11 Statement-Making Glasses That Are Cooler Than Shades

If you’re reading this article with your very own eyes, take a moment to appreciate the way they’re transmitting these wise words from your screen to your brain. (And maybe also the glasses or contact lenses that are helping them out!) We don’t often think about how much we rely on our vision, at least not until we find ourselves straining to see something that used to be in focus. Everyone’s eyesight naturally deteriorates over time, but here are five habits that can speed up that process. Snap out of them now and keep your eyes in tip-top shape for as long as possible.

1. Smoking: Yes, smokers, we know you probably feel like everyone is nagging you to quit these days, but your optometrist is on that list too. “Smoking increases the risk of cataracts, which cause the lens of the eye to go from clear to cloudy, and age-related macular degeneration, a condition affecting the macula (the part of the eye used for central vision) which can lead to vision loss,” explains Dr. Monica Nguyen, an optometrist practicing in New York City. “There is also research indicating a possible association between smoking and retinal ischemia, where blood vessels that course through the optic nerve to supply the eye are blocked up. Specifically, in central retinal vein occlusion, there is an obstruction of the central retinal vein to the optic nerve of the eye, causing loss of blood flow to the eye and vision loss.” At the very least, she adds, “Smoking also increases dry eye symptoms for the smoker and from secondhand smoke.” Just one more reason to ditch your cigarettes: If you’re struggling to quit, check out resources here. Your eyes will thank you.

2. Refusing to Wear Your Glasses: Maybe you suffered through years of taunts at school, or maybe you just can’t ever seem to remember where you left them. But wearers of glasses who want to protect their current eyesight should be committing to using them as needed to prevent eye strain. Dr. Ming Wang, an eye surgeon in Nashville, TN, urges, “Glasses with the correct prescription provide the most comfortable vision to reduce eye strain and over-focusing. Not wearing glasses can put eyes through unnecessary stress and lead to the development of headaches and eye fatigue.” You might also have heard that wearing glasses makes your eyes weaker, or that not wearing them when you need them forces your eyes to get stronger. “This is not the case,” Wang assures us. “Glasses are generally correcting for a mismatch between the curve on the front of the eye, the power of lens in the eye, and length of the eye. These physical parameters are relatively fixed after adolescence and are not significantly affected by wearing glasses or contact lens.”

You don’t necessarily have to wear your glasses all the time — just when you need them. Nguyen adds, “People who have a low, nearsighted prescription such as -2.00 may find they only need glasses for seeing things at a distance, but not for something close like looking at a computer, whereas people who are farsighted, such as +3.00, will find they need the glasses all the time for seeing things up close, because without them they have increased eye strain and blurry vision.”

While we’re talking about tools that help your eyesight, a bonus bad habit you’re going to want to break is accidentally leaving your contact lenses in overnight. Nguyen recommends taking them out at least an hour before bed: “Sleeping in contact lenses is a problem because it causes oxygen deprivation to the front surface of the eye, the cornea,” she advises. “It also causes corneal edema, or swelling of the cornea, and neovascularization, which is an increase in blood vessels that causes red eyes. These all can result in dryness, discomfort, redness, and blurry vision.” Please remind your 2am self of this, for the sake of your 10am self.

3. Neglecting Your Veggies: Specifically, veggies containing vitamins that provide antioxidants. Wang explains, “Antioxidants may help to delay the formation of cataracts, macular degeneration, and other eye conditions. Leafy green vegetables such as kale, spinach, and arugula, and colorful fruits such as blueberries, raspberries, cherries, and cranberries are excellent sources of these vitamins.” And while we’re sending you to the grocery store, throw in some sources of omega-3, especially if you’re prone to dry eyes. Dr. Jeff Anastasio and Dr. Shelly Anastasio, both optometrists at Louisiana Family Eyecare, confirm, “Omega-3 has a proven positive effect on dry eye. It’s found in a variety of products including fish oil, krill oil, and flaxseed oil. For someone with dry eyes, we recommend 1,000 to 2,000 mg a day, depending upon the severity of the condition.”

4. Forgetting Your Sunglasses: No matter the time of year, do yourself a favor and put on your UV-blocking shades before heading outside. Nguyen cautions, “Long-term exposure [to UV radiation] can cause growths on the front surface of the eyes called pterygiums; cataracts; macular degeneration; and damage to the retina. The sun can also cause cancerous growths on the eyelid and premature aging of skin structures surrounding the eye.” That damage can happen in winter too: 80 percent of the sun’s UV rays can pass through clouds, so you still need protection even on gray days. And if you’re somewhere snowy, you’re at risk of keratitis, AKA snow blindness, a temporary but painful condition caused by sunburn on your cornea. Much better to get into the habit of remembering your shades.

