What does “polarized” even mean? Natural light travels in all directions and is classified as unpolarized. When those light beams come into contact with a reflective surface, such as sunlight hitting water, snow, or a wet road, it reflects back in one direction. The light becomes polarized. When you are outside, you may notice this light reflecting back onto you causing uncomfortable glare. 

How do polarized lenses help? The majority of reflected light is horizontally polarized, meaning it is arranged horizontally. Polarized lenses have a polarization filter that is aligned vertically and therefore blocks the reflected light, almost completely eliminating reflections off water or wet roads when driving.

How do they compare to regular sun lenses? Sunglasses that are not polarized are often referred to as “tints”. Tints help reduce sunlight intensity and offer the same protection against UV light, but do not help as much with glare reduction.

Are there downsides to them? Polarized lenses require an additional filter that needs to be built into the lens and is usually custom-made, so they can be slightly higher in cost than just regular tinted lenses. Another thing to note is that when using your phone or another digital device, the screen may have a “rainbow effect” or it may become very dark and almost impossible to read. This is because your phone/device contains a polarized filter too so when looking at it through another polarized filtering lens, light almost disappears completely.

Lenses: 2-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship. 90-day guarantee for prescription change or adaptation issues.

Frames: 1 to 2-year warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship, manufacturer dependent. Discounted and sale frames do not come with a warranty as they are often discontinued models. 

While all purchases are final, we are here to help if you are having specific issues or questions!

Yes, however, your pupillary distance is not a measurement taken in your eye exam, as it is not relative to the health of your eyes. It is a measurement taken when purchasing glasses to give the most accurate and clearest vision. If you have purchased glasses with us, we would have this measurement on file. If you haven’t purchased glasses but would like this measurement, it can be taken for a fee of $40 with one of our Opticians!

That’s what we’re here for! We offer complimentary repairs and adjustments, although sometimes subject to a fee depending on the procedure. If the frames were purchased elsewhere, we are not responsible for the materials and workmanship that went into them, so we assume no liability for breakage or damage. But don’t worry, we’ll give you a heads up beforehand, and of course, do our best to have your specs back in shape in no time! Our team of experts combines over 125 years of experience dealing with the trickiest of situations, so even if you don’t think you can repair it, always check with us first!

Yes! Even if you didn’t get your frame from us, we are happy to help you customize clip-ons to however you’d like them. The frame colour of the clip is perfectly matched with your frame or can be customized with any colour requested to enhance the look of the eyeglasses. As we need to ship your frame out and it takes roughly 2 weeks to return, it is recommended that you have a backup pair of glasses or contact lenses. What is the cost? Non-polarized options start at $199 and polarized options start at $249.

We offer kids packages for frames and lenses! Jonas Paul Eyewear [link bio] is an exclusive kids collection we carry. Their various colours and styles help children feel beautiful in their glasses. Fun fact, JPE’s #BuySightGiveSight campaign donates with every frame sold to protect the sight of children in need.

The simple answer is, bring it to us! We are always happy to assist with any optical concerns. We have a passionate and knowledgeable team that can help with just about anything! A quick frame adjustment can resolve comfort as well as vision concerns. We adjust all types of frames so they feel comfortable and fit your natural features. If a frame adjustment is not enough, we will thoroughly assess the challenges you are experiencing – we will figure out why. We also handle all kinds of glasses repairs, from breakages to refurbishing.

There are a wide variety of colours to choose from so you can enjoy customizing frames to match your individual style and personality! The most classic colours are grey, brown and green. They are available in different shade intensities and gradients. But your options don’t end there! From fashion tints, to sport tints, you can even custom order any tint. In addition to the tint, you can protect your eyes in style with fashionable mirror colours. Visit our store today to view the full spectrum of tint colours available.

Well, it’s a bit of a tie! The most popular brands that we carry in the studio are SALT. [link to bio], Orgreen [link to bio] & Raen [link to bio], Ray-Ban [link to bio] & Tom Ford [link to bio]. Their vast collections and top-of-the-line quality pieces make them all a true fan favourite. In addition to these go-to’s, we also carry a wide range of local, independent, vintage, and lesser-known brands of frames and lenses.

Ordering that fresh new pair of glasses is always an exciting time. Short answer- that depends on the product!

For new glasses orders, the timeline depends on the type of lenses and frame ordered.

