How do I choose my new spectacles?
At Wycherley Opticians we always strive to ensure that the very highest professionalophthalmic standards are maintained throughout the practice, and combine this with the latest in fashion for both frames and lenses. With fully trained and qualified opticians on hand to offer you the best advice Wycherley Opticians are confident that by sharing our eyecare product knowledge and experience with you we will be able to provide you with fabulous eyewear ideal for your needs.
Whether it be Varifocals, Contact Lenses or just a general discussion Wycherley Opticians are always happy to offer our advice. So please feel free to walk into the practice, try on some frames and talk to our staff. If you wish to see our Optometrist or Dispensing Optician specifically, do ring first for an appointment.
Varifocal lenses
Originally designed over 40 years ago the quality of vision achieved has got better and better providing wider reading and distance sections than ever before. These lenses have now developed even further with the benefit of new manufacturing techniques enabling a whole new generation of bespoke lenses to be designed and supplied. These lenses are designed individually and made to your specific prescription, sometimes taking into your facial characteristics and that of the frame to ensure that you are receiving the highest quality in design. Unlike the bifocal there is no line separating the prescriptions so they are cosmetically more attractive, and are the lens of choice for today's more demanding spectacle wearer. There are many different designs in varifocal which vary in what they provide. The most widely worn and best known are Varilux lenses manufactured by Essilor, who invented the Varifocal lens.
How do I want my glasses to look? 
Probably the greatest advances in lens design over thelast few years have been in this area. With the majority of new lenses being manufactured from plastic materials modern lenses can be flatter, thinner and lighter than ever before; meaning that they now look and feel even better than ever.
Thinner and lighter lenses By using different materials with a higher refractive index a lens can be manufactured so that it is thinner at the edges. This means that even people with very high prescriptions are able to have lenses which are cosmetically more appealing as well as more comfortable to wear as they are lighter. With different materials offering alternative thicknesses you can save up to 50% off the thickness of your lenses.
Flatter lenses can be manufactured for long sighted (hypermetropic) people whose spectacle lenses can often be quite thick and bulbous at the centre of the lens. By using an aspheric design to the lens it can be manufactured much flatter and thinner than normal. By combining this design with different materials the lens can provide you with a superbly flat and lightweight lens up to 35% flatter and lighter.
Anti-reflection coatings are the ideal coating for anyone who drives at night, uses a computer or just wants to look great. By letting more light through the lens the coating cuts out many of the day to day problems people experience with lenses whether it is dazzle from car headlights or glare for reflections on a VDU screen. This can be combined with a scratch resistant coating which means that your lenses benefit at the same time as you.
Photochromic lenses – These are healthy and safe and will change colour automatically. Whilst inside or at night time they are light, but in the sunshine they will automatically turn darker for you. Available in lightweight plastic the most modern of these lenses, Transitions, will also absorb harmful rays of both UVA and UVB light to give your eyes maximum protection. The latest plastic Transitions is the fastest reacting ever, goes the darkest when reacted and is available in a choice of thinner materials. This material can be used for Single Vision, Bifocal and Varifocal lenses. Available in brown, grey or green colours there is a choice for everyone.
Frames from Wycherley Opticians
For many the choice of frame is the most important and difficult aspect to wearing spectacles. The frame can be selected for many reasons - as a reflection of someone's personality, for strength, comfort, or just purely on the colour. Ultimately there is no right or wrong answer as to what frame anyone should choose - so long as it is suitable functionally.
Over the last few years there have been significant developments in materials used in spectacles and this has led to new designs and concepts as well as new colourings being used in frames.
One key development has been the increased use of lightweight materials which can provide the ultimate in comfort. These are used by various makers who specialize in high quality eyewear. These can be rimless frames, traditional metal frames or for those wanting more striking frames we also stock frames from a range of designers including Diesel, DKNY, Ralph Lauren, Esprit, Burberry, Donna Karan, Vogue, Carrera and Bench. We strive to stock an extensive range of good quality frames all competitively priced and because we are independent we can source frames on approval to help you choose.
This can mean that for many the choice is overwhelming, but that is why the staff at Wycherley’s are there to help you with some general guidelines which are useful to bear in mind when considering a new frame.
Prescription requirements
Your prescription can play a big part in the overall suitability of a frame - as a rule of thumb the higher the prescription the thicker and heavier the lens will be in a large frame. Hence a small frame will be better both cosmetically and from a weight point of view. On the other hand, if you need a bifocal or varifocal lens be wary of going too small!
All of our staff are experienced at assisting in the selection of frames and will always give honest opinions about the suitability of a frame for you and be able to offer you alternatives for your facial shape and colouring.
