“Something For Everyone” Glasses Trunk Show

You’re invited! Binyon Vision Center is proud to host three of our amazing independent frame lines for a most unique shopping experience!

What is a glasses trunk show?

A trunk show is an opportunity for a manufacturer to bring in their entire collection to a retail partner. As much as an optical boutique like ours would love to carry every pair of glasses in every color, we get to choose our inventory carefully.

During a glasses trunk show, we get a limited opportunity to bring in every frame from one of our manufacturers in every color and it is SO fun.  This time, we’re doing that with three very different frame lines- providing so much variety there will indeed be something for everyone!

All the details…

Before we go on- here are the details to add to your calendar:

When? October 18th

What time? 10:00 am – 4:00 pm

Where? Binyon Vision Center 411 E. Magnolia Street Bellingham, WA!

Do I need an appointment? No – unless you’d like to design a custom Feb31st frame (more details below). If that’s the case- schedule an appointment by emailing our office manager, Calana at calana@binyonvision.com. Space is limited so contact her soon!

Glasses Lines Coming!

something for everyone glasses trunk show

l.a. Eyeworks has made a colorful splash in Bellingham since the line came to Binyon three years ago! For the first time, we’ll be able to show Bellingham the entire collection and if you’re into extreme color, shapes or even just something completely unique and different (feathers embedded in your glasses for example?) you’ll love what you see! Browse their glasses here and don’t forget to check out their beautiful advertisements: https://www.laeyeworks.com/.

Feb31st eye glasses frames are made completely to order. If you’ve ever dreamed of designing your own glasses, this is your opportunity! Created from layers of wood in a special laminating process- you get to pick the shape, size, colors and even have fun with custom engraving. Many of our patients who have been through the process describe these as the most comfortable frames they’ve ever worn! More details about the sustainable manufacturing process and design options here: https://feb31st.it/.

Article One rounds out these lines with classic offerings, the type of staples we all need in our glasses wardrobe. They also offer a very unique line of activewear – great glasses and sunglasses with small details to help them stay in place during workouts. See the collection here: https://articleoneeyewear.com/.

Something for Everyone Trunk Show!

All glasses lovers – we don’t want you to miss out on this opportunity! You can see the depth and breadth of these three amazing collection and we promise this will be a great time! See you October 18th!

Glasses of Binyon – Scott Stiglitz must have color

“I’m always looking for the brightest frames. It takes me no time to pick, I see it and say that’s the one.”

glasses of binyon bellingham washington

We’re back with a new Glasses of Binyon highlight! See past Glasses of Binyon stories here, here and here!

Scott Stiglitz may have entered his bright colored glasses era a little later in life, but he has jumped right in with both eyeballs! After wearing more conventional, silver metal frame bifocals, Scott (or Stiggy as he’s known to many who call on him at the Hardware Sales cable shop), took inspiration from news anchors to go bold with his frame choice in 2021.

Stiggys’ first two Binyon glasses frames were a carbon fiber printed Ovvo frame and a Face a Face cobalt blue frame with tortoise temples. Next time, he designed a Seahawks-themed Feb31st wood frame and this year, purple was calling his name with the photographed Brutal No. 20 by Etnia Barcelona. After years of shopping at big-box retailers for basic frames, he loves the variety of choices, personal service and attention he receives at Binyon. He’s quick to decide- he knows he wants bold and as soon as he sees it- he gets the opticians approval on the fit and he’s sold. Check out the independent frame lines that Binyon carries that Stiggy has to choose from here!

glasses of binyon bellingham washington
Brutal No. 20 in purple by Etnia Barcelona the Bold Collection

For these 2024 glasses, Scott decided to pay tribute to his college team – the UW Huskies. He was on a mission for purple frames. These were the first ones he tried on and even after Heather showed him a few more purple options, they agreed the fit, the style and obviously the color were perfect!

Glasses of Binyon – Lenses matter too!

Stiggy has worked at Hardware Sales for 20 years, and his job has become more and more computerized in the cable shop, which also manages concrete sales. Due to vertigo, he was fit into lined bifocals when the birthday-onset vision changes first set in, but as his prescription changed, he found himself craning his neck pretty far back to see the screen and he asked about solutions. Stiggy now wears a trifocal lens, three distinct lined zones for distance, intermediate (computer) and close up (reading). It’s not as popular as a lens today making availability more limited, but the Binyon team sourced what he needed so he could stick with what works well for him.

