We realise that not everyone is as spec-crazy as we are. That glasses geekery is not always clear to those beyond our optical bubble. So, for your pleasure, here is our alphabet of handy terminology from the wonderful world of eyewear. Allez!

A for ACETATE

We use this hypoallergenic plant-based material for our non-metal frames. It’s less brittle and more durable than plastic, so voilà lightweight, flexible glasses! Soon we’re switching to bio-acetate made from renewable sources – watch this space.

B for BLUE LIGHT LENSES

These are designed to block the blue light our eyes receive from the digital screens we stare at so much these days. Screens expose us to less blue light than daylight does, but many people find these lenses can help to ease eye strain and fatigue. See also LIGHT RESPONSIVE LENSES.

C for CYLINDER

Ever wondered what on earth this is doing on your prescription? The cylinder relates to the presence of astigmatism in your eye and the amount of lens power needed to correct it. You have astigmatism when your eye is shaped more like a rugby ball than a round football – this can cause blurry vision or eye strain because light focuses in more than one place.

D for DETAIL

At bloobloom we pride ourselves on being spectacle nerds. Whether that means sourcing the most durable hinges to make your glasses last, or testing umpteen types of acetate to find the perfect sheen, we always go big on the little details.

E for EYES

Hey there blue eyes! Did you know you’re linked to the same ancestor as every other blue-eyed person IN THE WORLD? Once upon a time, we all had brown eyes – until blue eyes suddenly showed up as a genetic mutation in a single person. Fact.

F for FIT

Your glasses need to fit really well in order to feel comfortable and correct your vision properly (bien sûr.) So it’s important to check if the frames are too tight or loose behind your ears, if the TEMPLES are too long or short, and if the frame sits crookedly or slides down your nose. Happily, these are all simple issues to adjust.

G for GLASSES

Whether you’re a life-long wearer or new to the glasses gang, welcome! Look no further for stylish, ethical and affordable frames. We do sunglasses too.

H for HOME TRY ON

Sometimes it can be hard to find your ideal glasses – that’s why we offer this handy option. Choose 5 frames from our website and try them on at home (or anywhere else) over a period of 5 days, then send them back. The whole process costs nothing (free shipping both ways) and there’s no obligation. If you DO fall for a frame, just place your order and we’ll make up a shiny new pair with your prescription.

I for INDEX

In the wonderful world of specs, the index relates to how a lens bends (or refracts) light, which depends on how thick it is. People with a stronger prescription often opt for high-index lenses because they’re thinner and lighter – they can look less obtrusive and fit more smoothly into your chosen frame.

J for JOB

Chez bloobloom, a job is what we call it when we cut a pair of lenses in our lab. Exciting tech jargon, if you will. We like jobs.

K is for KEYHOLE BRIDGE

A keyhole bridge is a classic curved feature you find in the centre of many of our acetate frames (Maestro, Architect, Believer, Diva). By helping place the weight of the glasses at the side rather than on top of the nose, it provides more space for a comfy fit on the wider-nosed wearer.

L for LIGHT RESPONSIVE LENSES

These clever lenses quickly adapt to changes in light conditions. When you’re indoors, they’re completely clear, but the minute you come into contact with the UV rays of bright natural light, they subtly darken. Voilà!

M for MYOPIA

If you haven’t heard this before, it’s another word for NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS. Which comes next, luckily.

N FOR NEAR-SIGHTEDNESS

People who are near-sighted (or short-sighted) struggle to see things which are far away. It’s pretty common and often diagnosed when someone can’t read the board at school, or the TV screen starts to look a bit blurred.

O for OPTICIAN and OPTOMETRIST

First things first, these are not the same thing. If you’re going to put your precious eyes in someone’s hands, how can they help?

The person who tests your eyes is likely to be an optometrist, a highly trained specialist who’s well-versed in eye health and can prescribe glasses and contact lenses. Meanwhile, a dispensing optician takes the prescription your optometrist creates and works with you to advise on and fit your glasses or lenses.
Clearer?

P for PUPILLARY DISTANCE

This is the distance between your pupils in millimetres. It’s important for ensuring that the centre of each lens lines up with the centre of your pupils, especially in high-strength prescriptions.

Q for QUALITY

We’ve already mentioned our love of DETAIL but we’re pretty fixated on quality too. From the provenance of our materials to the care in our craftsmanship, we work hard to give you great glasses.

R for READING GLASSES

We all think we’ll never need ‘em, yet so many of us do…. If you don’t need full prescription lenses quite yet but could do with some help for close-up tasks, these humble game-changers make focusing on tiny text easy-peasy.

S for SINGLE-VISION

This type of lens corrects your vision at the same strength across the entire lens. If you only need glasses for certain tasks, such as reading or driving, they’re designed to work specifically for that purpose. If you need your lenses to work a little harder, check out VARIFOCALS.

T for TEMPLE

The temples are the hinged ‘arms’ at the side of your glasses which run from the main frame to behind your ears.

U for UV

When we think about UV light – UVA and UVB rays from the sun – it’s usually in relation to protecting our skin. But they can also damage our eyes, and not just on sunny days when we pop on our sunglasses. That’s why all our glasses, not just sunglasses, come with 100% UV protection built-in.

V for VARIFOCALS

These are multifocal lenses designed to correct your vision at different distances – such as for close reading, computer work or driving – all within the same lens. If you want to say au revoir to carrying around multiple pairs of specs, read our beginner’s guide to varifocals.

W for WIRES

We mentioned TEMPLES (the side arms of your glasses) above, but did you know that wires run inside each one to hold the temple in shape? And at bloobloom, we customise the wires so you get temples that are good-looking as well as strong.

X for X-RATED

Sadly, lockdown may be putting us at risk of what one eyewear expert has coined ‘Porn Eye’, due to the vast increase in our screen viewing, particularly on mobile. Whatever you’re watching, please look after your eyes and practise the 20:20:20 method: Every 20 minutes look at something at least 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds.

Y for YOU

Of course it is… We wouldn’t have made it this far on the bloobloom journey without your eyes and your fabulous support. Merci beaucoup!

Z for ZEN

That feeling you get when you find your perfect glasses chez bloobloom… And relax.

Merci.

PHOTOS: bloobloom