eyebuddy are glad to announce that we finally have the impressive Blink eye-drop solutions available for sale! This range of Blink solutions include:

• Blink Refreshing 10ml
• Blink Refreshing Vials 20 x 0.5ml
• Blink Contacts 10ml
• Blink Contacts Vials 20 x 0.35ml
• Blink Intensive Tears 10ml
• Blink Intensive Tears Vials 20 x 0.4ml
• Blink Intensive Tears PLUS 10ml
• Blink-n-Clean 15ml

The Blink Refreshing solutions give a much needed boost for the eyes to replenish their natural moisture. Blink Contacts solutions help improve lubrication to remove certain discomfort when wearing contact lenses. Blink Intensive Tears were designed to provide comfort and protection for the eyes that feel dry, irritated and uncomfortable. Blink-n-Clean helps promote lens cleanliness during wear.

The Blink solutions allow you to wear contact lenses more comfortably and for longer periods of time without the irritation. This is why Blink solutions are highly recommended solutions by many respected Opticians in the UK. At eyebuddy, we believe in having quality products available for customers, and we are proud to announce the availability of the range of Blink solutions for sale! We believe we sell the cheapest Blink eye-drop solutions online (in the UK). Come buy Blink solutions from eyebuddy!

Cataract
Description: A painless clouding in the lens of the eye which gradually expands over a large period of time. It starts as blurred vision but if cataract is untreated, it can lead to blindness.

Macular Degeneration
Description: Damage to the retina causing loss of sight at the centre of your visual field. Vision will be blurred, can be distorted and this disease often affects older people. Macushield eye vitamins are highly recommended for this.

Diabetic Retinopathy
Description: Fluid which blurs and blocks your vision. The fluid is from burst or damaged blood vessels in the retina caused by diabetes mellitus. Diabetic Retinopathy can lead to blindness if untreated.

Glaucoma
Description: Optic nerves are damaged causing permanent visual loss. Loss of vision is not easily detected as it begins outside the usual visual range and gradually progresses towards the centre where if untreated, can lead to blindness.

Myopia
Description: A refractive defect in the eye making light unable to focus on the retina. This causes visual images to appear blurred when looking at distant objects. Prescription spectacles can help reduce the effects of Myopia.

Once the eyes have been fully developed during the child years, eye sight continues to deteriorate until the day we pass away. Eye sight deteriorates at different rates in different people, hence why some adults do not need to wear glasses and some do. We will all reach an age where our visual function has decreased so much that it begins to have an effect on the daily tasks we do, such as driving.

Numerous studies have been conducted by numerous researchers, and depending on whose facts and figures you read, it may influence what you believe. Some studies by researchers show clear correlation that the older you get, the more likely you are to be involved in a driving accident. The claim is that your eye sight deteriorates to such as point that visual image is no longer clear, even with glasses on. Also with old age, your reflex from the nerves and neck movement has dulled; therefore the argument is that you will react far too slow if a problematic situation arises leading to an accident.

Other studies have shown that whilst there may be a correlation, it is too weak to base older drivers with having more accidents. Facts clearly show that most driving accidents often involve the younger or more correctly termed, newer-generation drivers. The claim is that older drivers have amassed plenty of driving experience over the years and can use this experience to avoid possible problematic situations far better than the judgment of newly qualified drivers.

As visual acuity deterioration differs from person to person, there is no clear age where once reached, you are considered a dangerous hazard on the road. Also many different factors can come into play such as eye disorders (i.e. glaucoma), glare (lenses for glasses), car (i.e. engine), the driver's mental state and more. If you are unsure whether you should or can continue to drive, you should consult 2nd opinions from the Opticians and Doctors. Do remember that driving safely is important, not only to you as the driver but to everyone else concerned such as passengers, other drivers and public passersby. There are always other alternatives such as public transport.

Everyone has a fear of something. It could be a fear of an object like stickers, or a living creature such as a spider or a fear of spaces, heights, distances and more.

In the UK, according to studies and reports on fears, the spider was found to top the list. Of all the fears and dangers people could be faced with such as dying or losing a loved one, none compare with the spider. The second most popular fear is of heights. People will admire beautiful landscapes and picturesque city lines but when looking down from a high distance, legs will instantly turn to jelly.

