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Life And Style Through The Eyes Of An Optometrist

What Lizzy Loves
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Reading Glasses: My First Pair (And Why We Need Them)

  • 8 January 2018
  • 12 comments
  • 3.4K views
  • Elizabeth
what Lizzy Loves Stepper reading glasses
Reading glasses and why we need them

Well when did that happen? When did my arms become so short that I could no longer read the small print?  When did I realise that no amount of frowning and facial contortions would allow me to see the ingredients in my anti-ageing creams? Little wonder I need said face creams. Even with the “big light” on, I was struggling to see fine detail, especially coloured print on a coloured background. The time had come to get my first pair of reading glasses.

Why We Need Reading Glasses

Of course as an optometrist, I knew it was inevitable. It’s called presbyopia and one typically becomes aware of it at around my age. (I’m 44 years old and I know many of you will identify).

To read or to see detail, the lens inside of the eye must change focus, just like a camera. It becomes more powerful by getting shorter and fatter. As we get older, the muscles that enable this change don’t work quite so well. As a consequence, the lens can’t refocus as effectively, so we can no longer see things as close as we used to. This is absolutely normal and something that will continue to change until we reach our mid-sixties to seventies.

My Collaboration With Stepper Eyewear

Just before Christmas, I met with Liz Shepherd, the Business Development Manager of a company called STEPPER. I’ll tell you a little more about STEPPER shortly, but first I’d like to tell you about Liz. We met in 1996 when I was straight out of university, doing my pre-registration year. Liz was an optical assistant in the practice and just a year or two older than me. There began a friendship which has spanned two decades. We’ve both had changes in direction but our career paths have co-incided again.

STEPPER is a family-run spectacle frame company which has been manufacturing eyewear since 1970. They were looking for bloggers or writers from within the optical field to contribute to their website,  Liz put my name forward. I was thrilled to be chosen as one of a small team of international brand ambassadors. I’ll write six features for their blog throughout the year and they will supply spectacles for me to use and review; this is a paid partnershp with STEPPER.

The timing could not have been better!  After a lovely lengthy lunch we spent a lot of time trying-on frames.

What Lizzy Loves reading glasses Stepper frames

What Lizzy Loves Stepper frames

What Lizzy Loves reading glasses Stepper frames

After a lot of deliberation, I decided upon this one which Liz arranged to have glazed with my prescription lenses.

What Lizzy Loves reading glasses Stepper frames mirror

My First Reading Glasses

The frame is a soft rectangle  made from titanium, so it’s very lightweight. ( It’s the SI-30113 from Stepper’s SI range). I love the tortoiseshell finish.

what Lizzy Loves Stepper reading glasses

It works with every outfit style and colour but is available in other colourways too. It’s incredibly comfortable (because titanium is so lightweight), and it fits beautifully.

what Lizzy Loves Stepper rectanglereading glasses

what lizzy loves new year resolutions and goals 2018

What Lizzy Loves Brand Ambassador, Stepper

The detail on the sides of the frame adds interest, but doesn’t take away from the clean, simple lines.

What Lizzy Loves, Stepper frame details on side

what Lizzy Loves Stepper reading glasses details on side

I love my reading glasses. I can’t tell you what a difference they’ve made to both clarity and visual comfort when I read or use my phone. It’s funny, getting the glasses has encouraged me to read, knowing that it’s so much easier than it was. To read more is one of my New Year Resolutions, so I’m doubly pleased.

As I said earlier, this is a paid partnership with STEPPER. My opinions are 100% honest and the content is all my own. As always, it’s a pleasure to combine my professional clinical background with my blogging and writing. The frames are available from selected opticians (please see the STEPPER website).

If you like my cream pom pom jumper, it’s new this season from Next and the rather fabulous hoop earrings were gifted by Kendra Scott. And in the first few photographs, you can just see that I’m wearing my red velvet pleated skirt with a fluted sleeve top. 

