The spring trunk show is almost here
Saturday, March 2
10:00 to 2:00
We will be hosting Clearvision Optical and many of their designer frame lines
Including BCBG and Ellen Tracy pictured here.
Come by for refreshments and the opportunity to try on many different styles of eyewear and sunglasses.
There will be styles for children (Fisher Price), Teens (Ocean Pacific), Women 
(Cole Haan, BCBG, Ellen Tracy and Jessica McClintock and Men (Izod and Marc Ecko)
Let’s describe each type of sunlens first:
Polarized lenses are typically solid and dark in color. An 
additional layer is added to the lens to block out glare from horizontal surfaces such as the hood of a car, the water, and the snow. We recommend adding an anti-reflection coating to the back surface to eliminate all reflections providing the most comfortable vision outdoors. The frame featured to the left is a Calvin Klein sunglass, it can be purchased with plano (no prescription) polarized lenses or with a prescription.
A gradient lens is darker on the top and lighter on the bottom. This design is 
ideal for reading outdoors, and/or leaving the sunglasses on for days that are not as bright. The density of the darkest part of the lens and the color can be varied to accommodate for each individual’s preference. The Gucci frame featured here can be made with a solid polarized lens also.
This year, a lens combining the attributes of the polarization and the gradient tint became available. The color of the lens and lens materials are limited, but we are very excited to expand your sunlens choices. 
The Lani by Maui Jim is an example.
Westside Optometry will be featuring all the Maui Jim Sunglasses at our Fall Eyewear Event, Saturday September 15th.
Maui Jim has really outdone itself in 2012. There are many new sunglass styles and some very exciting lens updates.
Gradient lenses and frames are the trend. If you like reading outdoors but find most sunglasses too dark, try a lens that is darker at the top and lighter at the bottom. It still has all the fantastic features of a Maui Jim sunlens: polorization, waterproof coatings, anti-reflective treatment and distortion-free optics.
Lani is shown here in the amethyst fade. It also comes in gloss black and Koa tortoise.
Lava Flow is pictured below in the gloss black with neutral grey lenses. It is a modified rectangle with a mid-size wrap. It is also available in a colorful burgundy tortoise frame with HCL bronze lenses.
Westside Optometry still carries the light weight sporty styles too. Most of the Maui Jim sunglasses can be customized with your prescription. What can be better than sitting on a lounge chair reading or fly-fishing in your favorite river with your progressive Maui Jim sunglasses? If excellent distance vision is most important for a day in the boat or whale watching on the bluffs of the Pacific coast, prescription sunglasses are an excellent choice for you.
We have received our new selection of Maui Jim sunglasses, come try them on.
If your flex spending funds expire at the end of the year consider your eyewear needs. You can order contact lenses, a pair of computer glasses or some sunglasses.
We’ve expanded our new FYSH line to include the men’s frames Evatik. Evatik incorporates innovative designs and lightweight materials.
The new Kate Spade sunglasses have arrived also. Check out “Grady,” the brown is pictured here. The sunglass also comes in black and has polka dots on the inside. 
If you want to order contact lenses, you can simply call the office, they can be shipped directly to you, or use our online contact ordering, the link is on the right of the page. (ORDER CONTACTS)
I never think of prescription sunwear as a luxury. Comfortable, clear vision outdoors is as important as general clear glasses. I use my sunglasses for driving, sports and enjoying a book outdoors. The color of the lens tends to be personal and specific to how the glasses will be used. I personally prefer a grey lens, but different color lenses can actually improve your vision in certain situations. While some colors increase depth perception, others improve vision in low light situations and some reduce glare and eyestrain in bright light. I’ve included a list to help you select your next pair of sunglasses. See what fits your needs and lifestyle. Rose colored lenses may or may not be in your future, but maybe gray or green will make your eyes a little happier.
Other sunglass features include POLARIZATION, which filters refective glare and enhances color contrast and depth perception. FLASH MIRRORS limit the amount of light entering your eyes so you feel more comfortable.
If you want to try different color samples, come by the office. If you have any questions about special conditions or different sunglass lenses, leave a comment.
Ultraviolet light from the sun will burn you skin, it will also damage your eyes. A sunburn on the cornea, the surface of the eye is called, “photokeratitis”. The incidence of photokeratitis increases when in the snow or on the water because of increased reflections. Most of us know the pain of a sunburn on our skin, a sunburn on the eye hurts much worse and causes the vision to be blurry until it heals.
Other eye tissues are permanently damaged by ultraviolet(UV) light. The conjunctiva, the white of the eye can develop benign bumps called pinguecula. Pinguecula are not dangerous, but they can become inflamed and red. They typically have a yellowish appearance. Cataracts, (a clouding of the lens in the eye) worsens with UV light exposure. The retina is also susceptible to UV damage. Damaged retinal tissue, especially the macula can lead to severely reduced vision.
Sunscreen protects your skin from overexposure to the UV rays, sunglasses protect the structures of your eyes and the skin tissues around them. Read how to select quality sunglasses in an earlier blog.
