The word ethical has always worried me a bit – I think it is something to do with how New Labour’s “Ethical Foreign Policy” panned out in the end. Or it might be how big corporations misappropriate the term. Anyway, I have put my fears aside and decided to say that we aim to be an ethical optician or #ethicaloptician.

A reasonable starting point is stocking frames, in our Independent Collection, that are made from plastic reclaimed from the sea. The Sea-2-See frames are made in Italy with plastic taken from the Mediterranean off the coast of Barcelona. This got me interested in the whole plastics agenda and we’re planning an evening event with a Professor of Plastics soon – keep an eyeye out.
We also stock some Eco frames made from plant based and recycled materials and are constantly on the look out for other sustainable products.

Another part of the sustainability agenda is buying locally - #buylocal – and we are very pleased that are specs are assembled i.e. Lenses are cut and fitted into our frames – in Sheffield. Lots of reps keep offering us cheaper options, but that means spending money out of the city unnecessarily in our view. Interestingly many optical businesses now get their specs assembled abroad. Boots, for example fly in four planes a day from Thailand where their lenses are cut and put into frames. Our most recent rep visit lost our interest when he said when we pressed “enter” on the keyboard the lens would immediately be got off the shelf in Portugal!

Another thing we do that has an ethical element is stocking Banton Frames, which are designed and made in Scotland (by a lake near Glasgow) by Lucy and Jamie. There are very few frames made in the UK these days and we want to support these two young people giving it go – oh, the frames are of course lovely too.

There is more to do on making our supply chain as ethical as possible, but these things demonstrate our intent not to just go with the cheapest dominant global giants that dominate optics.

We also pride our selves on being #cyclefriendly. This means three main things: 1. You can bring your bike into the store with you; 2. We offer support all initiatives that promote cycling for leisure and utility. This includes some eyewear support for the brilliant Cycling Sheffield Cycling Team; 3. We are keen to ensure people have visual solutions for riding that enhance both their enjoyment and safety when riding.

Our pricing is intended to be ethical too. Upfront all-inclusive pricing means you can know the price at the beginning, not the end and there are no sneaky add on extras you were not expecting – this goes for contact lenses too.

Finally, booking eye exams 1 hour apart is an ethical issue for us too. You can do an eye test in 20 mins (industry standard) but find me an optometrist who feels that is really enough for everyone!

So, that is our take on ethical – feel free to get in touch to find out more or suggest other options for us to consider.

The title of this blog is of course inspired by Olivia Newton John - "Let's get Physical" - if you are old enough to remember.

Living in The Outdoor City means we can enjoy running in the Peak District National Park with friends, a club or your dog!

We're looking after your eyes so you can pause in style, admiring the view or checking your map.

If you need glasses to read it can be a real issue seeing details on a map - annoying, but potentially dangerous if you're half way up a slippy slope!

We can even fit you with decent contact lenses that allow you to see the wood from the trees (other hazards are available). We fitted a few Sheffield runners recently - spending a little on seeing better is as important an investment as new shoes from Accelerate.

We do have some clever specs too (would work for climbing, cycling as well) if contacts lenses aren't for you.

Riding around the woods ...

Health : Seeing clearly and staying safe on the roads when the nights draw in
“Sorry mate I didn’t see you” (known as a SMIDSY). Anyone who has ever cycled will have heard this one before. As a person on a bike in this situation my choice of response (best conveyed by a look rather than words) is usually “because you didn’t look mate”. As an optician, it is “you need an eye test and to wear the recommended glasses with anti-reflection coatings mate”. Silently handing them my card could be the way to go.
While Sheffield and The Peak District do look wonderful in the autumn the shorter days do mean less light and greater demands on the eyes. More people come in for eye tests at this time because it feels to them that all of a sudden, they can’t see bus numbers, road signs or the faces of people on the street.
When I am teaching communication skills to optometrists I always emphasise the rather obvious importance of finding out if the above problems are experienced when the patient’s glasses are on or off. Lots of people sit in the consulting room chair and say they can’t see when they take their specs off … If you do need spectacles to see a number plate at 20.5m and you don’t wear them you are a danger to others and your insurance will be invalid too.
It really is harder to see clearly when it is dark and if you have any focusing issue at all it will have more of an impact than at other times. So, a small prescription change won’t bother you on a sunny summer holiday, but it will when you battle home on a wet Wednesday in October.
Visual difficulties in poor light can be caused by other things in addition to the need for up to date, clean, decent quality spectacle lenses. A reduction in the transparency of the lens in the eye (cataract – something most people will experience with modern life expectancies) can affect clarity, decrease sensitivity to contrast and increase glare. Dry eyes is often an issue for all day screen users, and can cause blurring that gets worse driving home in the dark in an air-conditioned car.
The darker evenings also lead to people struggling with reading smaller print and cursing modern light bulbs. Plenty of people in their mid-40s also come in determined to argue that newspaper print is not a clear as it used to be – are you sure? The stiffening of the lens in the eye (presbyopia) that makes us struggle with close work is something we all have to face, but it is the autumn when you can’t ignore it anymore.
My Mum always used to announce gloomily that the nights were drawing in straight after the longest day in June. She may have technically been correct, but it is only when the schools go back that it really feels like it. So, keep yourself and others safe, don’t find yourself saying a SMIDSY. Make sure you get an eye test if you are due or if you feel things could be a bit clearer when you are out and about this autumn.