Sunglasses, today, occupy a pivotal position in the market. People of all ages vie for the perfect pair of  sunglasses which suits their eyes. They take pride in their possession and wear it, just for the “smart and intelligent” look, if not for health purposes.

What are Sunglasses?

Sunglasses are a type of visual aid, similar to normal spectacles, but feature lenses that are colored, polarized or darkened to avoid any strong light from reaching the eyes.  Sunglasses can broadly be classified into Polarized sunglasses and Photochromatic sunglasses.  Polarized sunglasses, besides shielding from the UV radiations from the sunlight, cuts the glare from the light reflected off water and other shining surfaces; while photochromatic sunglasses, which darken on exposure to sunlight, are beneficial for changing light conditions.  Many glasses are colored or tinted, which in effect determines the part of the light spectrum that is absorbed by these glasses.

Benefits

Sunglasses are especially useful for people who go out frequently in the sun to protect their eyes from the dust and also from the harmful ultraviolet radiations of the sun and from other bright lights. Ultraviolet rays, which are the located just past the visible spectrum of light, are emitted in higher amounts when the sun’s rays are strongest, between 10a.m and 2p.m. As these rays can pass through clouds, it is immaterial if the sky is a bit cloudy or not.  Constant exposure to ultraviolet radiation, according to health care professionals, can lead to cataract and, in some cases, skin diseases because of the high energy of the ultraviolet(UV) light.   That is why, doctors recommend the usage of sunglasses for actors/actresses at the time of outdoor shooting of the films. Persons with sensitivity to bright light find the sunglasses even more useful.

Most of the sunglasses have a polarizing effect, which cuts off the glare from the sun and other reflected lights.  Polarized lenses are especially useful when working on high altitudes and windy conditions for glare protections and to reduce the strain on the eyes. Boaters find these polarized sunglasses extremely useful as they reduce the glare from water and also allows them to see through fog or rain.

Photochromatic glasses, as mentioned earlier, are suited for persons who change environments frequently (inside to outside and vice-versa). They are useful in cutting the UV radiations when out in the sun as they react to UV light and get darkened.

Sunglasses are also being used as a fashion accessory for a long time, especially the designer ones. Designer Sunglasses include the Rayban, D&G , Ed Hardy and the Gucci Sunglasses. As they have a cooling effect on the eyes, they are also used to ward off the heat of the sun.

People with visual impairments also find sunglasses useful in preventing any abnormalities in their eyes from being disclosed to others. Still, some others use them to hide their bloodshot eyes.

A pair of sunglasses are beneficial even to school and college going students to relieve their eyes from the strain of being outdoors most of the day.

Some special types

Water Sunglasses:

Special type of sunglasses, called water sunglasses (also known as surfing sunglasses) consist of eyewear which is specially adapted to be used in turbulant water. Maui Jim Sunglasses  are one of the most popular polarized  water sunglasses which lets the user see through water; it takes out the glare reflected by the water and other shiny surfaces.

Reading Sunglasses:

Going out for a long ride or on a journey, but still want to read books? Reading sunglasses minimize the glare, while still allowing you to read through the tinted glasses. Some amount of magnifying power available in most of the reading sunglasses to magnify the print for easier reading.

Avaitor sunglasses:

These are yet another style of sunglasses, which are characterised by dark, often reflective lenses with an  area two or three times the area of the eye socket and also metal frames with wire temples which hook behind the ears

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The only disadvantage of using polarized glasses is when one is skiing on thin ice as it becomes difficult to differentiate between ice patches and moguls( a small bumpy area on the snowy surface).

Choosing the perfect pair

The things to consider while making a purchase of a pair of sunglasses are: the eye protection, comfort, color of the lenses and the style of the frame. The recommended sunlight protection by the ideal glasses would be 999% to 100% of the UVA and the UVB radiation. Hence, there are three things that a good pair of sunglasses should do in order to protect the eyes.

• Provide protection from the ultraviolet radiation of the sun which have a damaging effect on the cornea and the  retina of the eye.
• Provide protection from intense light and glare, such as in light  reflected off snowy surfaces or light from wielding.
• Eliminate specific frequencies of light.

Hence, buy sunglasses, as per your needs and your occupation. A lot of things have to be considered before going for that right and fitting pair. For instance, grey or green  lenses are good for driving (for avoiding glare)while purple or rose make a good choice for hunting and water skiing.

Care and maintenance

* Sunglasses with plastic lenses and those with a mirror finish on the outside, scratch easily, and hence to be handled with care.

* The glasses have to be cleaned frequently and to be kept away from conditions such as strong heat, as in a closed car or near a burning candle.

* Too much of sweating can also cause damage to the lens and the frame and hence, it is better to take the sunglasses from your face off and on, and wipe them dry.

Hence, if it is a bright and sunny day, it is no wonder that most people reach for the sunglasses. It is an effective way to avoid any sort of damage to the eyes or to the skin when he/she is outside.  The perfect pair of designer sunglasses makes all the difference in how one feels after a long day traveling in the sun. One feels less tiring and, therefore, can do a lot more work with ease. Therefore, having the right type of sunglasses is, ultimately, a means of saving your energy levels.

• Written by Sridevi.
• In category General Reference.
• 15 years ago.

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