New Year, Same Me, New Glasses! - Meet Ralph!

You all now how the drill goes - new year, new me. Well I'm going with new year, same me, new glasses! Those who follow me on Facebook and Instagram have already caught a glimpse of my new pair of Ralph Lauren glasses which I got from Optika Opticians in Sliema. Technically I got them last December but I guess they can still count as something new to look forward to getting loads of wear out from in the new year, no?

I love my D&G's to bits but sometimes we all need a change - the little details make all the difference and these Ralph Lauren glasses are just what I needed to change up my look a little. For starters, I have been wanting a pair of tortoiseshell glasses for as long as I can remember but somehow, I never found the perfect pattern for me - it's either too dark, too light, too busy, but the pattern on this pair is, well, perfect! The very front of the glasses is black though so the tortoiseshell colour is most notable on the temples.

My favourite part of these glasses are in fact the temples - understated yet full of details! There's the Ralph Lauren logo on the brushed gold-toned metal end piece and a bit of leather that 'connects' the end piece to the temple. The lenses are the perfect size for my face and I like the fact that the nose pads are in-built. I always tend to favour such models more.

The sales assistants at Optika always go out of their way to help me choose the perfect frame for a) my very demanding tastes and b) my small face. With the vast choice they offer, I always find it difficult to narrow down my choice to just one pair but with their professional help and advice, I somehow manage and I am always satisfied with my final choice :) Finally, to keep my lenses clean and scratch-free, I use Kler Spectacle Lens Cleaner and the provided cloth to ensure my glasses are always kept in tip-top condition.

For ideas on what Optika have to offer, go ahead and check out my gift ideas post for it doesn't have to be Christmas to give gifts! Wishing you all the very best for the year ahead!

See the Most Beautiful of Gifts at Optika Opticians

If you're still looking for the perfect gift for the ones who have everything but still want more, then this post is for you to make their want a need. Last Thursday I headed to Optika Opticians' Sliema outlet to hunt down some beautiful prescription glasses and sunglasses that will have you earn double brownie points from whoever you choose to gift them to.

Optika stock a range of eye glasses for both men and women at different price points to suit every budget and these are some of my top picks from their current collection. Of course this is not the full range of glasses available and I do encourage you to pay Optika a visit as some models even come in different colours too. I have divided them into different categories, so let's get started!

For the Fashionistas

I had a really hard time deliberating over which glasses should make it into this category as all of the specs and sunglasses offered at Optika are all oozing style. I picked out some models for both prescription glasses and sunglasses which are perfect for the daring fashionista in your life. There are of course the more expensive options from luxury brands such as Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and Dolce & Gabbana as well as the less expensive but equally stylish Vogue Eyewear options to name a few. My absolute favourites are the Tiffany & Co. black specs which remind me so much of Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany's.

Fashion eyeglasses for women

Fashion eyeglasses for men

For the Sports Fanatic

If the man in your life is a sports fanatic, more specifically a Ferrari fan, Optika has just the right gift! They have just launched the Ray Ban x Scuderia Ferrari collection which is perfect for someone who already has every Ferrari collectible. Then there's the classic Oakley which is a firm favourite with men for their sporty style.

For the Classic Style Lovers

Classic styles are always in fashion and they don't need to cost an arm and a leg. Optika has lots of classic frames to choose from, the only problem is deciding which to pick!

For the Ones With a Colourful Personality

Some like to play it safe with classics, others prefer a more risky look - why not pick out something fun and colourful?

For an Ultimate Luxury Treat

Optika caters for luxury gifts too with eye-glasses that look and feel that extra bit special. For the men there is this luxurious Bulgari model which features wooden end bits and gold plating for example and for the women there are other Bulgari models which are every inch luxurious. I have also included some more examples from Giorgio Armani, Tiffany & Co. and Cartier too.

Lastly, for the stylish couple, I have included two his & hers options from Burberry - one featuring the classic Burberry house check on the sides and the other pair comes in tortoiseshell colour. Which ones are your favourites?

If you're still undecided which glasses to pick, Optika also offer gift vouchers to make gifting easier :) Optika outlets are located in Sliema, St. Julian's and Rabat.

Eye Care Cosmetics & other eye care devices at Optika Opticians

We usually visit our opticians for our eye prescription needs. Following on from my post about the different types of lenses and their care, today I have another post about Eye Care Cosmetics, an eye makeup brand stocked at all Optika outlets.

Eye Care Cosmetics is a French skincare and eye care brand committed to caring for sensitive skin and eyes. Products available at Optika include three different makeup removers - an emulsion, a lotion and a bi-phasic one to suit different needs. The 2-in-1 makeup remover is your best bet to remove waterproof makeup, the emulsion is specially targeted for contact lens wearers while the lotion boasts an ultra gentle formula and is optimal for the most sensitive of eyes. The range also consists of coloured eye pencils, eyeshadow, mascara as well as eye creams to treat dark circles and puffiness around the delicate eye area for example. Sometimes, people with sensitive eyes have to be really careful in choosing the right products for them so as not to irritate their eyes and Eye Care Cosmetics is there to help!

