Eyedolatry: Transitions

Transitions + Project Runway Design to See The World Differently

Fashion and design are all about seeing something new in every day things, re-imagining the world and creating a new vision of reality. No wonder a partnership between Project Runway (going 15 seasons strong this year) and Transitions lenses were such perfect partners. This year Transitions sponsored a challenge early in the season where contests had to create a look that transformed from light to dark. The winner Erin Robertson created a demure pastel dress in baby blue that transformed into a punky neon confection under the blacklight. No surprise her designs have won her a trip to the show's fashion week finale (Part 1 airs December 15 and Part 2 will air on December 22 on Lifetime). Transitions lenses are all about changing your vision of the world too: adapting in changing light levels from clear to shaded to prevent sun damage, squinting and light sensitivity, enhancing contrast vision with color tints in gray, brown, and green, and protecting your eyes from strain and fatigue caused by the high energy blue light coming off computer screens, fluorescent lighting, and digital devices.

This season has been filled with great eyewear, as always led by the impeccable Tim Gunn (a veteran Transitions Brand Ambassador). “There’s a lot that goes into picking the perfect frame, but picking the perfect lens is a snap. Transitions bring function to the fashion world,” says Gunn. “They fit seamlessly into any lifestyle and keep you seeing and looking your best in any light.”

Loving Tim Gunn's new eyewear this season - gone are the aging rimless frames, replaced with a much more youthful black zyl. But he's still the thoughtful, constructively critical Tim we all know and love. via

There were plenty of glasses fashion moments to crush on this season. Erin Robertson led the pack with a statement pair of round mixed-metal frames.

And just to cement her throne as eyewear fashionista of the season, she threw in some truly funky hot pink sunglasses at the cocktail party challenge.

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Let's give some love to contestants Jenni Riccetti and finale contender Roberi Parra for rocking the browbar trend. These frames are perfect to wear as both clear and tinted for a truly versatile fashion statement.

Browbar inspiration

Transitions sent optician and Brand Ambassador Sheena Taff of Roberts and Brown Opticians to Project Runway's home base in NYC to see the designs and designers first hand. Like the designers on the show, Sheena sees her life as an optician and glasses wearer as an opportunity to bring personality and art into the world. "I believe that having to wear glasses is not a burden but an opportunity to express your personal style. The fashion world has never been so intertwined in the optical industry. Designers both internationally known and independent continue to push the boundaries to create new styles to keep eyeglass wearers building a frame wardrobe that your shoe collection will envy. I have the daily pleasure of opening the eyes of eyeglass wearers to the joys of fashion based optical options."

As a brand ambassador for Transitions, Taff felt her mission was to change the sometimes limited views her customers held about the benefits of Transitions lenses. "It struck me that people’s perception of what Transitions lenses are and what they do was often outdated and incorrect. Transitions are such a multi-use product and I feel that this is a selling feature for millennials. Millennials are bred into a culture where everything must do more. Your phone is your camera, is your computer, is your datebook, is your bank (or wallet). Even your high heels and dress shoes have running shoe technology built into them. Our culture is not necessarily moving into a view of more is less-- quite the contrary. I think our young consumer-driven society is seeking adaptable products that have increased value with multiple uses, and Transitions lenses certainly check this box with not only comfort characteristics, but health benefits"

When the Transitions episode aired, Taff was one of the brand ambassadors invited to come to NYC for the episode viewing party to celebrate Transitions and help spread the word about the new innovations in lens technology. "I am an admitted Project Runway super fan and fashion junkie; my first thought was what would I wear?!"

