Optometrists, Ophthalmologists, Opticians

Glasses for every shaped face!

The number one important feature about glasses is that they correct your vision. But it doesn’t mean that you can’t look good too. The shape of your face plays a big role in how your glasses come look.

You always want your frames to scale with the rest of your face. For someone with a large face, a larger pair of glasses will seem much more natural. The same goes for someone with a smaller face.

Here is a list of the most common shapes, but always remember that not everyone fits perfectly into one of these categories. 

Round Faces

What are the best glasses for round faces?  Typically narrow frames with sharp, angular curves fit best. People often have success with narrow, square or rectangle shaped frames as they make a rounded faces appear longer and thinner.

Oval Faces

If your face is oval shaped, you have the shape that most people choose glasses for! Those are glasses that are rounded with more length than width. Basically wide frames that will not throw off the natural proportion of your face.

Square Faces

If people tell you that you have a wide forehead, you might just have a square shaped face. What you really want to accomplish is to make your face seem longer, and wide frames will help you accomplish this. 

Rectangle Faces

This is when your face is longer than it is wide, but cheek and jaw lines are long, straight, and angular. Here you want to make your face appear shorter and more balanced. Frames with more depth, or vertical height, can help you do this, and a bridge lower on the nose can do this. 

Triangle Faces with a Bottom Base

Here your face doesn’t look like a triangle, but its proportions are somewhat similar. You have a narrow forehead, but dimensions get wider near the cheek & jaw lines. Wide frames can balance the face from top to bottom, and many patients go for colored or accented lenses to draw attention toward the top half of the face. Round or square glasses are best here, avoiding thing rimmed or rimless glasses.

Triangle Faces with a Top Base

Faces that become narrow toward the chin really need the opposite, which is a narrow frame. Light colored frames that are wide, but only toward the bottom of the frame can help. 

Diamond Faces

This shaped face very uncommon, and comes with many issues. While broad cheekbones, a thin forehead and jaw line is desirable, however it can make shopping for eyeglasses very difficult. To take attention away from the cheekbones, you can go for frames that are bold and wide. Usually rimless, round, or square frames are best.

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Computer Vision Syndrome

Just a few decades ago, computer vision syndrome (CVS) was not even a thing. However, with an increase in the role of staring at computer screens and phones, it has become an increasingly common issue. This puts a significant strain on our eyes.

With the increased use of school computers, tablets and smartphones, children are also becoming more susceptible to Computer Vision Syndrome.

Problems can begin because as we are reading text on a screen, our eyes move in a repetitive motion. Once the issue has started, continuing the same behavior can worsen any symptoms. While reading alone uses the same motion, digital screens add flicker, contrast, glare, and light that all put additional strain on our eyes.

Issues may also be accelerated if you should be wearing some type of corrective lens, but don’t, and are therefore putting additional strain on your eyes.

Aging can also speed up the progress of these issues. Around the time that people turn 40, the lenses of the eyes begin to harden due to a disease called presbyopia, which affects your ability to see closer objects.
 

What Happens If I Have CVS?

There is currently no proof that Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) causes long-term vision impairment or blindness. Continuing to use a computer or any other type of screen can continue to be an annoyance or reduce your ability to see properly. Some of the warning signs of Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) are:

  • Blurred vision
  • Double vision
  • Red or dry eyes
  • Headaches
  • Neck pain
  • Back pain
  • Eye Irritation

If you don’t properly treat Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) when these symptoms occur, you may begin to notice that you suffer from a decrease in overall quality of life or job performance.
 

Treatment Options

Fortunately, Computer Vision Syndrome (CVS) can usually be treated with just a few small changes to your viewing habits, or to the settings of your screen itself.

Reduce Glare – It’s essential to reduce the amount of glare that comes off your computer screen as the glare adds additional strain to our eyes. You can reduce the glare by changing the angle of your computer screen so that it doesn’t reflect light back to your eye. You could also install a dimmer switch and reduce the brightness of the overhead lighting. If you have natural light that enters your office, you can try moving your monitor to a different location and then adjust the settings of your blinds to reduce or block the light coming in. Or you can purchase a glare filter that goes over the top of your screen.

Move Your Desk – Your ideal monitor position is just below your eye level and approximately 20-28 inches in front of your eyes. You shouldn’t have to change your head position or strain your neck to read what is on your screen. If you work with printed materials, put a stand next to your monitor to keep everything at the same height.

Change Your Settings – Simply changing the settings of your screen can result in a significant reduction to your eye strain. You can adjust the brightness, contrast, and even change the font size to make things easier for you to see.

Take Breaks – Your breaks don’t have to take up much time. Doctors recommend using the 20/20/20 rule. This rule simply states that every 20 minutes you should look at an object 20 feet away for twenty seconds. Additionally, if you feel that your eyes are straining, it’s a good idea to get away from your screen for a few minutes.

