Virtual Try On makes it easy to find your perfect fit, so you can pick out your next pair of glasses or sunglasses without having to step into a store. Find frames that you love while taking advantage of the great prices and huge variety that you get when you shop online.

How to use Virtual Try On

It’s easy to use Virtual Try On – all you need is a computer or laptop with a webcam, or a front-facing camera on your phone.

1. Browse our selection of frames online and find a pair you want to try.

2. Click ‘Try On’.

3. Enter your PD for the most accurate fit. If you don’t know it, it’s quick and easy to measure: find out how.

Choosing ‘Try without PD’ will give you an idea of the style, but won’t show an accurate representation of the size.

4. Make sure your browser settings are configured to enable access to your webcam. If you have an iOS phone, you’ll need to use Safari to access Virtual Try On. See the FAQs below for more advice about enabling your webcam.

5. Check yourself out (we think you look awesome)!

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VTO features

Sunglasses tints: Turn your frames into sunglasses by testing out colored lens tints

Record yourself: Click the record icon, take off your glasses, record yourself for 5 seconds, and then put your glasses back on. This way, you can get a clear view without a confusing double-framed effect! Please note that iOS phones don’t have the recording option at this time.

Ready to give it a go? Browse frames to test out Virtual Try On!

Why should I use Virtual Try On?

Thanks to Virtual Try On, you can enjoy all the benefits of shopping online while still being able to see how different frames look on you:

• Choose from a huge range of glasses and sunglasses (and try on as many pairs as you want!).
• There’s no need to leave the sofa – try frames on wherever you are, using your phone or computer.
• Just like looking in a mirror, you can get a real-time view and see how the glasses look at all angles.
• Find a style that suits your face and your budget, with glasses starting at just $50.
• Enjoy quick and convenient delivery (and free returns if you change your mind).
• Ask our Vision Ambassadors for style advice or support with your order – you can contact us 24/7 via chat, phone, or email.

You’ve probably noticed that we think Virtual Try On is pretty great – but don’t just take our word for it…

What do our customers say about Virtual Try On?

We took to the streets to find out how people feel about shopping for glasses online and what they thought about our Virtual Try On tool. Watch our short video to see their reactions!

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Troubleshooting: Virtual Try On FAQs

How can I see what I look like without my actual glasses on?

If you need your glasses on to see the results of the Virtual Try On tool, you can record yourself and watch it back afterwards:

1. Once you’ve found a pair of frames that you want to try, click the record icon
2. Remove your actual glasses
3. Wait 5 seconds
4. Put your glasses back on and click to watch an instant playback of the recording

Please note that at this time iOS phones do not have a recording option.

How can I make sure I find the right fit?

Our Virtual Try On tool is designed to give you an idea of how the style of your chosen frames will look on you. To help get an even better idea of which glasses are best for your face shape, use the size filter to narrow down the selection before you begin trying them on. This will show you the frames that best fit your dimensions.

It’s also important to enter your PD in the Virtual Try On tool, as this will help to show a more accurate fit. If you don’t know your PD, it’s quick and easy to find out – read our guide to learn how.

Why isn’t the color I want to try available?

To keep up with the changing trends, we’re constantly updating the frames and styles that are available within Virtual Try On. That means that, sometimes, not all colors of a certain pair of frames will be available yet.

In these instances, we recommend trying on the frames to get a feel for the style, and then trying on a different pair of frames in a similar color, which will give you an idea of how the tone will look on you. It’s also worth checking back regularly as we continue to update the frames that are available in Virtual Try On.

Why is the screen black when I click ‘Try On’?

You may need to check if your browser is supported and that your webcam is enabled.

• Which browsers support Virtual Try On?

You can access Virtual Try On through Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Safari. If you’re having trouble, check to make sure you have downloaded the latest version of the browser to your device.

• To enable your camera:

In order for Virtual Try On to work with your laptop or computer, you must enable your webcam first. Usually, you’ll see a pop-up appear asking for permission to connect Virtual Try On to your camera. If not, you may need to check the browser settings:

Google Chrome: At the top right, click ‘More Settings’. At the bottom, click ‘Advanced’. Under ‘Privacy and Security’ click ‘Site Settings’. Click ‘Camera or Microphone’. Turn ‘Ask before accessing’ on or off. Refresh the page and try again.

Mozilla Firefox: Click on the site identity icon (the lock symbol) in the address bar and then click on ‘Permissions’. Choose ‘Allow’ on each menu next to ‘Use the Camera’. Click anywhere on the web page to close the menu, then click the retry button.

Safari: Click on the Safari app menu in the upper left corner of the screen. Click on ‘Preferences’. Select the ‘Websites’ tab. Click on ‘Camera’ in the side bar. Select a website that is currently open. Select the permission for the website. You can allow, deny, or require the website to ask permission every time.

If you’re still having trouble, try restarting your device.

Test out Virtual Try On for yourself!

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Questions, concerns, or simply looking for a bit of advice? You can get in touch with our Vision Ambassadors 24/7 – find out how to contact us.

The post Virtual Try On: How to try glasses on online appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

From lens width to bridge width, each of your glass’s features play an important part in determining the right frame size for you. In order to find a pair that fits perfectly, here’s a guide to help you find your glasses measurement. Scroll through the different sections of this guide to find your glasses features:

• How to measure glasses
• Bridge Measurement
• Frame Thickness

How to Measure Your Glasses

Frame size incorporates three key figures, all of which are measured in millimeters. Usually, the frame manufacturer prints the size numbers on the inside of the glasses’ temples. Sometimes they’ll print them on the bridge. You’ll find the following figures on your glasses:

• Lens width: Between 31-60 mm
• Bridge width: Between 12-31 mm
• Temple length: Between 115-155 mm

It’s easiest to find a pair of glasses that fit you already — whether they’re your current prescription pair, a set of sunglasses, or even your friend’s glasses (if you don’t yet have your own) and get the sizing from there. If you’re not familiar with the process, here’s how to measure your glasses.

Use Temple (Arm) Measurements

Look at the inside temple of your frame and check for the numbers indicated above. You can usually find them on the left-hand side, though some may be displayed on the ear piece or the bridge of your nose.

Typically, you’ll see three numbers:

• one 2-digit figure which represents the lens width,
• one 2-digit figure that represents the bridge width, and
• a 3-digit figure that measures the length of your frame arms.

Did you know that your lens thickness changes according to its width? Indeed, the larger the lens width, the thicker the lenses will be!

This also applies to lens height- if your new frame is much taller than the shape you’re currently wearing you can expect thicker lenses.

For prescriptions with a minus in the SPH portion the thickness is greatest at the edges of the lenses. For plus prescriptions that thickness is greatest at the middle of the lenses.

If you’re making a change from your current pair to a larger measurement in width or height in your new pair, consider choosing a thinner lens material to preserve a similar cosmetic look to the lenses even if your prescription hasn’t changed. In general a thinner lens will not only make your lenses look more appealing but will also be lighter and have less distracting curvature on the periphery of the lenses when you’re looking through them.

Use Measurements from a Current Pair of Glasses or Sunglasses

If you don’t see a clear series of measurements along the inside temple you can still find your best fit by measuring your glasses yourself.

