News — sunglasses

You didn't receive an owner’s manual with your eyes, but here are some things your eye doctor would like you to know to take good care of them.

1. Your Eyes and Ultraviolet Light: The Good

A little daily sunlight on your skin is good for your eyes. A few minutes daily of exposure to the ultraviolet (UV) light within sunlight is needed for the body to produce Vitamin D. Vitamin D protects against macular degeneration, a condition that leads to vision impairment. Your eye doctor won’t tell you to stay indoors to protect your eyes (but they will tell you to wear sunglasses)! Natural light is also the best for seeing (and reading), since our eyes have developed to respond to the spectrum in our natural environment. A pair of sun readers can prevent uncomfortable glare off the printed page if you are reading outdoors.

2. Your Eyes and Ultraviolet Light: The Bad

However, UV light on the eyes can indeed harm them. Exposure over the course of years can cause macular degeneration as well as cataracts, another form of vision impairment. For this reason, most eyewear comes with a UV-protective coating. A bespectacled person has better protection outdoors than a person with no glasses; your eyewear isn’t just fashionable, it’s good for your eye health! It’s important to keep in mind that small-framed glasses, whether clear or tinted, allow UV light to reach the eye from the top and sides. The American Optometric Association recommends wraparound sunglasses for those who spend much of the day outdoors. Just as good, and less well known, are contact lenses with an FDA Class 1 UV blocker. No UV light can get around these, because they cover the entire pupil and iris.

3. Your Eyes and Nutrition

Have you wondered why children are told to eat their carrots for better vision? It’s because carrots contain beta-carotene, a nutrient that does in fact protect against macular degeneration. Carrots are also a source of Vitamin A, which protects against night blindness. What you probably weren’t told as a child is that sweet potatoes, winter squash, spinach, and kale are even better sources of beta-carotene. Liver, eggs, and milk are also great sources for Vitamin A.

Furthermore, the list of nutrients that are good for eye health includes:

• Omega-3 fatty acids (think fish and walnuts)
• Bioflavonoids (in berries and beans, for example)
• Vitamin C lutein, zeaxanthin, selenium, zinc, Vitamin E
• Vitamin D, as mentioned above

The message from all of this? Eat a balanced diet with lots of unprocessed foods, and your eyes will benefit. Your visual acuity will not improve, but it will run less risk of being degraded.

4. The Good and the Bad of Polarized Lenses

Oh, the delight of viewing a bright day through polarized sunglasses! By removing glare, polarized lenses increase eye comfort outdoors. However, there are times when you’ll want to take off those polarized glasses and maybe put on a non-polarized pair. LCD and LED displays are often unreadable through polarized glasses. In some specific outdoor sporting situations, glare can actually help you, so polarized glasses aren’t the best choice—under some skiing conditions, for example, glare may be the telltale sign of ice, a hazard you want to see so you can steer clear.

5. Will Reading in Dim Light Damage your Eyesight?

How many times have you been warned not to read in dim light? This advice, as old as it is, is also false. Old eyes do often lose their visual acuity, but this happens regardless of the light the person used for reading (or sewing, or engraving miniatures on a grain of rice). You may find that your eyes are more comfortable, and that you are able to focus longer, if you use brighter light and if you wear reading glasses.

Help Keep Your Eyes Healthy with Our Wide Selection of Eyeglass Frames!

We’ve talked about the good, touched on the bad, but there is no ugly here! Our collection of beautiful glasses will help you take good care of your eyes. Shop www.ihearteyewear.com today to view our fashionable choices of readers, sunglasses, bifocal sunglasses, and eyewear accessories. And stay tuned for the second part of this blog to help keep your eyes in tip top shape.

Spring 2015 is all about playful and dramatic trends bringing in block-color, big frames, texture, and bold prints. Here's what's hot in eyewear this season!

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Reading glasses can be a lifesaver, whether you’re a devoted bookworm or you just need the visual assistance to browse the web or do your job. However, up-keeping your appearance can be challenging if you need reading glasses. Whether you’re farsighted or you suffer from a condition like presbyopia, you may have a hard time applying makeup, especially around the eyes.

How can you always look your best? One option is to opt for contact lenses, but obtaining prescription contacts can be expensive and the process can take a long time.

