One thing for sure, when I see your videos is... Simplicity in explaining things, and genuinely excited educating us. I think it would be a delightful experience if I had the opportunity, being your customer. I live in the State of Massachusetts USA. Thanks Robert.
Most helpful video ever! Too bad I wasn’t able to use these info 4 years ago, but at least I know now what my problems were & I’m super glad the video is here now, right before I claim a new pair (which I reckon will be my best yet!) And it seems that my optician this time is (or this is just how I feel) super knowledgeable (almost like you, but from Asia… and busy lol) and helped me with the right size. Will try to remember the care tips. Remove with 2 hands. No dishwashing liquid, just warm water. Don’t bake it in a car.
Thanks for all this thoughtful information; explaining how optimal frame size can vary based on style and material was especially helpful. Regarding frame durability it seems to me it's only really an issue if you want to reuse frames. Opticians now charge a fee when customers bring in a frame for new lenses, so unless you wear high end, expensive frames it's just easier to get a new frame every year (my prescription has never been the same two years in a row). I've also become a fan of Zeisse premoistened lens wipes. They're cheap and after a single use you just throw them away. No worrying about debris on a microfiber cloth possibly scratching the lens, etc.
I appreciate your discussing the subjectivity of the eye test because I'm seeing considerable discrepancies between practitioners and am struggling. I had my 5th eye exam and 3rd new Rx in 6 months today (3 different examiners + an ophthalmologist). Today, I was told I don't have an astigmatism in my right eye and a far lesser astigmatism in the left eye while the powers I need are a full diopter stronger bilaterally than measured earlier this year. I'm still struggling, but I have confidence that the new doctor referred to me by an ophthalmologist who I saw today has me on the right track. Unfortunately, this has already cost me a lot of time, money, & lost work productivity. But, I no longer feel gaslighted. I'll also take your advice when ordering my new glasses, especially with selecting the frames. Thank you.
Great tips!!! Robert, Get a nice AimPoint red dot. You can instantly tell if the lenses are good because it will be perfect, crisp and round as you look through the sight. The glasses I got from you, the dots have never looked better. Thank you!
Probably one of your better videos. Super informative and interested to watch. Question: If you rotate between two pairs how long do frames/lenses last, if worn all the time? Assuming average quality materials.
I was surprised that you're most common breaking issues did not cover the nose pads. I've worn glasses since I was 4 years old and have never broken a hinge, but I have repeatedly lost nose pads or had the entire support break off. And I always end up with frames that have nose pads because I've never found a pair of plastic frames that fit my nose
Hi, thanks for the video, very informative. So many variables especially with IOLs, astigmatism and presbyopia)). What do you think of wearing two (or several) different prescriptions alternately? I have a few pairs of glasses, and recently got a new prescription (Zeiss SL). Most of them are progressive lenses, one pair is for reading and one is an office pair. Considering the cost of the lenses, I plan on keeping on wearing my three old prescription glasses - the vision is less sharp, but OK, and they are actually more comfortable (at least for now). Would it disturb the brain to switch between the different prescriptions? The difference is not so much in diopters but in cylinders and angles. I am experimenting but keen to get an expert opinion).
I have had several pair of sprung arm glasses, my present pair are over 7 years old [no change in prescription] and so far no problem with the spring, worn every day all day in all weathers, one fault I have had with photochromic glasses is that 1 lens failed after 3 years, on the other hand I have a pair of glass photochromic glasses from the mid 90s which work perfectly . a good informative video. Now in the market for new glasses and have found that with many glasses which are my size [52-18-135] I am finding the bridge is now 21mm wide,
Cheers Robert! Do you mind doing a review of japan's brands too? I've seen them being more creative specifically the handmade ones. And also if by chance you're stocked on the Lindberg, a review would be excellent, more so in comparison with yr fav Reykjavik since they cost as much and have a close resemblance.
Yes, Japanese eyewear is definitely on the rise. As for Lindberg, I just prefer RE so we don't stock them. I also think Flair are better if you're going for rimless
Thanks for good advice. I was really surprised with your advice not to wash lenses with some soap. Isn't it safe for them? I always thought it's the safest way to just rinse glasses and use soapy fingers to clean lenses.
I think it’s ok to wash your lenses with dish-soap. Just make sure it is unscented, PH-neutral and doesn’t contain moisturiser! And never use hot water! 🫣
I'm pretty sure the alkaline in the soap will slowly remove the easy-to clean layers of the coating over time, making them harder to clean in the long run. Now, lens coating is a whole speciality and not my area of expertise, but I believe this to be true.