1. Measure horizontally the inside frame width. Put the edge of your ruler over your frame and measure from the left hinge to the right hinge.

2. Measure the temple length. Place your ruler at the hinge and measure straight across to the furthest end of the temple.

Useful Tips:

• Frame sizes do not usually have to be exact – numbers within a few millimeters in either width or length should still fit. Spring hinges allow for increased flexibility and durability in the life of your glasses.
• If you’re making a big change in style – for example going from a wide rectangular frame to something round, chances are the lens width in the round pair is considerably smaller than what you currently wear.
• If you’ve been wearing a plastic frame without nose pads and it fit well, try to match the bridge size exactly if your new frame will be plastic as well. If you choose a metal frame, you can deviate from your current bridge size by 2-3mm and still have the adjustability of metal nose pad arms.

What Is My Bridge Measurement?

Your glasses measurements are not complete without your bridge measurement. One of the most common issues people face when shopping for eyewear online is finding the perfect bridge fit.

A bridge that’s too tight can pinch the nose and cause your frames to sit too high on your face, while a bridge that’s too wide keeps sliding down your face all day (talk about annoying!). In this section, you’ll find answers to the most frequently asked questions about nose bridge and glasses measurements.

What Is a Bridge Measurement?

The bridge measurement is the distance between the inside of one lens to the other — the part of the frame that sits just above (or on) your nose.

Acetate vs. Metal: Which Offers the Simpler Bridge Fit?

Generally, getting the right bridge measurement is much more important when it comes to acetate frames than with metal glasses.

If you prefer metal, you’ve got it easy! Metal frames’ bridges often come with adjustable nose pads that can be tightened or loosened to suit a variety of nose sizes. So, if your nose bridge is rather thin, metal frames with nose pads are recommended to prevent the frame from sliding.

Can I Use My Current Pair of Glasses to Find My Bridge Measurement?

Yes! If you currently wear acetate frames, your bridge measurement should be printed right on the glasses. You can usually find this number either along the arm or the nose bridge itself.

Traditionally, the middle number corresponds to the bridge measurement and is between about 16-21 mm on most glasses. If your frames fit well, this number will work for you across the board.

Can’t find your bridge measurement, or shopping for glasses for the first time?

Look in the mirror to see where your nose bridge starts and how wide or narrow your nose is. If your bridge is low (level or below your pupils), your bridge size will be a low number (maybe 16-18). If it is high (above your pupils) or if it is wider than average, you will need a larger bridge number (maybe 19-21).

Nose Bridge Position Is Just as Important as Size

It is also important to look at the location of the bridge on the frame. If you have a high bridge, frames with a bridge closer to the brow line are great! If you have a low bridge, frames with a curvier brow or a lower bridge would be a better choice.

How Does Frame Thickness Influence Your Bridge Measurement?

Because the bridge measurement is measured from the inside of the frame, a thick-rimmed frame with the same bridge size as a frame with a very thin rim will not fit the same, it might actually be too small.

For example, if you know your bridge is 17 mm and you’re looking at a chunky frame with a 19 mm bridge, it is very likely that it will be a suitable size for your bridge because it takes into account the extra rim.

Search Glasses by Size with Coastal

So, after all, you can order your glasses online with your own bridge measurement if you’ve concluded that…

• If your bridge is small: look for something in the 14-16 mm range.
• If your bridge is medium: you’ll be best suited to a bridge between 17-19 mm.
• If your bridge is large: your size would be 20-23 mm.

Once you’re confident, you can read our guide – how to buy glasses online. Using our handy size filter, you can search for only the frames that suit your size! And to complete your glasses measurements, you can also learn how to measure your Pupillary Distance (PD).

Frame Thickness

Now that you know all about glasses measurements, you can adapt your choice according to different frames features such as thickness, width, and length. Are you trying to make a fashion statement with your glasses, or do you want people to barely notice them? You could choose between two kinds of frames:

Thick Frame Glasses

Thick frames are bold and unmissable. People with strong facial features like prominent noses or chins should think about trying thick frames, which will help de-emphasize those features. Thick plastic frames can also hide lens thickness for high prescriptions!

Thick frames usually come in dark colors, but as they’ve grown in popularity other options have joined the mix—clear thick frames are a cool and trendy look.

Thin Frames

Thin frames blend into your face. They emphasize your eyes and other facial features. If you want people to notice your face, not your frames—or if you don’t want to draw attention to your glasses—go for thin frames.

Frame Width

The width of your frames is like the width of your shoes—this isn’t a fashion choice, it’s a matter of getting the correct fit. A couple of frame width fit rules to keep in mind:

• There should be a gap between the arm of the glasses and your temple, but it should be a very small gap.
• When you smile, the glasses should continue to rest on your nose, not get jostled by your cheeks.

Choosing Arm Width and Length

Arm Width

Don’t worry too much about the width of the frame’s arms. These are nearly always designed to be in proportion with the thickness of the frame overall. Thick arms usually go along with thick frames and provide balance. They are most common on sunglasses. Most frames for regular glasses have thin arms.

Arm Length

Length of the temple, however, is another matter. Most adult women want a frame arm between about 135-140, whereas most adult men should look for frame arms from 140-145. These figures vary depending on face shape and size.

Note that it’s important to have your frame adjusted. The downward bend of the temple should be in the proper position to prevent your frame from sliding.

Ready to Find Your Next Pair of Glasses?

Now that you’ve learned a little more about how to measure your glasses, you have all the information needed to start ordering glasses online. Buying glasses online gives you a better range of styles and prices. And if the glasses that you’ve ordered are not a perfect fit, Coastal offers free returns for 14 days from delivery. If your first choice doesn’t work, you can try a second (or third, or fourth…).

Shopping With Your Glasses Measurements

Along with having a copy of your prescription on hand, knowing the dimensions of your glasses makes it quick and easy to buy your next pair online. Once you know the measurements of your best-fitting frames, you can confidently choose a pair with a similar fit and feel.

1. Head to the MyFit tool on our website and click “Add” to input your glasses measurements.
2. Enter the figures from your current pair in the separate fields.
3. Store this measurement in your MyAccount (Optional) so you can always shop with your ideal fit.
4. Browse the site and only see frames in your size so you can focus on style.

Now that you know how to search eyeglasses frame size, you can refine your search for your glasses measurements and then continue searching for the styles, brands, shapes, and materials. If you’re wondering how to measure your pupillary distance and eye size, take a look at our other guides. So, ready to start finding your perfect frames?

The post How to Find Your Glasses Measurements appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

Neutral frames, such as black, brown, and tortoiseshell have a versatile quality, while coloured frames are great if you want to make a bit more of a statement. Read through our guide to choosing a glasses frame colour for expert advice on finding a pair that makes your favorite features stand out.

Matching glasses frames colour to eye colour

When deciding what glasses frames colour works best with your eye colour, ask yourself whether you want to make a statement or opt for something versatile. For a subdued and understated look, choose frames in a colour that match with the neutral tones in your eyes, such as brown, beige, or black.

If you want to channel a fun, statement-making look, choose a colour that’s contrasting but complementary to your eye colour.

