Eye wear

Opticians in Calais (French eyewear chains)

Centre Commercial (Auchan)

- Vision Originale. Tel: 0033 321 19 05 20.

They suggested you choose a frame and lenses whilst in Calais, and fax your prescription to them (you may feel happier having the test done in England). They will then post them to you in England (plus 40 euro postage). They also says that sunglasses are 20% cheaper in France. If you have the test done in France and buy glasses the test is free. www.vision-originale.com

Cite Europe

- General Optique. www.generale-optique.com

Grand Optical. Tel: 0033 321 85 20 48.

- Lynx Optique. Tel: 0033 321 85 50 05. www.lynx-optique.fr

- Optique 2000. www.optic2000.com

1 - Centre Commercial Continent (now Carrefour)

(Lanoy). Tel: 0033 321 96 73 35.

2 - In Calais; Optique 2000 (Lanoy), 55, rue Royale. Tel: 0033 321 96 79 19.

- ALAIN AFFLELOU, 41, Bd. Jacquard. Tel: 0033 321 96 98 84. www.alainafflelou.com

BEST OPTIQUE, 22, Bd. Gambetta. Tel: 0033 321 36 57 87.

- CLO OPTIC, 2, rue Antoine Bénard. Tel: 0033 321 36 23 40. www.opticiens.com

DESTREZ OPTIC, 4Bd. Jacquard. 62100. Calais. Tel: 0033 321 34 76 13.

- GUERY OPTIQUE, 69, Bd. Jacquard. Tel: 0033 321 34 41 07. www.krys.com

- Vision Originale. www.vision-originale.com

If any of our visitors have experience (good or bad) in buying glasses in France please let us know and we will publish your advice.

French brands

- Parasite Eyewear. Astonishingly attractive designs (see below and follow website link). Happily there is a shop in Calais selling this brand. www.parasite-eyewear.com

Parasite is a new French brand. The team behind the scenes is composed of 9 young, competent enthusiasts with various types of expertise (design, communication, management, selling, R and D / processing…), and a lot of ambition! The head office is in "la Plaine de l'Ain" near Lyon, in France. Parasite design has to be small, be supple and independent, in a way that support freedom of creation and innovation. Parasite glasses were actually launched in October 2002 at the Silmo Optical exhibition in Paris. They have attained a promising commercial success that has continued. The Parasite team plans to design products other than eyewear.

Parasite's active holding design has been designed for mountain-climbing, to allow the frame to hold on the face in every position. Parasite frames wrap around the upper cranium, using their double arms to rest just above and below the temple (painless zones of the face). The 4 points of holding prevent the frame from horizontal and vertical movements. You never have this feeling of ‘hardly’ wearing glasses, since you are not really wear them: they stay in position by themselves. This comfort is down to the frame’s pliant material, and to the possibility of adjusting the glasses to each wearer’s specific shape.

KRYS, 69 boulevard Jacquard. 62100 Calais. Tel: 0033 321 34 41 07. www.krys.com

Other French eyewear brands;

- Axebo. www.axebo.fr

- L'Amy. www.lamygroup.com

- Marcolin. www.marcolin.com

Mikli. www.mikli.fr

- Neogo designer eyewear. www.noego.fr

Designers - Anne et Valentin, Beausoleil, Eye ’DC, Face à Face, François Pinton, Harry Lary’s (Maudal), Karavan (Prestige Optique), Lafont, Oga, Oxibis, and Yves Cogan.

Counterfeit products. www.a-cg.com

Sunglasses

The dangers:

Sunglasses are seen as an easy target by counterfeiters, as consumers are attracted by the promise of 'designer' versions at ‘bargain’ prices. However, fake sunglasses may not provide any protection at all against ultra-violet rays, leaving the wearer at risk to eye damage. Brian Burgh, Principal Trading Standards Officer at City of Sunderland Council, says: "They might look good, but they offer you no protection at all. They’re lethal."

How to spot a fake:

Watch out for 'designer' sunglasses sold unpackaged, or in flimsy unmarked plastic sleeves. Test the hinges. They will be inferior in fake versions. A lack of peel-off certificate - usually a small label affixed to one of the lenses - proving UV protection is another pointer. Brian Burgh comments: "The big giveaway with fake sunglasses is you can just scratch off the name. I’ve done that with a few pairs in front of retailers, and they weren’t impressed!"

Useful Outside links

Lynx Optique. One of the larger chains in France. www.lynx-optique.fr