Since most of you do not live within driving distance to popular embarkation ports, one of the most important decisions to make when booking a cruise is whether or not to purchase the air package offered by the cruise line.

As with everything else, there are pros and cons.

Following are some of the PROS of booking your air through the cruise line.

–No hassles with trying to book your own air and making sure air arrival and departure times will coordinate with the ship’s itinerary. The cruise lines will make sure your flight coincides with the ship’s itinerary.

–No worries about transfers from airport to port. Most cruise lines include this wonderful perk when purchasing their cruise/air package. Depending on how far the airport is to the port, it may be worth it (money-wise).

–Additionally, the cruise line will pick up your luggage and transport it to the port. However, if this is the only reason you are purchasing the cruise/air packages, “transfers” can be purchased separately.

–No stresses if the flight is delayed (that never happens, right?) and you miss the ship. The cruise line will bend over backwards to make sure you board at the next port or even delay the ship’s departure time.

–No out of pocket fees if you decide to cancel the cruise prior to the cruise line’s penalty phase. Most cruise lines will reimburse both your cruise fare and air fare in full.

Following are some of the CONS of booking your air through the cruise line

–Most of the time, the air package offered by the cruise line is considerably more expensive than booking one’s own air. Even with the transfers included, it may not be worth it. This is not always the case and a good travel agent will always research both options.

Surely you have stopped reading by now. All you needed was the “considerably more expensive” statement and the decision was made to book your own air. If I haven’t scared you off yet, read on….

–The flight schedule will not be available until just a few weeks prior to sailing. The cruise line will decide who the carrier will be as well as the flight times. Additionally, if airlines have overbooked the day of sailing, the cruise line may have client depart the day before the sailing date. If this happens, the cruise line will pay for your hotel stay as well as other incurred expenses. There is a way to get around this (if you want to pay). Paying a deviation fee (normally $50.00) plus any difference in air fare (if any) will give the traveler some control, but at what price? Any deviation also requires, at minimum, 90 days notice.

–Frequent flyer miles cannot be used when booking your cruise/air package, even if you pay a deviation fee.

–When traveling as a group, the cruise line will not guarantee that your group will be on the same flight. The only guarantee given is that all passengers within the same cabin will travel together.

Have you heard enough to make a decision? ALWAYS ask your travel agent to research both options so that an informed decision can be made. Happy Sailing!!!

ADDITIONAL TIPS

–If booking your own air, it is best to arrive a day early. Travel agents may have great deals on air/hotel packages. If that’s not an option, to be safe, try to book flights which arrive in the port city before 1:00 PM and depart the port city after 1:00 PM

–Ask your travel agent how far the airport is to the port and how much a cab ride costs to make an informed decision about transfers.

–Always purchase travel insurance through your travel agent to avoid loosing your vacation investment due to unforeseen setbacks.

The author, Mary Graves, is a cruise specialist with Cruise Planners. She may be reached at 888-456-SAIL or comesailawaycruises@yahoo.com. Website: ComeSailAwayCruises.com

Ok, so Laser Eye Surgery can really do wonders, allowing people who have short-sightedness or have myopia to see better without the need for eyeglasses or contact lenses. But, LASIK is not for everyone. How do you know if you are a suitable candidate for this vision correction procedure?

Are you a suitable candidate for LASIK?

Here’s a quick checklist:

- Are you at least 18 years old and above? For many people below 18, their eyesight remains unstable, especially if they have myopia. More importantly, make sure your eyesight has stopped fluctuating before you go for LASIK.

- You shouldn’t be nursing, or carrying a baby in you. These conditions actually affect the shape of your eye.

- It is best if you are not consuming any prescription drugs.

- Your health must be in an overall good condition. If you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, glaucoma, herpes infections of the eye, or cataracts etc, it’s best you talk to your surgeon.

- Make sure you understand the risks of going through laser eye surgery, and have realistic expectations. If you are still not sure of what you want or what to expect, you better think twice.

If you meet the criteria set above, you should be ready to go.