Other instances, it's not just sensitive eyes that need to be taken care of and for these different conditions, Optika stock different eye compresses that can either be used hot or cold depending on the condition at hand. For example the Cold Eye Compress can be used to alleviate symptoms of hayfever, allergies, swelling, puffy eyes and sinus headaches to name a few while the Hot Eye Compress is recommended for Dry Eye Disease, Blepharitis (inflammation of eyelids) and general eye irritations. There is also another version of the Hot Eye Compress which can be heated in both a microwave or an oven while the former can only be heated in a microwave. The eye compresses are produced in the UK by the renowned company The Body Doctor and are to be used upon recommendation by a professional.

The same company also produced the Eyelid Wipes which are aimed at maintaining eyelid and eyelash hygiene for babies and adults alike. Each wipe is individually wrapped and pre-soaked with a preservative-free and detergent-free physiological solution to gently clean the eyelids, lashes and surrounding area. The wipes can also be used to revive tired eyes.

So there you have it! Optika really have everything you need for your eyes to be taken care of all around! Head to one of their outlets located in Sliema, Rabat and St.Julian's to find out more.

Photography by Neil Psaila

Choosing the Right Contact Lenses & Taking Care of Our Eyes with Optika Opticians

It's no secret I love wearing glasses - I've been wearing them for the last 10 years and I like to think of my current D&G ones as a fashion statement and an accessory. However, sometimes I still like to change it up and opt to wear contact lenses instead.

I visited Optika's Sliema outlet this week to find out more about the different types of contact lenses they offer as well as some other eye care products and cosmetics you can find at each of their outlets. The staff were very helpful in thoroughly explaining the different types of lenses as well as providing tips for optimal care which I will be sharing with you in this post.

The concept of contact lenses was first introduced by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508 but it wasn't until the 1970's that adequate materials were developed for them to actually be comfortable enough for use by people on a daily basis. Today, contact lenses come in different types and can either be prescription lenses or purely cosmetic, and in most cases, they are either supplied as dailies or monthlies. Optika stock three brands of contact lenses, namely, Johnson&Johnson, Alcon and Bausch&Lomb.

Each of these established brands offers a wide array of lenses to suit different requirements. The most asked for types are the prescribed dailies and monthlies. Whether you choose one or the other really boils down to how and when you wear your lenses. This decision should be taken together with an eye care professional. I am a dailies contact user myself and up to now, I have always used the Alcon Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus but as of late, they didn't seem to agree any more with my eyes and sometimes I just had to take them out the instant I put them on. It was suggested I try the Alcon Dailies Total 1 instead and was given a trial pack to try before I buy - now that is excellent customer service! The Dailies Total 1 are the newest lenses being sold at Optika and I admit I have high expectations for them - they are a water gradient lens making it very comfortable to wear as well as very breathable making sure your eyes get as much oxygen as possible.

As the name implies, daily contact lenses are meant for a one time use. Monthly lenses can be worn for one month, with a strict day to day cleaning regime, and for that Optika, stock different sanitizing solutions. Such solutions are multi-purpose and are meant to clean and store the lenses before wearing them again.  There is a second type of solution called a hydrogen peroxide solution which needs to be used with caution and under the recommendation of your eye care professional. Once the lens is placed in the solution the hydrogen peroxide turns into water over the time span of 6 hrs thanks to a metal disc found in the case. It is safe to use after 6 hrs but it is always recommended to rinse with saline solution prior to use. The staff at Optika will guide you accordingly into choosing the best solution or your needs so do not hesitate to ask for help. 

Other eye solutions in stock are designed to be used on your eyes when you're not wearing contact lenses to refresh them after a day of wearing lenses.

Moving on to cosmetic lenses or coloured lenses, Optika offers a good variety. The most popular are AirOptix and Fresh Look which have similar colours that look very natural whereas the ones from Bausch&Lomb are much brighter and not really for the faint-hearted.

Here I am wearing Air Optix Green (right eye) and Brown (left eye) and the bottom picture shows my natural eye colour just to show how natural the coloured lenses look. Air Optix can also be supplied with vision correction.

pictures taken by my boyfriend

Air Optix employ a 3-in-1 Colour Technology which defines the eyes, transforms the eye colour and brightens and adds depth with 3 different colour rings.
Picture taken by my boyfriend

Lastly, if you suffer from astigmatism, there are toric contact lenses which are not usually stocked at Optika but they can order them for you and have them available within 10 days. Contact lenses are supplied in packs of 30 or 90.

I hope you learnt something new about contact lenses through this post. Watch this space for another post in collaboration with Optika, treating cosmetics for sensitive eyes and effective remedies for dry eyes. In the meantime, I look forward to trying my new contacts!

I'm wearing:
Top, Michael Kors at Rebelli
Hat, Jimmy Choo at Rebelli

Photography by Neil Psaila unless otherwise stated.