We're pleased to announce that we've launched a new version of our website!  In between countless cans of Dr Pepper, doughnuts and other sweet things, our developers have been hard at work making some big changes to our website, some noticeable and others not so. The changes include:-

Improved drop down navigation

We've given our drop down menus some jiggery pokery to make them easier to use and to help you find exactly what you're looking for.  We've also added a new "Brands" drop down menu so you can quickly find your favourite brands.

New 'Virtual Dispenser' – Easy to use prescription system

Our new prescription system, dubbed the Virtual Dispenser, is our new party piece and is what we feel going to "change the way customers buy prescription glasses online".

Based on your chosen glasses use and entered prescription values, we can present you with a list of lenses and personalised pricing.  We can also recommend you the lens we feel is the most suitable for your prescription.  Our Virtual Dispenser system is sure to make buying prescription glasses online a far more enjoyable experience.

Our new Virtual Dispenser system now caters for those with prisms and double value pupillary distance values (ie, 32/31), something our previous system was missing.

Our Virtual Dispenser will be developed further with new features and lens options becoming available over the coming months.

Saving prescriptions

A feature that many customers having been requesting is the ability to save prescriptions for later use.  We've listened to these requests and implemented a solution that will allow customers to do just this!  All prescriptions are saved automatically to the customers account so these can be used for any future transactions.

Lower pricing – Lens price list

To remain competitive and to offer a better value product, we have cut the prices of many of our stock lenses.  If your prescription falls outside of our stock ranges then we can offer you lenses (if available) on special order at a slightly higher price.

You can see an 'at a glance' chart of the lenses we offer, complete with pricing here.

Here are some price comparisons from our old to new site.

Friendly "Live Chat" service

We're now offering a friendly Live Chat service from 9am to 5pm GMT.  Our customer service advisors are standing by to assist you with any questions you may have about a product, an order you are about to place or an existing order.  Simply click on the "Ask a Question" box at the top right hand corner of your screen.

WorldPay payments

We now offer payments through RBS WorldPay's 100% secure system.  We'll still happilly accept payments via cheque (drawn on UK bank accounts) and offer a 5% discount for using this payment method.

Back end developments

We've made some significant changes to way our website functions, these changes will help to ensure our website is much snappier to use.

What does the future hold?

We have further exciting plans to develop the SelectSpecs.com brand and website and we will announce these changes in due course.

• 4562 – Total new items added to site
  
• 7058 – New images uploaded to site
  
• 3479 – Old or discontinued models removed
  
• 49 – Different ranges updated with the latest models, colours and prices
  
• 1 – New designer brand
  
• 2 – New budget brands
  

More to come

Each and every month we are pushing to add more choice to our (already massive) selection, which grows literally by the day, so you're sure to find something new every time you visit our site.  If you follow our facebook page you may have seen that we have just taken delivery of yet another new Designer Brand.

This new luxury brand looks to have some real quality and stylish pieces to keep an eye out for.  TOD's Eyewear will be on our site in the very near future.

In the mean time, why not check out some of our recently updated ranges, which include: -

• Just Cavalli
• Miss Sixty
• Mont Blanc
• Roberto Cavalli
• Tom Ford
• Alexander McQueen
• BOSS Hugo Boss
• Emporio Armani
• Giorgio Armani
• Ermenegildo Zegna
• Givenchy

…to name but a few.

Or if you're on a budget, check out our new Antares and Orion ranges.

British racing driver Dan Wheldon was tragically killed in the final race of the IndyCar series yesterday in Las Vegas.  Dan Wheldon was one of Britain's finest and most talented of racing drivers having won the IndyCar Series in 2005 and the greatest race of them all – The Indianapolis 500 in 2005 and again in 2011 with a thrilling finish in which he took the lead coming out of the final turn of the final lap.