Of course, no matter what, discuss your condition and situation with your eye doctor.

If you have chosen the right surgeon, he/she can best understand your expectations, and give the best recommendations for you.

Lim Zheng Yang has dedicated countless hours researching on eye problems related issues. He also specializes in information about eye surgery. For more information on lasik eye surgery, kindly visit his site.

Thinking of having laser eye treatment? Below are ten vital things you need to know about lasik.

Fact #1: Not everyone can undergo laser eye treatment. If you wear glasses or contacts, it doesn’t mean that you can have laser eye treatment. You should consult with your ophthalmologist to make sure that laser eye treatment is the appropriate procedure for your eye condition.

Fact #2: Lasik is a procedure that you should never take lightly. So if you have determined that laser eye treatment is right for you, the next thing you need to do is find an ophthalmologic surgeon, preferably one who is board certified. Look into his or her credentials and experience. Find out if he or she can provide you with post-op consultations or if you will be referred to a different doctor.

Fact #3: Are you near-sighted or myopic? Do you have astigmatism? If you have any of these vision problems, lasik is a recommended procedure. If you have severe myopia, you may have to undergo several procedures.

Fact #4: If you have a history of dry eye, corneal disease or other eye conditions, lasik is not a recommended procedure.

Fact #5: During a lasik procedure, you will be awake. Thus, your surgeon should explain to you what will happen during the procedure. Likewise, you should express your concerns and questions beforehand so that your surgeon can reassure you.

Fact #6: Post-operative care is very important in a lasik procedure. Thus, you must follow post-op eye care to the letter. For instance, if you are prescribed to use eye drops after lasik surgery, you must apply the eye drops at the prescribed times or frequency. Doing so will help the cornea heal properly.

Fact #7: Lasik surgery is not miracle surgery. Don’t expect to come out of surgery with perfect vision. Some patients’ visions are corrected to 20/20 or 20/40 while others are not. Lasik surgery does not guarantee perfect results.

Fact #8: Lasik cannot correct presbyopia or far-sightedness that occurs in middle age. If you have this condition and still opt to undergo lasik surgery, you will still end up having to use reading glasses.

Fact #9: Lasik is not a procedure without risks. You should know that like other types of surgery, lasik has risks. You may have complications such as over correction, infections or damage to the cornea.

Fact #10: As with any other health condition, it is very important that you talk with your doctor about possible laser eye treatment or any other alternatives he or she can recommend.

Timothy Gorman is a successful Webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com. He provides more eye surgery solutions, LASIK information and details on finding the right LASIK doctor that you can research in your pajamas on his website http://www.vision-doctor.com

Modern society is full of rules, laws and regulations. In order to keep balance and make life harder for criminals, most business goes through official channels, allowing the government to check on which people are doing what and protect us from fraud. A key part of this is licensing, whereby a person must apply for official permission to so something.

A license is simply a legal document that permits the holder to do something. A license is required to run a pub, to drive a car, to own a gun- the list is endless. Sometimes they take the form of a passport or a permit. Officially a license giver is called a ‘licensor’ and the recipient is a ‘licensee’.

The government is not the only body that gives licenses. Censorship groups license games and movies. A person’s intellectual property may be licensed. For example, a cartoonist may grant a comic company license to use one of his characters in their comic. A company may license another company to use their trademark without being in infringement of trademark laws. This kind of activity in the business world leads to substantial money being made from selling the rights to reproduce or reference things like characters and logos. Even licenses granted by the government tend to cost money to cover the expense of producing it and the paperwork involved. The most common license sought by an average person is a driving license, which certifies a person to drive a vehicle that they can pass an official test in. Most people hold one and of course you need it with you to prove that you are fit to drive. In much the same way, doctors, electricians, and other occupations with high responsibility require a license to practise. This license proves that you are capable of the job and you have been checked by the government, definitely piece of mind for someone going to a doctor, when you want to know that the practitioner has been tested on his competence.

John Gibb is the owner of license resources , For more information on licenses check out http://www.license-resources4u.info

In our time and age, sunglasses has become almost a necessity for many people.

