Bifocal sunglasses have evolved immensely in the past decade. With a broad range of sophisticated plastics and an even broader range of fashions available, it can be intimidating to shop for bifocal sunglasses. Learn a couple of key points regarding the different plastics and available styles before you start your shopping.
The Best Materials for Your Bifocal Sunglasses
While the most common plastic for modern bifocal lenses has become CR-39 and it is an excellent plastic with fantastic optical qualities, it might not be the best bet for your bifocal or prescription sunglasses. If you plan on wearing your bifocal sunglasses while active and moving about in a rigorous manner, you will have a greater risk of spilling your shades and breaking them apart. For this reason, more durable plastics such as polycarbonate or trivex may be more appropriate for your shades. Bifocal shades made with these plastics will be both lighter and more resistant to cracking or shattering.
You might still investigate sunglasses made with CR-39 as plastics and construction with such plastics are evolving at quite a pace. However, if you plan to be really active, just remember that sacrificing a little optical quality for durability could be safer and more cost-effective for you over the long term.
Get The Right Fit For Your Prescription Sunglasses
Another difference you should consider when shopping for bifocal sunglasses compared to standard bifocal reading glasses is the fit. In most cases, you will be wearing such prescription sunglasses outdoors and in more active environments than your bifocal reading glasses. So I suggest you go for a more snug fit at the nose and around your ears. You probably also want your sunglasses to fit nearer to your eyes than your bifocal reading glasses to help with shading the sunlight.
Along the same line and relating to my previous comments about plastic, you probably want a lighter weight for your wayfarers than for your bifocal reading glasses.
Brand Name Bifocal Shades
One last point: if you’re integrating your prescription into your sunglasses, I encourage you to consider brand names even if you’re trying to save money. While budget models can be great in their own right, larger companies often have greater flexibility and capability to offer generous and thorough warranties. So go ahead and treat yourself to Ray Ban Bifocal Sunglasses or even Oakley Bifocal Sunglasses.
The eyes may be irreparably damaged by exposure to harmful UV rays. Sunglasses are a popular fashion item during the Summer and tend to be worn every day. Yet during the Winter, UV rays are as harmful. We have all seen people squinting into the sun, struggling to overcome the temporary blindness caused by the sun’s harsh rays. Over exposure to the sun can result in eye diseases such as Cataracts; Pinguecula and Macular Degeneration.
A good pair of sunglasses should ideally carry 100% UV protection. For those who are used to wearing good quality sunglasses, exposure to strong sunlight becomes uncomfortable and results in reddened eyes.
For children and teenagers, the sunglasses should be reinforced by wearing a hat for additional shade. Sunglasses should be introduced as early as possible and young children should be trained to wear them for eye protection as soon as they are able to understand why. A good pair of quality wraparound sunglasses is ideal for adults too as they filter sunlight from the side and above, as well as head on.
Fashionable sunglasses from designer houses tend to command rather a high price. To keep up with fashion trends, some people compromise quality and invest in sunglasses that offer little or no UV protection. These sunglasses are of no protective value and cause further damage by fooling the wearer that the sun is being effectively filtered. They are made from poor grade plastic and have no effective filtering qualities, so UV rays happily do their worst all through the Summer. These types of sunglasses should be avoided.
It is far better to choose a pair of ‘neutral fashion’ sunglasses that have a chance of holding their fashion for a few seasons, rather than risk damaging your eyes with cheap designer copies that tend to break easily and last only long enough to seriously damage your eyes.
In addition to UV rays, (HEV) radiation, or blue light, has lower energy than UV. They penetrate deep into the eye, causing considerable retinal damage. UV and HEV levels are higher when the sun is strongest, from 10.00 until 14.00. When there is a reflective surface, the rays are even more damaging, for example the reflection of sun on sea or snow and ice; the kind of conditions that are ideal for water sports and skiing.
Wearing protective sunglasses and where necessary with the appropriate prescription, is not only advisable; it is imperative to preserve eye health for both children and adults.
