Oh, the Stigma of an Astigmatism. . .

[pineapplefruitcake]

Just got a new pair of glasses - I have astigmatism, am near sighted in my right eye and far sighted in my left...sigh! Unfortunately being poor in both time and money I needed to get a pair from the local optometrist that would be covered by my health fund so no real vintage glasses for me I did however, find this pair of collette dinnigan glasses which aren't exactly vintage but kind of give a nod to that look and definitely work with the kind of clothes etc. that I wear.

http://media.specsavers.com/common/images/frames/angle0-large/25634174.jpg

http://media.specsavers.com/common/images/frames/angle1-large/25634174-1.jpg

 

[Lenore]

New specs. Still not sure about them....

Don't mind my icky hair. It's hair color night.

 

[fgradowski]

These are my vintage cat eyes. They are made by Victory. I think they look weird on my face and my mom hates them. I wear them when I am too lazy to put my contacts in. I have astigmatism and am very, very near sighted. My contacts cost more than my glasses! The frames were around $130 and the lenses cost $80. My contacts are $200 a box!

 

[Harp]

These are my vintage cat eyes.

The rose is the eye of the flowers, the lightning of beauty. Sappho, Song of the Rose

Tu belle fleur

 

[TheSacredFemme]

These are my vintage cat eyes. They are made by Victory. I think they look weird on my face and my mom hates them. I wear them when I am too lazy to put my contacts in. I have astigmatism and am very, very near sighted. My contacts cost more than my glasses! The frames were around $130 and the lenses cost $80. My contacts are $200 a box!

Money well spent! Those look gorgeous on you, I'd say you can drop the contacts!

 

[Alice Blue]

I'm still dithering about my first pair of true vintage glasses, but I'm leaning toward early wire-framed cateyes from the 1940s.

This is an example of the kind of thing I'm looking at right now. Although I've seen suggestions here on the Lounge that the two-screw style replaced the four-screw style of semi-rimless glasses, the ad for Shuron specs below looks very postwar to me so I am thinking that the four-screw style might have continued for quite a while.

 

[scottyrocks]

These are my vintage cat eyes. They are made by Victory. I think they look weird on my face and my mom hates them. I wear them when I am too lazy to put my contacts in. I have astigmatism and am very, very near sighted. My contacts cost more than my glasses! The frames were around $130 and the lenses cost $80. My contacts are $200 a box!

Those look great on you. Of course, it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I'm still dithering about my first pair of true vintage glasses, but I'm leaning toward early wire-framed cateyes from the 1940s.

This is an example of the kind of thing I'm looking at right now. Although I've seen suggestions here on the Lounge that the two-screw style replaced the four-screw style of semi-rimless glasses, the ad for Shuron specs below looks very postwar to me so I am thinking that the four-screw style might have continued for quite a while.

Those in the ad appear to be variations of the Rimway model introduced in 1935 -- basically the same glasses I wear, just with different shaped lenses. That basic four-screw mounting is still available today -- it hasn't been out of production since it was first introduced.

 

[Alice Blue]

Thanks for the info, Lizzie. I am also looking at two-screw models and wondering how robust they might be. You can see a wide array of them at this shop.

I have a lot of astigmatism and even with modern thin lenses my glasses get thicker at the edges, so I'm thinking that the four-screw might be a safer choice. I suppose it's time to consult with my optician.

Those in the ad appear to be variations of the Rimway model introduced in 1935 -- basically the same glasses I wear, just with different shaped lenses. That basic four-screw mounting is still available today -- it hasn't been out of production since it was first introduced.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I've had mine for about ten years, and have had to replace the frame once -- the bridge broke right at the point where the screw mount branches off, but that was after about eight years of daily wear, so I guess that isn't too bad.

You've also got to be very careful if you have polycarbonate lenses -- I'd never had them before and didn't know you weren't supposed to clean them with Windex like you could with glass lenses. Anything with ammonia in it will cause a chemical reaction that will cause the lenses to crack around the screw holes.

My eyes are too far gone for thin lenses, but I've actually had better luck with rimless glasses than I did with my old P3's.