Gray Eyes

Choose colourful frames to bring a bright finish to your look. Because grey is already a neutral tone, almost any bright colour will work with grey eyes.

Brown/Amber Eyes

Any colour will look great with brown or amber eyes, from classic black to brighter tones. If you want to stand out, choose a bold colour that contrasts against brown and amber, like a bright green or a cool blue.

Blue Eyes

For a bold look, orange (the complementary colour to blue) will really make your eyes pop. Natural tones, such as tortoiseshell and brown glasses will also look good with blue eyes.

Green Eyes

Red is a complementary colour to green and will bring a vibrant contrast if you want to channel a statement-making look. Gold or purple frames will also have a similar, striking effect.

For something a little bit more understated, consider brown or other earthy tones. These subdued frame colours always look good with green eyes.

Hazel Eyes

Hazel eyes often seem to switch from brown to green and so choosing green or brown frames will provide both contrast as well as coordination. Amber frames are also a flattering choice.

Matching glasses frames colour to hair colour

Hair plays by similar rules as your eyes: depending on the vibe you want to go for, your frames can bring a subtle finish or striking statement to your overall look. There are a few different things to think about when choosing glasses based on your hair colour.

Black Hair

Darker frames like black or tortoiseshell look especially sleek with black hair, as they help to create a sophisticated, coordinated effect.

On the other hand, brighter colours will bring a sharp contrast, which is great if you’re after a statement-making finish.

White/Gray Hair

White or gray hair provides the ultimate neutral pallet, making it a great hair colour for anyone who likes to experiment with different looks. Neutral frames will look effortlessly stylish, while bright colours will add a pop of excitement to your outfit.

Red Hair

Red hair looks especially vibrant with bold frames. You can experiment with rich, jewel-toned colours, or, for a more conventional look, go with darker frames.

Brown Hair with red undertones

If you have brown hair with red undertones—also called auburn hair—you’re the perfect match with tortoiseshell frames and other colours that have warm, earthy tones, such as amber or dark green.

Brown hair with blonde/ash undertones

If your brown hair has pale undertones, dark frames—especially black ones—will complement the balance of deep and light colours in your overall look.

You can also get playful by coordinating with the pale shades in your hair and experimenting with light-toned glasses, such as clear frames or pastel colours.

Blonde Hair

If you have dark tones in your blonde hair and want to get a neutral look, choose frames in warm colours, such as tortoiseshell, beige, or dark brown.

Those with ashy or platinum blonde hair look especially striking with pastels and other bright colours, which create a fun contrast against light hair.

Matching glasses frame colour to skin tone

Depending on whether you have a particularly warm or cool skin tone, specific colours of frames may be more likely to complement your overall look.

Cool skin tone

Noted for having a pink undertone, cool skin types look best with similarly cool-toned frames like blue undertones, silver, gray, green, and clear. All-black frames may be too harsh but look great when balanced out with a subtle pattern or accent colour.

Neutral skin tone

Neutral skin types — with a mix of pink and golden undertones — can wear just about anything. Go bold with stark black, keep it neutral with a tortoise pattern, or play with any number of fun shades.

Warm Skin Tone

Accented with a golden undertone, warm skin types look best with similarly warm frames — tortoise, brown, red, orange, gold, and yellow. They also look great with the boldness of black.

Shop your next glasses online with Clearly!

Ready to try on new frame colours? Clearly offers you a large choice of glasses online with various colours, brands, and frame shapes! Plus, with our Try On View tool, you can use your camera or webcam to try on new frames and find the perfect pair according to your face shape and style preferences.

Once you’ve learned how to buy glasses online, take advantage of unlimited offers and choices of glasses, in all colours and shapes!

The post How to choose the right glasses frame colour appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

Updated on August 8, 2019. Reviewed by Chris Day (Optician).

Do your new glasses feel loose or a bit uncomfortable? Eyeglasses don’t always fit perfectly straight out of the box, but luckily, it’s easy and quick to adjust them to suit you.

Ensuring your glasses fit well is one of the steps to making sure you can enjoy pristine vision and feel great in your new frames. We’ve put together a simple guide to explain how to adjust your glasses, so you get an effortless fit all day, every day.

Which glasses adjustments do I need?

It’s important to remember that adjusting eyeglass frames is best done by a licensed optician, as they are familiar with the techniques and have a “feel” for bending frame materials. View our clinic locations here. If there’s not a local optical store available near you, there are a few things you can do to adapt the fit of your glasses at home.

Making your glasses level

Wearing your new frame, look at yourself in a mirror and keep eye contact as you tilt your chin down. As you’re looking through the uppermost portion of the lens, look in the mirror and see if your pupils are at an equal height in the lenses. If they’re not, you can make your glasses level on your face adjusting the temples.

If one side is higher than the other:

1. Heat the temple by immersing it in warm water for 20-30 seconds.
2. Bend it down using slow and steady pressure – only bend the temple a millimetre or two at a time.

Adjusting the height of your frames

When you receive your glasses, your frames can be adjusted to sit higher or lower slightly to better align your pupil with the optical centre of your lens. Your prescription must be aligned with your eyes in order to work properly. If your glasses are not the right height, you can fix them by adjusting the nose pads, frame, or bridge.

How to adjust glasses height with nose pads

Move the nose pads closer together or farther apart to level the glasses. Then, place the frame at the desired height on the bridge of your nose. Ideally the bridge of a metal frame should sit 2-3mm above your nose.

• To bring the frames closer to your eyes, move the pad arms closer to the frames.
• To move the lenses away from your eyes, pull the nose pads away from the frames.

How to adjust glasses height with plastic frames

If there is a small amount of movement between the bridge and your nose, you can tighten the bridge slightly by grasping the frame from the top or bottom with the front of the lenses facing away from you:

• Cup the lenses in the palm of each hand.
• Place each thumb at the point where the lens meets the bridge of the frames.
• Bend the frames towards you.

Use gentle, steady pressure to wrap the frames more tightly around your face. Warming the bridge of the frame slightly may help, but only use lukewarm water in a thin stream from the tap. Hot water can damage the coating of the lenses, so ensure the water is only lukewarm and keep the stream of water away from the lenses if possible.
Do not use a hair dryer to warm the frames – this could damage both the frames and lenses. Plastic bridges cannot be tightened more than 1-2mm and any adjustments you do may need to be repeated several times over a few days to get the adjustment to set.

How to adjust glasses height with a metal bridge

Frames with metal bridges and adjustable nose pads offer more flexibility, as you can move the metal nose pad arms.

1. Put on your glasses and face a mirror.
2. Looking above the centre of your bridge and just under the bridge of the frame, there should be approx. 2mm of space between the bridge of the glasses and your nose.
3. The bridge should sit above the skin of your nose and just touch when you wrinkle your nose.

Metal frames can be raised by gently closing the nose pads together with your thumb and forefinger. Use gentle, steady pressure and only move each pad a millimetre at a time, trying the frame on again between each adjustment. If your metal frames are sitting too high on your nose, lower them by opening the nose pads slightly, pushing with the pad of each thumb.

