While not the most exciting of subjects, the topic of eyeglass retainers is a curious one, especially since there is no corresponding Wikipedia article on it, at least not at the time of this article.
And yet, while there is no Wikipedia article concerning it, a quick search using Google produces an abundant amount of links to stores both online and offline selling said Eyeglasses Ottawa retainers.
But the mystery deepens as the term “eyeglass retainer” seems to take on different meaning depending upon which store or shop you visit.
Therefore, the following article aims to take the reader through three different areas of regarding eyeglass retainer knowledge namely:
- The word “retainer” as it applies to eyeglasses
- The history and evolution of eyeglass retainers leading to the manifestation of the different objects sold online
- Popular brand names and the advantages and disadvantages of each kind of eyeglass retainer
The purpose of going into such detail regarding this non-spectacular topic results from the absence of such knowledge on the Internet and the hopes that this article will serve as a reference source for a future Wikipedia article on eyeglass retainers, which is in itself seen as a reference source.
The Word “Retainer” As It Applies To Eyeglasses
Currently, the most common usage of the word “retainer” as it applies to daily living is associated with Orthodontics of which an article in Wikipedia does exist although it is far from exhaustive. We are told that dental retainers are devices made of wires or plastic which are worn to realign the teeth. While there are no official statistics regarding the actual percentage of orthodontic retainer wearers globally, experientially, most of us at one time or another know of someone who has worn them.
And so we take a step back and consult the dictionary in search of a contextual meaning for “retainer” and Merriam-Webster obliges us with the following definition: a device or structure that holds something in place. And naturally, as an example it references dental retainers to illustrate its meaning.
Thus we (referring to those of us who actually wear glasses) slowly start to see how retainers come into play in regards to eyeglasses. Eyeglass retainers hold the glasses in place. Which begs the question: in what way do eyeglasses have to be held in place?
The answer is that with extended wear, eyeglasses tend to slip down our noses and the result is that many of us spend a large proportion of our day pushing up our falling eyeglasses. So much so that it isn’t uncommon to be pushing up one’s glasses at least once every two or three minutes, which easily works out to several hundred times per day if we subtract the sleeping hours.
Now before we proceed, let us allow, that pertaining to falling eyeglasses, we use the term eyeglass to refer to not only prescription lenses with frames, but to mean all such frames and lenses whether common wear or sunglasses, prescription or otherwise.
So pertaining to our first of three discussions: eyeglass retainers are devices which prevent eyeglasses from slipping down your nose.
The History And Evolution Of Eyeglass Retainers Leading To The Manifestation Of Different Objects Sold Online
Any attempt at a relevant history of eyeglass retainers should begin with Cause. As mentioned in the previous section, the need for eyeglass retainers came about because eyeglass wearers found themselves in a very uncomfortable position: their eyeglasses continually slipped down their faces. But why do glasses slip in the first place? Below we list and go briefly into the top twelve reasons:
- Ill-fitted or non-fitted eyeglasses
- Cheap quality glasses
- Deformed eyeglasses
- Abnormal head shape
- Asymmetrical ear to nose distance
- Flat noses
- Lack of nose pads
- Heavy prescriptions
- Paddle temples
- Temple tips
- Oily complexion
- Perspiration
Ill-fitted or non-fitted eyeglasses
For those who are able to spend upwards of a thousand dollars on a pair of quality frames, improperly-fitted glasses aren’t a problem. In these instances, a veteran optometrist or eye care professional carefully considers the shape of your head, the placement of left and right ear, and makes adjustments to the frames with special tools and heating apparatus to customize them for your personal comfort. The fitting process often takes about 10-15 minutes and as a result, your eyeglasses sit properly on your head. While such careful fitting does rule out slipping glasses in most situations, individual factors like perspiration and physical activity still cause eyeglasses to slip regardless of how expertly the glasses were fitted in the first place.
Cheap quality glasses
And then there’s the rest of us. Most of us opt for inexpensive glasses, bought from low end stores or possibly online where fitting is either not done properly or not done at all. As a result, eyeglass slipping is prevalent.
Deformed eyeglasses
Daily wear and tear causes glasses to be deformed especially for kids and teenagers with their rough and tumble modes of existence such as being struck in the glasses with a ball or negligently sitting on one’s glasses. As a result the child corrects any deformities with brute force causing the glasses to be out of shape, but still functional. Otherwise, a parent helps bend the glasses back into shape, either because the process of bringing the glasses to an eyecare professional is too inconvenient or not possible (as in the case with glasses bought online). Either way, the result is the same. Glasses that are deformed and guaranteed to slip.
Abnormal head shape
We’d all like to think that we are perfect and that our skulls are perfectly egg-shaped but the fact is that no two skulls are alike. As a result, standard glasses fit better for some than others. These differences lead to different degrees of eyeglass slipping.