5. Staring at a Screen With No Breaks: If you’ve been staring at this screen for so long you can’t remember when you last looked at something in 3D, it’s time you took a break (right after you finish this article, of course). Dr. Justin Bazan, an optometrist and the health ambassador for The Vision Council (TVC), points to research by TVC which found that about 80 percent of American adults surveyed used digital devices for more than two hours a day, and 59 percent reported symptoms of eye strain caused by those devices. “After a couple of hours of looking at a digital device such as your computer or phone, your eyes become irritated and sore and feel fatigued, and vision blurs,” Bazan warns.

It’s not that screens specifically cause these symptoms, as the Anastasios explain: “The computer doesn’t actually create the eye strain; It’s looking at the same close object for such a long period of time.” To solve this, they recommend short but regular breaks: “Every 20 minutes, take a 20- to 30-second break from the screen to look at something further than 20 feet away.”

Another issue caused by regular screen usage is dry eye. “When focusing on your device for a long period of time, your blink rate is dramatically decreased,” the Anastasios caution. “This can cause a significant case of dry eye due to decreased tear production and decreased oil secretion by the Meibomian glands.” Fortunately, Nguyen reassures us, “Staring at a computer screen does not cause permanent damage to the eyes.” Break the habit, and give your eyes a break.

Do you have specs appeal? Show us your eyesight-saving shades @BritandCo.

(Photo via Getty)

Accessories are the key to taking every outfit from basic to bombshell. Sure, our love affair with signet rings and statement earrings runs deep, but we especially live for eyewear for its practicality and fashion factor. And if anyone knows about stylish glasses, it’s identical twin designers Corianna and Brianna Dotson. Better known as Coco and Breezy, the pair launched their eyewear line in 2009 (at just 19 years old!) and have since designed for celebs including Beyoncé and Prince, all the while not-so-casually deejaying on the side. Keep reading to learn how the dynamic duo designed their first pair of frames, their own Parent Trap moments, and the styles people are always asking them about.

B+C: You both have incredible style, so why eyewear?

Coco: Our love for eyewear stemmed from when we were young and used to collect it all the time. Growing up in Minnesota, there were people that were very prejudiced, and we were bullied. Wearing eyewear was a really big shield for us. We wore sunglasses in class because we felt like when we put them on we were our alter egos, Coco and Breezy, who were fearless and ready to conquer the world. But whenever we had to make eye contact with people without glasses on, we were really insecure and super shy. Once we figured out that glasses weren’t just for protection, we not only wanted to make people look stylish but also protect their eyes from UV rays and really focus on eye health.

B+C: What was the very first pair you designed?

Breezy: The very first pair we designed was in our mom’s living room. I took a stud off of one of my personal studded belts with pliers and then glued it onto some safety goggles. I thought it was the coolest sh*t ever at the time.

B+C: Which of your favorite styles are people obsessed with right now?

Breezy: The Chaska ($249). I have these gold transition lenses, so it’s super cool that inside they’re clear and when I go outside they turn into this beautiful, mirrored lens.

Coco: The Richfield ($249). The best part about them is that the frame is so gold that I really don’t have to think about my outfit too much. I can throw on a white T-shirt and some jeans, and then my shiny gold frames are my jewelry piece.

B+C: Which celeb was the most exciting to work with?

Coco: Prince. It was very impactful because we got to spend a lot of time with him. We worked with him to make 200 limited-edition third-eye sunglasses. He wore them on his last few TV appearances and an album cover.

B+C: What personal style mantra do you live by?

Breezy: Do it for yourself. With social media there’s a lot of pressure, especially with young girls, to look a certain way or to have their bodies a certain way, or to feel like they have to wear certain brands.

Coco: Mentally we need to just erase that pressure of social media and truly do things that make you happy. It’s not about the brands you wear but how you mix and match pieces.

B+C: What’s your favorite part about being twins?

Breezy: When you’re going through the journey of being an entrepreneur, you have so many ups and downs and so many emotions going. If you have a twin, you have someone there that can just bring you up and can read you.

What item are people always asking you about? ‘Gram what’s good and tag us @BritandCo!

(Photos via Denzel Golatt)

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