Too far away from your eyes

Your frames and lenses should ideally sit as close to your eyes as possible – this is especially true for progressive lens wearers. Ideally, your frames should be as close as you can get them without touching your eyelashes.

Glasses with plastic frames

If you have plastic frames, they should be already sitting on your nose bridge in a natural position. Hold your frames exactly where you would like them to sit on your nose and test if you can bring them closer to your eyes by batting your eyelashes a few times.

Find a place where the frames are as close as they can be without touching your eyelashes but still feel natural and comfortable. Holding the frames firmly in position with one hand, feel the along the arm of the frame behind your ear. The bend in the temple should start just behind your ear.

If it’s not quite in the right place, use a dry erase marker to mark a spot on the temple 1-2 mm behind the top of your ear. Don’t use a permanent marker as it will not come off your frames.

Once that mark is placed at the point you’d like the bend to be, you can take the frames off and proceed to adjusting the temples (which we explain below!).

Glasses with wire frames

If you have metal frames with nose pads, you have more control over how far the frames sit on your face. To bring the frames closer to your eyes, push the nose pad arms from the rear towards the frame. Most nose pad arms have an upside-down “U” shape.

• First, push the top of the pad arm towards the frame front.
• Next, gently move the bottom.
• Use gentle, steady pressure and only move the pad arms a millimetre at a time.

Try the frames on again and look in the mirror between adjustments. Ideally the frames and lenses will be just shy of touching your eyelashes when you blink. When you look in the mirror, check that the metal bridge is 1-2mm from the skin above your nose. It should only touch if you furrow your brow.
If your eyelashes are touching the lenses when you blink:

• Pinch the nose pad arm between thumb and forefinger.
• Pull it away from the frames front while bracing the frames against your middle finger.
• Use gentle, steady pressure.

If you have a flat nose bridge, you will want the nose pad arms quite far away from the frames. Use a rocking motion to first pull the top of the pad arm farther from the frame front, then the bottom. You can check that the pad arms are the same distance from the frame by viewing them directly from the top and bottom.

How to adjust nose pads

Nose pads should ideally sit evenly on your nose bridge with as much of the pad in contact with your nose as possible to prevent red marks. Once you have adjusted how far your nose pad arms will be, look closely in the mirror to examine the angle at which the pads sit.

If you purchased plastic frames, make sure the bridge is fitting well:

• Put on the glasses and position them where you’d like them to be on your nose.
• Tap each corner of the frame sideways while watching the point where the bridge touches your nose.
• Is there any more than 1-2mm movement? If so, your bridge may be too large and your frames will continue to slide down your nose.

You can adjust the angle of the pads with needle-nose pliers that have been wrapped in a cloth to prevent scratching the frame or lenses. Alternatively, your local optician has special pliers designed specifically for adjusting nose pad arms – you may wish to consult them for nose pad arm adjustments.

How to adjust glasses temples

When the frame front is both at the desired distance from your face and level, you can then fine tune the temples for the height and make sure the bend of the temple is in the proper position behind your ear.

You shouldn’t be able to feel the temple “gripping” behind your ear. If you can feel it when you try them on, it could become irritating after a few hours.

The temples (arms) of your frames likely bend downwards just behind your ear. Position your frames to fit comfortably. Feel behind your ear for the bend in the temple – the temple should begin to slope downwards just behind your ear, with a millimetre or two to spare.

• Any more than that and your temples will need to be tightened.
• If the bend in the temple starts before your ear, your temples will need to be loosened.

How to tighten or loosen temples

• Run the temple under warm water for 20-30 seconds to soften the plastic or metal.
• To tighten the temple: Bend the end of the temple downwards while grasping the temple at the bend.
• To loosen the temple: Bend the end of the temple upwards.

Ideally the temples should bend at about 45 degrees starting just behind your ear. You may need to warm the temple tip and gently mould it around the area behind your ears, to avoid potential discomfort when you’re wearing them for long periods of time.

Bend of your frames

You may need to move the location of the bend in the frames if the bend begins before the ear, or you can fit more than your pinky finger into the spot between the bend and your ear.

To do this:

1. Mark the location where the bend should start by applying a small mark on the temple just behind your ear with a dry erase marker or other non-permanent marker.
2. Take the frames off and heat the temple with lukewarm water.
3. Straighten the temple with your hands.
4. Once the temple is straight, bend it at the mark you made previously.

Visit your optician for an optimal glasses adjustment

Over time, frames can alter slightly and bow outwards because of the pressure of your head against the temples.

We recommend visiting a professional optician every three months for a “tune-up” to have your frames tightened up a bit and all screws checked for security. This is usually about a five-minute process and a great way to extend the life of your frames.

If your new glasses need small adjustments, it’s easy to fix them at home, so you can be sure to enjoy long-lasting frames that deliver optimal comfort and eyesight!

With Clearly, ordering glasses online is quick and easy. Just have your prescription and glasses measurements to hand, fill in your details online, and find a pair of glasses that you love! Once they arrive, you can adjust them to suit you perfectly and enjoy pristine vision and comfort!

The post How to Adjust Glasses appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

Updated on August 9, 2019. Reviewed by Chris Day (Optician) and Dr. Justin Asgarpour (Optometrist).

Do you wear eyeglasses? Have you ever considered trying contact lenses? You might wonder what are the benefits and drawbacks of contacts versus glasses! There are many misconceptions about contact lenses that prevent glass wearers from giving them a chance. However, contact lenses satisfy many people who require flexible vision correction.

For a long time, wearing contact lenses was only possible if your prescription was relatively simple. Today, patients with considerable astigmatism correction can wear contacts comfortably and be assured of good vision.

Similarly, customers requiring extra correction for reading distances were resigned to correcting their distance vision only and carrying reading glasses in their pocket, on their head or hanging from a chain. Modern multifocal contact lenses are now a great alternative for up close reading however you should know that they might compromise the overall quality of your vision, depending on the type of activity.

To help you understand the advantages of contacts vs glasses, discover the unique benefits of these low profile devices.

Why Should You Try Contact Lenses?

Contact lenses are a very useful device for those who require vision correction. Many contact lens wearers enjoy their comfort and discretion. However, it’s important to know that wearing contacts could affect your eyes and may lead to eye infection or reduced breathability for your cornea. For this reason, having a pair of eyeglasses ready will always be needed if you encounter any issues with contacts. But you can be assured that under the supervision of your eye care professional, wearing contact lenses is safe! Contacts have evolved to adapt to your eyes’ needs and comfort.

A contact lens fitting will ensure the appropriate lenses have been chosen for your eye’s unique shape and give you the chance to try out various brands and experience what the world will look like through your new contact lens prescription. It also allows your eye doctor to assess the movement of the lens on your eye. Get in touch with an eye professional if you want more information on eye health and your unique needs.

Choose the Right Fitting

Your cornea (the clear, domed window at the front of your eye) is the only part of your body that does not receive its oxygen from blood supply- only the air surrounding it. When a lens is placed directly onto the cornea, the oxygen supply will be diminished to some extent.

