If you’ve started to see things a little out of focus or have trouble reading small letters, you are not alone. In 2021, the Vision Council – an association of manufacturers and suppliers of the optical industry – revealed that nearly 200 million Americans (or 75.6 percent of the entire US population), are vision correction users. Of this number, 166.5 million are using Rx Eyeglasses.

Back in the day, people were embarrassed to wear glasses. Remember when they were associated with high school nerds? But today glasses are cool, and you can even see celebrities and Hollywood stars wearing them on the red carpet. So there’s no more reason to avoid buying your first pair.

Being a significant purchase, and something that will also change your style going forward, it can feel daunting and perhaps overwhelming to find the right eyeglasses for you. Let’s take a look (no pun intended) at four tips to make sure you invest your money well.

1. Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam
The facilities of the modern world have led more and more people to buy glasses online. A 2020 survey revealed that 44 percent of Ãmericans used the internet by searching for help in their acquisition of eyeglasses, and 4.1 percent of them bought their eyewear directly through an online retailer.

The problem with this practice is that you may be buying the glasses more for the look and beauty of the design than for your real need, which is to correct a vision deficiency. So make sure you have the right prescription before you even start looking for models.

Visit an optometrist first of all to get the right prescription. An eye exam is less complex and invasive than it sounds and will test your visual acuity at a distance and near. According to the need, the specialist may also order other tests. 

At the end of the consultation, you will know exactly what type of lenses you will need for your new pair of glasses, avoiding buying the wrong type and further damaging your eyesight.

2. Decide What Type of Glasses You Need
Once you have the right prescription you can start thinking about what your first pair of glasses will look like. Remember that from now on it will become part of your life, your wardrobe, and especially your face. 

The eyeglasses that look amazing on your favorite celebrity’s face can be too big, too small, or just wrong on you. So consider the following factors when choosing yours:

• The frames should match your face shape, otherwise, the glasses will stand out for the wrong reasons.
• The color of the frames should also match your skin tone.
• Choose a style that matches your lifestyle (more sporty, more formal for work, etc).
• The look of the glasses should also match your personality, so don’t go overboard with colors or sizes.
• If you change your mind and style often, consider keeping a small collection of frames on hand.

3. Consider Your Budget
Eyeglasses are considered stylish accessories today. This means that prices can vary from a few tens of dollars to $1,000 or more, depending on factors such as type of frame, lenses, name brands, etc. The average price for glasses in the US is around $200 nowadays.

To make sure your first pair is within your budget, here are the main factors that impact their price:

• Lens type
• Frame material
• The store where you buy them.
• Your insurance plan (or lack of one.
• The brand

And always be careful with inexpensive products. Although more affordable and accessible, cheap glasses can break easily or don’t match your prescription, which will require a bigger investment in a new pair in no time.

4. Make Sure to Take Care of Your Glasses
Using glasses, you’ll need to be extra-careful when playing sports or if you usually sleep while watching TV. Glasses are fragile and break easily. To make matters worse, you can irreparably damage the lenses and be forced to spend a lot of money on new ones.

Here are a few tips on how to take care of eyeglasses for those who are just starting to use them:

• Clean the lenses with running water, dish detergent, and a clean cloth.
• Do not use your own clothes to do this, as this could scratch the lens beyond repair.
• Always remove your glasses with both hands to prevent the arms from being misaligned over time.
• Avoid touching the lenses with your fingers; if you do so by accident, clean them immediately.
• Never throw your eyeglasses around: rest them with the frames up.
• Carry your glasses in a case instead of putting them in your pocket.
• Take off your glasses when showering, swimming, or sleeping.
• If you need glasses to play sports, buy a model suitable for this (and therefore more resistant).

See the World With New Eyes
Those times when people with glasses were called “four-eyes” are long gone. Today eyeglasses are refined accessories that are always in fashion. That’s why choosing your first pair, and the right model to match your style and personality, can be an experience as cool and exciting as it is challenging. 

Modern eyeglasses go beyond their basic function of correcting vision and are like fashion or designer clothing. When chosen well, they flatter your face and body type and show the world firsthand what your style is.

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