What goes around, comes back around

Eye glasses, or spectacles as we now call it, date back to the Roman Empire. Glass was used to improve vision during sporting events. They give clear vision to those who weren't blessed with 20/20 vision.

Riveted spectacles were invented in the 1300s, the V-shape was not for looks by any means, they were made to balance on the nose. These first appeared in Italy in the early 1200s.

Throughout the centuries, corrective eye wear was not only made for the rich, it was eventually possible for the less fortunate to purchase. The nose bridge was introduced to the frame in the 1600s, still not a stylish pair but definitely more practical. Then the temple glasses were constructed and made way for the frames as we know today.

In the mid 1900s, the fashionable frames started to make their appearance. What were the most popular you ask? Cat's-eye frames for women, and thick rectangular frames for men, in black of course. Plastic lenses were not made until 1962, and in the 1970s, plastic frames took over as a preference over metal and the bigger the frame the better.

The coke bottle glasses were almost obsolete when the polycarbonate thin lens became available in the 1980s.

In the 90s to present day, glasses were and are made eco-friendly with recycled or sustainable materials; we wear the same shape of frames our grandmothers wore in their time; and glasses are made adjustable for any face shape.

Just like style has a way to come back around, vision frames are no exception. Thankfully, frames and lenses are made more affordably and visually appealing - no pun intended.

Bionic Contacts: A Close Reality

The human eye is an amazing thing. "It can see millions of colors, adjust easily to shifting light conditions, and transmit information to the brain at a rate exceeding that of a high-speed Internet connection."  But as technology evolves so does the scientific and medical ability of health-aiding products like the contact lens. 

Contact lenses with built-in electronics capabilities are becoming much more marketable than we might even know. The article from  IEEE Spectrum: "Augmented Reality in a Contact Lens" talks about how close we are to this reality. Check it out for yourself and tell us what you think!

And although we don't carry bionic lenses as of yet, we do encourage you to stop by Village Optical and talk to us about your eye care concerns and interests! We love what we do and you'll be able to see the difference!

Analyzing Astigmatism

What is Astigmatism?

Astigmatism is one of a group of eye conditions known as refractive errors. Refractive errors cause a disturbance in the way that light rays are focused within the eye.

Astigmatism is not a disease nor does it mean that you have ‘bad eyes’. It simply means that you have a variation in the shape of your cornea. Not all corneas are perfectly curved, just as sets of teeth are seldom perfectly aligned. There are many variations that might occur in the corneal surface. The degree of variation determines whether or not you need corrective eyewear.

The tendency to develop astigmatism is inherited; for that reason, some people are simply more prone to develop astigmatism than others are

Astigmatism is diagnosed through the process of a comprehensive eye health examination.

Your Optometrist will recommend corrective eyewear to help the eye focus in a more effective manner.Your Optometrist will perform precise tests during your comprehensive eye health examination to determine precisely the ideal lens prescription.