Have been cleaning my lenses with dish soap like forever and never had a problem with delamination. Only time I had that problem was during the pandemic probably because and excessive use of alcohol all around
Hi Robert!! Thank you for another informative video. I’m thinking of getting new lenses for my sunglasses and I want to know how much it would cost to put a ruby flash coating on gradient brown lenses? I want to put it on my OGxOlivergoldsmith model robert frame color is gold.
I THANK YOU TUBE MAJORLY. Youre channel is a Godsend. Ive watched your videos over the night and into this pm. Im in the Philippines. I am a creature of habit. My staff couldnt get it till They Got It. Im particular to my eyewear. When I choose a brand thats it till another piques my interest. The one word that youve uttered is --BESPOKE-- you had me at BESPOKE. Ive not looked if youve a link and my bad for not seeking that first. If you can DoThe Bespoke process online- youve got me.
Hi Robert! Your videos are informative. Thanks! I am currently wearing Hoya progressive lenses. My previous lenses were Shamir. Is it optically healthy to stick to one brand of lense rather that shifting from one to another? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks!
My cheap 7 year old frames with spring hinges are still doing great. My head is too big for majority of frames, so I either need 145mm wide frame or one with spring hinges.
5:50 numbers on frame are width, bridge is distance between the lenses. Withor without nosepafs. Nosepads give option to adjust throughout. Not all frames fit all the way over the ear. Will rewatch this section over to here 9:10 because it’s a lot for a customer to know. 9:38 After receiving glasses, how consistently does our physical plus brain perception match our expectations? How can we know if it’s good, 11:29 subjective versus objective : the Zeiss process. 12:38 reasons our brain’s neural pathways need to adjust. 13:07 otherwise, reasons the fitting can be “wrong” for a person. Variables in how the lenses are cut, the lenstype, incorrectly tested by optician or lens maker. 15:26 user longterm 15:45 he thinks spring frames in hinges do not always endure, especially in low quality frame, or the hinge itself is if poor quality? 18:01 always take glasses off with both hands. Handle them nicely. Don’t place glasses up on top of your head. Rimless, biosteel? 21:06 coating can degrade with heat or highly variable temperatures.
I'm always amazed at how many of us photographers comment here. Perhaps because we use the best optical lenses at work we are spoiled seeing so clearly and want that vision 24/7 😊 Also, I remember that after Tiger Woods had lasik eye surgery his golf game was never the same. Even at that time, I was convinced that his brain was having difficulty adjusting to the nuanced differences...from the way he had adapted to "seeing" with eyeglasses, thus the deterioration of his prestigious career. He needs to be one of your customers!
I think in the last year or so they pulled out of the US market. However, we do send a lot of Flair glasses to the US for our clients. So if you email me (rob@thespectaclefactory.com) we can discuss that option
Hi Rob, just found your channel and have subscribed. Some really fantastic information in your videos and as a spectacle wearer this has been highly beneficial. I do have a technical question though. Why do some clear lenses seem to end up with a slight yellow tint over time? I have had some lenses with the same coatings (Multi AR for example) but not all are affected.
It's UV exposure in most cases. Some lenses block more UV, and some transmit UV. The more UV they absorb, the more yellow they get. It's the same reason we get cataracts, which is where the natural lens within our eye gets cloudy due to blocking UV (hence why you should always wear sunglasses when outdoors, no exceptions). Smoking can also have a similar effect.
I loved watching this video. You're very knowledgable and precise, but also honest and straight with your viewers/clients. 😊 20:36 Are there any lens coatings you recommend that are LESS likely to delaminate over time?