Disclosure:

Like many bloggers and content creators, I use affiliate links. I identify these with an asterisk. I identify gifted items within the body of the post. I am a paid ambassador for STEPPER Eyewear and for MAC Eyewear. For links to my current clothes, accessories and homeware, click here. Thank you for reading

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  • glasses
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Elizabeth

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12 comments
  1. Honest Mum says:
    8 January 2018 at 7:16 pm

    You suit glasses so much x

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      8 January 2018 at 7:35 pm

      Oh thank you Vicki. I’ve always loved glasses actually. I’m so pleased with these and they’ve made such a difference too xxx

      Reply
  2. jacqui says:
    8 January 2018 at 10:24 pm

    Well they really suit you, and it comes to us all ( I really didn’t realise that for years) Thanks for sharing these. x Jacqui
    http://www.mummabstylish.com

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      10 January 2018 at 1:42 pm

      Thank you so much Jacqui. I’m really, really pleased with them! Happy New Year lovely xxx

      Reply
  3. Anna at Muttonstyle says:
    9 January 2018 at 6:37 am

    They really suit you. Excellent choice.

    http://www.muttonstyle.com

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      10 January 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Aw, thank you so much Anna xxxx

      Reply
  4. josep-maria says:
    9 January 2018 at 7:01 am

    You look really beautiful with your glasses!

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      10 January 2018 at 1:41 pm

      Thank you so much Josep-Maria. Happy New Year!

      Reply
  5. Catherine, Not Dressed As Lamb says:
    9 January 2018 at 11:24 am

    Welcome to the speccy club Liz!!!!! 😉

    Hehe seriously – I know that feeling of stretching your arms out to read your phone all too well, I really can’t see mine at all without my glasses (even though I try when I’m being lazy and can’t be bothered to get off the sofa to go get them). These suit you beautifully, trust you to look gorgeous in glasses as well!! Stepper sounds like a great service.

    Catherine x

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      10 January 2018 at 1:40 pm

      Hee hee! It’s always harder to get used to reading glasses if this is the first pair of glasses. I’m already doing the typical thing of puttong them down somewhere only to forget where!! You always suit glasses too ya know Mrs. And yes, Stepper is a lovely frame brand. I’m so looking forward to working with them throughout the year xxx

      Reply
  6. Michelle says:
    9 January 2018 at 2:59 pm

    My jaw is still on the floor from when you said this continues through to the 70’s!!!
    For some reason I was under the impression the shortsightedness stops in your 50’s. Why oh why? Oh well it looks like I will be choosing a few more frames yet. Luckily there are so many amazing styles now. This pair you’re wearing today is particularly lovely Liz, the arm detail is gorgeous. xx

    Reply
    1. elizabeth says:
      10 January 2018 at 1:38 pm

      Yes, on average, the near vision will continue to change, albeit at a slower rate throughout the sixties and into the seventies. There are indeed so many stunning styles. They make gorgeous accessories don’t they? And thank you xxx