Update Your Prescription – Reducing the amount of work your eyes must do to see is always a good idea. Making sure that your prescription is accurate for you helps to reduce that strain. There are also options now to include an anti-glare coating on the lenses of your glasses that help to reduce the glare that passes through the lens to your eye. You can also use sunglasses that have polarized lenses to help protect your eyes.

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Lens Technology

Thanks to the advancement of lens technology, glasses lenses are no longer a single, one size fits all solution. There are a variety of different lens types that can be used in glasses, giving patients greater flexibility and control over their vision than ever before.
 

Single Vision Lenses

Also known as monovision lenses, these lenses are designed to correct the wearer’s vision at just one distance, and have a single prescription covering the entire surface of the lens. They are most often recommended for people who are either nearsighted (myopia) or farsighted (hyperopia) and who need glasses for a specific activity, such as driving or reading.
 

Progressive Lenses

Progressive lenses are multifocal lenses that can correct a patient’s vision at different working distances, ranging from far distance to reading distance. However, rather than designating different areas on the lenses for different distances with visible lines separating them, progressive lenses have a gradual change so that the wearer can smoothly transition from one lens power to another.
 

Bifocal And Trifocal Lenses

As you may have guessed from the name, bifocal and trifocal lenses have either two or three lens powers depending on which type you choose. Bifocal lenses support distance vision in the top half of the lens, and near vision in the lower half. Trifocal lenses support distance vision in the top third of the lens, intermediate vision in the middle segment and near vision in the bottom third. Whichever variety you choose, you will see visible lines separating each segment.

Bifocal and trifocal lenses are recommended for patients who are near or farsighted, and those who develop presbyopia, which is the natural hardening of the eye lens, that occurs as we get older. Presbyopia makes it harder for the lens of the eye to adapt to focus at different distances.
 

Multifocal Lenses

Multifocal lenses are the alternative name given to bifocal, trifocal and progressive lenses.
 

Computer Lenses

Computer lenses are prescription lenses that are specifically designed to be worn when doing computer work. This is because they place the optimum lens power for viewing your computer screen exactly where you need it – which is closer than intermediate vision, but further away than reading material is usually held. Wearing computer lenses can significantly reduce the negative effects caused by the high visual demands of computer work, including blurred vision, redness, dry eyes, double vision and dizziness.
 

Transition Lenses

Also known as photochromic lenses, transition lenses are a special type of lens that darken when in the sunlight and lighten when in softer light or the dark. This versatility gives the wearer the convenience of being able to move between different environments without needing to change their glasses. This makes them extremely cost effective and prevent the wearer from needing to take multiple pairs of glasses out with them. Transition lenses also filter out many of the harmful UV rays that are emitted from the sun, helping to keep eyes healthy too. They are ideal for people who spend a lot of time going between inside and outside, or who work outside in varying weather conditions.
 

Blue Light Lenses

Blue light lenses are specially crafted lenses that contain filters that block out much of the artificial blue light that is produced by digital devices like computers, smartphones and tablets. Natural blue light is actually good for balancing our sleep-wake cycle, boosting our mood and enhancing our cognitive abilities so that we can function better day to day. However, too much blue light, especially from artificial sources, can have the opposite effect. Many people who fail to use blue light lenses can go on to develop digital eye strain, which produces symptoms like eye fatigue, dry eyes, blurred vision, headaches and more. Blue light lenses are recommended for anyone who spends a lot of time working on a digital device.
 

Polarized Lenses

Polarized lenses are used to reduce eyestrain and improve the quality of vision in patients on especially sunny days, making them ideal for anyone who spends a lot of time outdoors. They can do this because they have a special filter that blocks some of the light from passing through the lens. Vertical light is allowed to pass through, while horizontal light, such as that which bounces off of water and can be blinding, is blocked. Polarized lenses are most often used in sunglasses since they are worn outdoors, and the wearer also needs to protect their eyes from UV damage.

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Face Types & Eye Glass Frames

When it’s time to select a new pair of eyeglasses, it can be challenging to find the frame that feels the best for you. Eyeglass makers have become increasingly aware of their clients’ desire to customize frames as well as offer a variety of colors, designs, and frame shapes. Understanding more about your face shape and the types of frames that would look best on you can help to reduce the amount of time you spend trying on frames that don’t complement your face shape. Here are a few useful tips to help you find glasses best suited for your face shape.
 

Face Types

While there are thousands of different frame shapes, there are only seven different face shapes.
 

Round

This face type is as wide is it is long. There are no specific or well-defined angles to this face type. Most people with this facial type look for frames that will elongate their face in order to draw out their natural features as well as give their face a thinner appearance. A good choice is often to select a frame that is angular and narrow.

