Blog

We believe that your eyewear reflects who you are – which is why we value frame styling consultations as much as we do eye exams. The fit and comfort of your frames and lenses affects how clear your vision is, making it important to choose the perfect pair for your needs. For us, it goes much deeper than simply getting you to browse our frames and fit you to the ones you like. We’re proud to offer a personalised frame styling consultation service to ensure every one of our patients finds glasses and sunglasses that feel and look good, taking into account a plethora of qualifying parameters to help us achieve this.

Spring is officially here, and we couldn’t be happier! It’s the season for fresh starts when we can finally shake off the heavy weight of winter. These new beginnings come in many forms, and updating your eyewear wardrobe is one of them! We’re known for having the largest collection of luxury, independent brands in Cobham and are committed to providing eyewear for the individual rather than the masses. So naturally, our top 3 eyewear picks for spring - Mr Leight, SALT and DITA - reflect this and align with the latest eyewear trends 2023 has to offer. Read on as we delve a little deeper to find out what makes these eyewear brands unique.

Short-sightedness in children is a common vision correction issue in the UK, with nearly one in five teenagers being short-sighted, and faster progression reported to be occurring in pre-teens. Short-sightedness has now been classed as an epidemic, as it is predicted that half the global population will be short-sighted by 2050. Did you know that the consequences of being short sighted go beyond immediate vision challenges, though? Let’s look at how this can affect your child and what can be done about it.

As one year ends and a new one begins, we’d like to look back at our milestones from the year to show how far we’ve come in our journey as independent opticians in Cobham. From bringing in new designer glasses for women and men to welcoming a new member of staff, and introducing specialist myopia control glasses to control the progression of short sightedness in children, it’s been quite the year, to say the least! Let’s take a trip down memory lane to revisit these milestones in more detail…

How much do you know about different eye conditions and what eye disease symptoms to look out for? Here are some eye diseases that can be detected during an eye exam or specialist assessment with our lead optometrist Sachin, and how you can spot their symptoms beforehand.

DITA produces eyewear for those looking for something exceptional and is the epitome of luxury done discreetly. Their designs, each treated independently and taking months to perfect from concept to production, twist the vintage 50s and 60s styles we all know and love, and elevate eyewear standards and norms to new heights.

As summer brings longer days and more sunshine, you’ll undoubtedly be spending more time outdoors. We’re accustomed to wearing sunscreen and staying as hydrated as possible, but it’s crucial to also be aware of how to protect your eyes from the sun. Take a look at our optometrist’s top family eyecare tips on how to best achieve this for summer below.

We make a conscious effort to carefully choose the luxury eyewear brands we carry so that our patients can enjoy the best quality eyewear currently available. In fact, we’re proud to be the only ‘owner led practice’ in Cobham. This means, with Sachin and Jeenal as fully qualified optometrists and our practice owners, we have full control over what we stock rather than being tied down to brands managed by external headquarters who aren’t really invested in what you want to offer in practice. We appreciate having both male and female input from them when deciding which frames to stock too. Sachin in particular is really creative and has a great eye for detail and design. Did we mention he also creates bespoke lens shapes for rimless glasses? With such a wealth of experience, you know your eyewear styling will always be in good hands when you come to see him!

One of the greatest times of year is now upon us, when tennis, strawberries and cream align, and the world’s gaze rests upon the courts of Wimbledon. This prestigious tournament takes place just about 30 minutes away from our opticians in Cobham, so one thing we know from our patients who go every year, is that they love to accentuate their look with a touch of true British style. What better way to experience this than with much-loved British eyewear brand, Cutler and Gross?

Sunglasses are essential to keep your eyes protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays, but not every pair is created equal. Read on to discover the huge difference wearing polarised sunglasses can make compared to standard sunglasses, as well as our top brand picks in practice.

As screen time becomes an increasing fixture both at home and at work for adults, as well as in school for children, cases of digital eye strain are still on the rise. A recent OnePoll survey of 1,000 families with children aged 3–8 years revealed that children, on average, spent nearly 4 hours a day looking at a screen, with 35% spending more than 5 hours a day. Similarly, a study of 500 adults carried out by Research England found that half of respondents now look at screens for 11 hours or more a day, and more than a quarter look at screens for 14 hours or more a day. So, what are the signs of digital eye strain, and what can you do about it?

When was the last time you bought new glasses? Whether your prescription needs updating, or your old frames are starting to look tired, there are several signs that indicate it might be time to consider getting a new pair…

Have you ever thought about trying contact lenses? Here at The Optical Co, many of our patients really love wearing them, and here’s why…

When it comes to children’s eyewear, there’s a lot to consider. It isn’t just about style, it’s about the fit, comfort, and durability of frames too. Your child should love their glasses as this encourages them to wear them as recommended by our optometrists. That’s why we’ve taken the time to handpick collections that we think tick all the boxes for children’s designer glasses and sunglasses, and that you won’t find anywhere else on the high street, including Very French Gangsters Eyewear and Little Paul & Joe Eyewear.

Passed down through generations, there are plenty of myths about eyes that cause confusion. Here at our independent opticians in Cobham, we feel it’s important to set the record straight. Let’s take a look at the vision myths we get asked about most often:

As one of the leading sports eyewear brands, Bollé consistently delivers when it comes to technology and innovation. So, it comes as no surprise that Bollé has collaborated with some of the best skiers in the world, including French champion Alexis Pinturault and Olympic Gold medallist, David Wise. Equally as popular with our own customers as with elite athletes, Bollé truly offers the very best sunglasses for skiing, cycling and more. Let’s take a step back for a moment and look at where Bollé first started, as well as what makes the latest collection in our independent opticians in Cobham so unique.

Regular eye exams are an important part of keeping eyes and vision healthy, and we are proud to say that our eye tests in Cobham are among the most advanced and personalised to be found on the high street. Since opening in early 2020, our independent, family-run practice, founded by owners and optometrists, Sachin and Jeenal Nath, has truly become a part of the local community, and we value the relationships we have been able to build with each and every patient. This is a result of us having the freedom to offer everyone as much time as they need for their eye exam, in a relaxed and friendly environment, rather than trying to rush through as many appointments as possible in a day.

How good is your eyesight for driving? 90% of the information a driver uses is visual, which is why having good vision while on the road isn’t just a recommendation, but a legal requirement. Yet, research shows that a staggering 1 in 5 drivers cannot see clearly, causing slower reaction times, and putting themselves and those around them at greater risk of accidents and injuries. In fact, there are approximately 2,900 casualties per year caused by poor vision on the road.

Finding the right pair of glasses can be tricky at times - after all, every single one of us has a unique face and visual needs. Our goal has always been to offer our customers a handpicked selection of customisable eyewear, fashionable designs, and unique colours. It comes as no surprise then, that one of the most popular collections among our patients is none other than Tom Davies eyewear. As one of our personal favourites too, we’ve decided to put this British designer’s bespoke and ready to wear frames in the spotlight today…