Formula One driver Lewis Hamilton sent tributes to Dan Wheldon on his twitter page:

"This is an extremely sad day.
Dan was a racer I’d followed throughout my career, as I often followed in his footsteps as we climbed the motorsport ladder in the UK
He was an extremely talented driver. As a British guy, who not only went over to the States but who twice won the Indy 500,
This is a tragic loss at such a young age. My heart goes out to his family and friends during this extremely difficult time"

McLaren teammate Jenson Button also sent tributes on his twitter page:

"Just woken up to the most horrific news.. Dan Wheldon RIP…
I have so many good memories of racing with Dan in the early 90's, a true fighter. We've lost a legend in our sport but also a great guy…
I can't begin to imagine what his family are going through and my thoughts are with them at this very difficult time"

All our thoughts go out to his wife and two young sons. Rest In Peace Dan Wheldon – a great Champion and double Indy 500 winner, you will be missed.

More photos of Dan Wheldon.

The drivers paid an emotional 5 lap salute to Dan Wheldon with the scoreboard being wiped, displaying only the number 77 – Dan Wheldon's car number.

At SelectSpecs.com, we would love to know what you most like and dislike about our website to help us build a better SelectSpecs.com.  If you have around 10 minutes spare, we would love you to have your say on where we can improve our website to give you a better shopping experience.

Just so you're aware, we have the following improvements coming up in the near future, these include:

• A top notch prescription and lens selection system…
• Virtual mirror functionality…
• More promo's…

More details on these will be posted closer to the time of launch.

We've got another great competition for all you facebook users, this time to win these brilliant Arnette Sunglasses.  All you have to do is: -

• Head over to our facebook page
• Become a fan by clicking 'Like' if you're not already a fan
• Click on one of our Arnette competition images
• Then Tag or Share the image with your friends to enter

Hint: remember to tag us too by entering @SelectSpecs.com in the comments when you share the image on your wall or with your friends.

We'll pick a winner at random from all the tags or shares just after the closing date of Monday 11th July 2011 – Good luck everyone.

Although Sebastien Vettel is way out front in the 2011 championship I'm sure Jenson Button and Lewis Hamilton will be looking to bring home a British one two in their Mclaren's at this weekends British Grand Prix at Silverstone.  For once this summer, I'm praying for rain!!

Prescription Glasses on the high street have a massive 400% mark-up according to an article – "The 5 Biggest Retail Mark-Ups" on Yahoo Finance.

More than 32 million people in the UK wear glasses and the majority of these — around 21 million — buy their optical goods from where they have their eye examination despite being under no obligation to do so, according to Mintel.

With numbers like that, the large high street chains can easily get away with charging mark-ups of at least 400% especially on their own budget ranges to help cover the costs of espensive equipment, high profile advertising campaigns, high rents and staff wages.

Thankfully Yahoo spotted our "recession busting range of glasses" from £6 including free scratch-resistant, full UV-protection and anti-reflection coatings.  Go Yahoo!!!

Other crazy mark-ups mentioned in the article include: -

• Bottled Water – 2,000% mark-up
  
• Coffee – 1,250%
• Clothes – 700%
  
• Furniture – 400%
  
• Jewellery – 300%
  

Closer – 16th April 2011 edition is on sale now at all good newsagents (and some bad ones).

We have now added Oakley Cases to our Accessories page for this very reason.  There are currently four types available and the "Product Information" text will tell you which frames each case is suitable for. 

Click the images below to go directly to that product (other colours may be available).

Oakley Large Carbon Fibre Eyewear Case

This lightweight steel case has the popular carbon fibre look seen in many race car designs that tear up the track each weekend of the motorsport season.  Crush resistance is a science by itself, and the case geometry takes full advantage of it.  Signed with a logo plate, this is your mobile storage solution for Oakley sunglasses and prescription eyewear.

This eyewear case is suitable for the following Oakley models: -

A WIRE, OAKLEY CANTEEN, CROSSHAIR S, FIVES 2.0, FIVES 3.0, HALF WIRE, HALF WIRE 2.0, MINUTE, SQUARE WIRE 2.0, SQUARE WIRE, Titanium SQUARE WIRE, TWITCH, WHISKER, and XS FIVES.

Oakley Small Soft Vault Case

The mobile launcher of performance eyewear is a lightweight shell of reinforced nylon. The SMALL SOFT VAULT zip-up case protects the following models: -

A WIRE, A WIRE 2.0, C WIRE, E WIRE 2.0, E WIRE 2.1, FATE, FIVES, FIVES 2.0, FIVES 3.0, HALF PINT, HALF WIRE, HAYLON, MINUTE, OAKLEY CANTEEN, SQUARE WIRE 2.0, TEASPOON, T WIRE, Titanium A WIRE, Titanium C WIRE, TWITCH, WHISKER or XS FIVES.

