In our everyday lives we are exposed to potentially harmful rays produced by the sun called UV rays. Many people know of the typical rules of being outdoors and what to do to provide the best protection against these UV rays such as wearing a high SPF sun tan lotion, for example. But did you know that wearing sunglasses is also an essential part of making sure that you don’t fall victim to the effects of the sun?
Many people view their sunglasses solely in terms of comfort and style, but this is not their primary purpose. We have all been driving at some point in our lives when the sun is directly in our faces, and not even the fold-down visor can come to the rescue. So why does it hurt so bad to catch a glimpse of the sun? The UV rays in the sun actually burn your eyes when they come into direct contact with them. Thus, sunglasses are necessary because they create a barrier that allows you to carry on your outdoor activities while at the same time providing a barrier against the harmful UV rays of the sun.
Not all sunglasses are created equally, however. Specific lenses are produced for a multitude of different activities and environments to give you the best protection where ever you are and whatever you happen to be doing. The different levels of protection are reflected in the color of the lenses that you have.
Yellow lenses are incorporated into sunglasses that are created specifically for activities such as mountain biking, shooting, and cross-country skiing. These lenses can also be used for driving, hunting, and playing tennis to name just a few examples. The purpose of the yellow hue is to filter out any scattered blue light, which enhances color contrast to provide a very clear and sharp visual effect.
Blue lenses were invented for one distinct purpose. During the 2000 Tennis French Open, blue lens sunglasses were given to the players and line men so that the white lines were more easily visible. The sole purpose of the blue lens is to provide a contrast that filters out glare from any visible white light. Though originally created for tennis, these lenses are also highly recommended for snow sports.
Gray lenses are among the most common variety of colored sun glass lenses. The gray hue helps to evenly distribute all colors. The color is light enough as to not negatively impact your vision, but dark enough to give plenty of glare protection. The grey lens is generally most useful to anyone who needs a pair of generic sunglasses for pretty much any day-to-day activity.
Purple lenses are used to enhance the white balance of environmental surroundings. It provides nearly the same amount of contrast ability as blue lenses, with the added benefit of enriching the white surroundings. Purple lenses are used mainly in snow sports
Brown colored lenses can be either a dark shade of brown or an amber color. The uniqueness of this lens is that it has the ability to block out any diffused light, such as what you might find on a cloudy day. While the other colors do protect against UV rays to some extent, the brown lens provides the most advanced level of protection. These lenses are especially useful for fishermen, boaters, and individuals who live in areas where the weather is constantly changing.