Sunglass! The very name makes us feel stylish! A sunglass is actually a protective eye-gear which is not only a part of our daily life as an essential accessory but also an integral part of our fashion. Be it for utility or for fashion, sunglasses are everyone’s favorite these days. Type of sunglasses has been changed time to time and people round the globe have always been trendy while choosing their sunglasses. Colors and quality of glasses have been changed over the years as well. UV protection has become first priority for a majority. Glasses able to protect eyes from UV are costly if compared to ordinary fashionable glasses. But it has gained popularity for its utility too.
There was a time when sunglasses were used only by the celebrities and the film actors to hide their face to evade crowd. Since the 1940s sunglasses have been popular as a fashion item, especially on the beach area. Most of us find direct sunlight too bright for comfort while we are busy in some outdoor activities. Ophthalmologists recommend eye protection whenever the sun appears brightly, to protect the eyes from ultraviolet radiation (UV) and blue light, which can cause several serious eye problems. Not all the sunglasses are able to protect our eyes from UV, only branded sunglasses have this specialty.
Sunglass makers have been experimenting with the colors of glass for over the years. Previously sunglasses came with dark glasses but nowadays different types of colors and shades are available for different purpose. The colors of the lens mainly depend on style and fashion as well. For regular use, red, grey, green, or brown glasses are recommended to avoid or minimize color distortion. Grey and green lenses are considered to be neutral because they maintain true colors. Brown lenses cause some color distortion, but also increase contrast and day light effect. Yellow lenses are used by pilots, boaters, fishers, shooters, and hunters for their contrast enhancement and width perception properties. Blue or purple lenses are mainly cosmetic and mostly preferred by the fair sex.
Reflecting glasses are also popular over the decades. A mirrored coating is applied to the lens to deflect some of the light when it hits the lens. These types of lenses are useful in bright conditions and mostly found on sportsmen’s eyes. However, it does not always reflect UV radiation. Basically, lenses are made of glass, plastic or CR-39. Plastic lenses are produced from acrylic, polycarbonate, CR-39 or polyurethane. Plastic lenses offer least utility and available at cheaper rate. Plastic lenses are lighter and sturdy but are more prone to scratching. Glass lenses offer the best optical clarity and are scratch resistance. But these are heavier than plastic lenses. As they are made of glass, they are fragile too. Polycarbonate plastic lenses are the lightest, and are also almost scratch proof which makes them good for impact protection. CR-39 is the most common plastic lens, preferred for being low weight, high scratch resistance, and they offer low transparency for ultraviolet and infrared radiation.
Though lenses are the most important part of any sunglasses, frames are also equally important for protecting our eyes. Frames are built to carry the lenses in most comfortable way. Even the handles of sunglasses are made with purposes. When the slim and sleek handles of Aviators let the sweat flow down to make us comfortable, the Broad Temple Arms of Over sized sunglasses guard our eyes from “stray light” entering through the sides. Wayfarer sunglasses have made a strong come back in fashion though it was launched in 1950s. Thousands of types are there in the range of sunglasses. We need to know what will suit our purpose most and only then it will make most of our money’s worth!
