Seems like an simple question, no? Cut out some pieces of glass, tint them, slap them inside a set of beautiful frames, and presto! You have got sunglasses! They’re almost all the same, correct?
In fact, you may have already guessed that not all sunglasses are manufactured equal. If you are in the market for a good pair of sunglasses, it might help to remember the adage “Never judge a book by its cover.” The same can be said for sunglasses: they may look cool, but won’t necessarily keep your eyes healthy. To know what to search for, it helps to realize how they work.
The tinting on sunglasses may serve one or more purposes. The main function of sunglasses is to reduce the amount of visible light that goes into the eye. The part of the eye known as the iris responds to visible light by getting smaller, effectively reducing the amount of light that reaches the retina. This is a purely physiological response which protects the eye from the hurt that too much sunlight can cause.
Sunglasses, depending on how they are manufactured, can also protect the eyes from ultra-violet (UV) rays from the sun. It has long been known that UV rays are directly responsible for skin cancer, as well as blindness, cancer, and other degenerative diseases of the eye. Some UV protective glasses are specialized even further to block very specific frequencies of light, which may be especially helpful to people who are exposed to sunlight for long periods during the day due to the type of work they do, such as lifeguards, construction workers, gardeners, etc.
Reading eyewear have a very low magnification, but the lens is designed particularly to magnify objects or text at around 14 inches away from your eyes, this is the standard distance most people get reading books to be comfortable.
Nowadays designs of reading glasses have come a very long way with major fashion brands and sunglasses manufacturers adding reading glasses to their product catalogs, and in the process redefining the great factor, gone are the days of cheap plastic frames and square lenses, now reading glasses for men and women come in all styles to suit your face shape and personality.
So why won’t any old pair of sunglasses do? It may surprise you to learn that you’d actually be better off wearing no sunglasses at all than to use a pair of cheap ones. Cheap glasses are manufactured with only a thin coat of tinting, and typically do not block UV rays. By wearing this type, you are forcing your iris to remain open wide (instead of getting smaller as it would when sunlight enters it directly), which in turn allows even more harmful UV light to enter than would if you wore no sunglasses at all. In short, you may look hip and trendy, but in the long run you are risking your eyesight. This is not to say that you should simply avoid wearing them at all. On the contrary, medical professionals and scientists recommend that EVERY person, regardless of age or profession, wear UV protective eyewear EVERY time they go outside. Just make sure it’s the RIGHT pair.
With this information in mind, here are a few tips to help you choose a pair of UV lenses that not only look dashing, but protect your eyes as well:
Frame size matters too. If the frames are too small, too much light will get into into your eyes via the sides of the sunglasses, significantly reducing their effectiveness. Picking larger frames keeps more light out, and also protects the vulnerable, thin skin around the eyes too.
Consider when and where you will most often wear your sunglasses. The color of the tint has different effects on the amount and type of light that enters your eye. This will have a bearing on the color of the tint that you’ll want to select (black, brown, pink, etc.).
Darker tints are generally better. Look for the darkest tint you can find without restricting your visually acuity.
Pay attention to the UV rating. Remember, not all sunglasses block UV rays, so look for ones that are labeled “UV protective” or have a UV rating of 400 or more, which means that they will block at least 98% of UV rays. Anything less may do more harm than good.
If you’re worried about sacrificing fashion for health, you needn’t. There are hundreds of sunglasses manufacturers with thousands of the most current styles in stock, for every age from babies to adults. So you can rest assured knowing that you’ll not only preserve your health and sight, you and your family will look great too!
Think about whether you plan to spend a lot of time outside in the snow or around water. Sunlight that is reflected off of bright surfaces such as snow or water becomes “polarized”. Look for glasses labeled “polarized,” which will reduce the glare from reflected light, something non-polarized lenses will not do an adequate job of.