Put off that eye test at your peril warns specs site

Best4glasses.co.uk has called for two yearly eye tests to be made mandatory for motorists following claims that many are behind the wheel with dangerously impaired vision*. Experts at the ‘£10 a throw’ specs site say road safety association GEM Motoring Assist’s** recent claim that many drivers eyesight had significantly degraded was scarily accurate.

Whether the driving test vision assessment, which only involves the small part in the middle of the retina that sees in fine detail and not peripheral vision which sees cars overtaking or approaching from one side, is effective on its own is also being questioned***.

Best4Glasses managing director Trevor Homer, who set up the site in April 2006 to answer consumer demand, said it was imperative drivers had a regular test at least once every two years and should not rely on the DVLA’s 20.5m number plate test.

“It is very easy for people to dismiss the need to have their eyes checked when they believe they can see very well and there is nothing wrong, often ignoring the fact that some areas have gone out of focus,” he said.

“Failing to have eyes re-tested and having a prescription altered accordingly could prove to be a terrible oversight, especially with winter drawing in and potentially perilous weather over the horizon. “In light of this recent research, we would welcome anyone with concerns or who needs advice to look at the eyesight Q&A on our website or get in touch.”

Trevor reassured drivers that, once drivers had a new prescription, which most employers will pay for, investing in new specs did not have to be costly. “From our own research, we know that people with eyesight problems are reluctant to shell out for expensive new glasses, which is fundamentally why Best4Glasses was established,” he said.

You only have to check out www.best4glasses.co.uk, which now has the cheapest prescription glasses on the net, to see what Trevor means. And from the end of October, things get even better.

Watch this space for a host of new lines, building on Best4Glasses’ existing range of amazingly cheap designer glasses. These include ICY, a combination of retro elegance and celebrity glamour, with tiger stripe to tortoiseshell frames, free lenses and concealed flexi-hinges.

Boasting other big names such as Dolce and Gabbana, Fendi, Ferucci and Jai Kudo, the easy-to-use website offers a diverse range of custom made unisex prescription glasses, starting from just £10 with bifocals from £30 and prescription sunglasses from £27 – up to 75 percent cheaper than major high street retailers. Online competitors are also well and truly being kept firmly on their toes.

Customers have a choice of standard, memory metal, rimless or designer frames in a host of colours from copper to coffee. The option to turn their glasses into prescription sunglasses is just an extra £17, which includes U/V coating to protect eyes from 99.9% of dangerous rays. There is also an accessories store for items such as cleaning spray.

Postage and packaging is free within the UK, delivery is normally within a week and there is a no quibble return guarantee. The company sells its glasses worldwide where its products are seen as great value to the expat community abroad or holiday maker needing replacement glasses in an emergency.

What you get from Best4Glasses:

• Quality frames
• Free scratch resistant coating
• Free impact resistant case
• Free micro-encapsulated cleaning cloth
• Fast, helpful and friendly advice from experts

The site also offers tips on matching specs to face shape, FAQs, information on vision defects and fascinating insights into the workings of the eye. There is also the opportunity to learn more about Best4Glasses’ commitment to improving sight in Third World countries.

Visit Best4glasses.co.uk for more information.

*Source: GEM Motoring Assist research (September 2007)

**Formerly the Guild of Experienced Motorists originally established in 1932 as the Company of Veteran Motorists to combat the increasing number of road accidents, GEM Motoring Assist today is the UK’s leading driver based road safety association with around 70,000 members.

***A simple test of a person’s eyesight is to waggle their hands at their ears. If they can both seen with peripheral vision, there is no problem. If there is only one hand, there is a very large blind spot on one side.