Glasses
About Specs
About Frames
About Spectacle Lenses
WHAT ARE FRAMES MADE FROM?
Frames can be made out of metal (pure or alloys), plastics or both. Combination styles may have plastic arms. Some designs are fully rimmed (see our Standard selection) and others are partially rimmed (see our Semi-Rimless selection). Partially or semi-rimmed styles are also known as supra-frames. They generally have no rim along the lower edge of the frame. Popular designs include those by Sakura, Matasa & Scaasi
Some frame designs like Le Vitta are beautifully made with unique pure wood or horn-like temples. These frames are perfect for those looking for something extra special.
Sakura plastic frames have a classical appeal about them and are offered in neutral colour choices of tortoise-shells, blacks and browns.The Sakura rimless Fire range in pure titanium is minimalist, light, strong and timeless.
Brilliantspecs frames offer excellent quality and exceptional value and many are made with silicone nose pads and spring-loaded temples for extra comfort, as standard.
WHICH FRAME STYLE WILL SUIT MY FACE?
Please see our Style Guide
WHAT TYPE OF FRAME SHOULD I CHOOSE IF I HAVE HEAVY, THICK LENSES?
For higher prescriptions the lenses will be more substantial both in weight and thickness. Selecting a Thin lens with higher index such as a 1.6 index lens will minimise this (see About Spectacle Lenses). In addition, the smallest practical frame should also be chosen. The bigger the frame, the heavier and thicker the lenses. Short-sighted individuals especially benefit from a smaller frame as most of their lens thickness is on the outside edge – choosing a smaller frame means this edge is effectively reduced.
I HAVE A VERY SMALL FACE AND CAN'T FIND FRAMES THAT FIT ME.
Most Brilliantspecs frames for smaller faces have Petite next to their name, but a good guide would be to look at the frame size guide provided under our Help page, "Finding the right sized frame" (Note: the guide will assist with frame selection only and does not guarantee a perfect fit): a petite frame is one where the eye size represented by the first two digits in mm is less than 51 and the bridge size (the next two digits) is less than 19. An example of a petite frame is the Matasa Pretty Petite frame with a sizing of 4915130. So the eye size is 49mm and the bridge size is 15mm. The last three digits tells us the length of the arm or side. If too long, this can always be adjusted.
I HAVE A LARGE FACE AND CAN'T FIND A FRAME THAT FITS COMFORTABLY.
Whilst many frames are made to standard sizes, most frames are adjustable. If your ears are further back, ask for the arms of the frame to be adjusted for a better fit. If it pinches slightly at the temples, the distance between the arms increased. If it pinches your cheeks the nose pads can be adjusted to raise the frame. Opticians may charge for adjustments. Using the frame size guide provided under the Help page "Finding the right sized frame" (Note: the guide will assist with frame selection only and does not guarantee a perfect fit) larger frames will have eye sizes above 51mm and bridge sizes greater than 20mm.
IS THERE ANY REASON WHY I CAN'T HAVE RIMLESS FRAMES?
If you have a high amount of astigmatism where lens positioning is of paramount importance, it may be wiser to invest in a fully rimmed frame. As the lens edge thickness is part of the frame structure as screws are drilled into the lens to attach it to the mount, individuals with minus prescriptions are advised not to choose a rimless frame if this value is greater than -4.00 Sph. Some rimless frames have specific prescription compatibility restrictions. Brilliantspecs will advise if this is the case, dependent on the prescription you provide. Should your specs be on and off your face constantly, rimless designs can chip more easily. It would be better to choose a rimmed frame, preferably with spring-loaded sides.
CAN I STILL CHOOSE A METAL FRAME IF I HAVE METAL ALLERGIES?
Yes, titanium frames are available which are 100% hypo-allergenic or allergy-free. Most sufferers of metal allergies are allergic to nickel based frames. Examples of allergy-free frames are Sakura Fire and Takeo Kikuchi Paisley.Allergy sufferers also benefit from plastic frames.
