About Us
Idol Eyes Australia is very proudly a 100% owned Australian family business. That did indeed start in the optical industry. Way back in 1950. And during this time we certainly have gained a lot of knowledge. Especially in regards to kids sunglasses and eyes. So please read on to find out all about us.
Everyone working here absolutely loves their job. And this is the reason why? Because we all know that what we do at Idol Eyes Australia. Truly does make a huge difference to the eye health of all of our customers. Undeniably our job is to save the sight of babies and kids from harmful UV radiation. And of course we do that with great passion and also real style.
By Peter Carruthers
Owner and Manager
About Us – Idol Eyes Australia 😎
How we got started – Iris Optical Co; Pty Ltd
Back in 1950, my father Ronald Carruthers. Founded Iris Optical Co; Pty Ltd. The company was named after his wife, Iris. And at that time the business mainly specialized in making prescription eye-wear. This certainly was to help people see clearly. But the business quickly expanded in to adult’s sunglasses. This of course was to help prevent many of the UV related eye diseases that we were seeing.
Then in the early 1960’s and with a growing family of four children. As there were no children’s sunglasses available in Australia at that time. Ron then hand-made kids sunglasses for his children. It is possible that they were the world’s very first children’s sunglasses. The business had truly grown in both size. And also popularity by this time. With Australian Prime Ministers, politicians, dignitaries and socialites. Plus most importantly children were all among the growing clientele.
Idol Eyes Australia
And then in 1987 with the birth of my first niece, Corinne. And also Ron and Iris’s very first grandchild. I quickly recognized the discomfort caused to babies by the harsh Australian sun. So I immediately set to work on creating the world’s very first baby sunglasses. And also formed a new business named Idol Eyes Australia. With a brand new company motto, “committed to children’s eye-care”.
The very first pair of baby sunglasses in 1987 was known as Baby Wrapz. And to this day it certainly still remains as our most popular line of sunglasses. Then in 2011 we designed a brand new model. And made the world’s very first convertible babies sunglasses. That is also both unbreakable and very comfortable. And includes 100% UV protection lenses. Named Baby Wrapz 2. This model has undeniably become world-famous. Firstly, due to this models ability to grow with a baby. And secondly because it fits comfortably at all ages from 0 to 5 years old.
We now have a massive wealth of knowledge after 74 years of experience working in optics. Plus an incredible 37 years making the world’s best baby sunglasses. Today with the help of our exclusive distributors we export our sunglasses world-wide. So that we can save the sight of all children in every nation. Our aim is to make UV related blindness a distant memory of the past.
Quality and fashion
We certainly do have a passion for high quality. As well as fashion. And you truly can see the results in all of our products. We then back all of our products with our world famous 3-year guarantee. Idol Eyes Australia truly is the leading supplier of quality children’s sunglasses. Both here in Australia. And now world-wide due to our growth.
The importance of sunglasses 🕶️👍
Everyone certainly should know by now. That the sun’s harmful UV radiation does cause skin damage. But it is also widely known to be the major cause of eye diseases. Like cataracts, pterygium, actinic and droplet keratites. As well as pinguecula and macular degeneration.
We also know that the majority of UV related eye damage occurs to young children. The reason this happens is because the lenses in their eyes have not fully developed. And the main cause is due to the lack of chromophores within their eyes. And this without a doubt does allow the UV rays to effect both the cornea and crystalline lens. As well as the retina. You can read more about this in our blog: The Reliable Truth, How UV damages eyes.
We certainly know that small amounts of damage occur to the eyes when a child is out in the sun. This sun damage then accumulates over many years. This therefore has devastating effects of nasty eye diseases showing up later in life.
About us. Protection is easy 😎👍
We do know that all of these eye diseases can easily be prevented in the first place. Just by wearing good quality wrap-around sunglasses. And of course also adding a wide-brimmed hat. But this truly only works if done every time you are in the sun. And most importantly from birth.
Our Story – about us
About us. Where we manufacture
Iris Optical Co, Pty Ltd began in 1950. And all manufacturing at that time was done in Sydney, Australia. But early in the 1980’s a small amount of manufacturing was moved to Taiwan.
Then in 2015 we decided to move all of our production. To a brand new multi-million dollar facility. That truly is state of the art and purpose built. Located in Taiwan. So now all the manufacturing is done under one roof. This includes the designing, tooling, injection, painting, lens cutting, assembling as well as the testing. We also have our own export department in-house. This factory certainly does have a great track record in sunglasses manufacturing. Going all the way back to 1995. With this brand new factory only opening in 2014. Idol Eyes Australia has been doing some business with this company since 2012.
About us, our growth
Now with this brand new facility. This has certainly allowed us to quality control all aspects of the business. And this has truly helped us to grow our business. So today we still stay the world’s leading baby and kids sunglasses brand. Recently we launched the world’s very first baby sunglasses with bio-polycarbonate lenses. A truly green lens made from a 100% plant based material. So it truly can be both recycled as well as composted.
We have now been in optics for over 74 years. Plus we also have more than 37 years experience in making baby sunglasses. And in this time we certainly have gained a great deal of knowledge. As well as skill in both baby and kids sunglasses. This has now led other leading brands to use us to do their manufacturing. So today we are the world’s leading OEM and ODM manufacturer in this field. Thus we now produce for many of the world’s leading brands of baby and kids sunglasses.