 

[crif]

I don't think that eye glasses are a turn off for men. many of them like it. Make sure the specs you wear are not dull. you can also opt for contact lenses.

 

[sheeplady]

Alice-

I've had problems with the polycarbonate lenses cracking on my glasses. I used to get the "light" ones but not the "ultra-light" (High index). I had been told that is because they are routed out by machine, which often leaves tiny cracks. Because polycarbonate is not good for "tearing" strength but "direct hit" strength the router cracks enlarge over time and the cracks are worse because of a high script. I got a pair of high-index polycarbonate lenses and they are still crack free after two and a half years.

So, long story short, I was told that I could have a rimless design with the high index whereas with the traditional poly I could not. I'm not sure if that is helpful to you or not, but it might want to be something you ask about. I always thought I was getting high index lenses because I was told I was getting the "light lenses" (didn't know what to ask for) but then I went to a new eye doctor, explained my problem and he told me there was an easy fix.

I just thought I'd warn you because you mentioned the thick lens and then saw Lizzie's post on the cracks and ammonia and it brought back horrid memories of my glasses randomly cracking. They are too much of an investment and your eyes are too important to not get good specs.

 

[Alice Blue]

Thanks for the warnings on polycarbonate lenses, Lizzie and Sheeplady. The last time I tried to save money by using polycarbonate at a less expensive optical chain I couldn't see properly, so I had to go back to the expensive high and mid-index plastic (which is a different material from the polycarbonate as far as I can make out). I wasn't aware of all of these potential cracking issues, so I will make sure to discuss them with my optician.

I don't know how edges were ground back in the day. All I know is that today's polished edges produce darting rainbows at the edge of the visual field which drive me crazy. I always have to be very specific about wanted burred/rough edges.

 

[LizzieMaine]

I don't know how edges were ground back in the day. All I know is that today's polished edges produce darting rainbows at the edge of the visual field which drive me crazy. I always have to be very specific about wanted burred/rough edges.

I have a pair of rimless glasses that belonged to my grandmother c. 1940 and the edges of the lenses seem to be slightly beveled rather than being polished flat in the modern style.

 

[sheeplady]

T I had to go back to the expensive high and mid-index plastic (which is a different material from the polycarbonate as far as I can make out). I wasn't aware of all of these potential cracking issues, so I will make sure to discuss them with my optician.

I think it is a different material as well. For me, I love the high index lenses. They were a $100 more or so, but I've kept them a lot longer than I would have otherwise and they are a ton lighter. My husband got the traditional poly carbonate because he does so much woodworking and construction-type work where you need safety glasses.

I wonder if those little rainbows you see might actually be tiny cracks waiting to happen...

BTW, the dispensary I go to says that this cracking was never an issue years ago. It only happens now because the way they are done.

 

[bluerelish]

Oh, specs of a fella are super, SUPER fine.

I choose to wear glasses instead of contacts. More comfortable.

LD

i agree with you,comfortable and hassle free..

 

[TheSwingingBee]

I've recently started wearing glasses again after finding some vintage inspired glasses on Zenni Optical, I had been wearing contacts almost exclusively for almost 15 years. I have to say the difference in the way my eyes feel is amazing, I'm so much more comfortable with my glasses than I was with my contacts.

Here's the frames I got:

IMAG0208 by qtpiliz82, on Flickr

IMAG0210 by qtpiliz82, on Flickr

 

[Nora]

I have nothing against a nice pair of glasses! If it suits the face it can do as much as quite a bit of makeup. I actually have a really lovely pair myself.

Sadly, I can't really wear them, due to my hyperantimetropia. On top of that my far sighted eye is astigmatic, so me and my optometrist are having quite a bit of hassle finding contact lenses that work... Oh how I wish they'd do refractive surgery on teens...

 

[Puzzicato]

I'm very fond of my glasses. In fact, sometimes I wish they could go to parties without me, because they get much more attention than I do.

 

[Tuesday_Next]

I'm very fond of my glasses. In fact, sometimes I wish they could go to parties without me, because they get much more attention than I do.

Those glasses are fabulous! NOS or retro inspired?