Designer sunglasses- most people love them. A lot of people own a pair but an unfortunate proportion cannot afford them. Hence the rise in fake and imitation designer sunglasses. Unscrupulous individuals (opportunist’s maybe?) saw this gap in the market and exploited it to the full, producing inexpensive alternatives that everybody could afford. And here, you see, lies the problem. Inexpensive, cheap, affordable- unfortunately, this affordability comes at the expense of quality.
Next time you go hunting for a pair of fake or imitation designer sunglasses, with famous company brand names blatantly emblazoned all over them (which, by the way, is illegal), think about the health implications. And by health implications we mean, of course, your eye health.
The main overriding function of a pair of sunglasses is to reduce the amount of bright light or glare and therefore the amounts of harmful ultra violet rays from entering our eyes. UV protection is paramount as these rays have the capability of doing serious damage to the eyes. They can cause a condition known as photokeratitis which can lead to, among other things, cataracts.
Fake sunglasses also have a tendency of falling apart very easily- usually at the most inopportune of times. Not at all what you’re looking for when you’re out and about acting ‘cool’ in your ‘designer’ shades.
Most of these fake sunglasses are sold at prices that suggest they are indeed fake. But how would you spot fake sunglasses that are trying to be passed off as the original version? A big giveaway would be the fact that they are sold unpackaged or in flimsy packaging that is unmarked. The hinges are always a good way of testing as they will be far inferior to the originals. But probably the biggest giveaway of all would be the fact that the names on the fake sunglasses are easily scratched off.
So next time you need to buy a pair of sunglasses, but opt to purchase a fake pair, take a minute to make sure you are aware of the implications, both for your eyes and morally.
It’s a well known fact that many people nowadays wear sunglasses purely as a fashion statement or a reason to look ‘cool’ and trendy, but modern sunglasses were invented with another purpose in mind and that was to serve as protection for the eyes against the rays of the sun. I have tried to put together an article detailing the medical or scientific ramifications, (not that I’m suggesting for one minute that sunglasses shouldn’t be worn as a fashion accessory), as to why people should wear sunglasses.
• UV Protection
Despite the fact that the sun is more than 90 million miles away from our planet, its rays pose serious health and ocular dangers to us all. Exposure to Ultraviolet (UV) rays produced by natural sunlight has been associated with all sorts of eye conditions in human beings. Cataracts are a condition that involves the clouding of the lens of the eye. The lens becomes more opaque and is therefore less able to transmit light rays onto the retina. The image on the back of the eye is then blurred. The structure of the lens also changes as the lens becomes less transparent. Although most cataracts develop as people get older, studies have shown a link between overexposure to UV rays from sunlight and the condition. It has also been determined though, that people who wear sunglasses on a regular basis have a decreased incidence of this eye condition.
Photokeratitis is another condition associated with the sun. Defined as the burning of the cornea (the clear front surface of the eye) by UVB rays, it is also known as snow blindness and typically occurs at high altitudes on highly reflective snow, thus people that ski would be more susceptible to getting the condition. Pterygium is a condition which can be defined as a raised, triangular or wedge-shaped growth of conjunctival tissue which grows over the surface of the cornea and can be caused by long-term exposure to sunlight, especially UV rays. Various eye cancers can also be attributed to excessive over exposure to UV rays in sunlight.
• Sunglasses Reduce Glare
Obviously, when the sun is shining the brightness and glare interfere with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly by causing squinting and eye watering. By reflecting the sun’s rays, many surfaces create glare- snow, water, windscreens, metal, the list is endless and all are items or conditions that most people will encounter almost daily in their lives. Polarized sunglasses are particularly effective when it comes to reducing glare.
• Sunglasses Protect from Wind and Dust
Sunglasses worn in windy weather can act as an effective barrier against windblown particles from getting in your eyes and causing possible corneal abrasions.
• They Keep Eyes Moist
Wearing sunglasses helps reduce the rate of evaporation of tears from the eyes keeping them moist and comfortable. Sunglasses can also help keep contact lenses from drying out due to this helping against evaporation.