Oakley Large Soft Vault Case

Engineered with the same reinforced nylon as the Small SOFT VAULT, the Large SOFT VAULT zip-up case is ideal for those bulkier frames and protects a huge number of Oakley models including the following: -

BELONG, BEHAVE, BETRAY, BREATHLESS, BIG SQUARE WIRE, BOTTLECAP, CROSSHAIR, DISOBEY, ENDURING, ETERNAL, EYEPATCH, EYE JACKET 2.0, EYE JACKET 3.0, FATCAT, FELON, FROGSKINS, GASCAN, GASCAN S, GRAPEVINE, HALF JACKET, HALF WIRE 2.0, HIJINX, HATCHET, INMATE, MAGNESIUM FOUR, MAGNESIUM FOUR S, MINUTE 2.0, MONTEFRIO, MONSTER DOG, MONSTER DOGGLE, MONSTER PUP, NANOWIRE 1.0, NANOWIRE 2.0, NANOWIRE 3.0, OAKLEY DART, OAKLEY RAVISHING, OIL DRUM, OIL RIG, O ROKR, O ROKR PRO, PLATE, POCKET, RADAR, RAZOR BLADES, RIDDLE, ROMEO 2.0, SCRIPT, SPEECHLESS, SPIKE, SPLICE, STRAIGHT JACKET, TEN, THUMP PRO, UNKNOWN, VALVE, WARDEN, WHY 8.0, WHY 8.1, WHY 8.2, XX, ZERO, ZERO S, ZERO 0.4, ZERO 0.4 Squared, ZERO 0.4 Squared Small, ZERO 0.7 or ZERO L.

Oakley Medium Soft Vault Case

Safeguard your optics in a lightweight chamber of reinforced nylon.  The Medium SOFT VAULT zip-up case has a curved, wedge shape and can hold the following frames: -

BELONG, BEHAVE BETRAY, HALF WIRE 2.0, BIG SQUARE WIRE, BOTTLECAP, CROSSHAIR, CROSSHAIR S, DARTBOARD, DARTBOARD L, DISOBEY, ENDURING, ETERNAL, EYE JACKET, EYE JACKET 3.0, FELON, FROGSKINS, GRAPEVINE, GASCAN, GASCAN S, HALF JACKET, HATCHET, INMATE, MAGNESIUM FOUR, MAGNESIUM FOUR S, MAGNESIUM M FRAME, MINUTE 2.0, MONTEFRIO, MONSTER DOG, MONSTER DOGGLE, MONSTER PUP, NANOWIRE 1.0, NANOWIRE 2.0, NANOWIRE 3.0, OAKLEY DART, OIL DRUM, OIL RIG, O ROKR PRO, PENNY, PLATE, RADAR, RAZOR BLADES, RIDDLE, ROMEO 2.0, SCAR, SCRIPT, SPEECHLESS, SPLICE, STRAIGHT JACKET, TEN, THUMP PRO, UNKNOWN, VALVE, WARDEN, WHY 8.0, WHY 8.1, WHY 8.2, XX or ZERO.

Eyewear sold separately.

In the never-ending search for the latest and greatest innovations in all things relating to eyeglasses, four members of the Selectspecs team spent last weekend at the MIDO trade fair in Milan. 

The MIDO exhibition, for those of you not in the know, is held in Milan each Spring.  The exhibition is 340,000 sqm in size (that's a lot of glasses), and attracts top designers brands, who want to show off their wares, as well as less known suppliers looking to make it into the big league.

MIDO is where a lot of deals are done, and where the design houses can interact with the suppliers and the customers.

Undaunted by the deprivation from family and the comforts of home, (made only slightly better by the free food and wine) on your behalf, the team visited the designer stands to see the most up to date ranges, called in at the tech labs to keep in touch with the latest production techniques, and called on lots of suppliers to examine and source products for our own in-house ranges.