Held at Hearst Tower in NYC, the viewing party was a collaboration between Transitions, Project Runway, and Marie Claire magazine. "It was a surreal feeling to enter the lobby: gone was the hustle and bustle of the day and the ascension to the top floor where the event was held was a giddy solo elevator ride. It was a new experience for me to look down on the streets of NYC from the towering top floor. With a glass of wine in hand and a floor to ceiling window showcasing a clear night, l felt like I was living someone else’s life. A pinch yourself moment. This feeling only became more overwhelming when meeting Project Runway contestant and the Transitions inspired challenge winner Erin Robertson. Erin is kind and humble; you get the impression that she has been propelled into the spotlight and hasn’t lost any of her true self. She even made the dress she was wearing on the night of the event, telling me she felt like she should wear something she made to the event, so she whipped up the dress she was wearing the night before!"

"On display was Erin’s winning dress. Out of many designs on Project Runway through the seasons, this dress was a particular pleasure to see in person. On a sheer fabric baby doll dress, Erin had meticulously created her own pattern by cutting and gluing an intricate design out of beaded trimmings, so seeing it up close showed a dimension and intricacy you couldn’t see on TV. After the episode was shown I had the opportunity to meet Coco and Breezy, twin eyewear designers and Transitions Brand Ambassadors, and try on a few of their fashion forward frames. My evening ended with a stroll through Time Square, past the very landmarks that make New York City so famous."

A big congrats to Sheena Taff for being nominated as the 2016 Transitions Brand Ambassador of the year!

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Prescribing Glasses for Kids

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Common misconception: a glasses prescription isn't a finite, objective number. We don't use a machine to measure your eye and spit a number that's immutable and definite -- if we did it wouldn't look that great to you, the wearer. The visual system is so complex, involving not just the eye itself but the muscles in and around the eye and the visual cortex of the brain, that a measurement of the eye is just one component to a successful glasses prescription. When prescribing for children, doctors are at a distinct disadvantage because the subjective responses of the patient can be unreliable or just plain unusable. Some kids are shy; some are scared; some really, really, really want glasses. The latter are one of the most challenging because as a concerned parent you might worry something must be horribly wrong; your child can't even see the big E! And then of course the doctor tells you "nope all fine, no glasses here" to the wail of your child's disappointment. Today we're talking the art of prescribing for kids -- when to prescribe, what to prescribe, and how to get kids that need glasses wearing them!

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Don't Under Minus

Parents often worry that their child's prescription is changing too fast, and some may even ask the doctor to cut back their child's Rx so it's not "too strong." But a prescription that is under minused in school aged children (made weaker on purpose) is much worse for the developing eye than one that corrects vision clearly. A 2002 study proved that undercorrecting near sighted children by +0.75D caused their eyes to worsen faster than if they were prescribed their full strength prescription. Scientists theorize that the presence of any blurred vision causes children's eyes to change at a faster speed. Prescribing the full amount to achieve 20/20 vision in near sighted (myopic) school-aged children is the best approach. Remind parents that if their child complains of changing vision in 6 months, go ahead and schedule a follow-up appointment to get things rechecked. It's better to adjust their glasses mid year to achieve clarity than to let them go another 6 months with blurry vision with that risk of accelerated rate of myopic progression. For more on myopia control check this post.

Don't Over Plus

It's normal for especially young children to be farsighted (hyperopic). Studies show the average newborn has just over 2.00D of hyperopia and the average 2 year old has just over 1.00D. The range of acceptable variability where a child would still be expected to have normal visual function is wide. When to prescribe?

For 1- 4 year old patients prescribe if Rx > +3.50 D; Cut Rx by 1.00D

For 4-5 year old patients prescribe if Rx > +2.50 D; Cut Rx for 1.00D

For 6 and up prescribe if Rx > +1.50 D or if pt is symptomatic; no cut in Rx necessary

It's important to cut back the prescription in young hyperopic patients to encourage the chance that the patient's eyes will normalize to zero as they continue to grow (called emmetropization). By age 6 research suggests emmetropization is pretty much over, which is why you no longer have to cut the Rx down. As a general rule, a school aged child with great visual acuity, normal binocular and accommodative function and no complaints is likely doing great without glasses, even if they have a low hyperopic prescription.

