There are options that will result in thinner lenses and a more attractive pair of glasses.

High Index lens materials – there are different materials with different refractive indices. The higher the index the thinner the lens will be (so 1.74 index lenses will be thinner than 1.6 index in the same prescription).

Some lens designs can be lenticularized (less thickness at the edge for minus prescriptions)

If your prescription is + instead of – then your lenses will be thickest in the center. But if your prescription is – instead of + (you can see up close not far away) your lenses will be thickest at the edge. For + lenses you’ll pretty much need to go high index for thinner lenses, but for – lenses there are a few other things that will result in thinner lenses

-choose plastic frames rather than metal or rimless. Plastic will conceal edge thickness better.

-choose smaller, more rounded frames. Rectangles will have lots of thickness at the corners. A small round pair of glasses will have less edge thickness.

-choose frames that fit so your eye is centered in the frame. If they’re too small or too big so your eyes are off to one side or the other, the lens will likely be decentred resulting in extra thickness at one side or the other.

The process for cleaning your glasses is pretty simple:

1. Wash your hands thoroughly so you’re not transferring germs.
2. If there is dirt or grit on your lenses from being outside/gardening, wash it off with warm water.
3. Spray your glasses on both sides with special lens cleaning spray. Gently rub it over the lens surface with your glasses cloth.

There are a few common mistakes that people make when cleaning their eyeglasses.

Avoid these materials
Paper towels, tissues, and the fabric of the shirt you’re wearing might seem like an easy fix for smudged lenses. But those materials are too coarse and can cause minor scratches to develop on the surface of the lenses.

You need to stick to soft lens cloths, like the kind that come with your glasses when you first get them. However do not wash your cloth with fabric conditioner as it causes the cloth to smear the lenses.

Don’t use washing up liquid as the harsh chemicals in it can damage the lens surface.

Don’t use products with acetone.

Another common mistake is to use nail polish remover to clean lenses and frames. This is never a good idea. Acetone (often found in nail polish remover) is surprisingly destructive to both lenses, and to plastic glasses frames, if left on the surface for too long.

Saliva doesn’t clean lenses.

When you’re desperate to get rid of a smudge on your glasses, it might seem like a good idea to use your own saliva to lubricate the lens.

This isn’t a good idea either, as you’re basically covering your lens with germs from your mouth, which can then multiply. From a practical perspective, your saliva may also make the smudge look worse.

It’s not possible to polish lenses to get rid of scratches without altering the power of the lens, so you’d need to get new lenses.

You can add a special scratch-resistant coating to your lenses – it might be worth thinking about this next time you buy a new pair or you get your spectacles reglazed.

It is possible to do this but there are some disadvantages:

1. An old frame often becomes brittle and is more likely to break while new lenses are being fitted into it.
2. Metal frames hold up better if you are trying to put new lenses in. Plastic frames can become brittle over time and will break during the lenses insertion procedure.
3. New frames at Coakleys start from only £45 so it is affordable enough to treat yourself to a new look.
4. Lastly and probably most importantly, it is a really good idea to have a spare pair of glasses in case yours are lost or broken. So many people only have 1 pair of glasses and then are completely stuck when they have a breakage or loss. We advise our customers to keep their old pair of glasses as a backup, and purchase new frames and lenses with their new prescriptio

You must be able to read (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) a car number plate made after 1 September 2001 from 20 metres.

You must also meet the minimum eyesight standard for driving by having a visual acuity of at least decimal 0.5 (6/12) measured on the Snellen scale (with glasses or contact lenses, if necessary) using both eyes together or, if you have sight in one eye only, in that eye.

You must also have an adequate field of vision – your optician can tell you about this and do a test.

Glasses are actually medical devices and there are rules and regulations in place to ensure they are fit for purpose. We as specialists have a duty of care to ensure your glasses fit properly and are the best possible solution for your eyes. This is so much more difficult to do without face to face interaction.

Other difficulties are that you don’t get to try the glasses on or have someone help you in person.

It may be hard to measure your own pupil distance, which you need to order your glasses. Some experts say it’s like trying to cut your own hair. It may be difficult to return the glasses.

A large study found about half the online glasses had the wrong prescription or other problems.
An incorrect prescription may give you blurred vision or make your eyes feel uncomfortable.
At Coakleys our staff are trained and very experienced in measuring and adjusting glasses to fit you perfectly, as well as picking out shapes and sizes that suit your features and colouring.

The glare from headlights, especialIy the bright xenon type can make it very difficult to see the road when driving in the dark. This can result in eye strain and sometimes even headaches by the time you reach your destination.

The Seiko RoadClear lenses have been especially developed to help combat this glare and make driving in the dark much more comfortable. Ask our staff for more information.