We are always looking to seek out new and exciting products to add to our own ranges, and we found some fantastic ones this year.

Watch out for our own sunglasses and prescription glasses range being extended, as always giving you top quality at the best prices.

Also watch out for some brand new designer ranges being added, and for existing designer ranges being extended.

And now its all over for another year.  The sore feet are feeling less tender (there's a lot of walking), the waistlines are returning to normal (there's a lot of free food) and you can soon see the fruits of our efforts by keeping a close eye (or two) on our site.

See you same time next year!
 

No one can even get close to our Value Glasses Range (£6 + delivery) and we even include ALL the coatings in the price – UV Protection, Anti-Reflection and Scratch Resistant coatings.  Others charge extra for these essential coatings.

Even on Designer Frames we cannot be touched since we offer thinner 1.56 index Thin & Light Lenses as standard on all but our Value (£6) Prescription Glasses, not to mention, we also include all 3 essential coatings unlike our competitors.  On top of that we also offer the biggest selection of Designer Glasses online.

See the cropped article here to read the details: -

Oh well, lets open door 23 on our Christmas Advent Calendar…

We are giving 20% off ALL our own Arbor Prescription Glasses today while stocks last.  There are some real beauties here and I honestly can't recommend them highly enough.  There are various shapes, sizes, styles and materials in this collection, which are now from only £27.99 including lenses and all the usual coatings.

Fill your boots (or Christmas stockings, if you will).

The Ray-Ban RX5184 New Wayfarer is one of our fastest selling products, we honestly cannot stock enough of these, they literally fly out the door as soon as we receive them.  We're expecting today's deal to be our most popular one yet since we're giving 20% OFF our current prices on this model.

As with all our prescription glasses, prices include standard prescription lenses and all the usual FREE coatings.

Jimmy Choo fans can now get these Jimmy Choo 01 prescription glasses to match their designer shoes when they head to the shops to pick up the latest Sex & The City movie on DVD or Blu-Ray.  We're giving a further 15% OFF our regular selling price, and don't forget this includes prescription lenses will all the usual FREE coatings offered by SelectSpecs that others would normally charge as much as £10 each for.

Our Hawaii Collection of prescription glasses are some of our most favourite and high-quality models at SelectSpecs.  Ironically I don't actually wear glasses myself (even though I work for SelectSpecs) what can I say, my eyes are damn near perfect but if I did wear glasses I would definitely choose something from the Hawaii range.  These sporty, fashionable, metal frames take their inspiration from brands such as Oakley, Bolle or Rudy Project prescription frames.

Today only, we are offering £15 off all Hawaii glasses.

These Ray-Ban RB3025 Aviator Sunglasses can be had for as little as £78.96 today.  That's £69 OFF the normal RRP.  We're offering big savings like this across all colour options in the Ray-Ban RB3025 selection with various prices and options available including graduated or polarized lens choices.

Today only, while stocks last.

Oakley OX5040 WINGSPAN Prescription Glasses can now be snapped up for as little as £120.88 with a saving of 20% OFF our normal sale price.  Don't forget to check out the Livestrong and Ducati Special Editions.

With the SelectSpecs Silver Collection of prescription glasses you really are spoilt for choice with 37 different frame options available with everything from full-rimmed to semi-rimless, or metal to plastic and all kinds of shapes and sizes including the popular 92002B Wayfarer Style frame.

We're offering 30% OFF the entire Silver Collection; prices vary across this range, so check for details, but you will find items here for as low as £24.49.

The Semi-Rimless Sequoia frame from the SelectSpecs Arbor range is one of our nicest frames from the Platinum Collection.  Normally selling for a reasonable £54.99 we are giving £15 OFF this weekend bringing it down to a very attractive £39.99.  Get in quick though, this really is a smashing frame.

FREE with all prescription glasses

As with all prescription glasses sold at SelectSpecs.com, all of these offers include free standard prescription lenses with Anti-Reflection, Scratch Resistant and UV Protection lens coatings, making these hot deals, even hotter, and thats just what the doctor ordered if the snow is still falling across the country.

Please note: All of these offers are only while stocks last.