Correcting Astigmatism

There are few things in vision more normal than astigmatism. In fact, 69% of infants are born with over 1.00D of astigmatism. Most kids born with astigmatism undergo rapid improvement by the time they are four years of age, so prescribing for astigmatism in young children is not usually necessary. If astigmatism is still present by school age years, however, it can begin to have a big impact on classroom performance. A 2016 study showed that correcting the prescription of kids with high amounts of astigmatism (3.00D or more) immediately improved their reading fluency by an average of one grade level.

When to prescribe?

For patients under 2 prescribe if astigmatism > 2.50 D; Cut cylinder Rx by 50%

For 2-4 year old patients prescribe if astigmatism > 2.00 D; Cut cylinder Rx by 50%

For 5 and up prescribe if astigmatism > 1.50 D or if pt is symptomatic with lower astigmatism; no cut in Rx necessary

Astigmatism can make it difficult to distinguish letters or numbers, especially in higher grade levels where the font size gets smaller. via

Exception to these rules: when the eyes have big differences in their prescription (called anisometropia) and amblyopia (lazy eye) or strabismus (eye turn) is developing, then prescribing the full amount of prescription even in very young children becomes important to achieving the best possible outcome.

Check for Accommodative Dysfunction

It's easy to think a child that has no prescription but won't read the chart is malingering (the polite doctor term for faking it). Glasses these days are the cool thing to have, and sometimes when a child's friend gets glasses it becomes mission number one for your child to have glasses too. But sometimes a child might have no real distance vision issue but won't be able to read the chart for a true medical reason. I always do a quick and easy accommodative test (NRA/PRA is a go to for responsive kids - MEM Retinoscopy on younger) to rule out accommodative dysfunction. If a child has accommodative dysfunction, they won't be able to see clearly in the distance because their focusing system is "locked up" at near. Their eyes won't be able to adjust back and forth between distance and up close, so distance looks blurry. Referral for vision therapy is a great solution for kids suffering from this issue, and sometimes progressive glasses can help the eyes adjust more easily from near to far.

When to prescribe progressives for myopes? For a few years it was a commonly discussed theory that prescribing progressive glasses for near sighted children could help reduce how quickly their vision worsened year to year. The COMET study proved that prescribing progressive or bifocal glasses for controlling nearsightedness had no benefit in children with normal focusing systems -- prescribing progressive glasses in a normal nearsighted child did NOT slow down the worsening of their myopia. But in myopic children that have accommodative dysfunction, progressive glasses do help. Prescribing for the right patient can make a difference.

Don't Forget Safety and Sun Protection

Did you know that kids are the most at risk for ocular sun damage? In fact 25% of the sun damage that occurs in a person's lifetime happens before age 18. Sun damage in the eye is responsible for potentially fatal conditions like ocular melanoma, but also diseases of the eye we associate with aging like cataracts and macular degeneration. Those conditions don't develop due to the sun damage we get when we're 80; they're a result of the sun damage we started getting as children. That's why prescribing sun protection in children's glasses is so important. Transitions lenses allow kid's glasses to be 100% UVA and UVB protective without kids having to keep track of multiple pairs -- a win for kids and parents both.

A huge trend in kids eyewear the last few years is wearing rec specs for full time glasses wear. The sporty appearance make kids feel more confident than the traditional round metal frames many kids get fit in with dread. photo via

Another major risk for children's eyesight is injury, especially if they play sports. 90% of all blinding sports-related eye injuries in America could be prevented if the child had been wearing protective eyewear. Shatter resistant lens materials like polycarbonate and trivex are essential for kid's glasses both on and off the field to protect the eye from potential injury.

And don't underestimate the way that a child's self esteem can be tied to their perceived appearance. I always encourage parents to let their child lead the selection process for their glasses when they enter school age years. Their glasses need to be a part of their identity that they like; not only will the chance that they actually wear their glasses go way up, but higher self esteem is associated with higher academic performance as well!

