Are your glasses in need of an update?

Now you can order a stylish pair of fashionable frames assembled right here by a new business co-founded by a local eye specialist-turned-entrepreneur.

Optic is the passion project of two long-time friends- Cathal O’Shea, an optometrist from Glanmire, and Seán Nolan, a designer from Dublin. The pair hope to deliver a high-quality premium product at a price point that’s accessible to everyone.

Assembled with love in Cork, the brand’s fashion-forward glasses (frames and lenses included) range from €99 to €169 and are exclusively available online.

With optometry practices of his own, Cathal says the changes in the market and the unmet needs of Irish consumers informed his desire to provide a homegrown alternative to the standard selection of specs.

“After working in eye care for over 15 years, I really felt that there was a gap in the Irish market for a home-grown, unique, and fashion-forward collection of eyewear,” Cathal told Yay Cork.

“I felt strongly that this collection would work online as it would have the best opportunity to reach the right target audience – a person who is on the lookout for bold frames with a strong Irish design influence. I had the clinical experience and background while with my co-founder Seán’s incredible design expertise helped to bring the idea to fruition and make Optic.ie an online reality.”

For their first-ever collection, Optic has referenced some iconic Irish names: Collins, Robinson, Larkin, Panti, and Lynott to name a few. The frames range from the classic Collins (€99) an acetate frame with a comfortable key-hole bridge to the quirkier, Geldof (€149) – the epitome of 80’s style.

And there’s more good news; Cathal and Seán care deeply about creating a sense of real inclusivity among wearers, so for every sale of the Panti glasses, €5 will be donated to the  LGBT youth organisation BelongTo.

You can check out the first collection here.