Ferrari fans are in for a treat with these FR0095 wraparound Sunglasses.  We're taking over  £34 OFF the £112 RRP to let these go for just £77.90.  Thats a saving of over 30%.

While stocks last.

These Police S 2880 Sunglasses have remained consistently in the SelectSpecs best sellers list for as long as we can remember.  The great thing about these hard wearing metal sunglasses is that you can have the lenses replaced with your prescription.  You can have tinted prescription lenses or go for the photochromic option making them great for indoor and outdoor use.

We're slashing £32.61 from the normal £125 RRP making these popular sunnies a snap at just £92.39 – That's a saving of over 25% OFF the RRP.

Only while stocks last.

Carrera ENDURANCE sunglasses have been all the rage in 2010 and have been worn by countless celebrities or featured in a number of music videos by artists such as Rihanna, Christina Aguilera and Usher to name just a few.

We're giving impressive discounts across the various Carrera Endurance models and colour options with prices as low as £61 – that's £24 OFF the normal £85 RRP.

Only while stocks last.

Check out these bad boys!!!  These 92002B Wayfarer Style prescription glasses from The SS Collection have been flying out the door since we introduced them to our site earlier in the year.  We're expecting this offer to be one of our most popular ones yet on these impressive alternatives to the popular Ray-Ban Wayfarer.

Normally priced at £39.99 we're taking £15 OFF today to make this "a deal, it's a steal, its the sale of the frickin' century" or words to that effect.  You can now get this brilliant little number for just £24.99 but be warned – only while stocks last!

We are giving a MASSIVE 50% OFF any glasses featured in our SelectSpecs Platinum Collection.  These are the cream of the crop from our own selection of glasses, nothing but the best quality frames, but with this offer you can now afford to get 2 frames for the normal price of 1… That's like a Buy One, Get One Free!!!

• A rimless frame like the Arbor Karri was £54.99 but can now be yours for just £27.49
• The CH5820 Memory Titanium frame from The SS Collection – normally one of our most expensive frames at £74.99 can now be had for just £37.49

Yes, HALF PRICE!!!

These Ray-Ban RX5154 Clubmasters have been incredibly popular of late, now you have no excuse not to treat yourself to a pair.  We have smashed £15 OFF our already competitive prices bringing these trendy frames down from £92.01 to £77.01.

Nike Vision made a welcome return to the SelectSpecs catalogue of brands this year and now you can get these great Nike 6032 prescription glasses for just £99.99 instead of the normal £125.58. That's OVER £25 OFF!!!

FREE with all prescription glasses

As with all prescription glasses sold at SelectSpecs.com, all of these offers include free standard prescription lenses with Anti-Reflection, Scratch Resistant and UV Protection lens coatings, making these hot deals, even hotter, and thats just what the doctor ordered when the snow is falling across the country.

Please note: All of these weekend offers are only while stocks last.

Today's deal are these Oakley Ladies DISCREET OO2012 Sunglasses.  We've slashed the price by up to £43.75 across all the available colour options from the normal RRP of £170 down to £126.25 with 4 colour options selling for as little as £96.54.

If you select Option 7: Colour 201207 – Polished Black – Breast Cancer Awareness Edition – infused with the power of pink to help young women living with breast cancer – Oakley will donate $20 to YSC for each purchase.

Not an Oakley fan?  Don't worry, we'll have something completely different tomorrow, you will not want to miss this.

About the OAKLEY DISCREET Sunglasses

Oakley designed the DISCREET to be seriously fun: a universally flattering shape with flirty details that really pop. Hammered “jewelry” at the hinge and vibrant interior graphics show off your playful side, while the 6-base square shape gracefully frames your face. These are not your mother’s sunglasses.

OAKLEY DISCREET has its sensible side too with smartly optimized peripheral vision and side protection, 6-base lens curvature and built-in superior UV protection, via PLUTONITE lens material that filters out 100% of UVA/UVB/UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm. Your mum will be happy to know that OAKLEY DISCREET’s optical precision and impact resistance meet or exceed Z80.3 optical and basic impact standards.

These handmade Acetate frames are sculpted with Oakley’s Three-Point Fit to hold your lenses precisely in place. And you have options galore for glare reduction: polarized lenses that serve up greater than 99% efficiency.

