OPSM Stores: if you are a Southern Cross member, your eye test is free. Otherwise, $ 75 NZD

Bailey Nelson Stores: $80 NZD

Specsavers Stores: if you are a member of AA your eye test is free. Otherwise, is $ 60 NZD.

Tauranga Eyecare by Langford Callard – Eye exam $89

Blur Eyecare – Eye exam from $119

Fraser Street Optometrists – Pricing not published

Otumoetai Optometrists – Pricing not published

Colleen Saunders Optometrists – Pricing not published

Bay Eye Care – Pricing not published

Bethlehem Eye Care – Pricing not published

Tony Han Optometrists – Pricing not published

Visique Greerton Optometrists – Pricing not published

Papamoa Optometrists: – Pricing not published

Do you offer eye exams in Tauranga City?

If you want to include your pricing on this list, contact us and we will add it for free.

Wash your hands. Starting with dirty hands is a surefire way to transfer grime, grease, and dirt to your frames. Use soap and water to wash your hands before handling the frames.

Gently bathe your glasses or sunglasses in warm (never hot) water. Be sure to use a lotion-free soap on the frames and lenses. Fully rinse your frames so there are no residual bubbles left.

Thoroughly dry the eyewear with a clean microfiber cloth. We recommend not using your shirttail, dish towel, paper towel, or bath towel to dry them. The rough cotton fibers of everyday fabrics may feel soft against your body, but they can scratch or damage your lenses or lens coatings.

If you’re working on frames that are extremely dirty and caked in grease or mud, try these tips:

Use a soft toothbrush to scrub away grime and oil from the nose pads and hinges.

Avoid touching the lenses with the toothbrush bristles, and dry them with a microfiber cloth.

Be diligent about reaching every part of your frames to remove stubborn debris, germs, and oils that may have transferred from your skin. This includes the area where the lenses meet the frames.

Do not use popular household cleaners, or other ammonia-based solutions on your glasses or shades. These harsh chemicals can damage the frames and lenses and cause scratches or peeling.

How To Clean Plastic Glasses Frames

When cleaning eyewear with plastic frames, use warm water and a lotion-free soap to remove dirt and build-up. After washing, buff the frames dry with a microfiber cloth.

The thing to remember with plastic frames is that they can scratch with excessive scrubbing, especially if you use a brush with tough bristles. Make sure to clean them thoroughly but gently so you don’t scratch the frames or lenses.

How To Properly Clean Glasses Lenses

When washing your lenses, avoid using products with ammonia. Your lenses may have one or more different coatings on them that are sensitive to ammonia and other chemicals found in most household cleaners.

To keep them safe, follow the recommendations below:

If washing: Use warm water and mild soap that does not contain a lotion additive — dishwashing liquid is a good option. Gently wash the lenses with your fingers. After rinsing them under cool water, use a soft towel to gently dry them.

If using lens cleaner: Spray both sides with a lens-specific product. Using a microfiber cloth, gently wipe them, and then use a dry portion of the cloth to dry them. If you don’t have a microfiber cloth, you can use a tissue without moisturizer. You can also purchase prepackaged moistened wipes designed specifically for eyewear. Remember to avoid using common household products to clean your lenses.

Try to avoid using paper towels, dishtowels, a shirttail, or other fabrics to dry your lenses. Some lens materials are susceptible to scratching from anything other than a soft, microfiber cloth.

How To Clean Glasses Nose Pads

If your specs feature plastic frames, there is often a seamless transition from the frames to the nose pads. In this case, they can be washed at the same time and in the same way as the frames. If you have metal frames with detachable nosepieces, there are a few ways to go about cleaning them.

Cleaning Nose Pads on Glasses and Shades

To clean nose pads while they’re still attached to your frames, you can either use an alcohol wipe, or soap and warm water.

Alcohol wipe: Get a pre-moistened alcohol wipe and use it to clean the flat side of the nose pads. You can also use it to wipe down the underside of them — try to avoid getting too much alcohol on the lenses.

Soap and water: Fill a sink or large bowl with warm water and add a few drops of dish soap. Place your glasses in the warm water and let them sit for 10-15 minutes. This helps lift particularly stubborn grime. After 10-15 minutes, remove the glasses and either dry them with a microfiber cloth or let them air dry.

Removing Nose Pads for Cleaning

To determine whether your nose pads are detachable or not, inspect them to see if there are tiny screws holding them in place. If there are screws, you can use a small screwdriver to loosen them, which will allow you to remove the nose pads.