New glasses can sometimes be difficult to get used to. I had a new pair once that had a radically different base curve and it drove me crazy. Had them remade with my previous base curve and had no issues. I was told I was base curve sensitive. Is that odd? I agree mostly about hinges, but there are exceptions. I have an old pair of Prodesign frames with a very robust hinge on robust aluminum frames. I wore them for 12 years until the acetate temples corroded and one snapped when adjusting because they were somewhat brittle, and honestly abused. These are my photography work glasses with glass lenses. (Old school large format, big tripod & darkcloth.) Luckily I found "new old stock" of the same frame and had new bifocal photo-grey extra lenses made for them because... I had cateract surgery this summer. (Age 68.) I opted to have my eyes corrected to reading distance, -2.25 with slight astigmatism (+0.50 & +0.75). Before I was -5+ with slight astigmatism. So, not only do I need to get used to new glasses, but new eyes with IOLs. I have to get used to new lenses IN my eyes and new spectacles. I no longer need bifocals to read. My prescription is -2.25, add +2.5. I wonder if some of the new Zeiss lenses might benefit me forgetting the add? I can take my glasses off to read , which is a hassle. Around home I no longer wear glasses. I can order a bifocal in a "cool" frame or be unstylish and wear shorter narrower frames (and look under them, instant bifocal! ), or progressives. I could never get used to progressive lenses 10 years ago, so they scare me. Plus the expense for a lens full of aberrations and junk zones does not suit my photographer's critical brain. Justifying the expense for inferior vision unacceptable to me. I have had made the above mentioned vintage-ish Prodesign glass bifocals, Windsor glasses with rose lenses for distance, and replaced with dark grey and red mirror lenses on my Markus T frames are on the way. (Now you tell me I can't keep coated lenses in the car! Oops...🙄😉) New Ovvo frames (similar construction to Reykjavik) on order with amethyst Transitions, distance. Need one, maybe two more frames, but need to wait until spring. Dark glass sunglasses and something impossible... I just wrote a novel. Sorry. Your work and generous nature on this channel are well appreciated by us all. 😀 Thank you! 👍
16:30 Jacques Durand is one of those exceptions: they use spring hinges... at least the light-weight frame I tried on did, and I guess the lack of weight was their reason for that. That side... my Bvlgari frames purchased in 1999 and used everyday as my single pair of opticals broke down in summer 2023: probably they used to manufacture super spring hinges back in the day.
At 15:04 Robert, I'm amazed with the digital technology you use at The Spectacle Factory. It blew my mind to see how you adjust your measurements to each specific frame. OCT technology and the Zeiss i.Profiler are incredible. I wear progressive lenses and I've never been comfortable in them. They make me a little dizzy and it takes a bit too long to adjust my eyes for specific distances. I get a headache too after wearing them too long. Robert, where can I get this same level of an eye examination in NYC? Should I call Zeiss and ask what eyewear stores use the latest cutting edge digital technology, like the Visufit 1000? Do you have any suggestions? Your help is so much appreciated. Also, because of you, I fell in love with Masunaga and Reykjavik Eyes. My next pair of glasses will definitely be from one of these makers. I emailed them both because I also don't know where to find them in NYC.
Very very interesting content! Do you have some advices for bald men? Without hair glasses are even more prominent, so a wrong choice has even more consequences 😅
@thespectaclefactory - Question -- I've watched several videos about prescriptions and "problems", but haven't found the answer about the difference between SPH and ADD-- that is; my wife's prescription has +0.5 SPH, and +0.5 ADD for both eyes. Does this make sense? In other words, wouldn't single vision lenses be all she needs? My understanding is that the "ADD" is for the lower part of the lens -- for reading - in a multifocal lens. Why would she need the same magnification in both places? (She is having issues with slight dizziness). Thanks in advance!
I was in my local eyewear shop and they had a pair of Theo glasses with what looked and felt like spring hinges, the optician said she thought they were as well. I was really shocked THEO would use a spring hinge. I really liked them, but I don’t want them to break especially for the price should I pass on them?
This is an excellent video Robert, especially the bit about frame dimensions. Online retailers often tout these measurements like a shoe size; very misleading. I have an Oliver Peoples frame (pre-Luxotica 😝) that has started to become dull. Is there a way to polish it?
Hello Robert, thank you soo much for your always fantastic and very informative videos. As you say, we see with our brain, but there is where I have a question. If you are wearing 3 different kind and styles of glasses, is your brain very easy adapting in switching between those different glasses, or is it more easy and better to stay with one pair only? Greetings from Belgium.
Hello Patrick, It does depend on the individual, but your brain actually gets used to changing after a while. Some people find it easier to just wear one pair a day (+ sunglasses when necessary) and putting them on first thing in the morning makes adaptation easiest. When I get a new pair, I notice a difference at first but the more I wear it the more I get used to switching to or from them. Hope that helps
Great information! I do have a question. I have bought frames and lenses from a high end optical that offers custom lenses through Zeiss or Hoya. They suggested using a small spray bottle with a mixture of a couple drops of Dawn dish soap with plenty of water to clean the lenses. I also use the spray cleaners that most opticals sell. I understand that you recommend Zeiss wipes, but what do you think of these other options?
I have used the VA for lenses and precipitations over the last 10 years. I have macular in both eyes and was wondering if changing to privates sector for perception and glasses with premium lens might make a differences ? Any help or guidance you can give will be gratefully accepted .
i'm nearly certain it's time for me to begin wearing prescription eyewear. For my sunglasses, i pretty much only wear rectangular aviators on my low-bridge nose/rounded face. Any suggestions on where to start?
