Seeing Through the Scam - The True Cost of Eyeglasses

By Sandra Nunez

Prescription eyeglasses. It’s a need 72% of Americans have, and chances are, you or someone you know will go through the process of purchasing them sometime in your/their life. However, there are issues that prevent us from getting what we really want, and sometimes buying a frame with pre-prescribed lenses from Walmart or Costco seems to be the easiest and most efficient way.

The truth is, our eyes, those windows to the world, deserve much more than a cheap investment and a hasty decision; opting for cookie-cutter craftsmanship could end up causing considerable damage, costing us many times the price of our original glasses. If only we weren’t that cheap.

But, in a world where optical correction will exist as long as humanity does, a group of e-retailers have begun what it’s now referred to as “The Optical e-Revolution” in which buying custom-made eyeglasses has been rendered affordable, fast, and as easy as one-two-three. Too good to be true? In the past decade the Internet has leveled many playing fields and the eyeglass industry is no exception. In this era of consumerism, where the power no longer sits solely with producers and where supply eclipses demand, consumers will simply not accept being constrained by inflated prices. Companies such as EyeBuyDirect, Frames Direct and 39 Dollar Glasses have proven determined to help rid us of the number one enemy of our pockets: Retail Cost.

Try to guess the actual cost of production for those cool designer brand-name glasses you’re wearing. I’ll give you a hint: For the highest quality glasses that exist, it’s no higher than $15 USD.

“Why should eyeglasses cost so much? Buying eyewear should be a democratic process and affordable to everyone,” says EyeBuyDirect CEO Roy Hessel. Companies like his are able to sell trendy, top-notch prescription frames starting as low as $14.95 USD because they have lean organization structures with the lower overhead costs from being online. “I was really pleased with the quality of the glasses I bought from Frames Direct. For $90, including shipping, I got glasses that I would have paid $300 for anywhere else,” said Gary Morison of New York, New York.

But there is one more obstacle that is keeping customers from the advantages of glasses on-line purchasing: the “touch and feel” factor. Considered a medical purchase, some customers feel the need to interact with their new pair before actually buying them, but according to some “professional e-buyers” such as Candy Surret, “There is nothing more personal than trying on your new glasses and being able to share them with 10 of my friends before actually making the decision.” And that’s what some e-visionaries are doing: Helping you make your decision by sharing with friends.

While 39 Dollar Glasses’ SmartFit system allows you to print out a full-size picture of the selected frame, Frames Direct’s Framefinder technology is a virtual try-on system that allows you to upload your picture and try on as many glasses as you want. But other companies such as EyeBuyDirect.com go a step further with their EyeTry technology that allows you to share your photos, so that your friends or family members can get involved when deciding which pair looks best on you.

The Optical e-Revolution has only begun and yet the overwhelmingly positive response of consumers has led to dramatic growth of this market. It has been estimated that by 2009 approximately half of all eyeglass purchases will be made online. But why wait til then? After all, it’s just one click away.

For more info: http://www.eyebuydirect.com http://www.framedirect.com http://www.39dollarsglasses.com Sandra Nunez Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Sandra_Nunez

Have You Ever Wondered; How Do Contact Lenses Work?

By Steve Cogger

If you wear lenses, or even if you don't, chances are you have asked yourself, "how do contact lenses work?” After all, it's just a little piece of plastic. It's amazing that without them, your vision can seem awful. And with a little thin lens, everything is clear. So let's take a closer look; how do contact lenses work?

In their simplest form, contact lenses are nothing more than an optical lens; similar to that in a pair of eyeglasses, only much smaller and of a different material.

For the nearsighted eye, the lens is a minus power. On eyeglasses, this makes for a thin center and thick edge. The same goes for contact lenses, a very thin center and a thicker edge. The variation of the thin to thick makes up the power of the lens. For example, a -14.00 lens has thicker edges than a -2.00.

The inside curve of the lens, also called the base curve, is designed for optimum fitting on the cornea. Base curves are measured in mm of radius. For example, a base curve of 8.6 means that the lens has the same inside curves of a circle with a radius of 8.6mm.

Another major factor in answering how do contact lenses work?, the diameter. Diameter is measured edge to edge, also in millimeters. The diameter is altered for physical fit and comfort. Any time the diameter is changed, the base curve needs to be revised. For example, a lens with a base curve of 8.6 and a diameter of 13.8 will be overall flatter than a lens with a base curve of 8.6 and a diameter of 15.0.

To picture this in your mind, picture a circle and imagine the top quarter of the circle is a lens. Now imagine the top half of a similar circle is a lens. Can you begin to see how different those two lenses would be?