Modern lens materials, such as Silicon Hydrogel, allow for some oxygen permeation through them. But even the most oxygen-permeable lenses could suffocate the cornea if the fit of the lenses is too tight. A tight-fitting lens may not be noticed by the wearer but could lead to complications such as edema or a corneal ulcer. A loose lens may not only feel like a perpetual eyelash stuck in your eye but could cause mechanical abrasion and complications.

Your eye care professional will verify the lenses while on your eyes to ensure adequate lens movement and oxygen supply. After they have verified your lenses to be safe, you are entitled to a record of those measurements if you have paid for a contact lens fitting.

Contacts versus Glasses: Choose Your Preference

Now that you know that there are almost certainly options for your prescription and the process you go through to ensure your eye’s health, let’s explore some unique specifics that explain the advantages of contacts vs glasses.

1. Affordability

Contact lenses are now offered at affordable prices. New technologies have enhanced their performance, comfort, and safety. Glasses, on the other hand, have the inconvenience of being more fragile. Therefore contacts can be an interesting alternative or backup plan for those who are looking for an affordable option!

If you’re looking for a brand that manages to create a unique combination of affordability and quality, just go with Everclear. This special brand guarantees an optimal oxygen-flow, thanks to its use of silicone hydrogel, and offers great eye comfort, at economical prices!

2. Fit For Sports

Are you tired of fitting a full-face hockey mask or motorcycle helmet onto your head while wearing your glasses? Not to mention the sweat on your lenses and pads… Playing sports with a clear vision and optimal eye comfort is now totally possible!

And if your sport of choice involves a lot of exertion, contact lenses won’t fog up during strenuous exercise as glass lenses can sometimes do.

3. Adapted to All Kinds of Eyes

Nowadays, contact lenses can correct most vision issues. Even people with high amounts of astigmatism can be corrected with contact lenses, which was not always the case.

If you’re over the age of 40 and need help with reading (presbyopia), there are contact lens solutions for you as well. You don’t have to rely on contacts for only long distance vision and still keep a set of reading glasses handy. You can talk to your eye care professional about multifocal contact lenses.

4. Easy to Maintain

Contact lens wearers will all confirm, contacts make a real difference. In addition to their smaller footprint, contact lenses don’t scratch as glasses do with wear and tear. Which makes them less susceptible to reducing your visual acuity.

Even so, to maintain optimal comfort with your contact lenses, you still need to treat them with love. They need to be cleaned and changed regularly. Removing your lenses every night to disinfect them and remove protein deposits is important for both cleanliness and comfort. Unless you have been fitted with extended wear contacts that you can wear overnight and your eye care professional has informed you your eyes are healthy enough to do this.

Always make sure you replace your lenses according to your ECP’s instructions, whether they’re meant to be changed every month, two weeks or every day.  One day lenses do not mean you can spend a couple hours at the gym. Take them out and reuse them the next workout for 12 days. One day contact lenses are single use- they’re not meant to be cleaned.

Daily disposable contacts are the healthiest option for your eyes – they ensure your eye has a fresh, clean lens every day so you don’t need to worry about protein buildup or bacteria. And they don’t require any care!

5. Colourful

Coloured contact lenses can bring some brightness to your day and add an eccentric dash to your style! If you want to change up your eye colour for a night out, or just feel like making a splash, coloured lenses can be a great option for those with single vision prescriptions. Coloured contacts should be fitted by a professional regardless of whether a correction is needed or not.

You could either choose a natural tint or a flashy, distinct colour. A fitting will also allow you to test which colours look best on you; many people with darker eyes will see no change if they wear a lighter colour lens like blue or green. Consider Air Optix Colors for a genuine look.

6. No Need for Prescription Sunglasses

Contact lenses allow you the freedom of not needing to carry prescription sunglasses along with your clear glasses. You can bring one set of non-prescription sunglasses with you and have them off and on as needed – no need to switch back and forth. Easy, right? Many brands of contact lens feature built-in UV protection as well as vision correction for additional peace of mind.

UV blocking contacts are not, however, replacements for sunglasses as they do not cover the entire eye nor the delicate tissue surrounding it. Wraparound sunglasses with UV 400 protection are still necessary for the best coverage and protection (not to mention style).

7. Eye Comfort

Once you’ve learned how to put in contact lenses, and how to comfortably insert and remove them, you can enjoy their convenience! Your eye care professional will help you decide which contacts will guarantee optimal comfort for your eyes, whether it’s soft contacts or RGP (Rigid Gas Permeable) lenses.

Comfort at Work

Note that contacts could be uncomfortable if you have dry eyes or if you work in an air-conditioned office. You can first learn how to avoid dry eyes by keeping safe habits. Certain contact lenses have a special design for office use and can help reduce eye strain during busy days at work. Eye drops are also something that all customers should have on hand.

Modern silicone hydrogel lenses do not rely on the water content for oxygen transmission, ensuring your cornea still gets as much oxygen after a day at the desktop as it did when you put the lenses in when starting your day. And it can be more comfortable for many patients.

Also, if you work in front of a computer all day and wear contacts, remember to blink often! Practice the 20-20-20 Rule: every 20 minutes, look away from your monitor and focus on something at least 20 feet away, for 20 seconds. Your eyes will thank you for it.

8. Discretion

Not comfortable wearing glasses? Get a clear vision with a discrete look – nobody will notice your contacts!

And patients with high prescriptions don’t need to worry about thick, pop bottle lenses like they do with glasses. A high prescription in the form of a contact lens isn’t visible to anybody else. And it does away with much of the curvature and distortion that goes hand in hand with strong spectacle lenses.

9. Keep Your Peripheral Vision Clear

Last but not least, with contact lenses your field of vision isn’t restricted to the limitations of your glasses frame! With contacts, you can step out and see the whole world crisply from side to side, without the peripheral barrier of a bulky frame. With proper contact lens wear, you can enjoy a much wider field of vision.

Interested to Experience Contact Lenses?

Glasses or contact lenses? The best option is to discuss it with your eye doctor to decide what the ideal solution is for you. Eyeglasses will always remain a good option if you wear contacts but want to take them off from time to time. Glasses cannot be replaced by contacts entirely; they’ll always be a good supplement to contact lenses and vice versa.

The pros and cons of contacts vs glasses could be discussed for a long time. What’s important though is for you to find the perfect match for your vision and comfort! We offer a large variety of contact lens wear for all kinds of vision issues. Shop online with Clearly and get your next pair of affordable contacts. You’ll see the world from a new perspective!

The post Contacts Versus Glasses: Which One Should You Choose? appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

Updated on August 9, 2019. Reviewed by Chris Day (Optician) and Dr. Justin Asgarpour (Optometrist).

Want to bring more spark into your eyes? Wearing colored contact lenses is like trying a new hairstyle, it can totally change your look. Though unlike hair, you can remove them whenever you want…

Colored lenses can be either a way to switch up your usual eye color or they can be your signature statement. You don’t need to wear a lot of flashy jewelry or makeup if you turn your eyes into your hallmark accessory!

Willing to try but haven’t made up your mind yet? Let us clarify the subject for you!  We’ve answered some of the most frequently asked questions about colored contact lenses.

Are Colored Contacts Safe?