Of course, it’s original purpose is to shade our eyes from the harmful UV rays from the sun, or any harmful light source for that matter.

Today, shades have many more uses than just to protect those precious set of eyes. It has literally morphed into a fashion accessory with a life of its own.

Early trendsetters saw the wave coming and slowly but surely began their own range of designer eyewear that has today become a must-have item of the fashion conscious.

Not surprisingly, this form of eyewear is also used for sports, and there are even versions from the Electric brand!

Whatever use you have for it, choosing the right one for yourself is essential, be it selecting the right prescription or polarized ones, or simply a pair that has the proper design to make you look good.

While some people insist on original eyeglasses, there will be some who don’t mind replica ones. Whether orignal or not, you can always find cheap or discount ones online at wholesale prices.

But beware though, some replica sunglasses may not provide the same level of protection for your eyes as original ones…and worse still, some don’t offer any protection at all!

Lim Zheng Yang has dedicated countless hours researching on eye problems related issues. He also specializes in information about eyewear. For more information eye habits, kindly visit his site.

Lasik eye surgery has revolutionized the ophthalmic industry. Refractive surgery corrects eyesight and restores near-perfect vision. LASIK is a surgical technique which corrects a person’s vision reducing the need for spectacles or contact lenses. Known as Laser Assisted in Situ Keratomileusis or LASIK, the surgery involves changing the shape of the cornea.

It is important to first determine whether or not you are a candidate for eye surgery. Generally, patients under 18 years of age, those with hormonal disturbances, or those who suffer from diabetes or hypertension are not recommended for surgery.

As in any medical treatment there benefits as well as risks involved.

The benefits are:

• Clear natural vision.

• Pain free surgery.

• Improvement in quality of life. Bad vision will not prevent you from becoming a pilot, professional athlete, or a part of the armed services.

• Eye related problems like a squint are corrected improving your appearance and enhancing your self esteem and confidence.

• The surgery reduces allergies of the eye and irritations that develop from use of glasses or contact lenses.

The risks to be considered are:

• Possible loss of vision that cannot be corrected with surgery, use of glasses, or contact lenses.

• Development of glares, halos, or double vision. Some patients develop problems with night vision, and the ability to see clearly in dim light, fog or when there is low contrast.

• Even after surgery there may develop a need to use glasses or contact lenses. There are patients in whom the surgery fails to restore 20/20 vision.

• There are chances of getting dry eye syndrome due to the inability to produce tears. There can be discomfort and a blurring of vision. This dry eye problem may become permanent and there may be a need to undergo drop therapy.

• Patients with large refractive errors do not achieve good results with the surgery, vision is not restored completely.

• There are chances of farsighted patients experience decreased vision with advancing age.

• There a post operative risks like flap complications, corneal swelling, eye dryness, light sensitivity, and blurring of vision.

Although studies show that complication rates are comparatively low and death or serious complications rare, you must:

• Find out about the surgery in detail.

• Ask the surgeon to go over your specific case in detail and discuss the risks if any.

• Select a surgeon and Lasik center with care. Never choose based on proximity to where you live or low costs.

Opt for the surgery only when you are certain it will benefit you and not because it is fashionable to have Lasik surgery. In most countries the surgery is not covered by health insurance and you will have to bear the costs of the procedure. Weigh all the pros and cons before going ahead.

Andrew Bermam is a freelance writer for http://www.1888Contactlenses.com , the premier website for cheap prospective contact lenses online services to buy all brands of contact lenses like Freshlook contact lens, soft contact lens, bifocal contact lens, solutions and more. He also freelances for the premier REVENUE SHARING discussion forum for Health Site http://www.1888discuss.com/health/

Sports are the best activity to recharge your dieing batteries as it not only refreshes you up but also infuse fresh energy. That’s the main reason behind the increase in the passion for sports. This enhanced passion or we can say devotion has led to boost in the sales of wholesale sports sunglasses, which are now selling like hot cakes in the American market. Every player whether he is amateur or skilled loves to wear sports sunglasses as this not only protects its eyes but also give him the cool jazzy look. Sports sunglasses are not new to the people as they have been put into use since the outdoor sports have become popular. Now every player irrespective of the sport he plays love to wear a good and best pair of sports sunglasses. In short we can say that whether you are a biker, rock climber, diver, cyclist or even skier these sports sunglasses are must for you. Time and again they have proved to be very beneficial and safe. As they not only protect your eyes but also safeguard your precious eyes from the harmful UV radiations.

