Journal
Considered writing on vision, style and hearing.
Stories, guidance and ideas from the STOTTS. team — to help you see, hear and feel your best.
Why we don’t believe in the 10-minute eye test
A sight test can be done in ten minutes. What gets left out is the part that finds things — and the part that makes your glasses work. Here is what the extra time is actually spent on.
Why your glasses still don’t feel quite right
New glasses that feel off are usually not a wrong prescription. Six things that go wrong between the eye test and the pair on your face — and which of them can be put right in ten minutes.
7 min read →
Varifocals have changed: what modern progressive lenses can really do
If you tried varifocals a decade ago and gave up, the lens you were given no longer represents what is available. What has genuinely changed since — and what has not, because some of it is physics.
8 min read →
Glasses for your face shape — without following the rules
Round face, square frames. Heart-shaped face, cat-eye. The rules are a starting point and nothing more. Here is what actually decides whether a frame works — and why two people with the same face shape rarely suit the same glasses.
7 min read →
Are expensive lenses actually worth it?
Sometimes, clearly. Sometimes not at all. The honest version: what a higher price buys, when it makes a difference you will notice, and the cases where we tell people to spend less.
8 min read →
Why some glasses look incredible on the shelf — but not on you
You loved it on the display. You put it on and something died. It is almost never your face — it is scale, bridge fit, colour temperature and the fact that a frame is designed to be seen from the front and lived in from the side.
6 min read →
Can better lenses make your vision feel more natural?
“Natural” is a vague word for a specific set of things: how much the edges swim, how wide the clear area is, how your eyes behave at four in the afternoon. Here is what is measurable and what is marketing.
7 min read →
What makes a good pair of glasses? It’s not just the frame
Four things decide whether a pair of glasses works: the frame, the lens, the measurements and the fit. Most people buy on the first and are disappointed by one of the other three.
7 min read →
The STOTTS. guide to better night driving
Headlights have got brighter, and eyes change with age. What actually helps with night-time glare, what makes it worse, and the one product we will not sell you.
8 min read →
The art of a proper fit: what your optician should be looking for
What actually happens between choosing a frame and collecting your glasses — the measurements, the adjustments, and the half-dozen checks that decide whether a pair works. Plus how to tell whether yours were fitted properly.
7 min read →
The second pair you’ll actually use: sunglasses, driving or screen glasses
Most people who buy a second pair buy the wrong one and it lives in a drawer. A short decision guide: which of the three candidates earns its place, decided by what your week actually looks like.
6 min read →
Your eyes are changing — even when your prescription isn’t
“No change” on your prescription does not mean nothing happened. Six things that alter between eye tests without moving a single number — and why the appointment still matters in a year when your glasses do not.
6 min read →
Beyond the eye test: what modern eye care can tell us about your health
The eye is the only place in the body where blood vessels and a nerve can be seen directly, without cutting anything. What scanning technology has added to that, and what it can and cannot tell you.
7 min read →
Independent vs high-street opticians: what’s actually different?
Both are staffed by registered professionals held to the same standards. The differences are real but they are not the ones usually claimed — they are about time, continuity, range and who decides what you are offered.
7 min read →
The glasses wardrobe: building one over time
Nobody owns one pair of shoes. The case for more than one pair of glasses is the same, but the order you buy them in matters — here is how to build a wardrobe over a few years without wasting money on the wrong pair.
6 min read →
Hearing loss is often gradual — here are the signs people miss
Gradual hearing loss hides itself, because the brain adapts as fast as the hearing fades. The signs other people notice first, and the ones you can check yourself this week.
7 min read →
When should you really have your hearing checked?
There is no national hearing screening programme for adults in the UK, so nobody invites you. A practical schedule by age and circumstance — and the symptoms that should not wait for any schedule.
6 min read →
What your glasses say about you: finding your eyewear style
Glasses are the only thing you wear on your face every day, and they are read before you speak. A guide to working out what you actually want them to say — which is not the same as what suits you.
6 min read →
Quiet luxury for your face: the rise of understated eyewear
Logos are getting smaller and materials are doing the talking. What the understated turn in eyewear actually consists of, how to recognise it in the hand, and the one thing it is easy to get wrong.
