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This section gives some food for thought on ideas and topics that may have not occurred to you, or might give you more information on things that you had already considered.

How many pairs of shoes do you have?

Most people have more than one pair of shoes, but just one pair of glasses.

The shoes that you wear for gardening would be different to the pair that you wear to formal functions. Shoes for running will be different to shoes for going to work.

While, for many people, one pair of glasses can be functionally adequate, more than one pair can bring great benefits.

For people needing different prescriptions for distance vision and near vision, it makes sense to have different glasses for different tasks. For concentrated reading, a pair of reading glasses will be best. For going to the cinema, playing a round of golf or watching a match, a pair of distance glasses will prove to be ideal. But for tasks where different distances are needed to be seen, then some form of multifocal lens (bifocals or varifocals) will be most appropriate. For example, shopping, most jobs, going to dinner and needing to read the menu as well as chat to others, alternating between TV and reading/knitting/crosswords ... the list goes on.

Photochromic lenses (that lighten or darken according to how much light there is) are a great general purpose lens, giving protection against harmful UV light as well as shielding against brightness. However, they will not darken inside a car as much as most people need when driving on a sunny day - a pair of prescription sunglasses will do a better job for that.

Cosmetically, expecting to find one colour or style of frame to suit all the different clothes and looks that you might have is unlikely. Yes, you might find something that is fairly good, but one that is perfect? Unlikely! Glasses for work might be different to glasses for going out. Especially is you have to wear a particular uniform at work. Special events like a wedding, communion or confirmation?

Do you do any hobbies like DIY or gardening? Having a second pair of glasses help to keep your 'good glasses' looking good!

Sunglasses

Sunglasses should be an integral part of your visual arsenal.

The benefits of sunglasses are both obvious and subtle.

The obvious benefits of sunglasses is that they help people to see better when the sun is bright. They also protect the eyes from the harmful effects of ultraviolet light, and certain colours have other benefits too.

People with conditions such as glaucoma can benefit from a yellow lens to enhance brightness and contrast. Peopple with macular degeneration have been shown to benefit from lenses with a brown tint. Other people with retinitis pigmentosa can find relief using red/amber or plum tinted lenses.

Polarising sunglasses reduce glare. Photochromic lenses (that darken or lighten depending on the amount of light) provide general purpose benefits.

Sunglasses can help in leisure pursuits too. Golfing lenses, lenses for watersports/fishing, lenses for skiing are all available. Lenses specifically for driving can make a huge difference to the driver.

Lenses for driving

By making vision more comfortable in bright light, it also reduces the need to squint the eys, reducing the 'laughter lines'!

Ultraviolet light

Ultraviolet light (UV) is non-visible light that is quite harmful to the eyes.

Research has shown thatUV can cause damage to the conjunctiva (the white part of the eye), the cornea (the clear part of the front of the eye and the lens inside the eye.

Yellowish patches on the white of the eyes, known as pingueculae can be caused by exposure to UV. UV is also implicated in damage to the cornea. One of the big contributing factors to cataracts is UV radiation.

UV is always present - not just on sunny days. Most skin creams and make up products now contain UV blocks to prevent the signs of ageing. A lifetime of exposure to UV causes damage to the eyes, as well as the skin. It has been shown that nearly eighty per cent of the cumulative damage to UV light occurs by the age of eighteen!

How can we protect against this?

Patrick Dempsey wearing Serengeti sunglasses

All spectacle lenses absorb UV light to some extent, but some are better than others. Lenses made from a material called polycarbonate or from Trivex are not only lighter, thinner, tougher and safer for children's eyes, but they also absorb all of the UV, helping to protect against the harmful effects of this radiation. You wouldn't let your child go in the car without a seat belt, or ride a bike without a helmet. The benefits of suntan lotion for the skin are now well known. The same protection can also be afforded the eyes. Look after children's eyes too!

Kids tend to be the most physically active members of the community, spending more of their lives outdoors than most adults. It makes sense to keep them safe.

They are also a good option for adult lenses too!

Having sunglasses and/or photochromic lenses (Transitions/Reactions/Reactolite) also helps to protect sensitive eyes from the dangerous UV.