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Judging from the plethora of eye-catching eyewear that's been getting face time over the last few years-be it on the European ready-to-wear runways or in the adjoining office cubicle-it's clear that glasses have gone from nerd necessity to chic accessory. It's a shift reflected in the current look-at-me trends-retro, vintage-inspired frames, chunky tortoise shells and geometric shapes that attract rather than deflect attention-and reinforced by the laundry list of fashion-focused brands with a presence in the eyewear arena. These include high-end European luxury labels like Prada, Giorgio Armani and Dolce & Gabbana as well as American contemporary brands Brooks Brothers, Tory Burch, Tiffany & Co. and Sperry Top-Sider, which aims to translate the brand's footwear DNA into a line of licensed sun glass and ophthalmic frames due to hit the market next year. While it might seem logical to blame the deteriorating eyesight of the aging baby boomer population o

OK, brace yourself: We have some fun facts that are going to blow your mind. You know fortune cookies? Apparently they didn’t come from China, even though you can find them at pretty much any Chinese food restaurant in the country. It was actually the Japanese who brought them to the U.S. And remember George Washington’s little incident with the cherry tree? That whole story was invented by a biographer in the 1800s. Sometimes we hear information repeated so often, we accept it as truth. When it comes to your eye health, though, you can’t afford to take every rumor at face value. It’s important to stay informed on what will actually keep your eyes healthy and comfortable, and not just rely on hearsay. To clear up some misconceptions about eyeglasses, we’ve put together a list of the most common myths that surround them:  Myth #1: Wearing eyeglasses makes you dependent on them. Not true. Your glasses aren’t changing your eyes. When you feel like you need to wear your gl

I was emailing a friend about family care giving. I hope that this gives Huffpo readers a flavor for the weird challenges this sometimes poses. Some months ago, the residents in my brother-in-law Vincent’s group home all received eye exams. Several received glasses. Vincent did, too. I don’t know whether he really needed them or just got them to fit in with the other guys. He can’t really communicate what he sees on the eye chart. So his prescription could be wildly wrong. On the other hand, when I asked him what he sees better with his glasses, he responded fairly reasonably: ‘the sky.’ We took him to a university eye doctor, who produced a similar prescription. So who knows....   Vincent loves his glasses. That’s the problem. With a combination of strong, impatient fingers and poor fine motor skills, he destroys many physical objects most dear to him. He washes his electric razor and other trinkets that don’t survive being immersed in water. He fingerpaints the pretty dra

Modern eyewear serves a dual purpose. In addition to being a vision-correcting medical device used to enhance your safety and quality of life, eyeglasses have become a major fashion accessory. Therefore, when it comes to selecting eyeglasses there are many important factors to consider. The Frame Frames are made from a large variety of materials ranging from acetates and hard plastics to metals and metal alloys. The quality of frame materials is very high nowadays with many cutting-edge manufacturers investing heavily in developing new innovations and materials to make stronger, more flexible, lighter and more beautiful frames. In considering the optimal material for your eyeglass frame, your lifestyle plays a big role. Children and those with active lifestyles require durable and flexible frames that are resistant to breaks from hits and falls. Those who have skin allergies need to seek out frames made from hypoallergenic materials such as acetate, titanium or stainless ste

Wondering what to do with those old glasses of yours? You know the ones, with the outdated frames and a prescription from 15 years ago? Believe it or not, there are many things you can do with old glasses. Recycle them. Pop out the glass lenses and put them in a glass recycling bin. If the frames are metal or plastic, you can recycle those also, if your city offers those recycling services. Donate them. Many charities, such as the Lion's Club, collect glasses to give to people in need who can't afford them. Ask your eye doctor if he knows of such a charity, or simply give them to a thrift store such as Goodwill. You could also ask the director of a nearby nursing home or retirement center if they are in need of glasses for their residents. Save them. Glasses make a great accessory to many costumes. Remember Harry Potter? Children all over the world were clamoring for glasses on Halloween. Include them in your daughter or granddaughter's stash of dress-up clot

Eyeglasses may be ancient in their origins. But in many ways, they are more popular than ever, despite recent innovations in contact lenses and vision correction surgery. Frame styles branded with high profile designer names like Calvin Klein, Jones New York, and Marc Jacobs continue to be in demand. And even for youngsters who might ordinarily dread the "nerd" factor of wearing eyeglasses, popular fiction characters like the bespectacled young wizard, Harry Potter, have become role models. Eyeglass Frame Materials Eyeglass frame materials, too, have been revolutionized with the advent of new plastics and various types of metals. Frames generally are fabricated from plastic or metal, but a wide variety of materials can be used, depending on the desired characteristics of the frame. For example, for safety glasses, you may require a durable, lightweight frame material, such as polycarbonate. If you suffer from skin allergies, you probably should look for eyeglass fram

Common Glasses Problems and Solutions 1.  My glasses constantly slide and slip. This is a very common problem and is usually due to either worn out frames, a poor lens/frame match in which the lens is to heavy for the frame, or poor frame match for your facial anatomy. Keep in mind too that the back of the ears and sides of the nose are rich in sweat glands which can cause them to slip and slide. Depending upon the reason, several things can be done. A headband might be necessary for heavy glasses when working out in the hot sun. Also, increasing temple support can help greatly. The frames can often be tightened and nose pads added. Worn out frames and delicate frames may need adjusting on a regular basis, and we are happy to provide that service free of charge. Remember too that in the case of plastic frames, being out in the hot sun will cause the frame to stretch out if it’s too large for your face. When all else fails, a new properly fitted feather-weight frame will solve the

Your new glasses look stylish and fit you perfectly. The only problem: You still cannot see clearly. You may be wondering what might be wrong with them. How come your vision is not perfect despite your new glasses? Such vision problems have many different causes. The good news: Usually, the problem can be solved, and you can turn to your eye care professional for further assistance. Glasses were invented in order to allow people to acquire the perfect tool to counter-balance failing eyesight. Whether it’s for near-sighted consumers, far-sighted consumers or presbyopia-the right lens is now available for virtually any visual impairment. Obviously, if you get a new pair of glasses and you can’t see clearly with them right away, you might get quite frustrated. However, there are many different reasons why you might have to go through this experience: The familiarization period Whenever you get a brand new pair of glasses, you will have to get used to them. Some people only need a