Most on-line spectacle companies sell hi-index lenses, as we do. What are they? And why have them? They are normally used for people that have higher prescriptions as they have similar optical qualities but are made from a more dense material so are thinner for the same power. In plastic we sell 1.50 (standard) 1.60 (thin plastic) 1.67 (super thin) and 1.74 (ultra thin). The higher the index the thinner the lens. 1.74 is the thinnest plastic available at the moment. The more dense the material the more reflections you get fom the lens surfaces, which is why all the hi-index lenses come with anti-glare/scratch included in the price. We have included photos showing all 4 different index lenses that we sell. All the lenses are the same power, that way you can see how much thinner they are! We can do hi-index/thin lenses in single vision as shown or in varifocals, where the effect is just the same.

1. This one shows a standard 1.50 index next to a 1.60 Thin lens  150-vs-160.JPG

2. This one shows a standard 1.50 index next to a 1.67 Super Thin lens  150-vs-167.JPG

3. This one shows a standard 1.50 index next to a 1.74 Ultra Thin lens  150-vs-174.JPG

4. This one shows all four lenses together  all-4.JPG

You can have your varifocals reglazed!  If it is an existing frame we can take the measurement from them and position the new lenses in exactly the same position. If it is a new frame that you want reglazing we can take the positional measurements from an existing pair and duplicate for the new frame. If you are a first time wearer, then we suggest you utilize the services of your Opticians to do this, when you want another pair come to us. We rang around today to give you an idea of the equivalent High Street costs in Red and ciliaryblue in Blue      

Premium Varifocal  uncoated                                       £80-130                           £45       

Premium Varifocal standard index MAR/HC                  £160-270                         £75

Premium Varifocal Reactions MAR/HC                           £200-310                         £120

Elite Varifocal Standard Index MAR/HC                         £180-270                         £100

Elite Varifocal 1.60 Index MAR/HC                                £230-340                         £140

Elite Varifocal 1.67 Reactions MAR/HC                          £300-490                         £200

The Elite varifocal is from the new ‘Free form’ design that has the best visual performance less distortions and  are currently the best lenses available, we use WLC lenses or Jai Kudo for these. The premium varifocal offer great value but without the ultimate visual performance of the Elite lenses. This is only a few examples so  go to the varifocals pricelist at  link:   http://www.ciliaryblue.com/varifocal_pricelist.html    or email to info@ciliaryblue.com for details.

18/06/10  One cusotmer today order two pairs and saved an astonishing £305 on the quoted high street price! Lucky she didn’t go to Specsavers!

Buying glasses is not just about choosing frames, it’s about the sight test, the lenses, the frames etc etc..the whole process.

Open the link, read it and save yourself some money.    Buying Glasses- the whole process

Tesco Opticians has really thrown the cat among the pigeons by offering a free sight test to all. Those that are entitled on the NHS to a free test will still receive this, but those private patients that would normally pay between £10 and £40 will now not have to pay. It remains to be seen if other optical chains follow suit, though I doubt it as it may potentially hit their revenue too hard, especially those that have a high volume of sight tests.

This does though mean, that you, the customer can now go in, have your eyes tested for free, walk away with your prescription and use the internet for new glasses or use us to reglaze and increase the saving even further. This is a great step forward for the consumer and good news for internet based companies like ours!

Martin Lewis was on GMTV talking about this this morning, see the link below:

http://www.gm.tv/videos/?vxClipId=1441_gmtv_8506

Sorry about the advert for M&S flowers at the beginning!

Its now time to think about having reactions lenses, before the summer starts? They are faster reacting, available in grey/brown and combined with anti-glare/scratch coating are fantastic lenses. They will protect your eyes from all harmfull UV and we can get them in single vision, bifocal and varifocal. Have a look at the prices as they are very competitive and out-strip the High Street easily, for exactly the same product! (We charge often less than ½)

                                                                                                       ciliaryblue         High Street

Single Vision 1.56 index reactions with anti-glare/scratch               £60                £140-160

Bifocal 1.56 index reactions with anti-glare/scratch                         £105                £165-230

Varifocal 1.56 index transitions with anti-glare/scratch                    £120               £240-350

Don’t wait until the sun is shining, have them reglazed now! Our unique service makes it easy and trouble free to reglaze your glasses, email or ring for enquiries.

email: info@ciliaryblue.com

tel: 01455 290675

Very rarely are we shocked here when we’re told of the prices charged on the high street for lenses, but today that changed.

I spoke with someone today who had a low prescription and wanted coated lenses  (anti-glare/scratch) and was quoted a cost of £115 from D&A,  we charge only £25 for the same thing, that makes them over 4 times more expensive!!

Please please, when you have your eyes tested, shop around for the lenses, print up our price list and take it with you for a guide!

Happy New Year to you all.

It has been noted by at least one High Street optical retailer that there has been an increase in the sales of monocles, we have also noticed the change. We have supplied the lenses for The Vintage Shirt Company in Lewes, East Sussex who have had many monocles glazed with high quality optical lenses to be used a standard reading lens. We have also supplied full precription lenses with all the necessary coatings for customers’ own monocles!

We don’t need to have sales or special offers, our prices are really cheap all year round. What could be more refreshing than not having to worry about the cost of changing your lenses, weather they are single vision, bifocals or even varifocals. Have them tinted, coated with anti-glare or anti-scratch have reactions, the options are limitless!

So flush out those preconceptions that the internet is not safe for this type of purchase, it is! Once done this way, it will change the way you buy glasses for ever.

So from all at ciliaryblue do have a fantastic new Year, we hope to hear from you in 2010!

We have been offering our spectacle refurbishment package for £5, to be done when we reglaze your glasses for some time now. More and more people are choosing this as an option as they want to recycle their older well worn frames. We will ultra-socically clean the frames, replace nose pads, supra cables, end tips, screws etc. This can really make your old glasses feel like new.

We don’t sell frames, just the lenses and the reglazing service. When the customers send their glasses in to be reglazed they have to send in their prescription too, so that we can confirm that what they entered on-line was correct.

We decided to carry out a survey and see which high street Opticians were the most common to be used for a reglaze with us.

The list is as follows,

1. Vision Express                            23%                                      
2. Specsavers                                 21
3. Boots                                           15
4. Dolland & Aitchison                      14
5. Independents                              14
6. Optical Express                             8
7. Other small chains                        5

It is significant that Vision Express are at the top of the list, they don’t perform any where near as many tests as Specsavers, but the comments we received from customers were that their prices were so high that they just couldn’t afford it.  Cost was also an issue with Boots and D&A. The comments regarding Specsavers, were their refusal to reglaze existing frames, cost and the wastage of the 241 deals that are constantly pushed.

The general consensus is cost, particularly when you consider we are often less that 1/2 the price, rising to savings of hundred of pounds. The public are now far more aware that this service is available and that it is safe and professional.

Have a look at our prices and go for a reglaze, ring or email if you need any questions answering.

Phone 01455 290675      

Email info@ciliaryblue.com      

Prices http://www.ciliaryblue.com/single_pricelist.html