Once you’ve removed them, use the alcohol wipe method mentioned earlier. You could also use soap and water if you prefer. Mix a small bowl of warm water with a few drops of dish soap. Dip a soft toothbrush or Q-tip into the water, then use it to gently clean the nose pads.

Dry them with a microfiber cloth, then reattach them to your frames using the screwdriver.

Book our professional cleaning service

If you’ve neglected your eyewear for a period of time, or they’ve accumulated a lot of grime from years of wear, you might need professional cleaning.

Lenses that don’t have many blemishes and frames that have maintained their shape are good candidates for professional cleaning. New nose pads and a little adjustment can also make those old frames seem new again.

$10 NZD or FREE if you are a member.

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How To Handle Your Eyewear

An easy way to keep your eyewear looking new is by handling it properly. When holding your frames, hold them using both hands.

Try to avoid dropping them, or touching the lenses with your fingers. When you set down your glasses or shades, place them upside down with the bridge at the bottom. This prevents scratched lenses and keeps more top-heavy frames from falling over.

How To Store Your Eyewear

Always store your eyewear in its case to prevent it from getting dusty or damaged. Be careful of leaving your glasses or sunglasses in places that get too hot. A heater or fireplace can warp or damage the frames. And a hot car in the summer can cause the lenses to peel. Storing your glasses properly can help prolong their quality and lifespan.

How To Clean Lenses With Anti-Reflective Coating

To clean lenses that have an anti-reflective coating, first, gently wash the frames with warm water and lotion-free soap. You can also use an optician-approved spray or a specialized lens soap and warm water.

With any of these methods, be sure to wipe and dry the frames with a microfiber cloth. We recommend being gentle with your lenses throughout the cleaning process, as you do not want to scratch or damage the coatings.

How Do You Clean Cloudy Lenses?

Cloudy lenses can be cleaned with warm water and soap if the clouding is caused by dirt, grease, or grime. Specialty lens sprays made to decrease fog are helpful if the clouding is from moisture and not from dirt.

If the clouding of your lenses is caused by damage to the coatings, or years of wear and tear, it may be time to have them replaced.

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Or send us a picture, and we will measure your PD

1. Wearing glasses? Take them off for your photo.

It also helps to be in a well-lit area with a clean background.

2. Adjust your screen and look directly at the camera.

It should be positioned straight on with your face centered.

3. Place any card approximately the size of a credit card under your nose and snap a pic.

Be sure the card is touching your face.

(Do not show the side of the card with numbers.)

IMPORTANT: If you require a precise measurement, we encourage you to contact us to book a free appointment.

Notes:

1. The pupillary distance measurement is accurate with insignificant margins of error. Follow the above instructions to measure your own PD at home. Repeat these steps at least 3 times to get an accurate and consistßent measurement. For instance, for powers higher than 2.75 Diopter, PD tolerance is usually less than or equal to 2.0 mm.

2. You are highly encouraged to have an annual, comprehensive and dilated eye examination in order to receive precise prescription measurements, including your PD information. Simply send us your latest prescription when purchasing glasses online.

Is your organisation based in Mount Maunganui, Papamoa or Tauranga?

Do you have members with several spectacles?

Starting this week, we’re offering every Wednesday Spectacle Repair Sessions where we set up a our mobile repair stand in your premises - on any given Wednesday - and offer affordable optical frame repairs and free sunglass styling for your members.

These sessions are held by our optical dispensers and sunglass stylists.

If you think your members might find a repair session useful, just tell us which coming Wednesday would be useful for us to be on the link below and we’ll pencil it in.

Click Here to Book Your FREE Session

Individuals with only one functioning eye 👀 have this condition by definition, as there is no visual input from the second eye. The condition can also occur when both eyes are healthy but do not function together properly.

MPORTANT: This test is not a substitute for a professional examination. If you have any doubts about your depth perception please consult an optometrist.

Can you see the fern flag? 👇

A tip:

Raise your index finger and hold it in front of your face, about as far away as you would have the fern image. Now, look past your finger and focus on something beyond your finger. It helps if it’s something specific, a picture on a wall or something like that.

You will notice your index finger appear to duplicate in your vision. This is how you resolve the fern image, you are simply throwing your focus.

Now, focus on your finger. You will notice the picture on the wall duplicate in your vision. If you continue to switch your focus between your finger and the picture on the wall, you will be performing the very action necessary to quickly resolve the fern image.