Hard to say based purely off of that. We do offer virtual style consultations, though - email us hello@thespectaclefactory.com Ask for Robert and I'll personally style you
I just got a new pair of eyeglasses that I saw how great I look with them on my face that I got it right away and I did not have to think about it at all I saw it for my self
If I have a pair of black frames and the hinge on one side has begun making some noise and sticking a bit, can that simply be a lubrication issue which could be rectified by stopping into a glasses shop for an adjustment and a speck of lubrication within that hinge?
1) Build a glasses wardrobe rather than trying to find "the one" 2) Round frames have smaller width (eg 47mm round and 53mm rectangle both fit yourself)
As an optician the most dreaded question I get from people is the “What glasses you think goes with my face shape?” and I tell them “whatever you like and your preferred preference.” I think the face shape fit is just for fun. I agree with the measurements of the frame not really there for accurate sizing for fit, but just the measurements of the frame. I mean DBL for the bridge is literally just “distance between lenses”.
Hello So I got my eyesight checked yesterday and my right eye got -1.25 and the left one got -1,5 I am worried that an Ophthalmologist has made a mistake since I could see letters with that -1.25 lens but it appeared a little bit murky(I guess it’s actually -1,5 on both of my eyes).So i got the glasses following that “wrong” prescription.Now I am worried if wearing the glasses will induce some eyesight problems.Please help me
@@thespectaclefactory thanks for the reply.I spoke to an optometrist yesterday.It turned out that I was just overthinking about it.I got a pair of nice titanium Lindbergh glasses ,I can’t even fell them on my face haha
Helloo :) do you have a recommendation for people with narrow face who don't want a circular frame? Any Brands or speciific glasses? It would be awesome thank you!
@@thespectaclefactory Update: I was at a local ic!Berlin store. Their glasses called "Mitte" are great for narrow faces, it is only 123 mm wide!! AND it is not circular, they are similar to your fav Reykjavik glasses :)
Very interesting. Thanks for all the good recommendations and suggestions. I'm in Australia and even though I've been wearing eye glasses for a few years now I've had these progressive (digital) glasses for a little more than a year. I find because I have my face in screens for a good majority of the time and possibly still getting use to progressive lenses I think I may be straining my eyesight. Sometimes I find that what I'm trying to read or check I don't have good focus and sometimes find it hard to focus as the region is very slim for the focus. I find that I get sore eyes, watery, always feels like I have something in them. I've also wondered if the nose pads (silicone?), may be irritating my eyes (causing watering)? My last pair were just magnifiers as that is all I really needed but the optometrist suggested a progressive lenses as my glasses would give me best vision across the close range for fine print (I deal with fine print on computers and labels) and distance but I don't need them for driving, my long vision is still quite good (age 61). I've thought I should get another pair of frames, even though the frames I have are okay, I'm not thrilled how I can feel them on all the time and my Maui Jim titanium sunglasses are so light I forget I have them on. Any suggestions?
2 suggestions - 1) Upgrade your progressive lenses with a better frame and more advanced lenses 2) Invest in a pair of office lenses for long periods of close work Either one will make a big difference to your life. If you want to consider ordering a pair from us I'd be glad to help
@@thespectaclefactory Thank you for your input. My intention is to get new glasses. Not sure what you mean by 'more advanced lenses', what would you suggest? I thought the digital progressive were 'advanced' (shows you how much I know). Do you think that advanced lenses and glasses overall would help with the watering eyes and general irritability too?
@13:21 My optometrist just had me wear the glasses i planned to buy and then used a permanent marker to draw dots where my pupils were within the frame so he knew where to centre the lense
Just found out my lenses are Baus, never heard of them, terrible coating can’t keep clean don’t know where to buy better lenses in Ontario Canada. Found Essilor at another eyewear but what do I do with the glasses I have, return to store ask for better lenses.
Thanks! But I do believe a lot of it is confidence and not expecting myself to look a certain way (I meet so many customers who talk themselves out of styles because they think they don't suit them, when actually they do)
I don't agree. A spring hinge would have kept my current glasses from breaking apart. I never had a spring hinge fail. Only downside is they are a bit bulkier.
I believe you. But that is your sample size of one, whereas I have handled, sold and repaired glasses for thousands of people over the last decade. Virtually no luxury glasses have a spring hinge, and there is a reason why.
I hate glasses. My head is big and the temple length was never right. Also I sweat during sports and the glasses fog up or slip. Never had glasses that fit properly. I'm glad I'm getting cataract surgery with EDOF lens implants so I never have to wear them again unless reading a book.
