The eyes have it. And by it, I mean any number of things.

The eyes have beauty, color and power. Their size and shape, identified with descriptions such as round, almond, upturned, downturned or hooded, are as varied as each of us as individuals. Indeed, the renowned Cleveland Clinic has even likened the uniqueness of the iris, perhaps the most identifiable portion of our eyes, to a human fingerprint. Poets will tell us we can fall in love by looking into someone’s eyes, or that the eyes are the window to the soul.  

That said, the eyes, in all of their beauty, can also come along with challenges and disorders, such as astigmatism, cataracts and myopia, some of which can be passed from one generation to the next. In this regard, genetics can feel like a game of roulette, in which you’re not quite sure where the marble will land as the wheel slows. Having spent most of my life in glasses, with a strong prescription rooted in the three conditions noted above, I was quite certain that all of my children would, eventually, need corrective lenses. Alas, this isn’t so—at least not yet—with only the middle of my three sons (cue the theme song), needing prescription glasses from an early age (he’s 13 years old now) for both astigmatism and myopia. Which brings me to the topic of this month’s issue, men’s eyewear.

Enjoying lunch with a colleague the other day, we mused at how far eyewear has come, and at the many fashionable choices patients and consumers now have, regardless of their prescription. Drilling down a bit more, the same can be said for men’s eyewear, which continues to evolve with offerings that span an ever-growing collection of colors, materials, sizes and shapes. A review of the pages in 20/20 this month will showcase the range of available options, from our Frame of the Month, which is handcrafted from genuine buffalo horn and mother of pearl, to our New Products that feature materials such as titanium and stainless steel, to the luxurious acetates and innovative color-changing frames in our “Lights, Camera, Action!” style feature.

Of course, not all people wear glasses for vision correction. For some it is a fashion choice, for others an opportunity to protect their eyes from extensive screen viewing or time spent in the sun, and for still others eyewear meets a combination of needs. My oldest son, who at 16 years old doesn’t need corrective lenses, recently approached me about getting glasses just for blue-light protection, after experiencing eye strain from too much computer time. I immediately agreed, happy to see that, over the last few months, perhaps he had actually been listening to me (this doesn’t happen too often!).

Regardless of their age, prescription or fashion preference, it’s wonderful to know that patients and consumers have choices when it comes to their eyewear. We hope that this month’s issue helps provide you with some exciting options and inspiring ideas.

—Anne Cooper
Editorial Director, 20/20 and Vision Monday
[email protected]