Stiggy brings his great personality everywhere he goes. We’re thankful for the opportunity to help him bring color to his world and joy to him and all those around him, who often comment on his fun glasses. It’s not the usual choice for a hardware store employee, but it’s the perfect choice for Stiggy. If you’re looking to stand out in color or style, please stop by and check out the selection at Binyon Vision Center!

Patient Appreciation Month 2024

Each of you who trusts us with your eye health, contact lenses and eye glasses needs are invaluable to our business. For patient appreciation month we celebrate YOU. Thank you for your support.

Our community’s support of local, independent businesses is above and beyond. Inspired by the “Think Local” campaign – we’ve put together a drawing with prizes from some of our favorite local businesses and multiple ways for our patients to enter! In 2024, we’re going bigger – more prizes and more ways to win!

Here are the ways you can earn entries to the patient appreciation drawing:

  • Coming to the Face a Face trunk show on April 12th- 1 ticket
  • Purchasing a new complete pair of eye glasses (new frames and lenses) – 4 tickets
  • Purchasing new lenses for an existing frame – 2 tickets
  • Purchasing a complete pair of eye glasses (new frame and lenses) at the Face a Face trunk show – 6 tickets
  • Purchasing a new frame at the trunk show – 4 tickets
  • Stopping by the office to say hi! – 1 ticket
  • Stopping by the office to refill eye glasses cleaner spray bottle – 2 tickets
  • Purchasing a year-supply of contact lenses – 5 tickets
  • Purchasing less than a year supply of contact lenses – 2 tickets
  • Bringing contact lens packaging to the office for recycling – 2 tickets

Here is a list of *some* of the possible raffle prizes!

  • Ovvo Optics frame (your choice from our best selling line in 2023!) plus new prescription lenses!
  • Non-prescription sunglasses from Invu
  • Many more prizes from some of our team’s favorite local businesses!

The End of the Year is Coming – have you used your vision benefits?

Have you been paying for vision insurance or into a flexible spending account all year?  Are you familiar with the details of your insurance plan?  Many benefits expire at the end of the year- let us help you find out more details about yours!

Calendar year vision benefits

Many plans are on a calendar year cycle. This means they renew on January 1st no matter when you used them last.  A common plan in our area that has this benefit is the Regence plan. This plan is an option for employees at Western Washington University.  This two year benefit now renews every even calendar year. If you haven’t used your benefit dollars in 2022 or 2023 – it’s a missed opportunity!

Flexible Spending Accounts

Some employers offer their employees to defer part of their salary to a tax-free savings account. This can be used towards medical expenses.  These are “use-it-or-lose-it” plans. These plans will expire with the funds going away either at the end of the year or in some cases on March 15th.  Talk with your employers or the manager of your FSA fund to make sure you understand the balance in your account and when it might expire.

Money saved into flexible spending accounts can be used for medical expenses that are not covered by insurance- but must be medically related.  In our world that means – eye exams, copays, glasses, contact lenses and prescription sunglasses.

There might be no better time to update your glasses or stock up on contact lenses!

Please give us a call to check on your vision benefits or to answer any questions on how you could maximize the money you’ve saved in your FSA account!

We have a large number of frames in our “red-dot” sale section right now- all 30%-50% off!  Our in-stock sunglasses are 50% off this month (some exclusions apply) and can be used for prescription sunglasses! We look forward to seeing you before the end of the year!

We’re thankful for progressive lenses!

If you’ve crossed over the 45 birthdays mark… you know what we’re talking about. For someone who was nearsighted and wearing glasses since 2nd grade, the experience was much different than I expected. I knew the blur of not being able to see in the distance, but this was weird. All of a sudden, my eyes wouldn’t focus when my kids shoved something close to my face to read. “Mom! What does this say?” would elicit this response – “Whoa… move that back a little bit.” When I thought things would get blurry- they didn’t- instead my eyes started to pull funny, feel strained and the natural instinct was to move my head back until ahhh… I could read.

My yearly eye exam confirmed – it was time for progressive lenses. I anxiously awaited the arrival of my first pair with a +1.00 add. After helping fit people with +1.75 to +2.50 add powers for years, this seemed like a baby step that probably wouldn’t make much difference. But to my surprise it did made a big difference! I’ve since graduated to a +1.25 add power as another birthday came and went and that strain feeling came back. The joy of this particular birthday change called presbyopia.

What is Presbyopia?

