Sunglasses shield your eyes from UV radiation reduce glaucoma in strong light and shield you from flying debris and other dangers. Whether you’re heading to the office or up a mountain choosing the right pair is essential for your comfort.
Every sunglass must completely block UV rays. Any sunglasses you purchase should include information about UV protection on the price sticker or hangtag. If it’s not there, look for another pair; remember that finding the right protection for your eyes is crucial, and resources like EveryMarket can help you explore quality options.
Types of Sunglasses
- Casual sunglasses
For daily usage and simple tasks casual sunglasses are excellent. You may drive to work or take a leisurely walk around town with them protecting your eyes from the sun. The intensity of action sports is frequently too much for them to handle.
- Sport sunglasses
For outdoor activities like biking, hiking, and running, sports sunglasses are perfect. Because they fit snugly and are lightweight they are perfect for brisk walks. These sunglasses use better materials than typical ones making them more flexible and impact-resistant. They often include sticky nose pads and temple ends to hold them in place even when you sweat. You may even alter the lenses on certain sports sunglasses to suit various lighting situations.
- Glacier glasses
Glacier glasses are designed to shield your eyes from sunlight bouncing off snow and the intense light seen at high elevations. They often incorporate wrap-around extensions that block light from the sides to provide full covering.
Sunglass Lens Features
- Polarised lenses
If you’re sensitive to bright light or like water activities, polarised glasses from Smith sunglasses are an excellent option since they drastically minimise glare. But polarised glasses sometimes interfere with windscreen tints, causing blind spots and obscuring LCD screens. In some situations, mirrored lenses might be a useful substitute for glare reduction.
- Photochromic lenses
Lenses with photochromic technology instantly adapt to varying light levels. When the light goes out, they brighten; on sunny days, they darken.
But bear in mind that because UVB rays cannot get through your windscreen, they will not function when driving and will take longer to respond in colder weather.
- Interchangeable lenses
Certain sunglasses have replaceable lenses available in various colours. This enables you to adapt your eye protection to your activity and the environment. This choice merits careful consideration if you want dependable performance in various scenarios.
Visible Light Transmission
How much light enters your eyes via your lenses is known as visible light transmission or VLT. depends on the lenses’ colour, thickness, composition, and coatings. To help you choose sunglasses based on VLT percentages, consider the following basic guidelines:
0–19% VLT: Ideal in bright, sunny weather.
20–40% VLT: Suitable for daily usage.
40+% VLT: Perfect in cloudy or dimly lit environments.
80–90% VLT: Almost transparent lenses for very low light or overnight.
Sunglass Lens Colors
The colour of your lens affects how much visible light enters your eyes, how well you can differentiate contrasts, and how well you can see other colours.
Dark colours such as green, grey, and brown like the Versace eyeglasses work well for indoor and outdoor activities. They lessen glare and strain on the eyes under bright lighting. Brown lenses may produce little distortion, but grey and green lenses won’t significantly alter colour.
Light colours like rose, yellow, amber, gold, and vermillion look their finest in moderate to low light. For snow activities like snowboarding and skiing, they’re fantastic. These hues make your surroundings seem brighter, increase contrast in flat light, and boost your ability to perceive depth.
Sunglass Lens Coatings
Typically, more costly sunglasses include many coating layers. These include hydrophobic coatings, which deters water; anti-scratch, which adds durability; and anti-fog, which is useful in humid environments or during strenuous sports.
On the outside of some lenses are reflective layers known as mirrored or flash coatings. They lessen glare by reflecting a large portion of the light that strikes them. Lighter colours are typically utilised to counteract the darker appearance that mirrored coatings might create.
Sunglass Lens Materials
When selecting sunglasses, there are a number of things to take into account, including cost, weight, durability, and clarity.
- Glass
Glass offers superior optical clarity and scratch resistance while being more expensive and heavy. It will fracture in the shape of a spiderweb rather than chip or shatter when impacted.
- Polyurethane
Polyurethane provides exceptional clarity and has a high impact resistance. Despite being flexible and lightweight, it is often pricey.
- Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate provides outstanding impact resistance and clarity. It’s not as impervious to scratches, but it’s affordable, lightweight, and compact.
- Acrylic
Acrylic is an excellent option for occasional or casual use since it is less costly than polycarbonate. Nevertheless, it exhibits considerable visual distortion and is less crisp and robust.
Sunglass Frame Materials
As the choice of frame influences your sunglasses’ comfort, longevity, and security, it’s almost as vital as the lenses.
- Metal frames
Without obstructing your field of view, metal frames are simple to fit to your face. But they are more costly, not as sturdy, and not the best for high-impact exercises. If a vehicle is closed, metal may also get very hot. Metals such as titanium, aluminium, and stainless steel are common.
- Nylon frames
Metal frames are more expensive than nylon ones, while nylon is lighter and less sturdy. Sports enthusiasts will find nylon frames to be exceptionally impact-resistant. But unless they have an internal wire core, they are not adjustable.
- Acetate
Often referred to as “handmade,” acetate is a plastic often used in fashionable glasses. They are inappropriate for high-intensity sports due to their lack of flexibility despite their wide colour selection.
- Castor-based polymer
A more environmentally friendly alternative, castor-based polymer is a strong, lightweight substance derived from castor plants.