      Reply

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Outfits | Eyewear | Lifestyle
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Elizabeth
~ Specs by Prue 👓 ~ Yesterday, @benjaminoptici ~ Specs by Prue 👓 ~
Yesterday, @benjaminopticians, we had an open day to celebrate the practice’s 70th birthday. I was delighted to be sharijg the full collection of @specs_by_prue courtesy of @mac_eyewear_uk_ireland. It is a stunning, vibrant collection which is very wearable, very comfortable and beautifully fabricated. I always encourage patients to try something out of their comfort zone and it’s amazing how many will fall in love with a style they wouldn’t have gravitated to. 
I’m wearing model 22012 in colourway 3, tortoiseshell and aqua (with my prescription lenses in). Swipe to see it in detail and in other colourways. 
#teammaceye #specsbyprue #benjaminopticians #skiptonopticians #skipton #optometrist #eyewearblogger #eyewearstyle #whatlizzyloves
~Jumpsuit~ I absolutely love this jumpsuit. A wor ~Jumpsuit~
I absolutely love this jumpsuit. A wore it a few weeks ago for our friends’ Silver Wedding party and I’ll be wearing it again in Sicily next week. I cannot wait for some sunshine and a bit of relaxation with Ian 💚☀️🇮🇹
~Yorkshire Sculpture Park~ Today we met up with I ~Yorkshire Sculpture Park~
Today we met up with Ian’s brother and sister-in-law at @yspsculpture. It was my first visit and I thought it was brilliant with sculptures by @damienhirst, @erwinwurm and more, (swipe through). The lunch was rather nice too (artichoke bruschetta if you’re interested)💚. 
#yorkshiresculpturepark #yorkshireblogger #visityorkshire #damienhirst #whatlizzyloves
~Good Luck Poppy 🍀~ I’ll be thinking about y ~Good Luck Poppy 🍀~
I’ll be thinking about you all day today as you start you grad job in London. So excited for you and proud of you 🩷🩷🩷xxxx 
@p0ppyisabella #whatlizzyloves
~Flowers~ Roses, rosemary and Fatsia Japonica fro ~Flowers~
Roses, rosemary and Fatsia Japonica from the garden @built_in_1873. As Poppy and her boyfriend leave for London, Ian’s son and his girlfriend arrive. I love having the young ones here 💕
#builtin1873 #familylife #loveroses #whatlizzyloves @ian.monty70
~Good Luck Poppy🍀 ~ Last night- dinner and dri ~Good Luck Poppy🍀 ~
Last night- dinner and drinks in Leeds to wish @p0ppyisabella good luck as she heads to London to start her grad job. Also wishing her boyfriend @olivertonkinson all the very best as he embarks on the next step of his legal career tomorrow. We’re so proud of you both and excited for you xxx
@bibis_kitchenleeds #leeds #family #whatlizzyloves
~Inaya Sandals 🤍~ Ad(reason: #gifted shoes). T ~Inaya Sandals 🤍~
Ad(reason: #gifted shoes). The beautiful @lotusshoes1759 Inaya sandals I wore to my cousin’s wedding a few weeks ago. I wore them from midday to midnight and danced for several hours in them- they are supremely comfortable and absolutely beautiful. 
#shoeaddict #lotusshoes #weddingguestoutfit #whatlizzyloves
~Silver Wedding~ The loveliest afternoon yesterda ~Silver Wedding~
The loveliest afternoon yesterday celebrating our wonderful friends’ Silver Wedding anniversary. Congratulations Liz and Paul- thank you for a fabulous afternoon and evening xxx
#friends #friendship #sezanne #meandem #agelessstyle #whatlizzyloves
~Trouser Suit~ We’re now in Lichfield, ahead of ~Trouser Suit~
We’re now in Lichfield, ahead of our friends’ Silver Wedding anniversary celebrations tomorrow. I really enjoyed wearing my trouser suit- a rare departure from wearing a dress 🩷
#meandem #trousersuit #checkedtrousersuit #femininetrousersuit #agelessstyle #whatlizzyloves
~Roses~ Ian and I have just spent a lovely few ho ~Roses~
Ian and I have just spent a lovely few hours @david_austin_roses in Shropshire. So much inspo for our garden @built_in_1873, and I had a rather fabulous rose Battenberg cake after a very nice quiche (swipe through to see) 🌹 
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For a dear friend’s 60th birthday 🎂 
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~Wedding Guest~ My cousin got married at the week ~Wedding Guest~
My cousin got married at the weekend and it was the most wonderful day. So lovely to catch up with family 🩵
#weddingguest #weddingguestoutfit #weddingguestdress #dresslover #dressupwithcoast #over40 #agelessstyle #whatlizzyloves
~Trend Watch~ The August/September issue of @opto ~Trend Watch~
The August/September issue of @optometry_today has just landed and it’s got a fab new look. I now have a full page which is rather exciting! 
I featured @eoeeyewear, @etniabarcelona, @theoeyewear @fitzframes @monoqool @wiresglasses. 
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~Stalking paid off~ I mentioned on my blog that I ~Stalking paid off~
I mentioned on my blog that I was stalking the matching trousers to this fabulous @me_andem jacket. My tenacity paid off and they came back into stock in my size so I duly snapped them up. And..they’re fab. I can’t wait to wear them both as a suit and as separates. 
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~Wedding anniversary~ Two years of being Mrs Y-M ~Wedding anniversary~ 
Two years of being Mrs Y-M. 
Thank you Ian for being the most wonderful husband @ian.monty70 ❤️❤️❤️
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Ian and I went into Leeds for dinner last night to a fab restaurant (I’ll share photos later because the food was excellent). It’s our wedding anniversary on Monday so this was our celebration. I only got the jacket a few days ago and I absolutely love it. I’m going to wear it again later for a lunch date with Poppy. I’ll put all outfit details on my blog later on if I get the chance 🩷. 
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~Ad~paid partnership~ ~Wedding dress-up~ I loved p ~Ad~paid partnership~
~Wedding dress-up~
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