Your eyes’ health and safety are important. Colored contact lenses are medical devices. For this reason, a contact lens fitting is recommended by eye care professionals to help you find an option that suits your eyes and preserves your eye health.

Like regular contacts, you need to keep safe habits in order to protect your eyes. As long as you maintain proper lens care and follow the instructions provided by your eye care professional, it’s safe to wear colored contacts. Consult your eye care professional to find out if colored contacts are right for you.

If you’re not familiar with wearing contacts, make sure to learn how to put contacts in properly. Also note that in general, colored contact lenses are made of materials that don’t allow as much oxygen to the cornea. For this reason, you cannot sleep in many colored contacts.

Some colored contacts such as Air Optix Colors, however, offer a far superior oxygen penetration than most customers brands. Discuss with your eye doctor to decide which brand will guarantee maximum comfort and eye safety!

Do I Need a Prescription to Wear Colored Contact Lenses?

A prescription to wear colored contacts is suggested by eye care professionals. It’s important to remember that even if you have perfect vision and just want to add a little splash of color to your eyes – it’s still a medical device. And it’s still going right on top of your cornea, which needs oxygen.

The minute you put something on your cornea, its oxygen supply is decreased. It’s not the corrective power in the lens that requires a prescription – it’s the fact that your eyes need oxygen and the prescription ensures that.

You can easily buy colored contacts online based on your prescription. And if you have received a prescription for a brand of colored lenses, you can purchase any of the colors available and know for sure that the lenses will be a good fit. Your eye doctor takes care of the brand and you take care of the color – feel free to experiment!

How Do Colored Contact Lenses Work?

Colored contact lenses are designed with a clear area in the middle that lines up perfectly with your iris (the black part at the center). This is what allows light to travel through and let you see.

A fitting for a colored contact lens will make sure your pupil is centered properly with that hole in the lens. If it’s not, your vision can be affected, especially at night when your pupil gets bigger and may extend into the colored area of the lens.

What Are the Different Types of Colored Contacts?

First of all, according to your vision requirements, you could choose between:

• Non-corrective if you don’t require any vision correction and you want to wear contacts of colors for aesthetic purposes only
• Prescription colored contacts if you need vision correction and want to try new eye tints!

Then, you have a choice between different categories of colors, tints, and features:

• Enhancement tints: Contacts that enhance your natural eye color for a more subtle change. For natural look contacts, take a look at FreshLook Colorblends or Acuvue Define Vivid.
• Vivid tints: brighter colors that will attract all eyes on you! Available in a large range of colors. Example: Air Optix Colors (available in both subtle and vibrant lines within the color range).
• “Circle” lenses (also called “doll’s eye” or “Limbal rings” lenses): new varieties of colored lenses meant to increase the appearance of your pupil size. They only have color in a ring around the outer edge of the lens.

Colored Lenses For Special Occasions

Halloween or Costume lenses are special contact lenses featuring patterns, wild colors or even coming completely black! They are almost never prescribed by eye care professionals as many of the materials used to make them are very outdated. Wearing cheap Halloween lenses is therefore not recommended as it could cause eye infection.

Special Effects lenses are large, custom made lenses used for television and film productions. Those custom fitted lenses can only be worn for short periods of time and require the supervision of a licensed eye care professional for use.

Which Color Should I Choose?

Finding a color you like on your eyes that can actually be seen and admired is important. Having a fitting for colored contacts with your eye care professional usually includes the opportunity to trial different colors of lenses to find the one that looks best on you. Many different tints are available for colored lenses:

• Contacts for light eyes

Enhancement tints are usually best with lighter natural eye colors and feature areas in the lens that let your natural color blend in with a dash of something else. A blue color blend will not be as noticeable on a dark brown iris, whereas someone with green eyes could put that blue lens on and you could tell the difference from ten feet away.

• Contacts for dark eyes

In general, the darker your eyes are, the darker and/or more opaque a colored lens you’ll want to select. A contact lens made for lighter eye colors (blue or green) isn’t going to show up as much on a darker eye.

• Opaque tint

They cover your natural eye color completely and can work for light or dark natural eyes, depending on individual eye types. If you want to try opaque colored contacts, experience brown contacts and their 3-in-1 blended colors for an electric glaze.

Colored contacts will expand your style exploration. Once you’ve found colors that suit you, have fun adjusting your outfit, makeup, and jewelry! Your perfect match will combine optimal lens comfort as well as a trendy style that will make you feel beautiful and different!

Remember that if you intend to wear colored contact lenses on a daily basis, having your eyes examined regularly remains essential to ensure that the eyes remain healthy.

Ready to Shop Colored Contacts with Clearly?

Clearly’s colored lenses brands are guaranteed high-quality and offer optimal comfort and vision. But above all, a large selection of colors and contact types for all styles and preferences! And since we care about your eyes’ safety, they can only be delivered with a doctor’s prescription.
Shop your next colored contacts online with Clearly and enjoy a large choice of colored contact lenses at affordable prices!

The post Guide To Colored Contact Lenses appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

Your optometrist is the expert and will guide you in choosing the contacts that work best for your needs. There are however many brands on the market, and it can be challenging to know which ones provide high-quality vision as well as eye safety.

The best lens for you may not be the best lens for your co-worker or your spouse. To help you decide and provide material for your conversation with your eye doctor, we’ve selected four of our favourite brands that offer modern technology, comfort, and breathability at affordable prices!

Discover Our Selection of the Best Contact Lens Brands

1.    Alcon

Alcon Contact Lenses

For a large selection of high-quality vision care products, you can go with Alcon. Their commitment: improve people’s vision offering optimal eye comfort and clarity. In a constant search for improvement, they seek to offer the finest technology lenses adapted to all lifestyles and needs.

According to your preferences, you can choose:

•  Dailies Total1: those top-selling disposable lenses offer maximum comfort and breathability. And for more options, take a look at Dailies AquaComfort Plus also available in Toric and Multifocal.
•     Air Optix Night & Day Aqua: for monthly disposable contact lenses
•   Air Optix Plus HydraGlyde: optimal for dry eyes with Smartshield technology
•   And for all of you fashion connoisseurs, take a look at Air Optix Colors, or Freshlook Colorblends for coloured contacts!

Alcon provides daily contacts for single, weekly or monthly use as well as extended wear contacts. Enjoy pure comfort all day long and the clearest vision with their top quality lenses.

2.    CooperVision

Coopervision Contact Lenses

For a reliable brand that guarantees superior eye comfort, you can go with CooperVision. For more than 30 years, the brand has provided high-quality contact lenses worldwide. Their vast range of products offer contacts for all needs. And they have a selection of lifestyle options. Whether you prefer daily, weekly or monthly use, you’ll find what your eyes need!

Their first-class contacts are made with the latest technology for perfect vision and moisture control. CooperVision’s best-selling products will please any contact lens wearer. Just try them on, you’ll love them! You can choose between:

• Biofinity: this best-selling brand offers daily and monthly wear contacts made with Aquaform materials for top hydration and moisture. And for your own vision requirements, they are also available in Toric and multifocal.  
• Proclear: improved quality lenses for different vision correction. Their guarantee: optimal hydration for your eyes thanks to their use of Biocompatible technology.
• Clariti and MyDay: if you prefer daily lenses that are comfortable to wear and that offer optimal moisture.