Contact lenses only work properly when they have the proper prescription and they are fit correctly. A contact lens that is too steep will not only be uncomfortable, it will also create a blurry image because of the distance between the front of your cornea and the back of the lens. A lens that is too flat will not center properly and the edges will buckle or lift off the white of the eye.

Once properly fit, the lens must stay hydrated in order to work properly. On soft contact lenses, this is accomplished simply by blinking. Think of your lids as windshield washers that constantly clean the lens. If you wear lenses, you may notice that they blur a little after long term computer use. This is directly related to the fact that a persons blink rate slows when focusing on anything up close, i.e. the computer screen.

As you can see the optical qualities, proper fitting, and constant blinking are the main factors when figuring how contact lenses work.

Steve Cogger is a contact lens specialist from New York City and a fellow of the Contact Lens Society of America. In order to provide a resource for all lens wearers, he is also the webmaster of http://www.All-About-Contact-Lenses.com

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Are You Short-Changing Your Vision By Not Using Cheap Contact Lenses?

By Bob Simons

Contact lens, as we all know, are not just a corrective lens that gives better vision to those of us with eyesight problems. These special lenses, which are normally placed on the eyes’ cornea, are extremely lightweight and usually appear virtually invisible. Likewise, they can come in a range of colors that can create a new look for your facial appearance.

Because of these reasons, many perceive contact lenses to be a far better option when compared to eyeglasses. Hence, some people believe this option also comes with an expensive price tag - but that is totally wrong. There are many top quality yet cheap contact lenses available today.

If you want to save some money when purchasing your contact lens then you should know the best places where you can get a cheap price for contact lenses. Besides being just practical, you should also be clever in your search for cheap contact lenses. Hence, you should also know the key things that you should consider before you buy a pair.

Today, there have been huge volumes of products sold every month after month over the Internet - so if you are planning on purchasing contact lens, you should try looking at online retailers. You’ll find that there are numerous cheap contact lenses sources online available today.

You should know that you can easily get the proper vision you really need even when you purchase cheap contact lenses online.

There are some people who own eyeglasses, but they only keep them in its case, simply because they dislike the idea of looking like an older person who wears glasses. It’s impractical and inconvenient to have a vision problem when there are readily available means to quickly correct it. And cheap contact lenses are an ideal alternative to using eyeglasses; their cost is virtually the same price, which can be quite affordable.

For some people, finding cheap contact lenses is somewhat difficult. But because of the Internet it is really easy these days. Plus there are many online retailers that offer discounts on their contact lenses. Because of this you can really save money through using this approach.

There are certain e-retailers that are immensely popular simply because they sell contact lenses at a very low-cost price level.

The main advantage of purchasing cheap contact lens online is simple; you will have more selections when compared to local stores. There are various manufacturers as well as brands offered by online retailers which may not be found at your local contact lens retailer.

The process of buying from online stores only requires you to give them your prescription. Then they will use your prescription to verify with your ophthalmologist whether it is recent or not. . This information will serve as your record for them. So the next time that you order from them, it will be quick and trouble-free for both of you. Plus ordering via the Internet will usually get you free shipping if you find the right retailer.

Most online stores will also help you save some money on your follow-up eye exam. Most of them also provide updates regarding medical information concerning your eyes, like information on preventing eye diseases and about your key eye functions.

However, when buying cheap contact lenses online, you should not just look for the best places where you can buy them at the lowest price. That's because it’s more important to know the best contact lens that will ideally fit your eyes.

For more valuable and helpful information on discount contact lenses, simply visit JustYourContactLens.com where you will find more information about cheap contact lenses, soft contacts, Acuvue contact lenses, Freshlook Colorblends contacts and night and day contacts.

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The Next Best Thing: Bifocal Contact Lenses

By Carl DiNello

You’ve been wearing bifocal glasses for years, and you’re gotten sick of them. Having to wear your bifocals has stopped you from getting the fashionable sunglasses that you want for the summer. You have grown so disenchanted with bifocal glasses that you don’t bother with eye shadow, eyeliner, mascara, or any other kind of eye makeup. Why bother? They’ll be almost impossible to notice behind those thick, rather unsightly frames anyway.

While you will always be grateful to Benjamin Franklin, for inventing the bifocals, and yes your life is relatively more comfortable with them, you can’t help but wish that he had made them a little more stylish.

If this is how you feel about wearing bifocals everyday, then you will be delighted to know that as a result of technology there are finally bifocal contact lenses available in the market.

As you already know, bifocals are a special kind of corrective eyeglass lens that contains two different optical powers. Bifocals are most often used by people suffering from presbyopia, myopia, hyperopia, and even astigmatism.

