfort as you move through your daily tasks.

Beyond that, think about social occasions and the activities you enjoy doing in the evening and on the weekend. Ask yourself if the eyewear you’re considering will transition seamlessly from work to play while allowing you to feel comfortable and stylish.

Ultimately, choosing new eyewear is about more than just seeing clearly. The right eyewear should enhance your life. Take the time to think about your day-to-day routine and choose eyewear that aligns with your lifestyle so you can enjoy clear vision and effortless style no matter where life takes you.

Materials Matter: Frame Options to Maximize Style and Comfort 

When it comes to selecting the perfect eyewear, few things matter more than what the frame is made out of. As you begin your search, you’ll notice there are several options to choose from, each with pros and cons to consider.

Let’s take a moment and discuss some of the most common frame materials.

Metal: Perhaps the most common frame material, metal frames are known for their durability and style. You’ll usually find metal frames made from titanium, stainless steel, and aluminum. These metals are strong enough to withstand almost any condition while being light enough to be worn during a variety of activities.

Plastic: Another common material for frames is plastic, usually made from acetate or propionate. This affordable can be crafted in a variety of colors and shapes to suit any style making them a popular choice for glasses-wearers of all ages.

Vinyl: An up-and-comer in the eyewear world, vinyl frames are becoming popular amongst fashion-forward individuals looking for a lightweight, stylish option.

Carbon fiber: Our optical specialists love carbon fiber frames. This material is lightweight, flexible, and incredibly strong. These frames are also hypoallergenic making them a popular choice for individuals with skin sensitivity.

Performance Eyewear for Athletes

For athletes, choosing eyewear that can keep up with your active lifestyle is critical to outperforming the competition.

Some factors you should consider include:

• Weight: Look for a lightweight frame that will be comfortable as you work out.
• Durability: Consider sturdy materials like titanium or nylon.
• Secure fit: Make sure your frames will stay in place as you move.
• Breathability: Select frames with ventilation to avoid fogging and moisture buildup.

Safety First: Choosing Eyewear for Protection and Performance  

If you work in a hazardous environment, protective eyewear is a must. Designed to protect your eyes from debris, chemicals, sparks, or intense light, protective eyewear offers an extra layer of defense to protect your eyes and save your vision.

When looking to select safety glasses, some features to look for include:

• Comfortable fit
• Impact and scratch-resistant lenses
• Durable, lightweight materials
• Frames with side shields or a wraparound design
• Anti-fog lenses
• UV protection

However, one of the most essential features to consider when wearing a pair of safety glasses is whether they meet the relevant safety standards for your profession. This will ensure your eyewear will provide adequate protection for the intended application.

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Understanding Lens Types and Coatings 

With so many options available, it’s important to understand what each lens type offers in terms of functionality and durability. Taking the time to learn about the options will help you ensure your glasses will meet your needs long-term.

Lens Varieties for Every Need

Choosing the right lenses for your eyeglasses is critical to improving your vision. With a variety of lens types available, each with its advantages and functionalities, it’s crucial to understand the differences between them to make an informed decision.

Let’s dive into the different kinds of lenses available:

Single Vision Lenses

These lenses carry a single prescription through the lens, meaning they correct vision at one distance (near, intermediate, or far). These lenses are a great option if you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have an astigmatism and only need vision correction at one focal point.

Multifocal Lenses

Often referred to as bifocal or trifocal lenses, multifocal lenses incorporate two or more prescriptions throughout the lens. Typically, they include a distance prescription towards the top and a near prescription towards the bottom, allowing you to see better up close and far away. We often recommend these lenses for individuals with Presbyopia, a common age-related condition that affects vision at both distances.

Progressive Lenses 

Progressive lenses are a type of multifocal lens that seamlessly transitions between prescription powers to eliminate visible lines in your field of vision.

Occupational Lenses

These lenses are designed to be worn specifically for specific applications such as computer work, driving, or reading. They offer slight visual assistance to help reduce eye strain.

Choosing the Right Lens Material

When it comes to achieving visual clarity, lens material matters just as much as the lens type itself, so it’s important to understand the options available to you.

Our best lenses are made of polycarbonate, trivex, and high-index. These durable lens materials offer superior impact and scratch resistance while being lightweight and extremely comfortable.

We also have plastic CR-39 lenses that are sometimes more affordable, but you start to compromise on the optical quality of the lower-end plastic lenses.

Customization: Deciding Between Lens Coatings and Treatment

After you have decided on your frames and lenses, the optician will present you with a variety of options for lens coatings and treatments. These options are designed to improve visual clarity and increase durability to help you achieve the best vision possible.

Some of the most common coatings and treatments include:

• Anti-reflective (AR) coating
• Scratch-resistant coating
• UV protection coating
• Anti-fog coating
• Hydrophobic coating (to resist water)
• Tented coating

Ensuring Proper Fit for Maximum Eyewear Comfort

Having glasses that fit correctly is more than just a matter of comfort; it’s essential to seeing clearly and maintaining your overall eye health.

When you get your new glasses, it’s crucial to allow an optician to properly fit them to match your unique facial features. This involves making sure the weight of the frame is adequately distributed across your face, and the nose pads sit securely across the bridge of your nose to prevent slippage and rubbing.

Visit Andover and Winfield Family Optometry Today

Choosing the right eyewear is an essential part of seeing clearly and feeling confident in your everyday life. Your glasses must do more than just correct your vision – they must also complement your lifestyle and make you feel comfortable in every setting.

The first step towards getting quality eyewear begins with a comprehensive eye exam performed by a skilled ophthalmologist like Dr. Matt Boswell, OD, or Dr. Cory Lindenman, OD. During your exam, the doctors will perform a variety of tests to assess your overall eye health and ensure your prescription is up-to-date.

Once you have your prescription, stop by our in-house optical lab to see our wide selection of frames. We have a variety of styles to suit every need, from prescription sunglasses to specialty eyewear.

Contact Andover & Winfield Family Optometry today to schedule your eye exam, or stop by our state-of-the-art optical shop to get a stylish pair of prescription glasses!

About the Doctor

Dr. Matt Boswell was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas, where he graduated from Kapaun Mt. Carmel High School. He attended Emporia State University to play on the Men’s Basketball Team while getting his Bachelor of Science degree in Biology, Pre-Optometry. While there, Dr. Boswell made the academic honor roll every year while receiving all-league honors his senior year. After graduating from ESU, he went to Memphis, Tennessee, and received his Optometry Degree from the Southern College of Optometry in 2016. Dr. Boswell is excited to practice back in Andover and Winfield, where he was a patient of Dr. Holman’s growing up and shadowed him in high school.

Dr. Boswell’s areas of interest are comprehensive primary eye care and ocular disease, including glaucoma, macular degeneration, cataracts, and diabetes. He also loves fitting contact lenses and seeing kids. He is an active member of the American Optometric Association and the Kansas Optometric Association. Dr. Boswell resides in East Wichita with his wife, Kirsten, a nurse. They welcomed their first child in February 2022, Baker. They love the outdoors, playing sports, fishing, and staying active with their Bernese Mountain Dog, Franny.