LENS:

• Optimized peripheral vision and side protection of 6 base lens curvature
• Optical precision and impact resistance meet or exceed Z80.3 optical and basic impact standards
• UV protection of PLUTONITE lens material that filters out 100% of UVA/ UVB/ UVC & harmful blue light up to 400nm
• Varied field of light transmission (top to bottom) via optional gradient lens shading
• Polarized lens options available

FRAME:

• Accents include sculpturally detailed hinge with metal icons and handmade Acetate frame
• Comfort and performance of Three-Point Fit that holds lenses in precise optical alignment

ACCESSORIES

• Women’s eyewear proctive case included

(Frame description from Oakley UK)

Today's deal is for this awesome Oakley JAWBONE OO9089 – 04-211 Livestrong Signature Series Sunglasses.  We've slashed the price by £65 from the normal RRP of £190 down to £125.  What's more, every Oakley Livestrong frame that is sold raises $20 for The Lance Armstrong Foundation in support of people affected by cancer, courtsey of Oakley.

About the Oakley Livestrong JAWBONE Sunglasses

Oakley’s legacy of sports performance innovation continues with the new JAWBONE. The latest evolution of a coveted design, this frame is like nothing ever seen in the world of sports. Every aspect is engineered around the clarity and protection of HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS.

With Oakley’s new SWITCHLOCK Technology, the lower part of the frame rim opens to allow easy access for quick lens changing, letting you optimize performance in any light condition. The revolutionary design holds the lenses with a suspension system so stresses on the frame won’t affect the optical vision, and you still get the optimised comfort and fit of a flexible frame design.

Pivot the nose piece to unlock the lower jaw and open it for easy lens changing. With minimal handling involved, lenses remain free of fingerprints. The quick-release system closes with a cam that locks each lens securely in place.

Oakley have engineered the pivoting system with a release mechanism that also lets you easily remove and replace the nose piece with a different size to customize the fit. A comfortably secure fit is essential for athletic competition, so Oakley started this new design with the company’s famous Three-Point Fit. No more hooking the ears like normal glasses, a Three-Point Fit ensures the frame touches the wearer only at the bridge of the nose and the sides of the head. Strategically placed flex zones give the frame a broad range of flexibility while directing stresses away from the lenses.

Oakley is proud to partner with the Lance Armstrong Foundation in support of its ongoing mission to inspire and empower people affected by cancer. When you purchase the LIVESTRONG® edition of Oakley eyewear, the company will provide $20 to the foundation.

• Oakley SWITCHLOCK Technology for an interchangeable lens design that helps you keep up with changing light conditions and maximize performance in any environment.
• UNOBTAINIUM stem sleeves for a secure fit that increases grip with perspiration.
• Durable yet comfortably lightweight O MATTER frame material that optimizes protection while maintaining a flexible fit.
• Interchangeable nose piece for a customizable fit.
• Unbeatable clarity and visual fidelity with the patented innovations of HIGH DEFINITION OPTICS, optimized by an entirely new frame architecture that translates frame stresses away from the lenses.
• Full range of optional lens tints for glare reduction, improved color perception, enhanced contrast and optimized depth perception.
• Convenience and clarity of Oakley HYDROPHOBIC a permanent lens coating that repels dust while maintaining a smudge-resistant barrier against skin oils, fingerprints, lotions and sunscreens and even repels water to prevent streaks and sheens from corrupting your vision.
• Impact protection that meets all ANSI Z87.1 standards for high velocity and high mass impact resistance.
• XYZ OPTICS to extend clarity across lens contours that open peripheral vision and improve side protection against sun, wind and impact.
• PLUTONITE lens material for 100% filtering of all UVA, UVB, UVC and harmful blue light up to 400nm.
• Protective sports-specific Oakley Soft Vault included with capacity for extra lenses

(Frame description from Oakley UK)

Its almost December and the snow is already falling, just like our prices!!!  Yes, welcome to the SelectSpecs Advent Calendar 2010.  With just 24 shopping days left before Christmas, we've got 24 fantastic deals lined up and ready to go.