Other fears among the most popular in the UK include a fear of making a public speech or a speech to a large audience. We all know the feeling, worried of making a fool of ourselves in front of hundreds, if not thousands of people. The unusually rare stutters, the "ums" and "errs", the awful silences that seem like minutes when you're trying to remember what you planned to say.

Claustrophobia, a fear of small spaces, is also a very popular fear. Other fears given a mention include ghosts, clowns, going to the dentists, losing a loved one and being alone. One of my greatest fears, however, didn't appear on the list.

We all take vision for granted. We only worry about our eye sight when we realise there is a chance we may lose it, forever. Going blind isn't the end of the world, but losing it will be a painful experience both mentally and emotionally. Imagine not being able to see the faces of your family and friends again. Not being able to see a new addition to your family. Not being able to see the vibrant colours and enjoy some of the lovely landscapes that grace our earth.

To counter my fear of losing my eye sight, I take Macushield eye supplements to aid my eyes in the best possible way. The rich nutrients in Macushield help protect the eyes from harmful UV rays. Also, Macushield contains Meso-Zeaxanthin, a carotenoid directly responsible for clarity of vision. These are just two good reasons out of several of why you should consider taking Macushield eye vitamins. Macushield capsules are suitable for people of all ages, young and old and as they are vitamins, you can take them at any time! Unlike drugs which are usually prescribed to you to treat a certain disease, disorder or injury of some sort. You can get Macushield at extremely cheap prices at eyebuddy!

Do you suffer from any discomfort when opening or closing your eyelids? Do you get any burning sensations in your eyes or constant itching around the eyes? Do you have crusts or debris on eye lashes? Do you have red eyelids or scaly skin around the eyes?

You may be suffering from Blepharitis, an ocular condition mainly concerning the eyelids. The inflammation of the eyelids causes intense irritation around the eyes. Under these circumstances, it is advisable to maintain the hygiene of your eyelids. Wash your eyes with warm water and keeping the eyes moist. If you use soap, only use facial soap and ensure it is diluted with plenty of water before washing the eyelids. Too much soap can make it worse for your eyes. Avoid using make-up and contact lenses to avoid further discomfort.

If you think you suffer from Blepharitis, do not worry, it is easily treatable. As Blepharitis is a very common condition, there are lots of different treatments available such as Blephaclean wipes or Blephasol solution. These products are easy to administer and are preservative free. This means they are suitable for even the most sensitive of eyes. For further information about Blepharitis and how Blephaclean or Blephasol can help control this ocular condition, you should consult your optician or search online.

1. Detecting Health Conditions

   Optometrists can detect health conditions including cholesterol, diabetes, high blood pressure, kidney disease, liver disease, stroke, multiple sclerosis, cancer and more. Many people are unaware that a lot of the conditions mentioned have symptoms in the eye that the optician can pick up in a regular check up.

2. Spotting Eye Conditions

   Not all eye conditions have symptoms we can be aware of instantly. Symptoms can be gradual and some you won’t notice at all. Optometrists are trained to spot all eye conditions including glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration, cataracts, myopia and others. Not all eye conditions when treated return your eye sight back to original capacity, therefore regular visits to the optician regardless of your eye health is highly recommended. Optometrists also have the power to refer you to the hospital if necessary.

3. Style & Fashion

   Opticians aren’t just for eye tests. You can go to an optician to try and buy glasses and sunglasses. You may have perfect eye sight but wear spectacles and shades as a fashion statement. Dispensing Opticians usually can help you with the look and size of spectacles to go for. Sunglasses are also highly recommended accessories for protecting the eyes from harmful UV rays from the sun.

4. Repairing & Maintenance

   If your specs are broken, your glasses are uncomfortable or appear misaligned on your face, don’t attempt to fix them yourself. The first stop should be the opticians where trained staff can offer their services and try to help. If the problem is missing nose-pads or missing screws, these are minor things that the optician can take care of. Adjusting the glasses to align with the head is also part of their services.

5. Contact Lenses, Hearing Care & Miscellaneous

   Most opticians can offer the services of contact lenses for people who find glasses a hassle. Some opticians also offer hearing care services for people who believe they may have hearing loss. Hearing loss is not easily detected at the beginning but will usually be noticed quicker by friends and family who talk to you often. Opticians will have any eye related accessories you may need such as eye vitamins, solutions and glasses cases, etc.