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Finding Your Eyewear Style with Celebrity Stylist Irma Martinez and Transitions

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If there's one rule in fashion, it's that you should take the concept of rules, chop it up into little pieces, and throw those pieces to the wind. Stylist Irma Martinez has become one of the most sought-out names for celebrity fashion because she encourages her clients to be fearless and bold. Her message of personal expression and freedom in fashion has garnered a who's who client list that includes Shakira, Sofia Vergara, Pitbull, Marc Anthony, and Eva Longoria. Her most recent collaboration? As a an eyewear afficionado she was a natural choice to represent the new Transitions brand campaign.

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"I'm constantly on the move from fashion shows to designer showrooms to photo shoots, which can all be in just one day. Before I got Transitions lenses, I was known for leaving my glasses behind at various places. I would leave a photo shoot and get a call that I had left my glasses because I switched pairs. I would wear my progressives to work and then sunglasses outside. With Transitions, I love that I can go from day to night without thinking about changing my glasses."

The new Transitions Signature VII lenses are not just the best light adapting technology on the market to date, but they have also entered the seriously trending realm of color-tinted lenses. In addition to staple tints of gray and brown, Transitions lenses now come in Graphite Green, adding a color tint that not only provides enhanced contrast and visual performance, but adds an element of style that Martinez and fashion fiends can't get enough of. "I enjoy that they come in various colors so that I can mix and match with many frame styles and colors. Right now, I'm in love with a pair of rose quartz Prada frames that pair perfectly with Transitions brown. Plus, with rose quartz as the Pantone Color of the Year, I know my pair is fashion forward and stylish. It's a bonus that my Transitions block 100% of the sun's harmful UV rays, which is so important living in Miami."

via @irmastyle

"Transitions lenses have also made me more daring in choosing my eyewear. My lenses are comfortable, therefore I'm more inclined to get different pairs for my different looks and moods. Additionally, I'd say that Transitions has had an impact on my personal life too. I love to read outdoors on my patio or at the beach and I could never do that before with regular sunglasses. I read so much more now."

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As a stylist to some of the most glamorous beauties in the world of music and TV, Martinez has a few tricks of the trade to enhance the way eyewear can enhance your look:

Use a concealer one shade lighter than your skin to make sure that you mask any under-eye imperfections that could be highlighted by an oversize lens.
Line the waterline with a gold, rose-gold or cream eyeliner. It makes the whites of your eyes look brighter.
Find a good waterproof mascara that doesn't flake so you won't have any residue on your glasses.

Hanging out on the set of the Transitions photo shoot via

How can you make Martinez's style your own? "Transitions lenses are really versatile so the most important thing is to make sure the frame compliments your face shape and go from there. I always tell my clients not to be afraid of rocking a bold look. If you believe you look great, you do."

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Trending Now: Summer 2016 Sunglasses

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Digital Glare: Combating Light Sensitivity From Your Devices

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You know that feeling -- the ache behind your eyes, the heavy feeling of your eyelids, the redness and under eye circles you see looking in the mirror, and that intense sensitivity you get when you look at bright lights or step outside of your workplace and venture outdoors. This feeling of light sensitivity and tired eyes has a name -- digital eye strain. For 65% of Americans digital eye strain is wreaking serious havoc on work performance, and how your eyes feel when you're not logging those long hours at your computer and cell phone screen. The average American spends nearly 6 hours a day using mobile digital devices and almost 11 hours daily when you include time on desktop computers, laptops, and watching TV! Our eyes struggle adapting to light after logging long hours in a digital environment for two big reasons:

We don't blink as much. Blinking is essential to keeping the surface of our eye hydrated, but we blink about 50% less looking at a digital device than we do when in normal conversation. If the eye is too dry, you will experience redness, watering, vision fluctuations, stinging, burning, and light sensitivity. Think of your tear film as a protective coating, not dissimilar to enamel on a tooth. Without a good tear film coating, our corneal nerves are exposed to the elements, and they fire like crazy when they encounter things like natural sunlight or fluorescent lighting. A dry eye will water excessively when you encounter bright lights, and you will often get a burning or stinging sensation in bright lights too.