A little practice will train you to do this at will, and you will be able to enjoy these images one after another, with minimal effort and delay. It will, incidentally, make those “find the differences in these two images” trivial.

Hope this helps!

What does the world look like to stereoblind people?

It’s really flat! We know this from the handful of people who have learned to use their eyes together as adults — people who are amazed to see their entire world inflate — becoming crisper, clearer and more spacious.

How does being stereoblind affect your life?

When you are a kid, you may have been told that it was no big deal, and that the only consequence was that you would never be a pilot.

This turns out not to be true.

If you do not learn to use your eyes together at a very young age, it affects nearly every aspect of your life:

• You develop a more careful and less accurate method for reaching and grasping things than your peers.

• You walk differently (with shorter steps, and not looking as far ahead.)

• You will probably be considered clumsy and bad at sports.

People who are stereoblind also have lifelong problems deciphering close-together text (e.g. on motorway signs) or picking out objects that are jumbled together — even if they have 20/20 vision.

Stereoblind teens are less likely to get their drivers’ licenses — even if they have no idea that there’s anything wrong with their eyes.

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all services below for $ 50 NZD

• new arms

• drill new screws

• nylon replacement

Email repairs@swfs.nz or

leave a voice message to book your repair:

07 929 66 28

CLICK HERE to pay $50 NZD

Service Offering in all of New Zealand

all lenses for $ 500 NZD - or bring us a quote from any New Zealand-based store and we will match the price.

• New lenses - single vision or progressive

• optional - add photo-chromatic, sun-glass, or thinner material - at no extra cost.

Each pair includes prescription lenses with scratch-resistant, anti-reflective, and superhydrophobic treatments—and they block 100% of UVA and UVB rays.

12 months warranty on the lenses and 12 months insurance against accidents and theft included. $100 NZD excess.

Email repairs@swfs.nz with 1) your prescription and 2) your pupillary distance or a selfie to help us get your PD. (click here to see instructions)

Or you can leave us a voice message to book an appointment:

07 929 66 28

CLICK HERE to pay $250 NZD

Yes. You can order prescription lenses only for glasses you already own, as long as the frames are eligible. This option is ideal if you have frames but need new lenses due to an updated prescription, scratched lenses, or normal wear—without replacing the entire pair of glasses.

Ordering lenses for frames you already have is a good solution if any of the following apply:

You Have Frames but Need New Prescription Lenses:

If your vision has changed and you need a new prescription, you can keep your current frames and replace only the lenses.

Your Lenses Are Scratched or Damaged:

Scratches, coating wear, or cracks can affect vision quality. Replacing the lenses restores clarity without buying new glasses.

You Want to Keep Frames You Love:

If your frames are discontinued, customized, or simply your favorite, ordering lenses only for glasses helps you keep the exact style and fit.

What types of prescription lenses can you order from SWFS?

You can order custom prescription lenses for most everyday vision needs, including:

Single Vision, Bifocal, and Progressive Lenses

Replacement are available for distance, reading, or multifocal correction, including progressive lenses.

Lens Materials and Coatings

All include lightweight materials, anti-reflective coatings, you can add blue light filtering, and UV protection.

Prism Lenses

If your prescription includes prism correction, prism lenses can be added when ordering lenses only, subject to frame compatibility.

How to order lenses for frames you already own:

Follow these steps to order prescription lenses for your existing frames.

1. Select your prescription lenses with us: we help you select the correct lenses based on your prescription, lifestyle, and visual needs.

2. Send us your valid prescription and PD. See post below 👇

3. Pay a deposit or full price.

CLICK HERE to pay $ 500

CLICK HERE to pay $ 250

Important Limitations:

Before ordering lenses only, keep the following in mind:

• Some brands and sunglasses frames may not be eligible

• Insurance coverage varies by provider

• 90 day money back warranty

Choosing to order lenses only offers several advantages:

Dispensing Optician Support

Mount Maunganui - based optician available to answer questions and guide lens selection.

High-Quality Lenses

Replacement lenses are manufactured to meet prescription accuracy and optical quality standards.

Reliable Fit and Quality Control

Frames are evaluated before lens installation to reduce the risk of improper fit or damage.

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all services below for $ 10 NZD if you are not a member. If you are a member these are FREE.

• nose pad repairs

• professional adjusting

• screw replacements

• add flexible arms

• almost free items for sale

Email repairs@swfs.nz or

leave a voice message to book your repair:

07 929 66 28

CLICK HERE to pay $10 NZD

Subscribe now