Heart

If you can imagine the shape of a traditional heart, this face shape is easy to identify. The top 1/3 of the face is wider while the rest of the face tapers to a narrow chin. Individuals with this face shape will often seek frames that are wider at the bottom of the lens. This helps to balance the face and give the appearance of a narrower face at the top. Another great fit for this face type would be rimless frames.
 

Base Down Triangle

This face type contains a wide jaw and cheekbones but is narrow at the forehead. Cat-eye type frames are great for this face type, as are frames that are heavier near the eyebrow to provide more balance.
 

Diamond

This face type is the rarest. The diamond face is like the base-down triangle but differs because it has a narrow chin, thus appearing like a diamond. When selecting eyeglasses, look for oval-shaped frames, or frames that have more detail along the brow line.
 

Oblong

This face type looks like an oval, but these individuals have a straight cheek line. This face is fuller than it is long. Frame types that add some depth are ideal for this face. This can be done by finding frames that have decorative pieces along the temples or that have more depth with a reduced width.
 

Oval

Oval faces are the most common face type. They are considered to have balanced proportions so that most frame types will work well. An oval face is longer than it is wide and includes plump cheekbones. Walnut shaped eyeglasses are an ideal choice, but frames that are as wide or wider than the broadest part of your face would work as well.
 

Square

These individuals have a broad forehead and jaw that gives the appearance of the face having equal and straight sides. These face types usually do well with narrow or oval-shaped frames which will help to soften their features.
 

Additional Tips

Your hair color may play a role in the best frame color for you. Individuals with warm hair colors (brown or black hair) do best to choose a lighter colored frame to add contrast. People that have hair on the lighter end of the spectrum can pick just about any frame color that they would like and may look to other features like eye color or skin tone to help make their decision.

Skin tone has the opposite effect from hair color on the best choices for the frame color. Those with lighter skin hues do best with similar frame colors, and those with warmer skin tones can pick and choose options that they enjoy the most.

Above all else, you should pick a frame that you like best. There may be additional factors to consider when choosing the right frame for you, but perhaps the most important factor is your overall happiness and comfort.

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Colored lenses, they’re back!

Hold onto your hats, the revival of fashion trends from the early 2000’s is underway!

Yep, you better get ready to relive some of your best ‘what was I thinking?’ moments.  One iconic past trend has returned in full force… the glorious colored lens.  A regular staple of stars such as the Olsen twins and Drew Barrymore, with shades of red or blue, the colored lens was hard to ignore.

The colored eye wear trends brought us rose colored lenses as being one of the more popular colors and one that survived the fad longer than most colors.
 
Nineteen or so years later, and colored lenses are back in full force. As one of the main attires of celebrities and style bloggers, these colored glasses and lenses are addition color to their daily wear. 

Colored lenses can be used along with almost any eye-glass frames, which provides plenty of choices when designing a pair of glasses for anyone’s personal style.

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UV Rays and Eye Health

When you think of sun protection, sunscreen probably comes to mind first. But what about protecting your eyes? The truth is, ultraviolet (UV) rays can do serious damage to your eyes—often without you even realizing it. That’s why sunglasses aren’t just a fashion statement—they’re an essential part of your eye health routine. At Radiant Eye Care, we want to help you understand why UV protection matters and how to choose the right sunglasses to safeguard your vision.

The Hidden Danger: How UV Rays Affect Your Eyes

You already know that prolonged exposure to the sun can damage your skin, but many people underestimate the risk UV radiation poses to their eye health. There are two types of UV rays that can impact your eyes: UVA rays and UVB rays.

  • UVA rays can penetrate deep into the eye and contribute to long-term damage such as cataracts and macular degeneration.
  • UVB rays are more intense and can cause immediate damage, like photokeratitis—also known as “sunburn of the eye.”

Exposure to UV radiation over time can lead to serious conditions, including:

  • Cataracts
  • Macular degeneration
  • Pterygium (a growth on the white part of the eye)
  • Corneal sunburn
  • Skin cancer around the eyelids

Protecting your eyes from these harmful rays is just as important as shielding your skin.

UV Rays and Eye Health: Why Sunglasses Matter (A Lot More Than You Think)

Wearing the right sunglasses with UV protection can reduce your risk of developing many of these conditions. But not all sunglasses are created equal.

Cheap sunglasses found at convenience stores or gas stations might offer shade from brightness, but that doesn’t mean they block UV rays. In fact, wearing tinted lenses without proper UV protection can cause more harm than good—your pupils dilate behind the dark lens, letting in even more UV radiation.

That’s why UV-blocking sunglasses are a non-negotiable when it comes to long-term eye health.