We'll be running a new Special Deal each weekday on the run-up to Christmas and 3 – yes THREE Amazing Deals over the weekends this month!  Be sure to keep an eye on our website as you will not want to miss out on some of the fantastic offers we've got planned for you.

Just like a real advent calendar you'll have to wait until the deal is live each day to find out what the offer is (no peeking), so keep checking our main site, our blog or our twitter and facebook pages for the latest updates.

Offers over the coming days will include popular models from Oakley, Ray-Ban, Tom Ford, Nike, Emporio Armani, Jimmy Choo, Police, Ferrari or Carrera to name just a few and may include popular styles such as Wayfarers or Aviators as well as huge savings on some of our top-of-the-range own brand frames.  You could save as much as 50% off current prices.

But be warned, offers are limited, while stocks last and could change at any time during the next 24 days, so get your orders in as soon as you can to avoid disappointment.

We've been busy beavering away preparing a new price comparison area on our website comparing our prices with a selection of our online competitors to show just how great value our products are when purchased with our FREE as standard UV, Anti-Reflection and Scratch Resistant coatings. 

Ever since we first sold our first pair of prescription glasses back in 2005 we've believed in offering great value up front without hiding high additional costs for protective coatings at the end of the process of entering your prescription.

Here are some savings that we offer on a pair of Bolle Versailles prescription glasses:

To see more comparisons, why not visit our price comparison area.

Many parents will be familiar with the importance of immunisations, routine screenings such as hearing tests, weight, and growth charts for their new born not to mention dental health when the time arises, but what about their vision?

The Eye Care Trust has warned that one in five children before the age of 12 has an undiagnosed visual problem, which could interfere with their ability to learn.

It is recommended for children eight years or younger to have an annual eye examination. Children aged nine and upwards, generally would have an eye examination every two years unless your optician has advised otherwise.  Only a small number of schools actually still conduct vision-screening programmes. It is important to note, that these should not replace a comprehensive eye examination at your local opticians.

I would urge parents to take their child to see their optician before they start school or sooner if you notice a eye related problem such as:

• Squint (lazy eye)
• Difficulty in picking up small objects
• Tendency to bump into things or being unusually clumsy
• Have red eyes or lids
• Have excessive tearing
• Avoid colouring, puzzles or detailed activity
• Has difficulty with eye-hand-body co-ordination
• Rubs eye frequently
• Have encrusted eyelids

If you are concerned your child may need glasses, get your child’s eyes checked. This is just as important as a trip to the dentist or having their feet measured.

It’s a common misconception that children’s eyes cannot be tested until they can read, however there are many special tests that can be carried out at a very early age.  The eye is a constantly developing visual system and if visual problems are identified and treated during early school years, it can make an immense difference that could last a lifetime.

Children up to the age of 16 are entitled to an eye examination with the NHS free of charge. Students in full time education up to the age of 19 also qualify for a free sight test on the NHS. So if your child has just started school this month and you haven’t already done so, book an eye exam with your optician today.

If glasses or contact lenses are prescribed for your child a voucher will be issued which in most cases will cover the full cost for a pair glasses, however you can also use this voucher towards the cost of a more expensive pair if your child needs or should I say requests a designer frame to fit in at school!

For more information about caring for your child’s eyes, speak to your optician and ask for a copy of the ‘Your Child’s Eyesight’ leaflet.
 

If you’ve been keeping an eye on our twitter or facebook pages you’ve probably seen and hopefully entered our competition to win an amazing limited edition ‘Expendables’ box set from Police containing a pair of Police S8362 Sunglasses and a limited edition Police wallet with a metal, brushed steel numbered certificate of authenticity all to the value of £175.

We also had a fistful of Police and Expendables T-shirts to give away as runners up prizes, each featuring the poster image from the latest Sylvester Stallone adrenaline fuelled action movie The Expendables on the back.

We had some great responses through both twitter and facebook with a real mix of responses to our open question: “Your favourite movie featuring a member of The Expendables cast”.  Quite honestly it turned out to be a massive list of movies, including (perhaps expectedly) some real classic 80’s action movies from the original action heroes themselves including Sly Stallone, Bruce Willis, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the rest of the beefcake bridge club.

