posted May 08, 2005 05:15 PM         

Artist Hopes Pierced Glasses Catches On

Texas Artist Hopes Piercing to Support Glasses Will Eventually Catch On
By ANABELLE GARAY
The Associated Press

Apr. 5, 2005 - Artist James Sooy proudly displays his piercings and metal jewelry, from the two captive bead rings in his upper ears to the thick stainless steel rings on each of his fingers.

He's hoping one of his piercings a 1-inch bar through the bridge of his nose will provide some income along with a distinct look.

Sooy plans to market piercing bar attachments designed to hold up eyeglasses, potentially freeing people from worrying about them falling off their noses. He doubts adhering lenses to a barbell between the eyes will become a huge trend, but he definitely sees a future in it.

"It's something people find interesting enough to come and look at, but it's only for a certain few," said Sooy, 22.

Sooy and friend Oliver Gilson, a 27-year-old bartender, have been advertising their creation on a Web site and hope to patent the pierced glasses. They want to offer a model for $75 to $100 by June.

But not everyone's sold on the idea.

The piercing bar could move or pop out, warned Elayne Angel, medical coordinator for the Association of Professional Piercers. She also said the idea is impractical, requiring a screwdriver just to take off the brackets that attach the lenses.

"I imagine putting those on and taking those off is going to be difficult, especially to try to put it on yourself," said Angel, owner of a New Orleans piercing studio.

Dr. Jeffrey L. Weaver of the American Optometric Association wonders if the design meets national standards. Spectacles and frames require secure and correct positioning, proper placement on the bridge, and materials that don't irritate the skin, said Weaver, the association's clinical care group director.

"Without meeting the specifications, I think a practitioner would be hesitant" to recommend using pierced glasses, he said. "If they did meet the specifications, then, certainly, this is an interesting niche market."

But Sooy said the piercing was relatively painless, and that his pierced glasses are more comfortable than ordinary ones. Because they're frameless, nothing rubs against the ears.

Sooy says he hasn't had any injuries since he started suspending his rimless lenses from the barbell last December. If something were to go wrong, Sooy said he could simply remove his eyewear and the bar until the area healed.

"It's something that you can't be stupid about," Gilson said.

On the Net:
http://www.piercedglasses.com Pierced Glasses
http://www.safepiercing.org The Association of Professional Piercers
http://aoa.org American Optometric Association

Copyright 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

posted May 08, 2005 09:11 PM         

Who moved the rock?