1. In the sixteenth century, people who needed glasses chose their eyewear depending on their wealth. Buyers would select thick lenses for their spectacles as thick lenses were seen as an attribute of power, wealth and respect.
2. There has been plenty of research and development to suggest 3D prescription glasses will be released in the future.
3. Around 15-20% of the eye is visible.
4. You can sneeze with your eyes open.
5. Glasses can focus the sun’s rays and start a fire in the same way magnifying glasses can.

1. False
People chose glasses by randomly trying on specs until they found a pair they could see from or see better with. If people were buying glasses as a sign of their wealth and status, they would never be able to see through them unless their eyesight was terrible.
(sources: spectaclefacts.blogspot.com)

2. True
The success of 3D films on cinema led to 3D TV sets being released. This created an eye opener for many glasses manufacturers and is certainly an area that hasn’t been touched yet. A possible market can be established here and Italian giants Luxottica (who own Ray-Ban and Oakley) have already made their move. 3D prescription glasses may or may not have been released already.
(sources: news.com.au)

3. True
15-20% of the eye is visible with the average human. Under certain circumstances, this can be increased to 40-45% but these are rare cases.
(sources: wiki.answers.com)

4. True
When we sneeze, a body reflex kicks in which shuts the eye lids. However not everyone has that reflex and some people have learnt to control certain muscles and can sneeze with their eyes open. Eyes popping out from a sneeze if you don’t close them is a myth.
(sources: library.thinkquest.org)

5. True
Glasses can start a fire in the same way as magnifying glasses but only when two circumstances are met. The first being the irradiance at the spot is a minimum of at least 43.6 kW/m2. The second is that the glasses lenses must be convex in order to focus light on a point. For more information about irradiance, you can find it more from the source.
(sources: laser.physics.sunysb.edu)

The summer season is fast approaching and this year it has been predicted to be the hottest summer yet! Early preparation will help you avoid suffering in the searing heat as the sun will be roaring down whichever destination you choose.

Sun cream lotion, check. Suitable clothing, check. Sunglasses, nope?

If you haven’t gotten your hands on a pair of sunglasses or you’re unsure what pair to buy then let eyebuddy help you decide!

UV Protection

The first and most important thing to be aware of is to ensure your sunglasses offer 100% UV protection. This is to protect your eyes from the harmful UV rays the sun emits. You don’t want sunglasses that block 33% or 80% of the harmful UV rays. You want to go for maximum safety, therefore 100% UV protection is highly recommended and at eyebuddy, all our sunglasses are 100% UV protection guaranteed.

Colour & Trend

In previous years, dark colours were setting the trend for designer sunglasses such as the traditional blacks, browns and gun metals. In 2011, however, fashion experts have predicted a return of bright colours for clothes, designer shoes and designer sunglasses. With such a beautiful summer to come, people want to embrace the warmness by going simple but original in style and colour.

So far this year, people have been targeting warmer colours such as taupe, pink, mauve and lavender. An alternative to these fair colours would be white framed designer sunglasses which match well with the current trending fair coloured dresses for summer.

Brand name

Some of the biggest designer brand names in the sunglasses industry are Ray-Ban, Oakley, Maui Jim and Dior. They’re always coming up with new innovative designs to match the current trending fashion styles and colours. There are plenty of other well known sunglasses brands such as Nike, Miu Miu, D&G, Jimmy Choo, Bvlgari, Police, etc … but one of the brands that have grown considerably and been very successful in 2011 in the UK is Tom Ford. The brand’s concept is perfectly suited to the Anglo-American look and the popularity associated with Tom Ford designer sunglasses is rising at an incredible rate. They have been described as clean, elegant, chic and original.

Celebrities

The media fascination with celebrities has turned them all into potential fashion idols. A lot of people are influenced by what certain celebrities wear and want to model themselves with similar fashion styles. In the recent James Bond films, Daniel Craig has been seen wearing Tom Ford and Persol designer brand sunglasses which led to an influx of orders for identical models. Ray-Ban Wayfarers have always been a big favourite among celebrities. To name a few, those spotted wearing them include actress Jessica Alba, singer Katy Perry (seen above), singer Rihanna (seen above) and British singer Tinie Tempah. Ray-Ban Wayfarer models can be searched on eyebuddy by searching for "Wayfarer" in our search bar at the top.