The lens of our eye (see image below) is actually flexible and along with the surrounding muscles, it changes shape to focus on objects at different distances. Presbyopia is an age-related condition when the lens and muscles connected to the lens become weaker, preventing it from moving into a shape that is able to focus at near distances. Like nearsightedness and farsightedness, presbyopia is a diagnosis of a visual acuity deficiency in the patient’s eyes.

The eye’s lens stiffens with age, so it is less able to focus when you view something up close. – source: allaboutvision.com

How do Progressive Lenses Help?

Progressive lenses in eyeglasses are the most common treatment for presbyopia. A progressive lens is a line-free multifocal lens. In other words, there are multiple vision prescriptions incorporated into one lens for the wearer to be able to see clearly at multiple distances. Unlike traditional lined bifocals or trifocals, progressive lenses offer a seamless transition, allowing wearers to see clearly at varying distances. The same lenses allow one to see the far distance (driving or watching a movie), mid-distance (face-to-face conversation or looking at a computer) down to close up (reading a book or looking at a phone).

Take a peek at the diagram of a progressive lens below. It’s not completely accurate because it does look like 3 focal distances when in face there are infinite focal lengths for the wearer which progress from distance to near as your eyes look downward through the lens. The diagram clearly shows something important – the lighter, unidentified areas on each side of the lens. This is what we call a blending zone. The combination of manufacturing limitations and physics means this progressing zone through the lens does not extend all the way to the edges. That is a limitation of these lenses that can cause difficulty with adaptation to wearing progressives.

Diagram of a progressive lens – source: Tatum Eyecare

On the market today, there are several progressive lens manufacturers. The first lens was designed and released by a company called Varilux in the 1960’s. Thankfully there has been a lot of improvement in design and manufacturing during this time. Each company has a unique approach to creating this visual corridor of the progressive lens. We highly encourage you to understand all the options and benefits of the different types of progressive lenses.

How to select the proper Progressive Lenses

  1. Customization: At Binyon Vision Center, our experienced opticians take the time to understand your unique visual requirements. We offer personalized progressive lenses tailored to your lifestyle, ensuring optimal clarity and comfort.
  2. Lens Technology: Our opticians stay updated with the latest lens technologies. From anti-reflective coatings to blue light filters, we offer a range of options to enhance your visual experience and protect your eyes from digital eye strain. There has been much innovation in the world of progressive lenses, and we partner with the top lens manufacturers to provide the best, most effective lenses available. Our preferred progressive lens partner, Shamir, has an unmatched number of lens designs and invest highly in research and development to understand the wearer’s experience.
  3. Frame Selection: Our extensive collection of frames complements the style and preferences of every individual. Our knowledgeable staff can help you choose frames that not only look great but also accommodate progressive lenses seamlessly.

If your experience with progressive lenses has left you anything less than being thankful – we encourage you to explore more options. Lens designs continue to improve and with a better understanding of how they work, we hope they will be more successful for you. It’s unavoidable – that up close vision will go someday and being comfortable in the progressive lenses is something we would love to help you with!

Recycling Update for all things Eye Care!

New recycling options for eye drop containers and contact lens cases!

We are into our fifth year of recycling contact lenses and contact lens packaging as a Terra Cycle partner! A common concern for our potential daily wear contact lens wearers was the amount of waste the daily disposable contacts would generate. We’re excited to have this solution available and we’ve now shipped over 460 pounds of contact lens waste that has been dropped off by you Bellingham for proper recycling. Yes – I calculated that twice to make sure. Municipal recycle pick up would sort out these little pieces of plastic from the recycle and now we’ve diverted the equivalent weight of a tiger out of the landfill!

An average Bengal Tiger weighs 450 lbs. Binyon Vision Center has shipped over 460 lbs of contact lens waste for recycling since 2018.

We’ve worked hard to get the word out about our contact lens recycling program and these results show it has been successful! Now we’re excited to introduce a new recycling program available for more eyecare products. Binyon Vision Center is now also a drop off point for recycling the following items:

  • All brands of contact lens cases
  • All brands of contact lens solution bottle caps (bottles can be recycled through the city recycling program- but caps are too small!)
  • Eye drop single dose vials
  • Eye drop packaging

Hard to remember? Here’s a little image to help. If it has to do with your eye care or eye wear and it seems too small to go into the City Recycle… we will probably be able to recycle it!

