Lens Care - Meyehause

Category: Lens Care

Why would I want to have a mirror coating on the front surface of my sunglasses?

For over 30 years I have been answering this question, and I have heard fellow optical professionals provide some less than professional advice around this lens choice. So, let’s start with your sunglass basics. To choose to mirror or not mirror you must first understand what you are trying to accomplish with this tool that is your sunglasses. If they are just generally for cool factor then choose whatever you like, but in most cases, we are choosing to wear sunglasses because they are fixing something we want fixed. In the case of most common sunglasses, it is to reduce the amount of “bright” or visible light in sunny conditions. As discussed in a different blog, sunny conditions impact everyone, and some of us may be more sensitive than others. If you are in fact, light sensitive, meaning you are very uncomfortable on a clear, bright day without putting on a dark lens then a mirror may be a good choice for you.

Mirror coatings, while they can have a “cool factor” impact on the look, play the important role of making your lenses even darker. The mirror as you might expect reflects light away from the surface of the lens and allows less light through to enter your eye. So for those of you who are “light sensitive” or have migraines frequently triggered by light, then a mirror coating will allow you to operate your vision from a darkened space that helps your eye better regulate the amount of light needed and create sharper focus. By the same token, if you are not very “light sensitive” and you are like me and find yourself turning on lights even in daylight hours to “see better” then you may not be a good candidate for mirror coated lenses as they may frequently feel too dark and you may find yourself taking off your
sunglass to help your eyes focus.

So to recap, a high-quality mirror coating is designed to further reduce the amount of light that can enter the eye. This is good if extra help is needed for your eye to regulate the light getting to the receptor cells at the interior of the eye so you can better focus. However, if you prefer a little extra light in many cases a darkened lens is plenty adequate to ensure good vision and protect the light receptor cells from light overload. Be aware that if you choose a mirror surface, you must add an anti-reflective coating to the inside of the lens to allow light to escape clean and provide you with best clarity overall. If I am your optician, you know that I never make this coating optional, it is required to provide best performance from any sunglass, mirrored or not. We will talk more about that subject, in another post.
Peace, Love, & Great Glasses,
Paige Buscema, ABOC, VALDO

Truth About Blue Light

Is all blue light harmful? No, blue light is naturally occurring part of our atmosphere and we actually need a certain amount for optimal health and development.

Is all blue light healthy? No, indoor artificial blue light that is admitted from fluorescent/LED lighting and lighted T.V., tablets and hand held device screens has long been known to cause vision fatigue in people of all ages. Further studies are required to understand the full impact on retinal health.

Why does it cause vision fatigue? Blue light in the light spectrum causes haze in the atmosphere. When you are looking at a lighted device it is difficult work for your eyes to hold focus on any object inside your arms reach for long periods of time.

How do blue light inhibiting lenses help? A good quality blue inhibiting lens will reduce the amount of blue light visible to your eye, thereby increasing contrast and making it easier for your eye to create sharp focus for longer periods of time.

Are all blue inhibiting lenses equally effective? Not every pair of glasses labeled blue-inhibitor is fully effective because they do not filter enough blue light to make a difference in vision comfort. The percentage of blue light or High Energy Visible light that is filtered is what determines full effectiveness. Ask your optician for suggestions.

What is Swedish Cloth and Why Own One?

Why would I ask for a biodegradable washcloth for Mother’s Day?

It’s my new favorite thing! In fact, it has saved me on paper towel use in my kitchen and provided me a sanitary way to keep counter tops germ free.

I love these crazy things so much I brought them into the shop and gifted them to clients with every Mother’s Day purchase this year.

These multi-use, assorted prints, hypoallergenic, thick Swedish Cloths are odor resistant, biodegradable, dishwasher safe, highly absorbent, scrubby when dry and sponge-like when wet. Perfect in the bathroom as reusable facecloths or to clean the sinks, counters and mirrors and are excellent in the kitchen for drying and cleaning almost EVERYTHING.

What makes these cloths so impressive is their absorption and bio-degradable qualities. The fabric is a tried and true Swedish invention from the 1940s and is made of a perfect blend of high grade cotton and wood pulp. They are durable and dishwasher safe and hold up like a dream. This helps reduce paper towel use and waste. These are literally better than a reusable paper towel and far outperforms any sponges, paper towels or microfiber cloths because they are efficient, resusable, eco-friendly, 100% biodegradable and crazy fun and stylish! They simply make you happy in your task.

This is just one of the cool things Club Eyetopians will be enjoying very soon. Approximately 8×7 $5.99 per towel.