References

http://www.celebrity-sunglasses-finder.com/
Optician, The Weekly Journal for Eye Care Professionals - 18.03.11
http://summerdressesforteenagegirls.blogspot.com/2011/04/white-summer-dresses.html

To make the most of our buddy system and attain as much discount as possible, you need to register with us and send invitations to your friends. If your friends make purchases with us, your discounts and savings will increase. Further more, your future purchases will also affect your friend’s discounts and savings. For more information about how our buddy system works, please read here. eyebuddy have devised an interesting system where you have control of your discounts and savings when buying glasses online from us.

The big question is how do you invite the best eyebuddies? Not everyone you invite will register with us. Not everyone you invite will buy from us. Let’s be honest, most of the people who see the email invitation you sent will assume it is spam mail and delete without even reading it. Therefore we have come up with a couple of tips on how to invite the best eyebuddies to eyebuddy.

Tip #1 – Seek out potential buddies

Begin by drawing up a list of friends and family who wear glasses. They are people who are quite likely to purchase a new pair of prescription glasses in the future. Build on your list by adding friends or family who you have been on holiday with recently. Do you remember any of them wearing sunglasses or snow goggles? eyebuddy have a fantastic range of designer sunglasses that may appeal to them. Lastly, add any names of any contact lens wearers that you may know of. If you know someone who used to wear specs regularly but now no longer does, they may have changed to contacts. They may have had laser eye surgery or alternatives, but you can always ask to be sure.

Tip #2 – Talk to them

Now that you have a list of possible eyebuddies, you want to learn more about where they purchased their eyewear. Ask them where they bought their designer glasses, designer sunglasses or contact lenses. Find out what model their eyewear is (so you can search for it on the web). You can even ask if they remember or know how much they cost. If you have any friends or family going on holiday soon, you can tell them about eyebuddy’s range of sunglasses. If they’re interested, you can invite them and tell them to register through the email!

Tip #3 – Homework

Now you have the model, brand, and price and where they bought it from, you can compare the price they paid with our prices. Our default discount upon registering is just 15%, but with a little help from buddies you can reach 40%. For example, if you find a pair of frames that costs £100 without discount at eyebuddy, by registering you now pay £85. If all your buddies help you, you now pay £60. Does your homework show eyebuddy’s price to be cheaper? If yes, you can help us by spreading the word to your friends and family! Word of mouth can work wonders.

Tip #4 – Word of Mouth

If eyebuddy’s prices are indeed cheaper than its competitors, why not spread the word to your list of names? If your father tells you he got his wonderful glasses from his local opticians for £200 and you find the exact same frame could be bought from eyebuddy for £85, tell him! Everyone loves a bargain; everyone wants savings and plenty of it! Once they’re aware they could save a lot of money by buying glasses direct from eyebuddy, tell them you will send them an invitation by email and tell them to register through it.

Numbers are part of our life. It’s one of the first things we learn at a young age. We’ll use it until the day we die. Numbers surround us in statistics, calculations, finance and time. The big question is how aware of numbers are you?

Did you know?

Instead of raising the price of chocolate bars (which usually doesn’t bode well with customers), chocolate companies have decided to reduce the amount of chocolate per bar but charge you the same price for it.

Some companies sell their own products as “buy 4 items and get 2 free” but in reality, you’re not actually getting anything free. The company has always been selling 6 for the same price, the only difference is buyers are fooled into thinking they got a deal getting 2 items free.

Most people assume buying a product in a larger pack is always cheaper. The fact is, this is not always the case and some people are unaware of this.

True or False?

1. A supermarket sold a tin of sweetcorn for 55p but when you buy 4 of them (in a multipack) it costs an extra 19p at £2.39.
2. Packaging of food greatly affects the prices of food products.
3. You don’t get more when you buy products labelled with “50% extra free”.
4. A supermarket sold packets of peas under the banner “3 for the price of 3”.
5. A supermarket sold a 200g coffee product for £5.79 yet 100g of the same product for £2 each.

The answers are below.

