In our decades of dispensing premium frames and administering diagnostic clinical vision care, we have encountered the same questions time and again. There are no unintelligent questions when it comes to an optical accessory you wear on your face every day. Here are the honest, jargon-free answers you deserve.
In decades of fitting frames and consulting on vision, we have heard a lot of questions. The same ones come up again and again, sometimes from first-time glasses wearers, sometimes from people who have worn a prescription for thirty years and never thought to ask. There are no unintelligent questions when it comes to something you put on your face every single day.
Here are the ones we hear most, answered the way we'd answer them in store - honestly, without jargon, and without an agenda to sell you something you don't need.
How do I know which frame shape suits my face?
This is the most asked question in any optical store, and the most misunderstood.
The conventional answer is that you match your frame shape to the opposite of your face shape - round face, angular frame; angular face, rounder frame. This is broadly useful as a starting point, but it is not a rule and it is not the full picture.
What actually matters: the width of the frame relative to the widest point of your face (ideally similar or slightly wider), the position of the lens centre relative to your pupil, and most importantly, how you feel when you put it on.
The right frame fits your personality as much as your face. Both matter.
The practical answer: Come in and try things on. Bring someone whose opinion you trust. Give yourself more time than you think you need. The right frame will tell you.
What is the difference between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist?
People use these two words interchangeably or they don’t know these words exist. They are not the same thing.
An optometrist is your primary eye care professional - the person you see for routine examinations, prescription updates, contact lens fittings and the management of everyday eye conditions. At S.R.Gopal Rao Opticians, our optometrists handle everything from annual check-ups to our Myopia Management Centre assessments.
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor specialising in eye disease and surgery. Cataracts, glaucoma, retinal conditions - these are their territory. For most people, most of the time, an ophthalmologist is not who you need. Your optometrist is. And if something more complex is going on, they will tell you and refer you accordingly.
The simple version: start with your optometrist. They will take it from there.
How often should I get my eyes tested?
Every two years is the standard recommendation for adults with no existing eye conditions and no family history of concern. Every year for anyone over 40, anyone with diabetes, anyone with a family history of glaucoma or macular degeneration, and every 6 months for anyone whose prescription has been changing noticeably.
For children, annual testing is recommended from school age and more frequently if there is any sign of myopia progression. This is not overcautious. The eye develops rapidly in childhood, and the window to influence the outcome of conditions like myopia is narrower than most parents realise.
The exam is also not just about your prescription. A comprehensive eye examination can identify early signs of conditions including diabetes, hypertension, and certain neurological conditions often before other symptoms appear. Your optometrist is looking at more than your lens power.
While the above is the rule, this is customised and changed based on your prescription/eye health by your Optometrist. So always and always go by the duration recommended by them for your follow up or regular eye-check up. Book an eye examination at SRGR →
Are expensive frames worth it?
This depends entirely on what you mean by worth it.
If you mean, do expensive frames produce better optical outcomes than affordable ones? - then the honest answer is: not necessarily. Lens design, features and quality is more important than frame price for optical performance, and a well-fitted affordable frame with excellent lenses will serve your vision better than a poorly fitted luxury frame with inferior lenses.
If you mean, is there a meaningful difference in build quality, material, and longevity between a ₹3,000 frame and a ₹30,000 frame? - then yes, often significantly. Higher-end frames are typically made from superior materials (Italian acetate, titanium, beta-titanium), with hinge engineering that lasts, and with a fit that maintains its geometry over years of daily wear.
A frame you wear every day for seven years works out to a different cost calculation than one replaced annually.
The Club SRGR philosophy is buy once, buy right. This is not just an aesthetic position. It is frequently the more economical one over time.
Explore our frame collection across all price points →
What's the difference between polarised and UV protection lenses?
These are two different things that are often confused, and the confusion matters.
UV protection refers to the lens's ability to block ultraviolet radiation - the invisible light that causes long-term damage to your eyes. UV400 protection means the lens blocks all UV light up to 400 nanometres, which covers both UVA and UVB rays completely. This is what you need.