Seeing their certain importance now even athletes loves to wear sports sunglasses during the race. They find them very useful and also comfortable in handling the fast and the booming air coming their way while running. Thus, we can say that if you are a sportsperson then owing sports sunglasses are must for you.

Talking about their design and material these sports sunglasses is usually made off very light frame. This enables the sportsmen to wear it all the time during the course of event and they also never find any difficulty during the event. They are normally smooth and are provided with streamline look so that you not only look best but also find it comfortable while wearing them. These days wraparound sports sunglasses are in vogue and have become the largest selling sunglasses. They are known to be very popular amidst many famous sports personalities mainly due to its futuristic appeal. These wraparound sports sunglasses generally have the lens made of polycarbonate lens, which provides them complete eye safety accompanied with the cool and classy look. Sports sunglasses are worn in every sport whether it is biking, golfing, cricket and even in tennis. It’s just that they can be worn in the sport you indulge except boxing. Recently many big and popular sunglasses companies have launched their latest sports sunglasses ranges which are equipped with superior eye gear, perfect acuity, and array of features.

Every sport has different needs thus sunglasses are made to cater those needs. According to the experts sports sunglasses lenses should be compatible enough to cater the changing light throughout the day so that the sports person’s eyes are safe and he gets the clear acuity. Wholesale sports sunglasses have become the real rage among the public as now everyone who is indulging in sports likes to wear the perfect and best eye gear so that he stands tall and different among the group and can outshine everyone.

For more information on Sunglass Distributor,plz visit:http://www.ctswholesalesunglasses.com

Kirk is sunglass industry expert.

So you’re looking for an eye doctor? Which type are you looking for?

Before we go any further, I guess now’s a good time to get some terms sorted out, don’t you think?

Initially, I got kinda mixed up by the op-this and op-that.

So I’ve decided to find out what the specific terms are, and differentiate them once and for all!

Let’s have a look:

The Ophthalmologist

An ophthalmologist is a physician specialist expert in the treatment of diseases of the eyeball and retina. He/she is a doctor of Medicine (M.D.) Find an ophthalmologist here.

The Optometrist

An optometrist is one who is professionally trained and licensed to examine the eyes for visual defects, diagnose problems or impairments, and prescribe corrective lenses or provide other types of treatment. He/she is a doctor of Optometry (O.D.) Find an optometrist here.

The Optician

An optician is one who reads prescriptions for visual correction, orders lenses, and dispenses eyeglasses and contact lenses.

With that in mind, you can be sure of what particular type of eye care professional you are looking for.

From there and onwards, you’d be sure to get the proper eye care you deserve. All the best!!

Lim Zheng Yang has dedicated countless hours researching on eye problems related issues. He also specializes in information about eyewear. For more information about laser eye surgery, kindly visit his site.

A wise consumer today is one who shops from his work table or the nearest cyber café. Buying goods online makes complete sense for most consumer products as one can see the entire range and check for the prices and other competitive advantages, while browsing through the sites of products on the website. The buying of contact lenses online therefore is just one such example of perfect and sensible shopping decisions.

But unlike the buying of consumer items of daily use buying contact lenses online requires some spade work before one can actually buy the item online. As this is a medical item, online contacts buying requires that one should have a medical prescription in place before venturing on to buying contact lenses online.

This medical prescription should give details of the kind of contact lens that the wearer has to be fitted out with. This gives the buyer the advantage of buying contact lenses online. This medical prescription is detailed about the kind of corrective measures the eye of the wearer needs in order to be equipped with contact lenses.