1. True, and both recorded sales. There was no official report on which was the more popular deal.
2. True, a company sold bananas individually wrapped at four-fold the price each banana was normally worth.
3. False, a company is not allowed to falsely advertise and it is considered illegal in most countries.
4. False, completely made up but if it’s true then by all means contact us!.
5. True, again there was no official report on which was more popular with customers.

Don’t be fooled

A lot of companies are clever. They know a deal is what catches a person’s eye. Print out a “3 for the price of 2” and you’ve instantly caught yourself some attention even before they know what the product is! A company selling a 2 litre bottle of cola for £2 may not get many sales. Instead they sell 500ml bottles of the same coke cola for 67p each with an offer of “buy 3 get 1 free”. A lot of people see this as a deal and may be influenced to buy thinking they’ve made a saving. In reality, you’re getting similar amounts for similar prices. Obviously we are not including external reasons for buying 4 bottles over 1 large one.

Discounts you can control!

At eyebuddy, we’re not trying to entice you using devious tricks. At eyebuddy we list you the average price for products that can be found at your local high street optician*. We give you your eyebuddy discounted price, and this discounted price will continue to fall the more you utilise our buddy system. No trickery at all when you have control of the numbers. Cheapest glasses online, big savings and online glasses shopping made easy! Just the way it should be!

* prices may vary depending on the location of your local high street optician.

1. The size of your eye when you were a baby and now are the same.
2. It is safe to look directly at an eclipse with the naked eye.
3. Students pour a shot of vodka into their eyes to achieve an instant high.
4. Around 10 million people in the world are classified as completely blind.
5. People can adjust to wearing inverted glasses (upside down vision).
6. The eye is unable to see the surface of a black hole unassisted.

1. True
The eyes of a baby seem large because the rest of the body has not grown yet. For this reason, the baby eyes are often a huge talking point when describing the baby. People love abnormal baby body sizes such as the huge head in comparison to the body, the large glowing eyes, the chubby cheeks, etc.
(sources: answers.yahoo.com)

2. False
The body has an inbuilt protection system that makes your eye lids close when it is exposed to something dangerous in order to minimise further damage. This happens when you look at the sun; the glare and UV rays trigger this. An eclipse doesn’t completely block the glare of the sun. Safe methods for looking at the sun and eclipse include specially made filters for cameras, projections made by techniques including pinholes and secondary screens or images such as printed pictures. Sunglasses are not made for staring at the sun or eclipse.
(sources: wiki.answer.com)

3. True
Known as vodka eyeballing. It’s not a common practice but is growing in popularity as students seek more extreme ways to enjoy and amuse them. Students do this as it is considered a quicker way to get drunk. This is not a safe practice and is dangerous according to people in the ophthalmic world. Vodka eyeballing can cause eye complications; can lead to blindness or even death although this has not been confirmed.
(sources: dailymail.co.uk)

4. False
The number of people in the world classed as completely blind is over 45 million. This does not include the partially blind (which would raise the total to over 300 million). To put this number into perspective, the approximate population of England is around 60 million. The main causes of blindness are treatable diseases that could have been avoided or treated had people had access to the help, facilities, money, specialists and more. There are fantastic eye vitamins which provide the nutrients your eyes need to help avoid or treat eye diseases such as MacuShield. For more information about eating heathily, click here. For more information about MacuShield, click here.
(sources: rednoseday.com)

5. True
With normal eyesight and no enhancements (no changes to your vision), image upon the retina is inverted. Your brain receives and visualises the images from your eyes upside down. Using this fact, Stratton and Kohler did experiments with inverted glasses to see the effects on the eyes and brain. Movement co-ordination for Kohler and Stratton was difficult at first but after a few days of wearing the inverted glasses, they were able to function normally and even managed to ride a bicycle.
(sources: wearcam.org)

6. True
Keeping it simple, your eyes work by light entering the eye through the cornea and pupil. This light is converted by the brain into an image and this becomes your vision. Black holes don’t reflect light as light can not escape it. This doesn’t mean you can’t detect or see black holes. It’s still possible under certain conditions or with special equipment.
(sources: physicsforum.com)

The three most common diseases/disorders that can cause blindness are cataracts, glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). All 3 are age or time related. In most cases, people can be. You can help prevent or delay the oncoming of disorders by monitoring what you eat. Nutritional value is very important as different foods contain vitamins and nutrients essential for combating any deficiencies of the body.

