Glasses and contacts

Most of us, at some point, end up being diagnosed with some kind of eye condition, and for over four million of us every year, that means having to choose a pair of glasses. But which ones will be best for you, and how do you choose? And what about contact lenses? If you don’t know your bifocals from your pince-nez, here’s our step-by-step guide to ideal eyewear.

The Prescription

This is the part that you have no choice about, so it’s the best place to start when choosing a pair of glasses or contact lenses. Once you’ve got your prescription - the precise specifications of your lenses based on the results of your eye test - you’ll already be able to start narrowing down your range of options.

For example, while technological advances have made contact lenses an option for most people - even those with astigmatism or presbyopia - they’re still not suitable for all eye conditions. In addition, your lifestyle is an important factor. Be honest: Are you the sort of person who'll forget or won't have the time to clean and rinse your lenses twice a day? If so, there are alternatives, such as daily disposables.

It could also be that your lenses aren’t compatible with certain types of frame. Lenses that correct short-sightedness are thicker around the edges than they are in the middle, while the opposite is true of those that correct long-sightedness; some frames can’t take lenses with particularly thick or thin edges. The first thing to do, then, is to ask your optician whether your prescription rules out any of the styles or options on offer. A prescription, by the way, is valid for two years only, so make sure you go back for regular check-ups.

The Fit

Glasses need to be comfortable. You may need to wear them a lot, and even if you don’t, ill-fitting frames can put you off wearing them when you should.

Rather like a piece of clothing, every dimension should be checked for comfort before you make a final choice. If glasses fit you properly, you should be looking through the centre of both lenses when focusing dead ahead. If the frames are too big, there may be some distortion or glare; if they’re too small, they may limit your peripheral vision.

If the frames leave you with red marks on your nose after just a short space of time, then they’re too tight. If they slip down your nose, they’re too loose. Finding the right degree of tension can require minute adjustments, but fortunately, it’s usually a relatively easy job and your optician will be happy to help.

As a rule, frames shouldn’t be wider than the widest part of your face (although oval faces can get away with slightly wider ones) and they shouldn’t extend beyond your eyebrow at the top or as far as your cheek at the bottom (this prevents irritation of the skin). Finally, check that they’re comfortable around your ears and the sides of your head. Again, adjustments can often be made to the arms quite easily.

The Lifestyle

How you live your life may well be an important thing to consider when you’re making your choice. People whose work requires them alternately to read and to look across the room may opt for half-moon frames; sporty types, or those working in conditions where glasses might steam up (e.g. chefs), might find contact lenses the best solution; those with young children may choose flexible, metal frames that are difficult to "deconstruct"!

Your personal style will also be a consideration. Whether you’re classically understated or undeniably hip will be reflected in your choice of frames.

The Look

With the practicalities out of the way, now you can concentrate on perhaps the most interesting part of the process. Because your glasses will be resting on the most visible part of you, they need to suit your face, and it’s all about balance.

If your face is angular, or square, you’ll probably look better in rounder frames, and the same is true the other way round - squarer frames tend to look better on rounder faces. If the bottom of your face (around the jawline) is wider than the top, a frame with a more visible top edge will help to even it out, and again, the same is true the other way round - frames with a heavier bottom edge will even out "heart-shaped" faces.

The frame’s bridge can also have an effect on how your eyes and nose look. A thin or clear bridge can make close-set eyes appear further apart, while a coloured or solid bridge can "draw together" wide-set eyes. Low bridges and large frames can both make noses look shorter.

You can also choose a frame colour to complement your own colouring. Warm skin tones look good with most metal frames and browns. Paler faces look better with shades of grey and silver. Bright colours should usually be avoided by people with cooler skin tones - they look better on darker faces.

This is, of course, just a guide, and it may be that you have a round, pale face but look good in round, bright-coloured glasses (although we doubt it!). You may also find that, having looked at hundreds of frames, you still find it difficult to choose. A good tip is to take along a friend, so that if you end up no longer able to see what’s on the end of your nose, you can always ask for advice from someone who knows you - and your face. That way, hopefully, you’ll find the right glasses for you and you’ll be seeing - and looking - much better!

Contact lenses

You may find that you prefer the look and feel of contact lenses to glasses. Many people opt for both and wear each depending on what they’re doing. Nowadays there are several types of contacts available, and your choice will probably depend on a combination of factors, such as comfort, lifestyle and cost.

Most lenses are gas permeable, allowing oxygen to pass through to the surface of the eye. Some are rigid, which makes them more durable and better suited to certain prescriptions, such as astigmatism. Others are soft, making them very comfortable and easy to get used to. Disposable lenses are also now available at a comparable cost to non-disposable ones, and have quickly become the most popular kind of lens in the UK, as they eliminate the worry of losing a lens and the need for a daily lens care routine. Some types - extended-wear lenses - can now be worn continually for up to a week or even a month. These can be recommended by your optometrist and allow you to sleep in them.

Finally, the contact lens has come full circle. Having started out as a way of correcting vision "invisibly", it has now been developed into a highly visible fashion accessory, and there are some great-looking - and startling - effects available. If you’re thinking of getting a pair, though, please remember that it’s absolutely essential that they’re made by a reputable company and that they’re fitted and sold by a trained eye specialist. Never swap lenses with your friends.