Today most people will prefer contact lenses over the wearing of ordinary eyeglasses. For starters, a bifocal contact lens is less distracting, and unlike eyeglasses, you may even forget that you are wearing them. Also, they are more aesthetically pleasing, with no eyeglass frames getting in the way of people seeing your entire face, particularly your eyes. To a great many individuals, bifocal contact lenses are the obvious choice.

For those people who require bifocals, as the saying goes, bifocal contact lenses may be the best thing since sliced bread. After all, with bifocal contact lenses, you can enjoy all of the advantages of wearing bifocal eyeglasses without the hassle of the frames.

Before the bifocal contact lens was developed, people who required bifocals but wanted contact lenses would have to own two pairs, one for distance, and one for reading. Now, the bifocal contact lens solves the problem by answering your need to see clearly in the distance as well as close up.

Bifocal contact lenses are manufactured to two ways; they are either made from soft material – that is, gel-like substances that contain water, or rigid gas permeable material made of breathable plastic.

Replacement bifocal contact lenses are now readily available in the marketplace. Some, if this would be your preference, even allow daily replacement of your bifocal contacts. If constant replacement is inconvenient, in February 2006, bifocal contact lenses made of silicone hydrogel material also became available. These lenses allow you to wear them without removal up to thirty consecutive days.

However, heed this word of caution: beware of unapproved, unbranded, over-the-counter bifocal contact lenses. Always be sure when you purchase your bifocal contact lenses that they are FDA approved. Buying “off-label” contact lenses, whether bifocal or not, just to save a little money is not worth the risk. These bifocal contact lenses may cause serious harm to your eyesight, sometimes even resulting in blindness. Be smart, and safe, by only purchasing bifocal contact lenses that are prescribed by your doctor. Your eye doctor is legally prohibited from prescribing contact lenses that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.

Remember, before heading out to your neighborhood optical store, be sure to visit and consult with your eye doctor who is the best person to help you pick out the bifocal contact lenses that will meet your vision correction needs, and be perfectly safe.

Carl DiNello is an Article Author whose articles are featured on websites covering the Internet's most popular topics. To read more on this topic, please visit Contact Lens Resources!

You may republish this article on your website, or e-zine so long as none of the content, or author information has been edited or changed in any way, and all links are left active and unchanged.

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The Incredible, But Not Edible, Disposable Contact Lens

By Morgan Hamilton

Many of us have the experience of having eye problems like astigmatism or myopia. These problems may be genetic or may be due to constant eye-strain or abuse. Whatever the cause, eye-problems usually mean having to wear corrective eyeglasses. However, many people disdain having to wear eyeglasses. Glasses can mist up in the heat, fall at odd times, and can get in our way. What bothers me especially is it impedes me from participating in physical sports like basketball and football.

The disposable contact lens has become the lens preferred by people who dislike eye glasses. They are far more convenient, and you can barely realize that you’re wearing one if it’s the right fit. They are easy to maintain and in some cases, cheaper than a pair of quality glasses. Contacts can make life easier for people who are able to wear them.

You can choose from a variety of disposable contact lenses. Some must be discarded after a couple of weeks or once a month and there are those that can only be used for a day. Consult your eye doctor to help you decide on which kind is best suited for your condition.

Early versions of contact lenses require cleaning with an enzyme cleaner and as a result maintenance can be time consuming. Today’s disposable contact lenses however only need to be soaked overnight in a multi-purpose cleaner. Some solutions offer a ‘no rub’ feature which entails that you do not have to clean your lenses by hand.

Disposable contact lenses that can change your eye color are also available. If you want to surprise or impress your friends by showing up at a party with a different eye color, you can try this option. You can also buy non-prescription lenses which mean that you can change your eye color even if you have no eye defects.

For whatever reason you may have for wearing disposable contact lenses, always remember that your eyes are sensitive organs. Vision is your primary sense so it would be sensible to allow your eyes to breathe by wearing lenses only for the time advised by your doctor. Keep your eyes healthy by following the expert advice of your doctor to fully enjoy the advantages of your vision.

Morgan Hamilton offers expert advice and great tips regarding all aspects concerning Disposable Contact Lens. Visit our site for more helpful information about Disposable Contact Lens and other similar topics.

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How to Get The Best Deal in Colored Contact Lenses

By Ahmed Foaud

Color contact lenses are popular for several reasons. Aesthetically, they can make a world of difference in the way a person looks. Traditional eyeglasses can take the attention away from the eyes or the face of an individual. With color contact lenses, you can get rid of your eyeglasses and get bright eyes in any color! Except for the first few weeks when you are still getting used to the contact lenses and can not wear them for very long periods, they are generally much more convenient to use than eyeglasses. They do not get wet nor do they fog up, and provide a wider range of site than eyeglasses making them perfect for athletes and those who do outdoor work.

