The reality is you’ve probably been wearing sunglasses your whole life – and if you haven’t, you need to start right away! But, while we know that sunglasses guard our eyes from the sun, there is actually some unknown aspects of our sunglasses that are just as important! First of all, whether or not sun exposure noticeably affects your eyes, you should still invest in a good pair of sunglasses because of the damaging ultraviolet rays that you expose your eyes to when outside. These UV rays can cause serious, painful eye conditions as well as permanent retinal damage. It is often a misconception that UV protection should only be put on sunglasses. While you should certainly be safeguarded when wearing sunglasses, UV protective coatings should also be added to regular prescription glasses as well. UV rays do not only do damage on very sunny days outside, after all. However, this is the single most important part of a pair of sunglasses!
There are several different options to choose from when it comes to purchasing sunglasses. Regular color tint lenses do an adequate job of protecting your eyes from the sun’s detrimental rays. If you’d like additional assurance that your eyes are cared for to the highest degree, check out some polarized sunglasses. Particularly for those outdoorsy-types that love to play out on the water or in the snow, polarized lenses add another level of protection with their anti-reflective attributes. Usually a bit more expensive, polarized lenses cost a bit more to produce due to the quality of the materials used. The anti-reflective coatings are used to reduce glare that occurs when light is reflected off the lenses of the sunglasses and surfaces that are [usually] wet. You could also take a look at some gradient tinted sunglasses. Gradient lenses allow you to have a gradual tint of color throughout your sunglasses. So, for instance, if you’re in the car (where you don’t need the tint to be as dark), you can use the bottom part of your glasses for driving, and enjoy the darker tinted top part of the lens. There is also the option of photochromic lenses – or more commonly known as Transitions (due to the popular manufacturer). They are regular clear prescription glasses when you are inside a building (for instance) and will transition to shaded lenses by the amount of light being processed inside. Through this transition, they adjust the level of tint based on the UV light. They will usually run a bit higher in price as well, due to the material and process time.
Even obtaining a pair of cheap eyeglasses or sunglasses could help defend your eyes against sun exposure! Most glasses – especially sunglasses – come with UV protective coatings already on the lenses. Sunglasses come in all shapes and sizes, as well as so many different options! While some of the sunglass types listed above are more expensive, you may be able to find better prices online. So this summer check out some sun and eyeglasses online for the best summer specials!
Elea Kalin is a fashion stylist – turned optical specialist. Her focus is on accessories and statement pieces – like prescription eyeglasses. She is currently working for eyeglassespro.com – the easiest way to buy glasses online, which now offers free shipping all over the US, with the code FreeShip10.