Perhaps you buy your sunglasses on a whim. But an optician explained that finding sunglasses that fit my eyes perfectly is no easy task. So I wanted to find out more and give you the valuable information I’ve gathered on how to choose sunglasses!
1. The color of the lenses is a very important criterion
Do you love pink lenses on totally original frames? Why not? But be aware that these glasses will not protect your eyes from the sun’s rays. The tint of the lenses plays an important role in filtering these harmful UV rays. We tend to think that very dark lenses are the most effective. But this is not always the case and choosing glasses solely on this criterion is a serious mistake. To find the right tint, you must first determine the needs of your eyes according to your visual disorder.
Myopes will find more comfort with dark lenses. Brown, for example, will accentuate contrasts and enhance detail, which is an excellent advantage for eyes with myopia. Brown is also a good choice for sensitive eyes.
Hypermetropic and astigmatism will be satisfied with grey lenses that will reduce light intensity and offer optimal color reproduction. Hypermetropic will be able to adopt green lenses, just like contact lens wearers. Finally, when choosing sunglasses, if you do not suffer from any problems, yellow and green are the colors to choose.
2. The material of the lenses
There are three types of glass for sunglasses. The “mineral” lens is made of silica. It is still quite heavy but very resistant to scratches. If you tend to keep your glasses in your bag without paying attention to the objects they may encounter, this is a good choice. They come in several versions. Finally, CR-39 plastic lenses are light and strong but thicker. These last two plastics are rarely used for sunglasses, but they can still be found.
3. A suitable protection factor
With this information, I thought I could find the perfect pair of sunglasses, but the criteria are not limited to that. That would be too easy! The protection factor is also of great importance. You have probably already noticed a number that comes with your glasses. This is the protection factor. From 0 to 4, it defines the amount of light that the lenses will be able to capture. Category 0 lenses filter out very little radiation. Category 1 lenses are suitable for situations with little sunlight. The eyes are protected from medium sunlight with category 2 lenses.
Category 3 lenses are ideal for protecting the eyes from normal sunlight in the mountains or by the sea. Finally, category 4 lenses are reserved for very strong sunlight: strong sunlight reflected on the snow, for example.
4. Surface treatment
You now know a little more about lenses. But they can also be treated to improve them. Among these operations, the lens can be anti-reflective, mirror, anti-scratch, anti-fog, polarization, and photochromic…
Anti-reflective treatment is particularly recommended if you drive a lot. It will reduce the reflection of the sun’s rays, even on a wet floor. The mirror treatment is ideal for those who like to go out in the mountains, as it significantly reduces reverberation. The same is true of polarization, which also accentuates contrasts. Finally, photochromy offers versatile lenses. Indeed, they change tint according to luminosity.
5. Special characteristics to be taken into account
Now that we have seen the specific characteristics of the lenses, it is also essential to know more about the technical characteristics of certain models. A pair of sunglasses is made up of lenses but also of the frame, temples, and nosepiece. Discover with me what these parts correspond to.
The frame can be single-lens or double-lens. The advantage of single-lens frames is that they offer a wider field of vision. The eyes are better protected because the lenses are wider. This is ideal in windy areas. Double lenses are the most common. They are easily replaced if one lens breaks and are very light.
The temples can be hooked, gripped, or smooth. Most sunglasses have smooth or straight temples. Sports models have hooks to keep them in place even if you move around a lot. Brands may also use grip, a type of non-slip adhesive. The nosepiece fits over your nose! Some sunglasses don’t have a nosepiece, but again, if you move around a lot, it’s better to opt for models with a nosepiece or even a nosepiece with a grip.
Looking for help?
With over 3 decades of experience, Valley vision is here to help you with all your vision-related needs. They are an Aussie company through and through and have at heart the need of their customers. Run by two professional and experienced optometrists, Valley Vision is one of the leading names in the eye-care field in Australia. So, what are you waiting for? Let them better your vision with their wide ray of visual aids, glasses, and contacts. Book your consultation now by visiting their website.