👉 Single vision lenses that are not customized normally take 3-5 business days.

👉 Customized single vision and progressive lenses can take 7-10 business days.

With a lab on-site, we take care of the majority of our lens edging and frame assembly. However, some orders require specialty assembly so they are sent out to other labs. We will give you a heads up on how much longer this may take!

Frame orders depend on where they are coming from.

👉 Orders from within Canada and from the U.S. take about 5-10 business days.

👉 Orders from overseas can take up to 15 business days.

Contact lenses will arrive in 3-5 business days!

With our extensive collection of eyeglasses, it’s easy to want to collect them all, but how often should you get a new pair of glasses?

👉  It is typically suggested to give your specs an upgrade every two years or earlier if you feel as though your prescription has changed. Still loving your frame? Ask us about simply upgrading your lenses!

#EyemaxxProTip If you can, try to build a collection of two or more different styles of eyeglasses. This will not only reduce stress and wear and tear on any singular pair, but it will also allow you to easily coordinate your looks for different occasions!

Choosing a pair of glasses that are right for you is super important, but proper cleaning of them is a true necessity. What is the best way to clean your glasses in order to maintain that sharp, clear focus? Check out our quick tips below!⠀

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👉 Set your glasses in a space that has proper lighting so that you can clearly see what you are doing. ⁣⠀

⁣⁣👉 Rinse your glasses under warm tap water. Avoid hot water! This removes any dirt and debris that could potentially scratch your lenses.⠀

⁣⁣👉 Spray both sides of your lenses with our lens cleaner. If lens cleaner is unavailable, you can apply a small drop of lotion-free dish soap and rinse.⠀

⁣⁣👉 Wipe dry with a clean microfibre cloth- and that’s it!⠀

Although everyone is different, there are usually a few tell-tale signs to determine if you are in need of a prescription change. Read below for some of the most common signs. ⠀⠀⠀

⁣⁣Headaches – Reoccuring headaches are oftentimes in relation to your vision.⠀⁣⁣⠀

Blurry vision – Can’t read the time on your stove as easily? Find yourself using a larger font? This could mean it’s time for an eye exam. ⠀

Light sensitivity – If even your sunglasses aren’t doing the trick or you find yourself chilling in the dark, this is likely due to developed light sensitivity from your eyes working overtime on your prescription. ⠀

It is typically suggested to give your specs an upgrade every two years or earlier if you feel as though your prescription has changed. These are just some of the common signs but it is always a good idea to get those eyes checked on a regular basis.

One of the best things about being an independent small business is being able to handpick each and every item in our shop. Each frame that you see at Eyemaxx has been carefully selected by our team of experts. Now how do you know which eyeglass brand is best for you? ⁣When shopping for eyeglasses, it’s important to consider three main components: quality, style, and budget. Our expertly curated collection of brands is designed to offer plenty of options in varying levels of all three. With that, it’s easy to find a brand that best fits your wants and needs!

We’ve got good news- your sunnies are here to stay! 🕶⠀⠀

Sunglasses should be worn year-round…even if it is cloudy. Although it may not seem like it on those frigid Ottawa days, but UV rays are present all year long. As the leaves start to fall in the autumn, we’re faced with less sun coverage while walking around town. Additionally, the winter snow that we all know (and may or may not love) reflects substantially more sun- especially on our local ski hills. Be sure that you are equipped for all four seasons with a proper pair of sunglasses. Looking for some recommendations that best fit your lifestyle? Contact us!⠀

New lenses do not always mean new frames! If your prescription has changed but you are still loving your frames, ask us about simply upgrading your lenses instead. In most cases, we can fit your frames with a fresh new set of lenses and tweak and tighten them so they are feeling just like new.

Eyemaxx carries a very large variety of the top brands, makes, and models of frames and lenses. To see what brands we carry prior to your visit, you are welcome to do so by visiting our website and exploring our collections. Or, if you are looking for a specific brand that is not listed or a model in particular, you are welcome to send us a message, we are always happy to look into this for you! ⠀

Yes, and for two important reasons ☀️ ⠀⠀⠀

1. Children tend to spend a much larger amount of time outside compared to the average adult. Considering just their school recess alone, this is a near-guaranteed 30-60 minutes or more spent each day outdoors. ⠀⠀
2. UV damage is something that builds up over time so it is very important to provide protection from these rays as soon as possible.