3.    Bausch & Lomb

Bausch+Lomb Contact Lenses

Contact lens wearers and eye care professionals will all tell you, Bausch & Lomb is one of the most performing and reliable brands. Since 1853, Bausch & Lomb has worked hard to create the highest quality features for your eyes. This respected eye health product supplier offers popular contact brands such as:

• Ultra: thanks to their use of MoistureSeal Technology, those contacts are ideal for those who work in front of a screen all day long!
• Biotrue: one-day lenses packs for astigmatism and presbyopia
• PureVision: contact lenses for astigmatism and presbyopia
• SofLens: different categories such as Toric or Multifocal contact lenses

To fit specialized eye needs, different features and categories are available such as daily, disposal and weekly packs as well as monthly wear.

Pick the best contact lenses for you

Consider your prescription and lifestyle.  Are you planning on wearing them all the time? A biweekly or monthly replacement lens can be economical and safe if worn according to your doctor’s instructions. Only wearing lenses to the gym or special occasions? One day (single use) lenses provide you with a fresh, comfortable lens every time. Whether you’re old enough to require reading glasses or simply have lots of astigmatism in your prescription, chances are there’s a contact lens for you.

Speak to your eye care professional about what you should expect from your lenses and how you can break free from glasses safely and confidently.

Shop for Your Next Contact Lenses with Clearly

Clearly is committed to providing you with the best contact lenses. Our affordable prices and variety of products have something for everyone. Shop online for your next contact lenses for improved vision and superior eye comfort. You’ll see the world with new eyes!

Are you searching for a new pair of glasses? Take a look at our Eyewear section and discover a large range of glasses for all tastes!

The post What Are the Best Contact Lens Brands? appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

So, if you’re ready to enjoy lasting comfort and the clearest vision, we’re here to show you how to put your contacts in and how to properly remove them.

How to put in contacts

1. Choose a good place to put them in

In order to start the process, you first need to find a clean place to put in your contacts. A bathroom or dressing room is generally a good choice. Stand in front of a mirror and find a flat space to place your contact lens case and solution.

You’ll also need two freshly washed and lint-free towels on hand. Spread one of them on the flat space – if you drop your contact lens, it’s much better to have it land on a clean towel! The other will be used to dry your hands after washing them.

If you’re putting in your contact lens and it drops into the sink, it’s best not to wear that lens until it’s been cleaned and disinfected (which generally takes at least 6 hours).

2. Wash your hands thoroughly

Start with clean, freshly washed hands – you’re going to be touching your eye and surrounding eye area, so you don’t want to transfer any bacteria.

Thorough rinsing of your hands is also important in order to avoid soap being left on your fingertips, which could transfer to your contact lens before insertion and end up stinging your eye. Rinse and dry thoroughly with your towel.

3. Organize your lenses and decide on a routine

To reduce the chances of eye infection, you should designate one specific lens to one specific eye – don’t swap them between each eye when you put them on, even if your contact lens prescription is the same for each eye.

Make it easy to keep track by deciding an order that you always stick to. Let’s say you choose to start with your right eye. Keep the same order every time you put in your contacts. That way, it’ll be easier to keep track of which lens belongs in which eye!

4. Take your contacts out of the package and rinse them with cleaning solution

If the lens is coming straight out of the blister pack, it can be inserted without rinsing with a solution.

If your lens is stored in a cleaning case, give it a quick rinse with the solution to remove any loose bits of protein that resisted the cleaning process. Always make sure the solution you rinse with is safe!

Note that soft contacts dry out quickly. If it takes you more than 30-45 seconds to put in your lens, use a multipurpose solution to rehydrate the lens so it’s ready to be comfortably placed onto your eye.

5. Check the contact lens orientation

When you’re learning how to put in contacts, it’s not always easy to tell if your lens is the right way around. It’s very important to make sure the contact lens isn’t inside out.

When inserted the wrong way, wearing contacts feels pretty uncomfortable, much like an eyelash stuck in your eye.

There are different ways to verify if your lens is in the right orientation before you insert them:

• Many lenses have laser engravings such as “123” or “OK” on them. They are visible when you look at the inside of the lens (the part that touches your eye). Toric contacts sometimes have a laser engraving of a single line on the outer edge (the part that doesn’t touch your eye).
• If they don’t have orientation markings, place the contact lens on your fingertip and look at the edges of the lens. The edges should point almost straight upwards, like a “U”. If they flare out, this means it’s inside out and you simply need to flip it the right way around
• Another method is to use the “taco test”. Balancing the lens on your finger, gently squeeze each side of the lens together. If the lens bends easily into the shape of a taco shell, it’s oriented properly. If the lens resists bending slightly into a taco shape, it’s inside out.

6. Insert the contact lens into your eye

Now that you’re prepped and ready to go, it’s time to get to the actual lens insertion.

How to put in contact lenses in 5 steps

1. Look at your reflection in the mirror, maintaining eye contact with yourself. Remember which eye you decided to always start with.
2. Balance the lens on the tip of your left index or middle finger, keeping it over the clean towel. The smaller the area on your finger the lens balances on, the better.
3. With your right index finger, gently pull down the lower lid of your eye, and tilt your chin downwards, still maintaining eye contact with yourself.
4. Watch your finger in the mirror and try to move your lens towards your eye, with the lower half of the lens leading the way.
5. As the lower edge of the lens touches your eye, tip the lens upwards and the upper half should almost “jump” onto your eye.
6. Repeat the same process with your other eye.

Release your lower eyelid and return your head to a normal position. Your contact lens should be sitting directly on your cornea, right where it’s supposed to be! Blink slowly a few times to help the lens settle into place.

Tips from professionals if you learn how to put in contacts for the first time:

• Just before the lens touches your eye, blink a couple of times to encourage a fresh layer of tears on your eye.
• A dry finger and a freshly wetted eye roll out the red carpet for your lens!
• If the contact lens folds upon itself or sticks to the tip of your finger, gently take it off and wipe your fingertip on your clean towel before rebalancing the lens for another attempt.
• If you’ve been trying for five minutes with no luck, take a break! The more frustrated you get, the less likely you are to successfully insert the lens.

How to Remove Contacts

After mastering how to put in contacts, it’s time to learn how to take them out. Unless otherwise instructed, you shouldn’t wear your contacts for more than 12 hours (ideally, you should only keep them in for 8-10 hours).

Here’s how to remove your contacts:

1. Wash your hands
2. To start with your right eye, turn your head to your left.
3. Lean into the mirror so that you can see the contact lens sitting on your right eye.
4. With the soft pad of your middle or index finger (no nails!) gently slide the lens off the middle part of your eye and onto the white part.
5. Once the lens is on the white of your eye, use only the soft pad of your index finger and thumb to gently pinch the lens off your eye.
6. Once you have removed your contact lenses, store them in a case with contact lens solution (or throw them out if you are using daily contacts).