Doctors and health experts recommend food containing vitamin A, B, C and E, Lutein, Zeaxanthin, Meso-zeaxanthin, zinc and magnesium to be great for the eyes. They say it helps prevent or delay the progress of the diseases/disorders.

Foods with:

With many foods, super foods and vitamin supplements available you should eat these to keep your eyes healthy. They do not guarantee eye disorder protection as some disorders are genetic or happens due to aging but at least they can delay the progress of the diseases. Don’t wait until you see symptoms of eye disorders before you decide to act. Sometimes it may be too late, especially so with glaucoma. Glaucoma makes your vision deteriorate over a long period of time so change is not easily detectable. By the time you’ve noticed, the lost vision cannot be restored. Eat healthily and get your eyes checked regularly at the opticians.

What sunglasses should I buy?

People often look for different qualities in sunglasses such as purpose, comfort, optical quality, UV protection, weight, warranty, price and brand.

Define 'purpose'.

For example, outdoor sportsmen often wear nylon frame sunglasses (flexible frames that don’t snap easily when pressure is applied). There are plenty of sunglasses in various shapes, sizes and colours if you are looking for fashion. If you want sunglasses for sunbathing or hiding your identity, you should go for wide frame sunglasses.

Can you elaborate on comfort?

Think of your clothes. If they are too large and baggy or too small and short, you’ll end up fidgeting with it. It’s the same story with sunglasses. You want a pair that fit well on your head. The nose bridge is also important as they help relieve pressure on your nose and cheeks. The height of the nose bridge is dependent on the size of your nose. Bigger noses need lower bridges, smaller noses need high bridges.

What do you mean by optical quality?

The clarity of vision, contrast and colour distortion of sunglasses. There are many coloured lenses with differing intensities. Grey and green lenses are neutral lenses with no colour distortion. Turquoise lenses increase contrast enhancement without colour distortion. Brown, yellow and orange lenses increase contrast enhancement but have some colour distortion. Blue and purple lenses are for fashion purposes. As for colour intensities, the darker the lens, the less light will pass through. Last of all, glass lenses offer better visual clarity compared with plastic.

What should I know about UV protection?

Not all sunglasses offer the same amount of UV protection. The European Union require sunglasses to have 95% UV protection (this means reflect or block 95% of the harmful UV rays emitted from the sun). Most opticians would recommend 99-100% (also known as UV400). There is no relation between the price of sunglasses and the amount of UV protection. The best sunglasses for UV protection are wide frame sunglasses with lenses that cover the whole of the eye area. A lot of designer brands are UV400 and have these large round frames for sale.

How about the weight of sunglasses?

The weight of the sunglasses depends on the frame and lens. Frames made of metal are heavier than plastic or nylon but there are lightweight titanium metal frames. For lenses, glass lenses are heavier than plastic. Heavy sunglasses will often leave indentation marks on the face upon removal.

What’s the difference between glass and plastic lenses?

The only advantage glass lenses have over plastic lenses is the better clarity of vision. Plastic lenses are lighter than glass, will not smash apart as easily and can be made much thinner.

Anything else you think I should know?

These are probably useless facts to you and me, but it makes an interesting read. Most people admit the look of the sunglasses is the biggest factor when deciding which one to buy. Some people wear sunglasses indoors not because they want the attention but rather, they just don’t want to make eye contact during a conversation. The biggest problem associated with sunglasses is misplacing them and forgetting where they’ve been laid. This is especially common on holiday, so take care when you have a good pair of designer sunglasses. You don't want to lose them!

One of the most important things in the world is communication. Just imagine a world where communication was ceased. We would be living in such a dead world, if living at all. Fortunately for us, there are many ways to communicate with each other. Talking, sign language, body language and reading are just a couple of ways we communicate by.

Many people will agree that the power of words plays a huge influence in our lives. The words that we say or write can have incredible effects on people. Think about the daily news you read, watch or hear. How much of it do you actually believe? It’s true that journalists often write with distorted bias or views based on the editor’s ideals. Whether it’s true or not, it doesn’t stop us reading and believing. That’s how rumours are spread.