Eyeglasses vs. face masks- the great one and a half year-long battle 😉 Although we cannot make this issue completely disappear, we can certainly help to prevent it.⠀

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👉 Wear a wire mask. Wire masks have the ability to fit tighter around the nose and face which will help to reduce the amount of possible fogging. ⠀

⁣⁣👉 Invest in our anti-fog serum. At just around $20 with tax, a little truly goes a long way!

Anti-reflective coating (AR coating) is important for reducing light reflections and improving eyesight. To briefly sum it up, instead of acting as a mirror, the coating on anti-reflective lenses allows for light to go through, therefore eliminating reflections on the front and back of your lenses. Other than just improving your eyesight, anti-reflective lenses can also reduce eye strain and also tend to look nicer!

As they sound, scratch-resistant coating prevents scratches on your eyeglass lenses. While there’s no way to completely prevent scratching on your lenses, a scratch-resistant coating can help minimize the chances of scratches immensely. We add this coating to every pair of regular eyeglass lenses!

We know how important and exciting a new pair of glasses is. That’s why we make it a mission to get your glasses to you as quickly as possible! 

👓 3-5 business days for stock lenses.

👓 7-10 business days for custom lenses.

👓 Progressive lenses and some more specialized lenses can take up to 3-4 weeks.

👓 New frame orders can take anywhere between 1-2 weeks to 3-4 weeks.⠀

We’ve all been told not to glue our glasses- but why? There is almost always something that can be done, in fact- we love a challenge! However, if they are glued it oftentimes eliminates the possibility of other solutions. Especially since glue affects the plastic and can’t be removed once it’s on there.

That pesky hazy or blurry look that your glasses are giving could mean your glasses are crazing! 😲 Crazing is a web of tiny cracks that can appear on glasses with anti-reflective coating. ⠀

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There are a few ways crazing can happen like:⠀

👉 Using harsh cleaners to clean your glasses (rubbing alcohol, window cleaner, etc.) We always recommend our Eyemaxx cleaner instead.

👉 Extreme hot/cold weather ⠀

👉 Wearing your glasses while doing activities around a fire (grilling, campfires, etc.)⠀

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If you do find your glasses have crazed, bring them to our experts to have them further examined and fixed!

This common myth is just that- a myth!

No, wearing glasses does not make your vision worse. However, our vision can change over time, and with age. This could be due to genetics or eye diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma, but oftentimes are falsely attributed to being “caused by” wearing glasses. 

Eyesight is determined by the health and shape of your eyeballs, not by your glasses. Wearing your correct prescription can actually help reduce strain on your eyes. Similar to switching from a standard definition TV to a high definition TV channel, you can notice the difference once you can see better and clearer. Routine eye exams are critical to ensure that you are wearing your correct prescription and to monitor for eye diseases

If you find your glasses aren’t giving you the clear vision you expected, we suggest trying your glasses out for two weeks to allow your brain to adjust as this can take some time. Any changes can always cause an adaption period. After that, if you are still having trouble, come in for a visit right away so we can do some troubleshooting with one of our opticians! We are always here to help and answer any questions you may have.

While there aren’t any frames made specifically hypoallergenic, there are many materials that can be used to avoid allergic reactions.

🕶 For metal frames, we recommend looking for 100% pure titanium frames as it won’t include most other materials that people are allergic to. Other high-quality metals that won’t cause allergic reactions are stainless steel, sterling silver and gold, however are typically not as widely available as titanium.

👓 For plastic frames, we recommend cellulose acetate, which is a plant-based material and non-petroleum based which makes it a natural material and is easier on sensitive skin.

Yes, you can as long as they are prescription! Eye protection from the sun is extremely important. Our opticians can help you find the perfect pair of sun coverage with UV protection in your prescription. Please check your coverage details with your insurance provider prior to your visit. We offer direct billing to most major insurance companies!

Progressive lenses are designed to help you in all aspects of your everyday life. They are essentially three prescriptions in one allowing you to do things like up close, middle distance and long distance viewing without needing to swap out your specs. While you are working at the computer you are utilizing a portion of the lenses. This is why for extended computer use we recommend computer-specific lenses. These lenses are designed to give you more viewing area for your computer!

Safety is our middle name. What we’re trying to say is that we also offer safety glasses! We can do safety glasses right on-site in two different brands: ArmouRx and OnGuard which specialize in offering a fashionable approach to the usual plain-jane options. Want to learn more about our safety glasses options? Book a shopping appointment or pop on by to explore our unique styles.

