We do our best to find the perfect glasses. Celebrities and other famous leaders are often the examples that we use to determine what the most fashion-forward frames are. In some cases, glasses are even used as a fashion statement, rather than a necessity. Comedian Drew Carey continued to wear glasses that were non-prescription after he had laser eye surgery because it was part of his look. The U.S. Senator Barry Goldwater did the same thing after he got contacts. But for many people, glasses are essential to read, write, and even walk, and this has been the case for thousands of years.

Benjamin Franklin, who suffered from myopia and presbyopia, invented bifocals in 1784, but there was pictorial evidence for eyewear much earlier, in a 1352 portrait of the cardinal Hugh de Provence, where he is reading a scriptorium. This long history of eyeglasses has come with many changes in how these lenses are designed. They are now commonly manufactured from plastic, as well as CR-39 and polycarbonate. These newer lenses weigh much less than older glass lenses, and they reduce the chance of breakage. Many of these lenses also come with a hydrophobic coating option that decreases the chance of glare, improves night vision, and make the lenses easier to clean.

To pick the perfect eyewear, you can meet with an optical appointment-only service, or a more common eyeglass retailer. But the advantage of an optical appointment-only service is that they will be able to work with you one-on-one to determine the perfect frames and lenses for your eyes. They can spend time testing your eyes to make sure they have your exact prescription, and also show you some of the top designer frames to select from. After working with one of these personalized eyewear technicians, you may never shop in retail eyewear again. References: www.just4eyes.ca