Frequently Asked Questions

London Mole is a British eyewear brand founded in 2020 by Jim and Chloe Read, the same team behind Newgate Clocks. The idea came from a simple frustration — needing reading glasses and finding that most affordable options were either dull, flimsy, or both. London Mole was set up to fix that. Reading glasses, blue blockers, sunglasses, and fashion frames that are properly designed, affordable enough to own several pairs, and cool enough that you actually want to wear them.

They are one of the better gift options in the accessories category, and the price point makes them genuinely easy to give. Reading glasses are something almost everyone needs and most people never treat themselves to. A well designed pair from a brand with personality makes for a more considered present than most people expect at this price. They are a popular choice for birthdays, Christmas, Mother's Day, and stocking fillers, and the range is broad enough to suit most tastes. The packaging is neat and gift ready straight from the website.

The range sits at around £20 a pair, which is a deliberate decision rather than a compromise. The brand was built on the premise that well designed reading glasses should not cost a fortune, and that price point makes it practical to own several pairs rather than hunting for the one you left somewhere. You are not paying less and getting less — you are paying less because that was always the point.

The most common signs are holding books or phones further away than you used to, finding small text blurry at normal reading distance, or noticing eye strain and headaches after reading. These are typical signs of presbyopia, the gradual loss of close up focus that affects most people from their mid forties onwards. If you are experiencing any of these, reading glasses are likely to help. If you are unsure about your prescription strength, an optician can advise.

Yes. We have a simple printable eye test that can help you identify whether you need reading glasses and suggest a suitable starting strength. Print it on a4 paper at 100 per cent scale, hold it at a normal reading distance, and work through the strengths until the text is clear and comfortable. Download the London Mole eye test here.

London Mole reading glasses are available from +1.00 to +3.50, covering the most common requirements. As a rough guide, most people in their early to mid forties start around +1.00 to +1.50, with strength typically increasing gradually with age. If you are new to reading glasses, start lower rather than higher — you can always move up. The printable eye test on our website is a useful starting point, but if you have any concerns about your vision an optician is always the right call.

This is actually one of the best things about London Mole. At around £20 a pair, owning several is completely reasonable. One for the kitchen, one for the bedside table, one in the bag. Most regular reading glasses wearers spend half their time looking for the pair they put down somewhere. Having a few dotted around solves that problem entirely, and it means you can match frames to outfits or mood without any guilt about the cost.

Blue light blocking glasses are designed to filter the high energy blue light emitted by phone, tablet, and computer screens. Prolonged screen exposure can cause eye strain, headaches, and disrupted sleep, particularly in the evening when blue light interferes with melatonin production.

Zeros are frames with no lens strength — zero magnification. They are designed for people who want the look of glasses without any vision correction, or for anyone who simply wants a great looking frame. They are particularly popular as a fashion accessory and as a first step into the London Mole range for younger wearers who do not yet need prescription strength lenses.

The London Mole sunglasses range brings the same design approach as the reading glasses — properly styled frames at accessible prices, with UV protection as standard. The range covers a variety of frame shapes and finishes and is designed to complement the wider London Mole collection. If you wear reading glasses outdoors, having a dedicated pair of London Mole sunglasses means you are not constantly swapping between pairs.

London Mole frames come in a range of finishes including matt, rubberised, and gloss. Rubberised and matt finishes tend to feel more tactile and are a little more forgiving with minor scratches over time. Gloss frames have a cleaner, more classic look. The full range of colours and finishes is visible on the website, and the product photos are accurate to the actual finish.

Clean the lenses with a microfibre cloth. Avoid paper, clothing, or anything abrasive that could scratch the lens surface. Store them in a case or pouch when not in use. Keep them away from extreme heat, including car dashboards in summer, which can warp and damage frames. London Mole glasses are made to be affordable and replaceable, but treated well they will last considerably longer than their price suggests.

For full care guidance, visit our Eyewear Care page.