Coloured Lenses: The Latest Trend In Prescription Glasses

Sunglasses have always been a must-have accessory.  One standout trend this season is for those with coloured lenses. Coloured spectacle lenses aren’t a new concept per se, but current fashion trends are driving the product. Consequently, this has brought about whole new spectrum and a wider than ever choice. Now, the optical industry has embraced the trend.

Introducing Transitions Style Colours

Style Colours is a brand new range of photochromic coloured lenses by Transitions® Optical. It’s a collection of four lens colours: amethyst, sapphire, emerald and amber, which adapt from clear to dark when exposed to UV light. They add a contemporary element to prescription eyewear. Transitions Style Colours make a strong style statement and offer 100% protection against UV rays. Not only that, they protect against blue light when in the clear state. They are excellent for both indoors and out which makes them as functional as they are stylish.

Style Colours Protect Against Harmful UV Rays

As an optometrist, I cannot place enough importance on the quality of  sunglasses and the protection they afford. Among other things, UV exposure can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration. Less serious, but equally undesirable effects of UV exposure includes premature ageing around the eye.

I was excited about these lenses and I included them in my monthly column for the professional journal, Optometry Today. They have been very well received by the optical industry. This is a fashion-led product which can change the entire look of an outfit from a highly regarded professional brand.

The Seamless Transition

In their clear state, they look like a pair of ordinary prescription glasses. They adapt and darken in response to UV light. In bright sunlight, it takes less than one minute for them to reach their darkened state.  The time to fade back to clear is about the same.  When I wear them, I’m not aware of the darkening or fading; it’s a seamless transition.

You can see the transition from clear to dark in this series of photographs.

Here are the lenses in their fully darkened state in full sunshine. They look so different than when clear and when semi-dark. It’s this ability to change the look of an outfit, or of the wearer, that I love.

As well as filtering out all harmful rays whether clear or dark, Transitions Style colours have anti-glare properties. This is useful when looking at a screen because it minimises reflections. An added benefit is making the wearer’s eyes look very clear through the lenses.

Choosing The Frames and Lenses

I went to Eyeworks Opticians in South Kensington, a modern, independent practice which stocks a fabulous range of frames suitable for prescription spectacles and sunglasses. I wanted something to make an impact and had the best time trying on frames. Eventually, I decided upon a bold purple and blue acetate cat-eye frame by Caroline Abram.

Transitions Style Colours can be chosen to match, compliment or contrast with the chosen frame in line with the wearer’s style. From a demonstration with a UV light to show the lenses in their darkened state, it was clear that amethyst would match my frame and sapphire would contrast. I chose the sapphire.

My distance prescription too low to need glasses on a day to day basis. However, I decided to have it incorporated anyway to give me the clearest possible vision. The dispensing optician took measurements to ensure the optical centres of the lenses aligned with my pupils and the centre of the frame.

I’m thrilled with my glasses and their Transitions Style Colours lenses. They’re comfortable and stylish.  In my professional opinion, they are an excellent way of protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays, blue light and glare in all light conditions.

What better way of incorporating a new trend while knowing it has a significant benefit to the wearer.

Thank you to optometrist and owner of Eyeworks, Miss Brenda McKernan and to student dispensing optician Aimee Wheeler, for the outstanding service and to Emily Marsh from Chase PR for arranging this collaboration.

Eyeworks London
44 Gloucester Road
London SW7 4QT
www.eyeworkslondon.co.uk

I’m wearing:
Caroline Abram frame with Style Colours in Sapphire