What to Look for When Choosing Sunglasses

Patients should be educated on selecting sunglasses that truly protect their eyes—not just look good. Here’s what to keep in mind when choosing your next pair:

1. LOOK FOR 100% UVA AND UVB PROTECTION

The most important feature your sunglasses must have is 100% UV protection. Labels should clearly state “100% UVA and UVB protection” or “UV400,” which blocks rays up to 400 nanometers—covering all harmful UV rays.

2. BIGGER IS BETTER

Oversized sunglasses and wraparound styles offer greater coverage, minimizing the amount of UV rays that can reach your eyes from the sides.

3. CONSIDER POLARIZED LENSES (BUT DON’T BE FOOLED)

Polarized lenses reduce glare—especially helpful when driving or spending time around water or snow. However, polarization itself does not equal UV protection. Make sure the lenses are both polarized and UV-blocking.

4. GO FOR QUALITY OVER PRICE

When it comes to protecting your eyes, invest in sunglasses from reputable brands or from your local eye care provider. They may cost more upfront, but they provide superior UV protection and optical clarity.

5. THINK ABOUT LENS COLOR—BUT DON’T RELY ON IT

Darker lenses don’t necessarily block more UV rays. Lens color can help with visibility and contrast in different lighting conditions, but always confirm UV protection separately.

Sunglasses Are for Everyone—Every Day of the Year

It’s a common myth that sunglasses are only necessary in the summer. But UV rays are present year-round, even on cloudy days and during winter. Snow and water can actually reflect UV rays, increasing your exposure. Whether you’re at the lake, on the slopes, or walking the dog, make wearing UV-protective sunglasses part of your daily routine.

And it’s not just adults who need protection. Children’s eyes are more susceptible to UV damage, making it essential to equip them with sunglasses early in life. 

Prescription Sunglasses: Style Meets Safety

If you wear prescription glasses, don’t settle for less when it comes to sun protection. Prescription sunglasses are a convenient and safe solution that allows you to see clearly while staying protected from UV rays. At Radiant Eye Care, we offer a wide selection of stylish, prescription-ready sunglasses to meet your lifestyle and vision needs.

Alternatively, consider photochromic lenses, which automatically darken in response to sunlight. While convenient, not all photochromic lenses offer the same level of UV protection—so make sure you consult with a qualified eye doctor before choosing.

UV Rays and Eye Health: How Radiant Eye Care Helps You Protect Your Eyes

Your vision and long-term eye health are your top priorities. You should get:

  • Personalized sunglasses fittings for the whole family
  • High-quality UV-blocking lenses from trusted brands
  • Prescription and non-prescription options
  • Expert advice on choosing the right sunglasses for your face shape, lifestyle, and eye health needs

We take the guesswork out of sun protection so you can confidently enjoy the outdoors—without putting your vision at risk.

Protect Your Eyes Today

Your eyes deserve more than just a stylish frame. They deserve protection, clarity, and long-term care. Whether you’re shopping for your first pair of sunglasses or need a prescription option tailored to your lifestyle, visit a qualified Optometrist and Optician.

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Enchroma Lens Technology

If you find it difficult to tell colors apart, you may be color blind. Color blindness, or color deficiency, is estimated to affect around 8% of men and about 1% of women, but for those affected, it can significantly impact the quality of their day-to-day life. Contrary to popular belief, being color blind doesn’t mean that you can’t see any color at all. Instead, patients simply struggle to differentiate between certain colors. The vast majority of people who are color blind find it impossible to tell the difference between varying shades of red and green. You may hear this referred to as red-green color deficiency. However, this doesn’t only mean that they mix up red and green. They can also mix up colors that have some green or red light as part of their whole colors, for example purple and blue. This is because they are unable to see the red light that forms part of the color purple. 

As you can probably imagine, this type of visual impairment can be a problem for things like traffic lights, taking medications and even looking at signs and directions. For example, someone who is color blind may find that the green on a traffic light may appear white or even blue.
 

EnChroma lens technology is specifically designed to counteract red-green color deficiency and enable patients to better identify the difference in these colors or shades. They do this by selectively filtering out the red and green wavelengths of light at the exact point where the color sensitivities overlap before hitting the retina, creating far greater contrast between the colors so that the patient can distinguish between them successfully. Most cases of color blindness respond well to EnChroma’s innovative spectral lens technology, giving patients the ability to experience life in bright, vibrant technicolor.

EnChroma lenses are made from leading edge, Trivex material, and this helps to give them the best possible quality and clarity of vision. These lenses are also extremely light, strong and offer patients 100% protection against UV light, helping to keep your eyes healthy as well as improving your vision.

If you or someone you know is color blind or color deficient and could benefit from EnChroma lenses, contact your local optometrist to learn more about how they can help!

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