With the addition of eye drop packaging, this spreads to non-contact lens wearers! We’d appreciate helping us get the word out- if you can share this image above with your friends, family members and social media followers we can get more people recycling these items. As with the contact lens packaging, anyone can drop by a container of these products, we’ll take the goods and return your container if you’d like. You can drop it through our mail slot (if it fits!) during our closed hours.

Recycling around the office with Ridwell

Our optical business receives many boxes via courier service and various package delivery outfits every day. Yes, this is so fun- new frames for our showroom floor, our patient’s completed prescription glasses, office supplies, and more to keep us going! After the thrill of opening the boxes of new glasses, the let down was the amount of unrecyclable waste. Over a year ago, Dr. LeClaire opened an account with Ridwell, a unique pick up service for hard to recycle items. Check out here if they are available in your area.

Recently, we upgraded our Ridwell service to the unlimited plan. This allows us to recycle:

  • Plastic film (many frame companies send their frames to us in plastic film bags for protection)
  • Batteries
  • Threads
  • Light bulbs
  • Multi-layered plastic (food storage bags for example)
  • Clear plastic clamshells
  • Styrofoam
  • Latex paint and fluorescent lights for a minimal extra fee

We received a bin to fill for monthly pick up but with our unlimited plan, we can add extra bags (and we always do!) outside of the bin and they will take those also. We love the knowledge the extra waste that comes in the door can be recycled and what is especially cool about Ridwell is they will tell us where it’s going! They are transparent and accountable for how and where the recycled materials are used. See more details here.

With Terra Cycle and Ridwell, small recycling steps add up!

You can help us with our mission to divert small eye care waste from landfills – reference the image above and drop by these new items along with your contact lens waste to Binyon Vision Center. If you haven’t started using Ridwell yet, we’d encourage you to give it a try! The service can be canceled any time if it’s not a good fit. For the Binyon Vision Center team, the peace of mind all of us get from not throwing these previously unrecyclable items into the garbage can is priceless!

Lafont Trunk Show- Finding the Perfect Pair of Glasses!

The ENTIRE Lafont Collection on display

There was no doubt on July 12, 2023- Lafont Paris was in the Binyon house in Bellingham, WA. One of the pioneers of the independent eyewear movement and family owned for 100 years – we are always so excited to welcome this company to take over the store and show their extensive and unique line of frames.

Cheetah, cheetah and more cheetah

A long time signature of the Lafont line is the cheetah print that has graced many a frame style in the last 100 years. One table was dedicated to all of the current frames that come in cheetah print. There are over 18 frames that incorporate cheetah into their color scheme!

My mission – finding my next frame to compliment my current collection!

When I became presbyopic a few years ago and needed progressive lenses to see the fine print- my glasses collection severely reduced in size! I was so excited to peruse the latest Lafont line to find the perfect pair. There were two that stood out immediately- both recommended by the Lafont rep for the Pacific Northwest, Ciara.

The “Maud” features a metal polka dot motif in an amazing cut out bronze color accented by the bottom light blue. I love the delicacy of the cut outs- I had a previous Lafont frame with a filigree cut out and it looked like a piece of jewelry. Jordan pointed out the bronze color might not wear well in winter without the summer glow, and I had to agree! Maybe next time, Maud.

Oh hello “Jeanne” … this is the magic of a trunk show. Jeanne has been at the Binyon store before but in a different color combination. This pop of color combined with lightness and my favorite shape was exactly what I needed. I put these on, and knew I’d found the perfect pair.

After making my final selection, I was excited to be measured by the new tool in the office, the Shamir Spark hands-free measuring tool. Heather sat me down to look in the mirror and showed me how the machine took all the necessary measurements for the progressive lenses, even calculating how far the glasses were from the front of my eyes and the angle from the top to the bottom of the lenses. I’m so excited to get the Autograph Intelligence lenses with these new frames- the best in progressive lens technology.

Lafont Trunk Show Invitation

What is a trunk show?

A trunk show is an opportunity for a manufacturer to bring in their entire collection to a retail partner. As much as an optical boutique like ours would love to carry every frame in every color, we get to choose our inventory carefully (PS – stay tuned for an upcoming blog interview with our office manager on how she chooses which frames to bring in the store)!

During a trunk show, we get a limited opportunity to bring in every frame from one of our manufacturers in every color and it is SO fun. This summer, we’re bringing one of our longtime favorites, Lafont Paris who is also celebrating their 100th year in business!

Who is Lafont?

