eye on accessories

Fun For All Ages

Alicia Isenberg

Summertime is upon us once again. And while your beach-bound clients are outdoors soaking up the summer sun, you are concentrating on keeping their vision in tip-top shape.

Luckily, this season's must-have accessories are swimming with exciting shapes and styles. From colorful sunreaders to bold-patterned cases, decorative retainers to portable cleaning cloths, people of all ages can have fun in the sun while protecting their peepers from harmful UV rays, and their eyewear from the elements. These can't-leave-home-without-'em accessories will have you sleeping easy knowing that your patients are enjoying the warm weather responsibly.

Following are a few key trends influencing the summer eyewear accessories market.

• COLOR ME HAPPY: Bright, exotic hues are spilling over from spring. Vibrant shades of pinks, purples, and blues are among the favorites.

• RETRO NODS: A big trend in both home decor and fashion, vintage is the new black. From the ladylike silhouettes of the 60s to shimmering accents reminiscent of 70s glamour and the super-charged neons of the 80s, the fads of the past have been reinvented and reworked into contemporary trends.

• PRETTY PRETTY PRINTS: Stripes of all sizes are the heavy hitters of the summer. Plaids and other color-blocking spin-offs are also in demand. Always in fashion, the ever-popular animal prints are standard classics. EB

1. Hilco's medium-sized sparkle cases are available in a variety of colors, including the season's hottest hues: pink, blue, and purple;

2. The size of a credit card, California Accessories' Pocket Peepers are universal-strength readers that make it easy to read menus, maps, or small print without the use of glasses;

3. Astucci's on-trend plaid hard case in eye-popping neon green features a clip that can attach to any belt loop or backpack for on-the-go eyewear protection;

4. Twiggy sunreaders in pale leopard from Corinne McCormack are the perfect poolside accessory;

5. Keep your glasses free of smudges with Clarity Clean It pre-moistened towelettes from Nanofilm;

6. Ensure kids' sunglasses stay in place with Croakies retainers, available in a variety of bright colors and kid-friendly patterns