CL Rx and glasses Rx are fairly similar. In fact, contact lens prescriptions are based on your glasses prescription. However, the key difference that separates them is that glasses sit away from your face and contact lenses sit directly on your eye making a different viewing experience altogether. The contact lens prescription is optimized by the doctor for your best possible vision.

If you are new to contacts, a contact lens assessment can be scheduled for you to determine your prescription, advise you of the benefits of contacts, and teach you how to insert, remove, and properly care for them. From there, the process is quick and easy!⠀

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1. After your assessment, you will be sent home with some trial lenses to test out for a few days to ensure that the level of comfort and vision works for you. ⠀⠀
2. From there, you can place your order by giving us a call or filling out our online form on our website. ⠀⠀
3. For your convenience, you can select either curbside pickup or delivery for your new contact lenses!

Time to renew your contact lenses? With Eyemaxx, it’s always a breeze! ⠀⁣⠀

☎️ ⁣You can place your renew order by visiting our studio, giving us a call at 613-216-6076, or by filling out our contact lens request form on our website. ⠀⁣⠀

⁣🔎 Choose your contact lens preferences. Dailies, monthlies, biweeklies, we have you covered! We also have a wide selection of contact lens options for single vision, astigmatism, and even multifocal prescriptions.⠀

⁣📦 At time of ordering, you can choose to either pick up your contact lenses at the studio or opt for home/office delivery. ⠀

Coloured contacts can certainly be fun, but there are a couple of things to consider before diving into the rainbow world. ⠀

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👉 The first step is making sure that you have a prescription for coloured contacts. If you do not, then a contact lens fitting is needed. Not to worry- our on-site doctors can assist. Wearing contacts that are not properly fitted to you can cause eye infections and abrasions so this is very important. ⠀

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What colour options are available? Well, (almost) the whole rainbow! We carry Alcon’s Air Optix Colors monthly lenses.

Well, this depends on your type of contact lenses! Let’s break it down 👇

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👉 Dailies must be disposed of after one use.⠀⠀

👉 Bi-weeklies must be disposed of after two weeks of opening.⠀⠀

👉 Monthlies must be disposed of after 30 days of opening.⠀

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⁣With that, is always suggested to confirm with your fabulous Eyemaxx doctor the specifications in which your contact lenses can be worn 👀⠀

A common question we often get is why contact lenses aren’t safe to wear in pools and hot tubs. 🌊⠀

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To put it simply, swimming while wearing contact lenses can cause serious infections and irritations to your eyes. Water, especially in swimming pools and hot tubs, has bacteria and chemicals. Wearing contact lenses increases the likelihood of those bacteria and chemicals becoming trapped behind the contact lenses, which in turn can cause serious damage to your eyes.

Due to contact lenses having to sit directly on your eye, there are many things our doctors need to assess. Each brand fits differently, is a different size and is made of different materials, so our doctors need to assess and ensure if a change in brand is okay for you.⠀

Depending on if you’ve worn contact lenses before or not will depend on what you’ll need! ⠀

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🧑‍⚕️ Contact lens exam – If you need to have both your routine eye exam and have your contact lenses updated, a lens exam will be conducted to ensure the prescription is still right for them.⠀

🧑‍💼Contact lens fitting – If you’ve worn contact lenses before, but stopped for some time and want to wear them again, then you may need a contact lens fitting. If you already have an up-to-date glasses prescription, we skip the fitting and fit you with the contact lenses based on that.⠀

🧑‍🏫 Contact lens teach – This is a separate appointment for anyone new to contact lenses. During the teach, our doctors will take the time to show you how to safely and properly use and care for your lenses.

When it comes to contacts vs glasses, it ultimately depends on personal preference. Taking lifestyle, comfort, convenience, budget and aesthetics into consideration is very important when deciding whether to choose glasses or contacts. Our optometrists and opticians are glad to help you find the best fit for you!

Of course, you can! Astigmatism contact lenses are available in daily, biweekly and monthly options. They are also called “Toric” lenses. Astigmatism correcting lenses need to be in the right position to ensure consistent clear vision. With that, having the correct fit is important! Our doctors will go over the best options for your prescription and ensure the lenses fit and are positioned correctly on the eye.