Despite these advantages, some people are reluctant to purchase color contacts because of the cost involved. The truth is, annual replacement contacts can be more expensive than a pair of simple spectacles but if you know how to get the best deals in color contact lenses, you can definitely get good value for your money and enjoy the many benefits of wearing contacts.

A box of disposable contacts are more affordable but if you want the best value for your money, get annual replacement color lenses. You may have to spend more money initially but in the long run, you will definitely save more money on a pair of annual replacement contacts than buying 12 month's worth of disposable contact lenses. There are plenty of color lens brands that offer good value-for-money and when possible, try to get free trial products before purchasing to get a “feel” of the specific brand.

If you can not get free trial products then go online and look for consumer reviews and compare the prices of the different brands. There are plenty of consumer guides available online to help make the right choice in contact lenses and the contact lens retailer. Make sure you purchase a brand from a store that offers great after-sales support.

After you have chosen the brand you want and have gotten the prescription for your lenses then consider buying your contact lens online. Reputable retailers can offer the best value on contact lenses because they carry the widest range of brands and they have lower overhead costs than mortar and brick establishments. Some retailers also put certain brands on sale which will give you better choices. Making online purchases are now perfectly safe with retailers using the best in technology to ensure that your credit card or bank account information is safe. If you decide to purchase disposable lenses then consider buying six months to a year's supply if you can afford it. These online stores offer great discounts, rebates or free shipping on bulk purchases.

Ordering from online retailers can also save you time because you don't have to drive to the store to order and to pick up the lenses. You can just fill up an order form with your prescription and provide all the necessary information and the lenses will be delivered right to your doorstep.

Ahmed Foaud is the author of this article on Colored contact lenses. Find more information about Colored lenses Deals here.

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Will Pin-Hole Glasses Make You See Well?

By Janet Martin

The advertisement for pin-hole glasses reads like a miracle. By using this product for just 30 minutes a day, you can supposedly improve your vision and throw away your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

This device, which looks like a pair of sunglasses, is an opaque disc dotted with rows of pin-holes. Its unique design can supposedly cure astigmatism, double vision, photophobia (sensitivity to light), and cataracts.

Testimonials abound about the product. One user claimed that after 20 minutes of using these spectacles, he could see perfectly and read signs across the street without eyeglasses.

A pair of pin-hole glasses is expensive which is probably a small amount to pay for those who desire to see clearly again. After all, dramatic results are hard to come by with conventional eyeglasses. Should we believe its promoters?

The idea behind pin-hole glasses is not new. It was known centuries ago and was used before the advent of glass lenses. The reason they work is simple.

"Light passing through a small hole (or holes) is restricted to rays coming straight from the viewed object; these rays do not need focusing to bring them to a point," according to Drs. Russell S. Worrall and Jacob Nevyas in "The Health Robbers."

Just look through any pin-hole and you'll see what they mean. When you do this, blurred images become focused. This is because the amount of peripheral light rays (which are responsible for blurring) is reduced. With appropriately spaced multiple pin-holes, you'll get clear straight vision without the difficulty of concentrating on a single hole.

But there are problems with this system. First, lateral vision is compromised. You can see clearly straight ahead but side vision is blurred and distant vision is dim. Multiple images may also form and confuse you.

"Monocularly, one could achieve a legible single image with appropriate adjustment of head position. When the second eye is opened, one cannot be certain that the pin-holes before that eye will be centered for that head position. As a result, one may get a single image in one eye but a doubled one in the other," wrote Dr. Sidney Wittenberg in "Pin-hole Eyewear Systems: A Special Report" published in the Journal of the American Optometric Association.

"Modern promoters claim their products are better than conventional lenses. Actually, both reduce the focus effort needed to read, but pinhole glasses are much less useful because they restrict contrast, brightness, and the field of view. Worn as sunglasses, they can even be harmful because the holes allow damaging ultraviolet rays to reach the eye," Worrall and Nevyas added.

Those who have benefited from pin-hole spectacles are, more often than not, people who wear the wrong eyeglasses. Naturally, replacing these with pin-hole glasses will make them see well.

If you don't need eyeglasses but simply use them to improve your appearance or to hide those ugly eye bags and dark circles, switch to Eyevive instead. This powerful cream will revitalize your eyes to make you look young again. For details, check out http://www.eyevive.com

Janet Martin is an avid health and fitness enthusiast and published author. Many of her insightful articles can be found at the premiere online news magazine http://www.thearticleinsiders.com

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