Look at your computer or cell phone in a dark room. What color light do you see coming off the screen? That's the high energy blue light that's getting so much press for causing sleep cycle, vision and light sensitivity issues! via

Digital devices emit high energy blue wavelength light. Ever noticed the bluish glow emitting from digital devices like your computer or even fluorescent overhead lighting? All digital devices emit high energy visible light (HEV) which in high amounts can disrupt pupillary constriction, sleep/wake cycles, and even increase the risk for ocular diseases like macular degenration. What does that mean to you? Our pupils constrict when exposed to brighter light to minimize the amount of light that enters your eye. Blue light disrupts pupil constriction, confusing the system so that it doesn't react as quickly or as greatly to other light sources, which in turn leaves you wincing in the glare. Delayed and irregular pupillary function can also make it much harder for you to focus between near and far, meaning that you will have a much harder time focusing clearly to drive home at night after a long day at work. And then when you try to go to sleep, the blue light you've been exposed to at higher than normal levels has been signaling your body all day to stay awake. That means you'll have a much harder time getting enough hours of restorative sleep and an unrelenting "tired eyes" feeling even when you wake up the next morning. Not to mention more pronounced under eye bags and red eyes when you get that first morning look in the mirror.

What can you do?

Luckily there are great products out there that are specifically geared to reducing your sensitivity both while looking at the screen and when you step away into normal indoor and outdoor light. My go-to choice for digital device users with light sensitivity is Transitions XTRActive. For years Transitions have been associated with sunglasses for outdoor wearers, but here's how they work even better in my opinion for indoor light sensitivity:

Transitions XTRActive in brown is nearly-clear indoors (can you see the tint above?), but has just enough tint to provide relief from the glare emanating from your screen that will keep your eyes blinking more normally, and reduce that light sensitivity you start feeling after a few hours. via

Light Tint Indoors I love the XTRActive brown for a barely-there indoor tint that protects your eyes from fluorescent lighting and the glare coming from your computer screen and cell phone. In the past we've used yellow tinted computer glasses like GUNNAR lenses for a similar effect, but the yellow tint totally colors your vision yellow, and of course looks yellow to everyone else too. The XTRActive tint is so subtle that no one is going to look at your glasses and think they are anything other than clear. And you'll see clearly out of them too.

Full Tint and UV Protection Outdoors You know the worst glare is when you get up from your computer, and then step outside for lunch. If you don't have sunglasses to immediately change into, you're relegated to suffering. XTRActive lenses fully darken outside, and are the best Transitions to date at darkening behind the car windshield. That means you're protected all day without needing multiple pairs of glasses. I especially love the XTRActive lens for that sensitive dawn and dusk commuting time where the sun is blasting you head on or through your rear view mirror, but it's too dark to see clearly through full sunglasses.

Industry Leading Blue Light Protection The best glasses for anyone with daily digital device use have to reduce the side effects of excessive HEV blue light exposure. All Transitions products are innately blue light protective. Transitions Signature VII blocks 20% of HEV blue light indoors, and XTRActive is an impressive 34% blue blocking indoors. You can couple this with great blue blocking anti-reflective coatings like Crizal Prevencia for the best indoor protection against blue light available on the market today.

Want to try the product out for free to see if it works for you? You can get a free trial decal for your glasses here.

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Transitions + Project Runway Design to See The World Differently

Prescribing Glasses for Kids

Finding Your Eyewear Style with Celebrity Stylist Irma Martinez and Transitions

Trending Now: Summer 2016 Sunglasses

Digital Glare: Combating Light Sensitivity From Your Devices

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