Trust Your Licensed Eye Care Professional

Our in-house optometrist, Dr. Justin Asgarpour, strongly suggests you visit your Eye Care Professional for a valid contact prescription and initial contact lens fitting. Your eye care professional will not only find the proper fitting lens and correct power but also give you instructions on how to put in contacts.

Remember that contact lenses are medical devices and have different shapes, sizes, and materials. Without proper fitting, lenses can harm your eyes. Lens care is also essential – once you’ve mastered how to put in contacts, visit our guide for proper contact lens care.

During his fittings with first time contact lens wearers, Dr. Asgarpour finds that his patients generally take about 40 minutes to put their contacts in for the first time. So, no need to worry if it’s taking you some time! After about 1-2 weeks of regular use, you’ll be able to master your method.

To learn more about contact lenses, read our tips from licensed eye care professionals on eye exam essentials and contact lens misconceptions.

Enjoy pure vision and comfort with your new contacts

Ready to experience brand-new eyesight with contact lenses? Slow and steady wins the race when learning how to put in contacts and remove them. But before long, you’ll be enjoying the wide field of view, crisp vision and all-day comfort that a properly fitted contact lens can provide.

If you’re ready to try, and you have your prescription in hand, you can order contact lenses online. To complete your eye care collection, take a look at our contact lens solutions and eye drops.

The post How to Put Contacts In appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.

What are the different types of contact lenses?

Several types of lenses are offered on the market to fit different vision requirements and lifestyles. To help you decide which type of contact lenses may be right for you, we’ve clarified the various types available according to both the type of correction they’ll provide and their manufacturer’s recommended replacement schedule.

Different materials and comfort

First of all, there are two distinct types of contact lenses.

• Soft contact lenses

  By far the most common type of lenses. These lenses drape gently over the cornea and can be made of various soft plastics. The most modern lenses incorporate silicone hydrogel, a material that allows more oxygen to your cornea.  Talk to your eye doctor about silicone hydrogel to find out if this material is right for you.

• Hard contact lenses

  Less common contacts also known as Rigid Gas Permeable lenses (RGP). Hard contacts can provide excellent vision for patients with higher astigmatism and should last longer than your contact lens prescription!

RGP lenses can require days of adaptation, especially for first-time wearers. RGP lenses also require an in-depth fitting process as the lens specifications must be extremely precise.  So precise that each lens is individually made to your specifications! For this reason, they are the only product on our site which is a final sale.

Soft lenses are more common and offer immediate all-day wear and may be worn safely while playing sports (RGP lenses cannot). However, to choose the appropriate material, curvature and replacement schedule, consult your eye care professional and see which lenses may be right for you.

Replacement schedule

Soft lenses are available in a variety of options to reflect different needs and lifestyles. As each contact lens requires a proper replacement schedule and regular maintenance, you could choose between:

• Daily wear contacts

  Can be worn all day up to a number of hours specified by your eye doctor but require nightly removal, disinfection, and cleansing.

• Extended wear contacts

  Can be worn overnight under the supervision and approval of your eye doctor or fitter. Depending on the brand, some lenses can be worn up to 30 consecutive nights.  Speak to your doctor to determine if your eyes are healthy enough to sleep in your contact lenses.

Even though some can be worn for a longer period of time, they are all disposable contact lenses. Your eye doctor will work with you to determine an appropriate replacement schedule. Based on your needs, there are various options to choose from:

• Daily disposable contact lenses

Daily contacts are the healthiest option for your eyes – a fresh lens every day without any worry about protein deposits or cleaning regimens. If you want to give them a try, take a look at our 5 reasons for choosing daily disposable contacts. One day lenses are also a great choice for those who intend on wearing their contact lenses on rare occasions.

• Weekly/Bi-weekly

Usually, weekly contacts need to be taken out at night for cleaning and are disposed of once a week. These lenses provide a comfortable experience with an economic replacement schedule. Take a look at our weekly contact lenses to find out about our offers.

• Monthly replacements

These contacts can be worn for up to 30 days. A great way to remember when to change your lens – just pick a day of the month! These lenses are available from many brands for all types of prescriptions. Some are able to be kept on overnight if your eye care professional says it’s okay.

Prescription options

There’s a type of contact lens for almost any vision problem. According to your eyes’ requirements, you’ll get a specific type of contact lens such as:

• Spherical lenses

The most common type of contact lenses – designed to correct myopia (nearsightedness) and hyperopia (farsightedness). Also, fit for people with little-to-no astigmatism in their prescription- if the “CYL” number in your glasses prescription is 0.75 or less, you’re not even likely to see a CYL in your contact lens numbers and you can wear a spherical lens.

• Toric

Toric lenses change power going around the lens to correct astigmatism – this is when your lens and/or the cornea is almond-shaped rather than spherical.  The corrective power changes as it goes around the lens.  These lenses will have a CYL and AXIS value that will likely be different to those found on your glasses prescription- your eye doctor or fitter will adjust those values based on how the lens sits naturally on YOUR eye.

• Multifocal

Everyone begins to need extra magnification around the age of 40, in order to read and see close objects clearly. Presbyopia happens to everybody as the natural lens in our eye stiffens with age and becomes harder to focus close up. Multifocal lenses allow you to ditch that pair of reading glasses swinging from a chain around your neck or stashed in a breast pocket.

• Colored

To bring some spark in your eyes, you can go for coloured contact lenses! These can be worn simply for cosmetic reasons or for vision correction. Regardless of the correction (or lack of) in the lens, colored contacts are best prescribed by your eye doctor as they are a medical device sitting on your eye’s delicate structure.

Any contact lens, no matter what the replacement schedule, will be available as toric or multifocal if your vision correction requires it.

In order to buy contact lenses online, you need to know how to read your prescription. Your contact lens prescription is based on your glasses prescription, but the values can change, especially for higher prescriptions. This is part of the reason why it’s important to consult an eye care professional.

Eye Safety First!

Your contacts must be chosen with care to make sure they fit your eyes properly. People come in all shapes and sizes – so do your eyes, and they change shape over time. But above all, it’s essential to wear contacts that preserve your eyes’ health.

Contacts must bring optimal oxygen flow and moisture. Your cornea (the clear dome on the front of your eye) gets all its oxygen from the air around it. And your lenses must not only allow oxygen to pass through the material but also move just the right amount to keep a microscopic layer of tears flowing under the lens- those tears help carry oxygen and provide a constant cleaning action around the lens.

A  allow more oxygen to the eye and ensure you see the world as it should be. Yet even a modern material can damage your cornea if the fit is not optimal. Ensure that your eye care professional has reviewed the movement of the lens on your eye and verified it is safe to wear.

Take a look at Clearly’s offers to shop your next contact lenses!

Now that you’ve learned all about the different types of contact lenses, you can discuss with your eye doctor to see which one would be appropriate for your vision, comfort, and lifestyle.

With Clearly, you can shop online for the type of contacts that most fits your needs, whenever you want. And we offer contacts at affordable prices! Just pick the contact lens brand specified on your prescription and order online.

You are now fully equipped and ready to enjoy the clearest vision and awesome eye comfort with our contact lenses!

The post Types of Contact Lenses appeared first on Coastal Blog - Eye Care & Eyewear Trends.