Here is a snippet from the Lafont website about their rich history in eyewear:

“Lafont’s story begins with Louis Lafont in 1923 and the opening of his optical boutique at 11 rue Vignon Paris. The Maison took a pivotal turn in the 1980’s with Laurence and Philippe Lafont introducing their iconic frame – GENIE. Today Thomas and Matthieu, fourth generation the of Lafont family, head Maison Lafont, where independence remains a pillar of the brand.

Together they are committed to the future ensuring eco-responsibility in their products and services.

Lafont is full of color and Parisian style. Signature colors and patterns are combined with seasonal shading forming unique and exclusive designs. Evidence of the authenticity of French eyewear expertise and French manufacturing found in the unique combination of artisanal craftsmanship and technology that is fundamental to the House.
One passion guides our collections: a beautiful product made with care and attention to detail.”

With over 500 additional frames in stock, we hope that you join us for return of the annual Lafont Trunk show!

Your Invitation!

Welcome Dr. Squires!

Dear Patients,

We are extremely excited to announce the addition of a new optometrist to the team at Binyon Vision Center.  Dr. Patrick Squires will start seeing patients on April 24th and have availability on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays.  

Dr. Squires grew up in St. Louis and graduated from the University of Missouri-St. Louis College of Optometry with honors.  He has spent most of his career working in community health clinics in Seattle.  Dr. Squires helped establish a diabetic clinic for the Puget Sound Neighborhood Health Clinics, where he did retinal screenings.  He volunteered with UW Faculty and medical students, “Sight Savers”, and local health fairs including Seamar’s Latina Health Fair. He was also a past director and a volunteer at the Millionair Club Eye Clinic in Seattle. 

Dr. Squires’ wife is from Glasgow.  While pursuing her, he spent four years working abroad in Germany and Scotland.  During his time in Germany, Dr. Squires set up contact lens clinics as a civilian for the Department of Defense.

Dr. Squires’ son attends Fairhaven Middle School, and his wife is an Occupational Therapist for the Opportunity Council.  In his free time, Dr. Squires travels the I-5 corridor driving his son to his next soccer match.  Being an avid baseball fan, he is a season ticket holder to the Everett Aquasox, and frequently attends Bellingham Bells games.  Dr. Squires considers himself fortunate to have worked with many exceptional clinicians, and caring individuals, throughout his career. He has great respect for Dr. McEathron and is excited to join Dr. LeClaire and Binyon Vision Center.

Dr. McEathron will be working two days a week in June and on Wednesdays in July until he hangs up his ophthalmoscope- except for occasional vacation fill-in for the other doctors!  We wish him all the best in his retirement.

Sincerely,

Dr. Heather LeClaire and the Binyon team

Patient Appreciation Month

Each of you who trusts us with your eye health and glasses needs are invaluable to our business. For patient appreciation month we celebrate YOU. Thank you for your support.

Our community’s support of local, independent businesses is above and beyond. Inspired by the “Think Local” campaign – we’ve put together a drawing with prizes from some of our favorite local businesses and multiple ways for our patients to enter! This year we’re going bigger – more prizes and more ways to win!

Here are the ways you can earn entries to the patient appreciation drawing:

  • Stop by the office and request an entry!
  • Bring by your spray bottle for a refill for two entries!
  • Bring in used contact lenses and packaging for recycling for two entries
  • Purchase a 3, 6 or 9 month supply of contacts = three entries
  • Purchase new lenses for your frame = three entries
  • Purchase a plano (non-prescription) pair of sunglasses = three entries
  • Purchase a year supply of contacts = five entries
  • Order a new complete pair of glasses = five entries

And now the best part! The prizes!

  • A pair of Ovvo frames- your pick- and a free set of lenses = one complete pair of glasses!!
  • Gift certificate to Binyon Vision Center
  • Custom 5 x 7 painting by local artist Ben Mann
  • Gift certificate to Lockbreaker Escape Rooms
  • Gift certificate to Pure Bliss
  • Local artist Phoebe Wahl gifts
  • Cute but Crazy Socks
  • Gift certificate for Village Books
  • Aslan Brewing Co swag
  • And more!

All qualifying purchases will be automatically added to the drawing throughout the month of April and the winner will be notified the first week of May! One prize per entrant. No limit to number of entries.

Thank you again for your incredible support of our business! We appreciate you!

Also! Keep a look out on our Instagram page for a special social media giveaway this month!