Winners

Thanks to all those who entered, it was fun to see all your entries, but there can be only one winner for the top prize.  All entries from both twitter and facebook were collected up, put into a hat and a winner & runners up were chosen at random.  Congratulations to all, who are: -

1st Prize

Karen Walkden (Braintree, Essex) – She entered via Facebook with her vote for Jason Statham in The Transporter movies.  Well done Karen.

Runner Up T-Shirt Prizes will go out to

• Twitter user @paulinepppp – who voted for Arnie in Terminator 2
• Twitter user @uberotaku – who voted for Jason Statham in Lock Stock & Two Smoking Barrels
• Twitter user @Shells19827 – who voted for Bruce Willis in Die Hard
• Facebook user Kirsty Bowyer – who voted for Mickey Rourke in Iron Man 2
• Facebook user Carrie Hobbs – who voted for Bruce Willis in Hostage

All the winners will be notified via twitter or facebook to arrange delivery of your prizes.

Movie Nominations

Not surprisingly the classic 1988 John McTiernan Christmas terrorist shoot em’ up Die Hard staring Bruce Willis came out way in front.  Let’s face it, for years it has been the benchmark by which all subsequent action films are compared to.  It was a well deserved win with an equally well deserved 2nd place going to Sylvester Stallone’s Oscar winning Rocky.  Hard to believe that movie came from way back in the 1970’s.

What we found most surprising was the number of votes for The Transporter in 3rd place, beating some big movies like Rambo, The Terminator and Terminator 2.

You can see the Top 10 Nominated movies in our little chart bellow; the remaining 30% of votes was spread amongst a vast number of other movies, most of which seemed to be Jason Statham movies like Crank, The Bank Job, Snatch etc.  It was surprising to us how many votes his films got… That said, there were a lot of female entries into the competition… Just saying.

Oh and we also got some strange and funny entries too for films like Hudson Hawk, Stop or my Mom will Shoot, White Chicks, Kindergarten Cop, Star Wars, Finding Nemo and Dirty Dancing to name just a few.

For the record, I think I would have voted for either The Wrestler or Rocky.

Thanks for taking part everyone.  Keep your eyes peeled as we hope to be doing more competitions soon.

Being a motorist myself, it makes me feel uneasy knowing, that one in ten motorists who require glasses in order to drive have admitted being lax about wearing them at all (Survey of 5.3 million motorists conducted by LV insurance). Driving without your glasses or contact lenses is a criminal offense, you are not only endangering yourself but other road users and pedestrians by doing so.

Currently all drivers are required to read a number plate at a distance of 20.5 meters in order to pass their test. If you need to wear glasses or contact lenses in order to see clearly these can be worn for the test, they must also be worn whenever you are driving thereafter. You are breaking the law by driving without glasses or contact lenses; this can also result in a fine of up to £1000, three penalty points or disqualification from driving.

An eye test is not legally required for drivers until they are 70 years old nevertheless good vision is imperative for drivers of all ages, regular eye exams will reveal eyesight problems that can be treated early to ensure your eyesight is safeguarded for longer. It is recommended to have your eyes checked at least every 2 years even if you think your eyes are normal.

If you wear glasses it is wise and sensible to always carry a spare pair in the car just in case you damage or lose the pair you are wearing.

The Eye Health Alliance are encouraging the government to introduce a more structured and scientific approach to assessing drivers vision which will ensure tests are carried out every 10 years. The Optical Confederation would like to replace the number plate test as this is thought to be an inadequate assessment of a drivers vision for several reasons such as environmental conditions on the day.

A spokesperson for the Eye Health Alliance said:

“Not only is the number plate test ineffective and unfair but the current system places to much responsibility on the driver to self-report problems with their vision to the DVLA. Many drivers do not notice a gradual change in their eyesight and are therefore unaware that they fall below the legal eyesight requirement for driving. According to the International Glaucoma Association, a person can lose up to 40% of their vision before they realise they have a problem with their eyesight.”

The UK government has until January 2011 to regulate a procedure for screening all car and motorbike drivers similar to the current legislation for professional drivers.

See our previous post (11/08/2008) on EU Driving Licenses to feature eye test results in a bid to reduce road traffic accidents here.