2019 is all about the year of new experiences and changes. I’m back to my bucket list goal of doing something new every week of the year. These new things are not necessarily experiences and one of the things I decided to change this year were my glasses. It might seem like an insignificant thing for some but for those who have to wear them on a daily basis, it’s not. I’ve never liked wearing glasses because I’ve been obligated to wear them my whole life. Truthfully when I was a kid glasses weren’t considered fashionable and I’ve always relied on my contact lenses to feel good and confident about my looks as silly as it sounds. Out of my own choice I’ve decided to have an eye operation this year which means I won’t be able to wear my lenses for a whole 2 months at least! This prompted me to actually reconsider the glasses that I wear and look for something that actually makes me feel nice.
This time I didn’t want to go to the usual chain opticians I’ve gone to in the past and sought out a more personalised experience to help me find the right pair. Having passed Eyeworks in Gloucester Road a few times, I was drawn to it’s welcoming atmosphere and unique variety of frames. We decided to work together for this review and kicked off the process of getting new glasses.
I was invited in for an eye examination with Brenda. The appointment felt very thorough, un-rushed and informative. What I really enjoyed was the full transparency. Each result that was shown from the test was actually explained and visually presented. Brenda is very knowledgeable and happy to answer your questions. Furthermore my records were sent to my email.
The next step was to pick out the frames where I had the help of a lovely staff member called Amiee. I am the most indecisive person when it comes to these things and picking frames was no different. Amiee was very patient, attentive and also very honest about her feedback on each frame.
I finally ended up picking a pair from Oliver Peoples, an LA eye wear brand. The pair I picked out has an edgy vintage look with black circular frames, a golden bridge and temple. I absolutely love the glasses!
It took a good few days for my eyes to get used to the glasses but it’s very normal with any pair. As I’m on the go and travel a lot I decided to also give transition lenses a go, which cost an additional £75 which I can say is well worth it.
On my first few travels this year I’ve loved the convenience of not having to switch between glasses and lenses + sunglasses. I also really like the way they look as sunglasses with black shades, or even in mid transition with a light grey tone.
Having experienced my first ever independent optician, here are the three big differences I noticed with Eyeworks.
– Individually selected frames. They sell brands and frames which you wouldn’t typically find at your high street opticians. The range at Eyeworks is quirky, colourful and fun along with your usual stylish and traditional frames of course.
– You don’t feel any kind of sales approach, rather, you’re advised honestly about what the best option is for you.
– A boutique optician offers a more personalised experience which is noticeable, each time you visit you encounter familiar faces and as the team is smaller, enquiries get dealt with so much quicker. The process and communication from begging to end was very smooth.
I’m so happy with the service and the glasses. I couldn’t have asked for a better experience and can definitely wear glasses with pride going forward. I’m no longer bummed about having to wear them for two months straight. Thank you to the lovely team at Eyeworks, I highly recommend them.
{Disclosure: Glasses were gifted but all opinions remain my own}
