Magazine

The monocle is a piece of eyewear history: a single lens that people wedged in front of the eye. Today, the shape, colour and material of a frame say more about us than any lens in the eye could. Here you’ll find out what a monocle is, whether glasses with a prescription existed in the

What a pair of glasses is made of decides how light, durable and comfortable it is, and how it looks. Here we compare the common glasses materials for frames and lenses, explain the disadvantages of titanium glasses and show what helps against a white film on acetate frames. Key points at a glance Acetate comes

Hollywood sunglasses and glasses have turned props into cult objects: the Wayfarer of the Blues Brothers, the aviators from “Top Gun”, the large dark sunglasses Audrey Hepburn wears in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”. Here you will find out which film classics made frames famous, what defines these shapes and how you can wear them today. Key

What are geek glasses? The term describes a frame with a bold, clearly visible rim and a simple shape – rectangular, square or panto – usually made of acetate. They were once the mark of the swot; today people wear nerd glasses on purpose as a style statement. Here is what defines the look, who

Glasses and hair belong together: your hair frames your face, and your glasses set the accent within it. Whether you have a fringe (bangs), a bob, curls or a shaved head, a few simple rules help you find the glasses or sunglasses that suit your hairstyle. Key points at a glance Glasses and hairstyle should

Presbyopia is the normal, age-related loss of near vision. From around the mid-40s it becomes harder to focus on things close up, because the lens of the eye gradually loses its flexibility. It is often called age-related long-sightedness, but it is not the same as ordinary long-sightedness (hyperopia). Here you can find out what is

Shield sunglasses have one large, continuous lens that runs across both eyes and often wraps around to the temples. They cover more of the area around the eyes than a classic frame, which makes them wrap-around sunglasses in the full sense. Here you will find out what shield glasses are, when they work as sports

Good sunglasses don’t have to be expensive. Whether a pair is any good depends not on the price tag or the logo, but on the UV filter, the right lens tint and a frame that copes with everyday life. Here you’ll find out how to recognise cheap and reduced sunglasses with good UV protection, and

Polaroid sunglasses carry the name of a company founded in 1937 by the American inventor Edwin Land. He developed filters that polarise light and laid the groundwork for polarised lenses. Here you will learn the history and origin of Polaroid, who invented polarised lenses and what to look for in a pair of Polaroid sunglasses.

The Ray-Ban Wayfarer is a sunglasses classic with a bold plastic frame and trapezoid lenses. Ray-Ban introduced it in 1952, and the film The Blues Brothers made it an icon. Here you will find out when the Wayfarer was introduced, who designed it, how it differs from the Aviator and the New Wayfarer, and who