Although not everyone is vain, most of us care about our appearance and want to look our best.  Especially as we get older, we try to choose clothes which we think will suit our age, personality, and figure, and we avoid wearing colours which make us appear sallow.  ‘Large’ people tend to avoid wearing anything with horizontal stripes as this has the effect of making them look larger.  Similarly, extremely thin people usually avoid vertical stripes – unless they want to appear even thinner.  We learn by experience that high collars make necks look shorter, shoes without straps make legs look longer, and materials with bold prints can camouflage many figure problems!

As clothes can ‘change’ the shape of our bodies, the right pair of glasses can change the shape of our face.  There are 7 types of facial shape: oval, rectangular, triangular, square, diamond, round, and pyramid – and before we choose a pair of glasses we should be aware of our face shape. 

Oval faces are longer than they are wide, have foreheads wider than the jaw, and a rounded chin and forehead.  People with oval faces are lucky because they can choose eyeglass frames in just about any style.  Rectangular faces are longer than they are wide and usually have a long straight cheek line and sometimes a longish nose.  To make a rectangular face appear shorter and more balanced, frames should be square-shaped.  Decorative temples (the "arms" of a pair of glasses, running from the lens area to the back of the ear) can add width to the face, and a low bridge (the part of a frame that extends across the nose) will appear to shorten the nose.  Triangular faces look like inverted pyramids with narrow, rounded chins and wide foreheads.  Small round or square frames with light colours or invisible top rims work best on this facial shape.  Square faces have strong jaw lines and wide foreheads in equal proportion to one another.  To make a square face look longer and soften the angles, try narrow frame styles with more width than depth.  Diamond faces are rare.  They are narrow at the eyeline and jawline and have high, dramatic cheekbones.  The best frames for this facial shape are those with attention-getting detail on the upper portion of the frames.  This will highlight the eyes and soften the cheekbones.  Round-shaped faces have no angles, and people with round faces can make their face appear thinner and longer by choosing glasses with narrow, rectangular shapes that are wider than they are deep.  Pyramid faces have a narrow forehead and wide cheek and chin areas.  Top-heavy frames with attention-getting detail above the lenses will balance out the facial features and create a wider forehead.

Mr Nam

For those of us who need to wear glasses, it is very important to have regular eye tests.  Our eyesight deteriorates as we get older, but even for young people a routine eye test can detect vision problems, eye diseases, and general health problems which can be corrected.  One man who knows all about eye tests and glasses is 44-year-old Tran Dinh Nam, who has been an optician in Da Nang for more than 22 years.  His business at 66 Nguyen Thai Hoc, where he lives with his wife Oanh and his 2 sons, was started by his father in 1980, and it was from him that Nam learned the beginnings of his trade.  To broaden his knowledge he took an optical technician’s course in Ha Noi, and now holds a Certificate from Da Nang’s Health Department.  He runs his business with help from his 23-year old son, Hung, who also wanted to work in the family business.  Nam’s youngest son, 20-year-old Viet, is studying IT at university.

Testing eyes

There are many opticians in Da Nang, and I asked Nam why he thought his business was so successful.  “The most important thing about a good business is the quality,” he said.  “I source the best quality frames from Ha Noi and Ho Chi Minh City, and I sell them at a reasonable price.  All my prices are fixed and so there is no need to barter!” 

I remarked on Nam’s huge range of designer frames, and the extremely low prices, and asked if they were originals.  “No,” he laughed, “they are copies, but they are good copies!”  No more to be said!  I asked how long it takes to make a pair of glasses.  “The eye test takes about 10 minutes, and once I have determined the exact eyeglass prescription I can have the completed glasses ready in 30 minutes,” he replied.  Incredible!  During the last 3 months he has also ventured into the world of contact lenses, and now sells hard, soft, and coloured lenses from 200,000 VND per pair.

Clare and Martin in their new glasses

The majority of Nam’s customers are Vietnamese of course, but a good number of ex-pats who live here rely on his expert and friendly services, and bring their visiting friends and relatives for new glasses.  One couple who recently bought glasses from Mr Nam are Martin Parker, a graphic designer from London, and his partner Clare Whitmore.  “Many of our friends have visited Da Nang in the last few years,” said Martin.  “Not only have they raved about Da Nang itself, they have all returned with beautiful new glasses so we decided to pay Mr Nam a visit.  I wanted a good pair of sunglasses with prescription lenses, and to be honest I was a little doubtful before I came.  I wasn’t sure that my eyes would be tested correctly, so I brought my prescription with me just to be safe.  However, Mr Nam tested my eyes anyway and I was delighted when his result matched my prescription exactly!  I chose square frames as I have a rectangular face and I am very happy with the result.”

Clare is happy with her new glasses too.  “I am rather an unconfident and quiet person,” she said, “and I wanted some new glasses that would make me feel confident.  That’s exactly how I feel in my new red glasses.  I absolutely love them – and what’s more, they would have cost at least 10 times more in London.  Thank you Mr Nam!”

Doctor Laura Kendal – looking and feeling like a doctor!

Another recent customer is Doctor Laura Kendal, also from London.  “Last time I came to Da Nang, 4 years ago, I bought a pink pair of glasses from Mr Nam.  I have worn them ever since and still receive many compliments about them.  Since my last visit I have qualified as a doctor and decided it was time for a more professional look.  It may sound silly, but the tortoiseshell frames I have chosen actually make me feel more like a doctor!”  

I asked Nam “If you could have a different job, what would it be?”  “I can’t imagine having any other job – I love being an optician, and the thing I like most about it is when I know my customers are happy,” he replied.  “I love living in Da Nang too.  I consider myself very lucky because every year I take 7 – 10 days off and travel around Viet Nam.  I have been to many, many, places in the country but there is absolutely nowhere like Da Nang.  It’s beautiful, and it’s home.”

Mr Nam wears glasses, but only for long sight.  One thing’s for sure – he will never be short of a nice pair of frames!

If you are concerned that your eyesight might be deteriorating, call in and see Mr Nam for a free eye test.  His shop is open 7 days a week from 8.00am – 8.00pm, and it will open your eyes to good service!

(Written by Carole Kendal)