Word of mouth, the power of words is behind the creation of rumours. It’s not about how gullible or naïve someone is. In the age of the internet network, rumours can spread across the world within seconds. There was the recent rumour about Facebook, the social network, shutting down in March 2011. People were shocked, scared, confused and even mourning for Facebook. This rumour spread after it was published in a news blog site.

Communication, talking or writing, is generally free. I say generally because there are many pedantic people in this world who would argue their phone bill disagrees with me. Most of us would agree that talking with each other is one of our daily joys in life. Whether it is about the weather, sporting activities over the weekend, complicated issues such as relationships, gossip or just plain chatter about where you got your latest stylish designer glasses from, we all enjoy it.

Word of mouth, the art of passing information to each other, is an ancient technique spanning thousands of years. When people need advice they often sought their family and friends first, and if they’re not the best people to ask they find a professional in the field they require assistance from.

eyebuddy is one of the latest companies to join the band wagon and support ‘Word of Mouth’. By relying on customers spreading the name of eyebuddy to family and friends, we hope to grow and be known this way rather than spend vast sums of money promoting ourselves in expensive advertisements. A lot of companies that advertise themselves regularly recoup the money used for this by marginally increasing the prices of their products and services. This basically means, you, the customer pays for their advertisements. You, the customer pay extra to buy their products or services. At eyebuddy, we don’t choose the route of expensive advertisements. Why should customers pay more for products? By supporting ‘Word of Mouth’, this allows us to sell much cheaper than other shops allowing you, the customer a greater proportion of savings.

If you are satisfied and happy with the services provided by eyebuddy, please help spread the name. The power of words is incredible, but it is only useful when people communicate. This is the eyebuddy way.

Geek chic fashion is a stereotype of what “geeks” wear, such as thick black rimmed glasses, T-shirts with hidden geek in-jokes, childishly cute accessories, etc. For the fashion world, geek chic glamour is gradually changing. It’s no longer about the geek chic clothes or accessories you wear, it’s about the glasses. The geek chic glasses provide a retro yet simplistic look which beautifully accentuates the curves on your face.

The increasing number of celebrities and well known people seen embracing geek chic glasses and sunglasses have pushed it right back on trend. Fashion icons such as David Beckham, Myleene Klass, Johnny Depp, Gok Wan and Jay-Z are big fans of the geek chic look.

Aiden Grimshaw from the X-Factor 2010 series lovin’ his glasses, it compliments his style very well. So, liking geek chic? If you’re interested in the geek chic look, eyebuddy can help you out! You can try the geek chic look from eyebuddy for as little as £5! Here are a few recommended frames of varying prices:

If you want premium geek chic glasses, why not try Christian Dior, the Black Tie series?
BLACK TIE 77 Christian Dior for £123.01

How about the latest Ray Ban geek chic glasses?
5184 New Wayfarer Ray Ban for £92.83

We always save the best till last, the classic “Bill Garre” frames.
Bill Jean Garre for £5 (and £3.95 P&P)

Geek chic is the latest craze and we have the craziest deals to match. Geek chic classic “Bill Garre” frames start from just £5 complete with prescription lenses. It’s a crazy deal. You’d be crazy to miss it! The style embraced and loved by many, so what are you waiting for? Your glasses are waiting.

Many people are aware that the biggest barrier with buying spectacles online is perhaps the absence of the Pupillary Distance (PD) being included within the eye-test prescription. Your PD is simply the physical distance between your pupils which is very important for positioning lenses when making up spectacles/glasses. An accurate PD is very important to ensure clear vision and without it, your eye-sight may well be blurred, including for single vision glasses. The vertical PD is required for Varifocals and Bifocals and for this you need a vertical PD which should include measurements individual to someone’s face and the actual glasses they are buying.

Written prescriptions are compulsory with an eye test, but this does not apply with PD measurement, much to the dismay of customers who find out they are charged extra for this information. The full aim of an optician, to put it bluntly, is an eyetest followed by the sale of their products. When you have an eye test and buy glasses from the opticians, you are in fact paying for 4 services. Firstly you are paying for a prescription from the optician, secondly you are paying for the PD measurement of your eyes, thirdly you are paying for the frame you selected, and lastly the prescription lens you want inserted into your glasses. If the customer decides they want to purchase glasses externally, this means the full aim of services from the optician will not be fulfilled. This results in a loss of possible sales.