6 min read →
The eyewear trends we’re actually excited about
Not a round-up of everything on the runway. Five developments in frames and lenses that we think will still look right in five years — and three we would be cautious about.
6 min read →
Sudden hearing loss — is it an emergency?
Yes — a sudden drop in hearing, usually in one ear, can be a medical emergency that is best treated within days. Here is how to recognise it and what to do straight away.
5 min read →
Why is my vision suddenly blurry — and when should I worry?
Most blurry vision is harmless — tiredness, dry eye or a changing prescription. But some sudden blurring is urgent. Here is how to tell the difference, and what to do.
5 min read →
Can screens and eye strain cause headaches?
Long days on screens really can bring on headaches. Here is why digital eye strain happens, simple things that help — and when your headaches point to your prescription.
5 min read →
How does diabetes affect your eyes?
Diabetes is a leading cause of sight loss in working-age adults — but early damage has no symptoms. Here is what it does to the eyes, and why screening and regular tests matter.
6 min read →
Why does my ear feel blocked or full?
A blocked, full or muffled ear is usually harmless — often wax or a cold. Here are the common causes, how to tell if it is wax, and when a blocked ear needs to be seen.
5 min read →
How to read your glasses prescription (SPH, CYL, AXIS and more)
SPH, CYL, AXIS, ADD, PD — a glasses prescription can look like code. Here is what each number means in plain English, and why it is not the same as a contact lens prescription.
5 min read →
Signs your child needs glasses
Children rarely say they cannot see well — to them, blur is normal. Here are the signs to watch for, why acting early matters, and when to book a first eye test.
5 min read →
How do you look after your hearing aids?
A little daily care keeps hearing aids working at their best and lasting longer. Here is a simple routine — plus the quick checks to try before you assume something is wrong.
5 min read →
How can you protect your hearing?
Noise-induced hearing loss is permanent — but almost entirely preventable. A few simple habits, and knowing how loud is too loud, can protect your hearing for life.
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Is there a link between hearing loss and dementia?
Hearing loss is now recognised as one of the largest modifiable risk factors for dementia. Here is what the evidence actually says — carefully — and why looking after your hearing is worth it either way.
6 min read →
What are the signs you might be losing your hearing?
Hearing loss usually creeps in so gradually that other people often notice before you do. Here are the everyday signs worth paying attention to — and why acting early is worth it.
6 min read →
Are contact lenses safe to wear every day?
Worn correctly, contact lenses are a safe, comfortable way to see — millions wear them daily. The risks come from a few avoidable habits. Here is how to wear them safely, and the warning signs never to ignore.
6 min read →
What causes tinnitus, and can anything help?
Ringing, buzzing or whooshing in the ears? Tinnitus is very common and rarely dangerous — and while there is no single cure, there is a great deal that genuinely helps. Here is what to know.
6 min read →
What is a cataract, and when should it be treated?
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens — very common with age, and very treatable. Here is how to recognise one, what surgery involves, and when it is actually worth doing.
7 min read →
What health problems can an eye test detect?
An eye test does far more than check your glasses. The eye is the one place a clinician can see your blood vessels and a nerve directly — so a routine exam can flag diabetes, high blood pressure and more, sometimes before any other symptom.
6 min read →
What are the early signs of glaucoma?
Glaucoma is often called the "silent thief of sight" because the common type has no early symptoms — it is usually picked up at a routine eye test, before you would ever notice. Here is what to know, and who is most at risk.
6 min read →
Flashes and floaters: when should you worry?
Most floaters are harmless. A sudden shower of them, flashing lights or a shadow across your vision can signal a retinal problem that needs same-day care. Here is how to tell the difference.
6 min read →
Can you slow down short-sightedness in children?
Short-sightedness usually starts in childhood and tends to worsen through the school years. The encouraging news: myopia management can now slow it down. Here is how it works and why it matters.
7 min read →
Is microsuction ear wax removal safe?
Microsuction is widely regarded as the safest, most comfortable way to remove ear wax. Here is how it works, why it is gentler than syringing, what to expect, and when to seek help.
6 min read →
Why do I suddenly need reading glasses in my 40s?
Holding your phone at arm’s length? Around your mid-40s the eye’s focusing changes — it is called presbyopia. Here is why it happens, why it is completely normal, and what your options are.