WHAT TYPES OF LENSES ARE AVAILABLE?
Brilliantspecs supply PLASTIC spectacle lenses only. Plastic lenses are less scratch-resistant than glass, but their lightness and impact resistance far outweigh this disadvantage. Plastic has 3 x the impact resistance of glass and is therefore safer to wear.
For no extra charge, standard single vision PLASTIC lenses (also known as single focal lenses) are included with every ophthalmic frame purchased from Brilliantspecs. This lens is also known as 1.49 CR39. The number 1.49 is referred to as the lens index value. The higher this value the thinner the lens becomes, so our thin lenses made in an index of 1.6 are thinner than the 1.49 standard lenses.
Rimless frames are made with polycarbonate lenses as standard except where the supervising optician has decided that a different material would offer better strength for a particular prescription.
Bifocals are supplied in with a D-shaped segment – this is one of the better shapes of bifocals to wear as the image jump effect is minimized when looking from far to near in comparison to other types of bifocals such as round segment bifocals. The size of the bifocal segment is 28mm along its upper border.
WHAT IS A THIN LENS?
The thin lens supplied by Brilliantspecs is a 1.6 index lens. The index value refers to the specific gravity of the lens and the greater this value, the greater the lens material's "light-bending" power. This means that less lens substance is required to achieve the same optical effect and thus the lens is thinner than it would be in a standard 1.49 index material.
WHAT IS ANTI-REFLECTION COATING?
This is a coating that cuts out useless rays of light bouncing off your spectacle lenses. The end result is that you should see more clearly as fewer reflective distractions exist and greater image contrast is obtained. Furthermore, you will look much better when you wear your specs as the traditional “glassy” appearance is eliminated. Photos of you will allow the viewer to see your eyes, as camera flashes will stop reflecting off your lenses! Please remember that this is just a coating and is subject to normal wear and tear - as with all coatings, it will not last forever.
WHAT IS ANTI-SCRATCH COATING?
This is a scratch resistant coating that toughens the outer surface of plastic lenses. This is not the same as “scratch-proof” – in time all coatings come off and the same applies to anti-scratch coats. They add extra durability, but offer enhanced performance when combined with an anti-reflection coating. All Brilliantspecs customers who choose anti-reflection coating get anti-scratch coating as standard for no extra charge.
WHAT ARE LENSES THAT GO DARK IN THE SUN?
These lenses darken when outdoors and lighten when indoors. Originally they were only available in glass form and were known as photochromatic lenses. Brilliantspecs uses Essilor Transitions lenses, available in grey and brown shades. These have all the advantages of plastic lenses in that they are lightweight and safe.
SUNGLASSES AND UV PROTECTION
The sun's ultra-violet (UV) rays are associated with the formation cataracts and the onset of macular degeneration. The continued depletion of the ozone layer in our atmosphere means that we are exposed to increasing levels of UV . Other conditions associated with UV exposure are pterygia and pingueculae - these are areas of raised, discoloured conjunctival tissue. Over-exposure to UV can cause “sunburn” to the eyes. Snow-blindness and Arc Eye due to welder's flash are examples of eye “sunburn”. In addition to a pair of UV-blocking sunglasses, maximise your eyes protection by wearing a hat. Wraparound frames are the best design for ultimate protection. Individuals with blue or light-coloured eyes are more likely to suffer from the effects of UV as they possess less protective melanin pigment in the iris (the coloured part of the eye that acts as a "curtain-like" filter).
BrilliantSpecs has taken every effort to ensure that the information on this website is correct, accurate and up to date. BrilliantSpecs shall not be liable to you where any loss or damage which results from information provided by you that is inaccurate, false or misleading or that otherwise results from a breach by you of the Terms and Conditions. It is your responsibility to ensure that your prescription is valid, up to date and accurate and that you attend regular eye examinations as recommended by your optician.