When you are buying spectacles from the opticians who just gave you your prescription, they usually don’t charge for the second service, PD measurement.  However, when you choose to buy spectacles externally, opticians will try to recover the loss of possible sales from dispensing glasses to you, they simply include a charge for recording PD measurement. This isn’t against the law and despite pressure from the public, will not be changed by the General Optical Council (GOC).

Most opticians charge between £40 and £70 for your PD measurement, but have been known to charge up to and over £100. Do you really want to pay that much for a measurement you can do yourself? All you need to do is measure the distance between your pupils. For the standard distance PD you should look into the distance (as your pupils will be slightly wider apart this way). The reading PD is usually about 4mm closer than this. If your optician will not provide the measurement and you don’t have a digital camera alternatively you can state “smaller than average PD” or “larger than average PD” on your order so that we can make an educated allowance to optimise your glasses to your needs.

With a patent pending, www.eyebuddy.co.uk the world’s first for measuring your PD online. By uploading a picture of yourself with a ruler, you can easily measure your own PD. eyebuddy believes this simple idea can save you up to £100 from your local opticians charging you extra. Also, by combining your picture with eyebuddy’s virtual try-on system, it is possible to virtually try on different products. We use a picture of your face and then superimpose the different glasses, taking care to measure PD size and orientation correctly.

eyebuddy offer the full range of glasses lenses that includes Zeiss, Seiko, Essilor, Kodak and Hoya at the lowest prices online.

If I said, “I’ll give you £5 for free if you read this to the end”, would you? How about if I added, “no strings attached”? Still not convinced? You’re probably thinking it’s too good to be true. For such a ludicrous offer, there has to be a catch somewhere. Is there something that would benefit me, am I looking to gain something? Back to reality please, we’re talking about you and the free fiver, not about me. If you want something valuable, however, I insist you continue reading to the end.

I’m no story teller but let’s change the idea and scenery. You’re walking alone along a busy street full of people you don’t know. You’re just trying to mind your own business attempting to avoid eye contact with strangers. All of a sudden, your eyes are transfixed on a person wearing a white board with the words, 'ASK ME FOR £5 AND IT’S YOURS' written on it.

Would you ask? Yes? No? Back to reality, it’s always easier to decide in this situation when you’re not actually faced with it. I’m not talking about life and death situations. I’m talking free money, getting a free fiver. How about we make this idea a reality? For those of you relishing the opportunity of taking part in this experiment because you want the fiver, my apologies. I’m no scientist but I can announce this experiment was carried out in London during November 2010.

For 4 hours, a guy wearing a huge white board advertising his offer of free money walked along a busy pedestrian street. Giving meaning to, “does what it says on the tin”, he gave £5 to every person who asked for it. Want to hazard a guess at the number of people who thought outside the box and decided to ask?

Unfortunately I can’t reveal the answer to you. No one really believes statistics anyway, so no one would believe 2,719 people walked past him without a word and only 16 people asked. Ideas and excuses are probably churning up in your mind as you read this. “Maybe those 2,719 people don’t need the money?” or “they were just minding their own business” are just 2 possible reasons you may have thought up along with several more. One of the more plausible reasons would be that people distrust the idea of getting something for nothing. I’m no psychologist but I enjoy saying something controversial like that every now and then. Click here to view the video of the experiment.

To conclude, sometimes giving people free money is simply too difficult. So I’ve decided to lend you my wisdom. In all this doom and gloom, economic crisis and bad weather, if someone wants to give you free money, please take it. It’s a hard ask, I know.

Many people advertise about their products and deals, but they spend money to advertise. They increase the prices of their products by a margin to recoup what they spent on advertising. In other words, you pay for their advertising. At eyebuddy, however, we minimise advertising expenditure and pass the savings onto you for your ‘word of mouth’. As a result, the prices of our designer glasses and designer sunglasses are consistently low. Best of all, with our eyebuddy revolution system, you just continue to save, save and save. You save so much it’s almost the same as giving you free money.

Hopefully you’ll have gained something from reading this blog. If you have any comments, be sure to let me know as I’m no mind reader. I’m just a writer.