Glasses

A pair of glasses is an optical aid consisting of two lenses set in a frame that you wear on your nose and ears. The lenses are ground to your prescription and correct refractive errors such as short-sightedness (myopia), long-sightedness (hypermetropia), astigmatism or age-related long-sightedness (presbyopia). The frame holds the lenses at the correct distance from your eyes and ensures they remain securely in place.

Spectacle lenses work by refracting the light entering your eye in a specific way, so that the image is focused sharply on your retina. Depending on your prescription, the lenses are spherical (plus or minus) or cylindrical (for astigmatism). As well as providing vision correction, spectacle lenses can also have other functions, such as UV protection, blue light filtering or photochromic properties that cause them to darken in sunlight.

Glasses are prescribed by an optician, optometrist or ophthalmologist following an eye test. The prescription is stated on your glasses prescription and is expressed in dioptres, cylinder and axis. You choose the frames yourself based on fit, style and material, such as plastic, metal or titanium.

When should you wear glasses?

You wear glasses if your visual acuity is not optimal and you want to see more clearly at certain distances. People with short-sightedness mainly wear glasses for distance vision, such as driving or watching television. With long-sightedness or presbyopia, you use glasses specifically for close-up vision, for example when reading or working at a computer screen. Multifocal or varifocal glasses combine several prescriptions in a single lens, so that you can see clearly at all distances.

Glasses are also an alternative to contact lenses. Some people alternate between wearing glasses and contact lenses, depending on the situation. Others prefer glasses because they are easy to put on and take off and do not come into direct contact with the eye.

Glasses versus contact lenses

Both glasses and contact lenses correct your vision, but they work differently. Glasses sit at a certain distance from your eye, whilst contact lenses rest directly on your cornea. This difference has practical implications: with lenses, you have a more natural field of vision without the frame, and your prescription works slightly differently because the correction takes place closer to the eye.

Many people opt for contact lenses when playing sport, going out or if they don’t want to wear glasses. Others combine both: glasses at home and contact lenses when out and about. At SMEYEL , you’ll find contact lenses in various strengths and wearing schedules, so you can choose what suits your situation best.

Care and cleaning

The best way to keep your glasses clean is with a microfibre cloth and, if necessary, a special glasses cleaner or lukewarm water with a little washing-up liquid. Do not rub them with your shirt or paper, as this can cause scratches. Store your glasses in a case when you are not wearing them, and have them checked regularly by your optician to ensure they still fit properly and that the screws are secure.