6 min read →
Are blue light glasses worth it?
Blue light glasses are everywhere — but do they actually help? An honest, evidence-based look at what the research shows, what really causes screen discomfort, and what genuinely helps tired eyes.
6 min read →
STOTTS. delivers specialist vision screening for Burnley FC players
For the second year running, STOTTS. delivered football-specific vision screening for Burnley FC players — nearly 60 assessed in a single day using our own screening app. How sports vision screening works, and how clubs can arrange it.
6 min read →
Why are my eyes watering if they are dry?
Watery eyes that also feel dry? It is more common than you would think. Here is why dry eyes trigger reflex tears, what may help, and when to get checked.
7 min read →
Dry eyes and menopause: what is the connection?
Dry, gritty, burning or watery eyes in perimenopause and menopause? Hormonal changes can affect the tear film. Here are the signs, self-care and next steps.
7 min read →
I can hear people talking, but I cannot understand what they are saying
Can you hear that someone is talking but not make out the words, especially in noise? Here is why it happens, what it may mean, and how a hearing test helps.
7 min read →
Why do some varifocal lenses cost more than others?
Comparing varifocal prices? The real differences are in the lens design, personalisation, measurements and aftercare — not just the label. Here is what you pay for.
8 min read →
How long does it take to adjust to varifocals?
Most people settle into varifocals within days, some need a little longer. Here is what is normal, how to adapt faster, and when your glasses should be checked.
7 min read →
How much do private hearing aids cost?
Comparing private hearing-aid prices? Here is what really shapes the cost, what should be included beyond the device, and how to compare providers fairly.
8 min read →
How to choose glasses that actually suit you
Choosing glasses should start with you, not a face-shape rule. A STOTTS. stylist’s guide to frames that suit your proportions, colouring, prescription and life.
8 min read →
Dry eye or allergies: how can you tell the difference?
Itchy, gritty, watery or burning eyes? Dry eye and allergies feel alike and can occur together. Here is what tends to point each way — and when to get checked.
6 min read →
What happens during a full hearing assessment?
Unsure what a hearing test involves? A full hearing assessment at STOTTS. is calm, thorough and complimentary. Here is exactly what happens, step by step.
7 min read →
Ear wax or hearing loss: how can you tell?
A blocked, muffled ear can be simple wax — or the first sign of something more. Here is how to tell the difference, and when to get it checked.
6 min read →
Why your eye test should be about more than reading letters on a chart
Most eye tests tell you whether you can see. A better consultation works out how you live — and what your eyes actually need.
6 min read →
One pair of glasses is rarely enough: why modern life needs an eyewear wardrobe
Nobody owns one pair of shoes for every occasion. So why expect one pair of glasses to handle work, reading, driving, sun and style?
6 min read →
The hidden cost of cheap glasses
Cheap glasses can be entirely fine for some people. But the compromise usually appears somewhere — and it is worth knowing where to look.
6 min read →
Hearing health: why it should be checked like your eyes
You would not wait until you could barely see before booking an eye test. Your hearing deserves exactly the same care.
5 min read →
Why aesthetics belongs at STOTTS.
STOTTS. has always helped people see better and feel more confident in how they present themselves. Aesthetics is a natural next step — not a departure.
5 min read →
How often should you really have an eye test?
The honest answer, the signs you should not ignore, and why the gap between tests matters more than most people think.
4 min read →
Finding frames that actually suit you
A stylist’s guide to face shape, colouring and the quiet confidence of eyewear that genuinely belongs on you.
5 min read →
Modern hearing aids are nothing like you remember
Invisible, rechargeable and Bluetooth-ready — today’s hearing technology has quietly changed beyond recognition.
4 min read →
What an OCT scan can reveal about your eyes
Advanced retinal imaging lets us see structures a standard test cannot — and detect change years earlier.
5 min read →
Looking after your child’s eyes: what every parent should know
Children rarely complain about their vision — which is exactly why regular checks and a few simple habits matter so much.
5 min read →
Lenses, tailored to how you actually live
Your frame gets the attention, but your lenses do the work. Here is why the right lens matters as much as the right frame.
4 min read →
Why we slowed everything down — on purpose
The thinking behind the STOTTS. studio experience, and why unhurried, considered care is at the heart of everything we do.
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