Makeup Readers Are The Solution For Many Women

An alternative solution is to wear makeup glasses. These glasses let you to work on each eye, one at a time, by alternating the lens during the makeup application process. While one eye can see with correct vision (thanks to the glasses), you can apply your eyeshadow, eyeliner, mascara, and other touches to the opposite eye. You don’t need prescription lenses or an eye exam to wear these. I Heart Eyewear offers makeup readers in 4 color combinations in the following strengths: +1.00, +1.50, +2.00, +2.50, +3.00, and +3.50.

You might want to obtain multiple pairs of makeup glasses for your car, office, and your home. Never apply makeup in your car while driving (or even while stopped in traffic), since this act can be a dangerous distraction. Wait until you get to a safe stopping point.

Shop Now for Quality Reading Glasses Under $20!

Shop our online catalog 24/7 for eyeglasses that are right for you. You can obtain makeup readers, sunglasses, and quality reading glasses for any budget, right here at I Heart Eyewear. Sort by type, shape/style and color/pattern to find your perfect pair!

The Importance of Wearing Sunglasses in the Winter

Wearing bifocal sunglasses in the winter to protect your eyes may seem somewhat paradoxical. After all, once the blistering sun of summer fades to the cooler and less taxing sun of winter, shouldn’t you be able to go outside and enjoy the sun with impunity?

Unfortunately, this myth – that sunglasses are only needed during the warmer seasons – is pretty destructive. The truth is that harmful UV rays from the sun, the ones that cause eyestrain and eye damage and pave the way for problems like cataracts, stream from our nearest star all year long. They don’t take a “break” during winter. In fact, if you go out skiing or head to a place with substantial snow cover, you must contend with a double-whammy of UV rays. First, you must deal with UV rays emanating from the sun itself. Second, you have to process the UV rays that bounce off the snow and reflect into your eyes.

If you’re a skier or a snowboarder, you know that you need to wear substantial sun protection on your skin, if you’re going to be on the snow-topped mountain all day, even if it’s below freezing outside. The ambient temperature has nothing to do with the risk for sunburn or dangerous sun exposure. Obviously, you’ll be less likely to burn your back and chest, because you’ll be wearing heavy clothing. But your eyes will still be just as exposed as when you are frolicking on the beach.

Sunglasses can also provide protection against dust, debris and ambient pollution that can cause irritating symptoms like dry eye syndrome, which affects millions of people every winter.

Plus, wearing the right sunglasses can seriously add to your fashion cache, too!

Shop Online for Sunglass Frames from I Heart Eyewear

Explore our sunglass frames, reading sunglasses and other quality eyewear for winter, right here at I Heart Eyewear! Sort by type, shape/style and color, to find the perfect shades for your winter wardrobe.

Top Reading Glasses and Sunglasses for Fall

Staying on top of the latest trends is one of the most enjoyable parts of transitioning from summer to fall. Your new look doesn’t have to be limited to apparel; your eyewear plays an important role in your autumn accessorizing, too.

When searching for designer eyeglass frames and sunglasses this fall, keep the season’s hottest trends in mind:

• Throwback Renaissance. Those seeking a fashionably classic look will love these fresh new frames, which combine old-school sensibilities with new-school style. From round shapes to aviators to Clubmaster-esque frames, these style staples collide with earthy colors such as red, orange, and brown for the perfect fall look. Our Margot Bifocal Sunglasses were featured in eyecessorize’s Fall Trend Report for this look!

• Modern Prep. These ultra-flattering frames range from simple squares to pronounced cat eyes, accentuating the wearer’s features. Colors range from simple pastels to vibrant watercolors, calling to mind the preppy looks of the 60s but remaining firmly in the now. Our Darby Reading Glasses fit this look perfectly!

• Enigmatic Perspective. When clouds fill the sky and the leaves fall from the trees, it lends a mysterious atmosphere. These frames have the same effect, combining dark, muted colors with touches of opulence, such as I Heart Eyewear’s reading glasses with bling. Animal prints, lace and other artistic patterns are also on-point for the enigmatic perspective look! Our Dahlia Readers (below) and Catarina Reading Glasses are spot-on with this trend.

Which fall eyeglass trend are you excited to try?

Check out I Heart Eyewear’s collection for the most on-trend, stylish and affordable reading glasses for women.