The medical prescription for a buyer of contact lenses will give the power of the lenses required by the wearer. It will give the sphere, cylinder, axis, diameter, base curve and peripheral curvature of the eye and by reading these details the makers of contact lenses will be able to equip the wearer of contact lenses with an individually crafted pair of lenses for his use.

Without these essential details the cruising through a website of contact lens makers would be a futile task undertaken by the user of contact lenses. Also, it is essential that the wearer and buyer of contact lenses online should use a medical prescription that is just one or two years old. {mospagebreak}

A later prescription may not give accurate readings of the state of the eyes and one might require vision corrections and alterations to be pointed out, in subsequent prescriptions. Thus for shopping online, in the matter of contact lenses, one must be prepared to use an updated and correct medical prescription from a reliable optometrist, for best results.

Once one has the necessary medical papers in place, the buyer online must then browse around for a reliable company manufacturer of contact lenses and not settle for the first site that comes into view on the computer screen. Even after one has homed on to a particular supplier there is a necessity to get a re check on the supplier before firming up on the order. This rechecking can be done from a shop or supplier one is familiar with and one can rely on, for accuracy.

In case one has no such reliable source for rechecking one’s contact lens order placement online, it is necessary to follow a few thumb rules on one’s own. While buying contact lenses online it is essential that one is aware of attempts by some suppliers to suggest substitutes in place of the brands that your doctor might have mentioned.

Buying an alternative brand is not a way of diverting the customer by the suppliers. It is done for other reasons as well. As contact lenses differ on the water content and shape of the contact lenses, there is a difference in the contact lenses on these lines. Buying contact lenses online thus means that one should be aware of theses aspects of contact lens buying when shopping online for them. Settling for a substitute lens cannot be done by the lay user of contact lenses.

At this point it is necessary to consult your medical practitioner and not rely on the offers given by contact lens manufacturers who have the facility of selling contact lenses online. It is only a professional who can decide whether the alternative offer of a contact lens variety available online will be suitable for the user.

Also, such information cannot be confirmed on the phone. As the professional who is being asked by the patient about the alternative brand of contact lens has to personally check out the eyes and the prescription before giving his opinion, a personal visit to the doctor becomes a must for the wearer of contact lenses and who wants to buy a pair of them online.

With a few precautions in place and with a few valuable guidelines to be kept in mind while buying contact lenses online, the wearer is sure to get both comfort and his money’s worth, when shopping online for contact lenses.

http://www.contactlenseclub.com/contacts/ & Contact Lens provides detailed information on contact lens, color contact lens, acuvue contact lens and more.

Plenty of sunglasses designers offer eyewear with squared lenses, but Quiksilver’s shades nail the right shape and feel with just enough curved wrap in the distortion-free shatter resistant polycarbonate lenses that you can transition from casual to sport and still spot what’s coming out of the corner of your eye.

Many of the Quiksilver styles come with additional interchangeable lenses and a protective rubber case that separates the pocket for storing the other lenses. All models come with a 100% UV sun protection guarantee.

Depending on the style you choose, the Grilamid nylon frame offers slightly transparent flair that sets Quiksilver far apart from cookie-cutter basic black frames. Quality nickel-silver Italian hinges keep everything together in a smart blend of fashion and functionality.

Stir up your flair for vintage fashion with these Quiksilver The Last Polarized Sunglasses. Unlike the real stuff in consignment stores (look under scratch-and-dent) The Last Polarized Sunglasses have clear and highly durable CR-39 shatter resistant lenses with eight-base wrap coverage. It’s a sermon worth considering: Why pay more for overpriced sports sunglasses when Quiksilver’s Preacher Polarized Sunglasses give you the same So-Cal surf styling and distortion-free, shatter-resistant polarized lenses for at least $20 less than similar designs? Quiksilver used the same high-quality nickel-silver Italian hinges found on their expensive sunglasses, but lightened the load across the temples and nose with a flexible Grilamid nylon frame.

You can read more articles about sunglasses at http://www.everythingsunglasses.com