Polarisation refers to the lens's ability to reduce glare - the horizontal light reflected off flat surfaces like roads, water and car bonnets. Polarised lenses make driving safer, make water sports more comfortable, and generally reduce eye fatigue in high-glare environments. They do not inherently provide UV protection, though most quality polarised lenses include UV400 protection as standard.
What are blue light glasses and do I actually need them?
Blue light lenses have been one of the most marketed optical products of the last five years, and the science around them is more nuanced than the marketing suggests.
First, a clarification worth making. Blue light is emitted by all light sources, the sun being the most significant - not just screens. Blue light blocking lenses work as a protective measure against prolonged exposure to artificial light sources, particularly for people spending extended hours under LED office lighting or in front of screens. What they do not do, despite frequent claims to the contrary, is directly reduce digital eye strain.
Digital eye strain - the fatigue, dryness and headaches associated with extended screen use, is better addressed through a combination of approaches. Specialised lens designs with specific coatings, such as Essilor Eyezen lenses and Essilor Prevencia coating, are designed to optimise visual comfort during screen use. Proper lubrication through regular use of preservative-free eye drops helps maintain the tear film that screen use depletes. And the 20-20-20 rule remains one of the most effective and underused tools available. Every twenty minutes, look at something twenty feet away for twenty seconds.
What we tell our customers: blue light lenses are not harmful and offer a genuine protective benefit for those with high exposure to artificial light. But if digital eye strain is your primary concern, lens design, lubrication and screen habits will do more for you than blue light filtration alone.
Come in and we will help you work out which combination is right for your specific situation.
How do I clean my glasses properly?
This question has a simple answer that a surprising number of people get wrong, and the consequences matter more than most people realise.
Lens coatings, including anti-reflective and blue light coatings, have a finite lifespan. Most quality coatings withstand on an average, approximately 2000 wipes before they begin to degrade, which translates to roughly two years of regular cleaning. Every unnecessary wipe shortens that window. The better the coating, the longer it lasts. The practical advice: clean your lenses only when necessary, not as a reflex habit.
Do: Use the microfibre cloth that came with your frames. When genuinely needed, rinse with regular, room temperature water and a small amount of low chemical soap (only when needed) first, then dry gently with the cloth.
Do not: Use your shirt, tissues or paper towels. Never use a rough or abrasive cloth. Never wipe dry lenses without rinsing first, this drags debris across the surface and accelerates coating wear. Avoid household glass cleaners entirely, as the chemicals are damaging to optical coatings.
Read more on caring for your eyewear →
Can children wear contact lenses?
Yes, with the right guidance and realistic expectations about compliance. Most optometrists consider children ready for contact lenses from around 12 years of age, though this varies considerably depending on the child's maturity, hygiene habits, and motivation.
For children with progressing myopia specifically, certain contact lens types - particularly orthokeratology lenses - are not just a vision correction option but a clinically-supported myopia management tool. If your child's prescription is increasing year on year, this conversation is worth having with our team.
Learn more about our Myopia Management Centre →
What is myopia management and is it different from just wearing glasses?
Yes, significantly.
Glasses and standard contact lenses correct myopia - they give your child clear vision today. Myopia management addresses the progression of myopia over time, aiming to slow how quickly the prescription increases.
This matters because high myopia (typically above -6.00 dioptres) is associated with increased long-term risk of serious eye conditions including retinal detachment, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Slowing progression in childhood reduces the likelihood of reaching high myopia and its associated risks.
Myopia management tools include specialist contact lenses, orthokeratology (lenses worn overnight), and atropine eye drops, depending on the child's age, prescription and rate of progression. Our Myopia Management Centre in Bangalore offers full assessments and personalised programmes.
How do I know if my prescription has changed?
The clearest signs: difficulty reading road signs or screens that were previously clear, headaches after sustained close work or screen use, squinting frequently, or noticing that your current glasses simply don't feel as sharp as they once did.
Some people notice changes gradually and adapt without realising - which is precisely why regular testing matters. Don't wait until your vision is noticeably blurred before coming in.
Visit us in Residency Road, Jayanagar or N.R.Road →
S.R.Gopal Rao Opticians. Three showrooms with in house clinics across Bangalore. Our optometrists are available for consultations, eye examinations and prescription reviews.