Silhouette glasses

What are silhouette glasses?

Silhouette glasses are a brand of glasses that has recently gotten a lot of attention and have risen in popularity due to their unique design and the benefits they offer. These glasses are supposed to be glasses that are hard to break, and thus last longer. They are flexible framed glasses so that you can have a more comfortable eye glass wearing experience, and so that they always sit right on your face. These glasses were designed to be lighter, more comfortable, and more durable than traditional glasses, which would make them a great option for people who do not like the heavy, uncomfortable frames of glasses, but also do not want to wear contact lenses.

Silhouette glasses, like all glasses have both pros and cons to them, and some people are really happy with them, while others have been disappointed by them. The following is a look at the features they offer, the pros and cons of these features, and what people who have purchased the glasses think of them.

Silhouette glasses still have some kinks to work out, but may be a great eye wear option for someone looking for alternatives to the traditional options.

Features of Silhouette glasses:

Rimless

The first thing that makes these glasses somewhat different from the typical glasses, and that is supposed to add to their aesthetic appeal, as well as their comfort is that the Sihouette frames lack rims around the lenses on some models. Initially this was the case of all models, but as frames have become sort of an accessory, or fashion statement, they now offer both options.

Common problems or complaints of Silhouette glasses

Broken frames. The frames are made of a flexible material that is supposed to be nearly indestructible, but often the hinges that connect the frames to the lenses break. This is usually covered under the warranty if it happens during the warranty period.

Broken arm. The arm of the Silhouette glasses has a history of breaking easily. Again, the material is meant to be very flexible, but with it comes a higher degree of sensitivity. Some people's glasses last forever, while others have had the arm break several times in the course of just a few years.

Low warranty period. The glasses are covered by a warranty should the lens crack, the frame break, etc. however, most people found that the warranty period, which is typically one year from date of purchase, was not long enough, and that most of the problems that they encountered with the glasses occurred outside the warranty period, making them extremely expensive glasses to own.

Pros:

The first of the pros of the rimless frames is that they are simple in appearance. For those who wear glasses because of vision, and not to make a fashion statement tend to appreciate the simple appearance.

The second pro is that by being rimless they are supposed to be slightly less visible in the wearer's peripheral vision. While the edges of the lenses are still visible, you see white instead of black, as you would with a solid frame glasses. This makes it slightly less distracting, but still visible none the less.

The third pro is that by not having rims, the glasses weigh less and are lighter on the face. This can be an advantage to people who have sensitive faces, or who by the end of the day, remove their glasses simply to reduce the pressure and weight on their ears and the bridge of their nose.

Cons:

The first con of rimless model is that having no rims means having nowhere to hold the glasses when cleaning the lenses. While only a minor annoyance, for some this is a bigger deal than for others.

The second con, and probably the biggest is that because there are not rims, the one key stress-point is the drill-holes where the frames attach to the lenses, which means, your lenses have a higher likelihood of breaking or cracking at those stress points then glasses with rims. Once this problem was discovered Silhouette made changes to remedy it, however, unless you buy the newest version of the frames, you may run into trouble with the lens cracking or breaking where the frames attach to it, and if it does not happen while the glasses are still under warranty (typically within the first year), then you are going to have to cover the cost yourself.

The flexible material the frames are made from.

The next big feature of the Silhouette glasses is that the frames are made from a durable, flexible material. The idea behind this, and the feature that makes them so unique is that supposedly by having flexibility in the frame material, rather than rigid frames, the glasses would fit the face, and sit better, making them far more comfortable. In addition to that, if the material is flexible and they fit your face better, they are not going to fall off, or get knocked off as easily. While this is the intended goal of the flexible frames, let's see how it worked out.

Pros:

The first pro is that the entire frame, including the bridge between lenses and the arms, is flexible enough to be twisted 180 degrees in any direction. This means if kids play with your glasses, it will not mess them up, it means that your frames are not going to get bent as easily, as they are able to do so, and it means that you can easily adjust them to your needs.

The second pro with the twisting, flexible material is that because the frames are so flexible they are going to sit right on your face far better than other frames, and even when you move or twist your head, they move with you, staying in place, and providing comfort. Some people worry that because of the flexibility they will not ever sit quite right, but most users have found this to not be the case in the least bit, rather, they are more comfortable than other options.

Common problems or complaints cont'd...

High cost. These glasses cost significantly more than your average pair of traditional glasses. The claim is that because they are higher quality, and far more durable, the cost is justified, and can be spread across a longer period of time, making them less expensive in the long run. However, far too many people have found that the glasses have broken, and are not covered by warranty, and thus the high cost was not justified, and the glasses actually ended up costing far more because they had to be replaced in addition to the initial cost.

Plastic lenses. One other complaint about these glasses is that the lenses are plastic, and not nearly as durable as they are reported to be. They often crack or break at the point where the frames attach to them on the nose bridge.

Cons:

One aspect of the flexible frames that may be a con to some is that because they are flexible, they are harder to take off. You can't really take them off with one hand, because the frames will bend, and thus you will have one half off your face while the other is hanging on to your ear. So, the con is you need both hands for removal.

The second con of the flexible frame feature is that the frames can't be folded up like most glasses. When set on a flat surface, the frames return to a half-folded position, but they don't stay completely folded. You are provided with a case when you purchase the glasses, and it will keep them folded up, but they are not really very good for having them in a shirt pocket, or the front of your shirt, as they will not stay folded, and thus will stick out, or fall off your shirt. So, if you take your glasses off and on a lot, or do not wear them all of the time, but like to have them with you, this can be a bit of an inconvenience.

As you can see, the features that make the Silhouette glasses stand out offer a good set of pros and cons, and thus whether or not you choose these glasses based on their features will be a matter of personal taste and style. The following is a look at a few more pros and cons, and what people who own the glasses say:

The first thing we want to look at is the cost. These glasses are really quite expensive compared to your typical frames and glasses. They are supposed to last several years longer however, and provide a higher degree of comfort, thus, you can spread the expense out, and get more value for it, making it again a matter of priorities.

The biggest complaint people have about the Silhouette glasses is that the lenses crack at the areas where the screws attached the nose piece and where the screws attach the frames to the lenses. If this happens to you, it is covered by the warranty, as long as it is within the warranty period. However, once you have used the warranty on the first pair, you do not have it with the second. So, if it happens again, you are out of luck. This is reportedly a real problem, many people complain about the glasses breaking or cracking at these points within a year or two, and not lasting as long as they are hyped up to last, thus not justifying the expense. Because so many people are experiencing this failure with the glasses, and so many people feel frustrated that glasses toted to be extra durable, and nearly indestructible have stress points on the lenses and often break within the first couple years of owning them, Silhouette has taken steps to remedy the problem. If you want to avoid this problem, however, you have to purchase the more expensive, and newer model glasses.

Another big complaint of the Silhouettes is that the flexible material, while every bit as flexible as they say, is not nearly as durable as it is made out to be. The glasses are lightweight and frameless, but many people have found that the arms break easily. Of course, again, if this happens during the warranty period you are covered, but that does not mean it will not be inconvenient or frustrating to spend that much on glasses to have them break.

One pro is that the glasses are made with poly-lenses and thus are less likely to break or crack under the same conditions that would break or crack glass lenses.