• Blue Light Protection
Long-term exposure to the blue and violet portion of the solar spectrum has been implicated as a risk factor for macular degeneration, especially for individuals that are said to be ’sun sensitive’.
• Dark Adaptation
Just by spending a couple of hours in bright sunlight during the day can seriously affect the eyes ability to readjust to night time or indoor levels of light, thus driving at night, for example, can be more hazardous for people that spend time in direct sunlight than those that don’t.
• Sunglasses Reduce Headaches and Eyestrain
It is our pupils that control the amount of light that reaches the retina at the back of the eye. The pupils’ size dilates and contracts depending on current light conditions. The darker the condition, the pupil dilates to allow more light in but the opposite happens in brighter conditions, where the pupil contracts to reduce the amount of light that enters the eye. In very bright conditions the pupil cannot contract enough to reduce the light entering the eye to a comfortable level, which causes squinting. Squinting has the effect of reducing the space between the eyelids which further reduces the amount of light entering the eye. Muscle fatigue associated with squinting and to a lesser extent, the constriction of the pupil, can lead to headaches and eyestrain. On bright sunny days, sunglasses, if worn, can reduce the amount of light that reaches the retina to a more optimal level for clearer, more comfortable vision.
• Medication Induced Photo sensitivity
Some types of medication, such as treatments for psoriasis, some birth controls and even tablets for skin treatment can cause people to suffer photo sensitivity. This heightened sensitivity to sunlight can cause discomfort. Sunglasses can help to alleviate this problem.
• Sunglasses Reduce the Effect of Jet Lag
Recent studies have discovered that sunglasses can reduce the effects of jet lag by fooling your body-clock. Apparently it seems that by altering your light patterns you can tweak your body-clock to adjust to new time zones more easily. Jet lag is actually a physical phenomenon, according to the study, not just something made up in peoples’ minds. The biological clock is actually a cluster of 20,000 nerve cells that are situated in the brain. Researchers discovered that people recovered much quicker from jet lag if they wore a pair of sunglasses during parts of their journey.
Choosing the perfect pair of sunglasses is not as straightforward as it seems. Apart from the fact that there are literally hundreds of styles, colours and brands to make your choice from, you’ll be looking for a pair that combines style with the ability to protect your eyes. Probably the best place to shop for sunglasses today is online, where the world is your oyster when it comes to the sheer number of sites you could purchase them from. Obviously the good old brick and mortar shops on the high street offer great ranges as well, but for pure choice, online is the way to go.
Virtually every brand of sunglasses known to man can be purchased online. Online retailers offer well known brands such as Oakley, Ray Ban and Von Zipper, not so well known and even replica designs. Apart from selling sunglasses, some of these retailers also offer sunglass accessories such as protective cases, wiping cloths and cords, as well as related items such as ski goggles.
Without wanting to state the obvious, when purchasing sunglasses, a person has to make sure they buy a pair that suits them. Each individual has a different shaped face so sunglasses that may look good on one person, for example, may not look quite so good on someone else. Try and make sure you choose a pair that complements your facial shape, skin tone and hair colour.
While on the topic of styles, think about frame colours as well. Frames come in a myriad of colours, from lights like yellow and orange to darks such as blacks and purples. Again, make sure you choose a frame colour that is going to complement your complexion. The very fashion conscious will want to match sunglasses with different outfits they may own- if this is the case then you will need a few pairs of sunglasses in different frame colours. No mean task if we’re talking designer sunglasses!
We mustn’t forget that sunglasses were actually made to protect our eyes from harmful sun rays, not just as a fashion statement, so choosing a pair that offers ultra violet protection (100% protection is now the norm) is vitally important. UV rays have the ability to cause lasting or permanent damage to our eyes if we don’t take precautionary measures whilst in the sun (or outside generally). A good pair of sunglasses that offers 100% UV protection may cost a little bit more but a little bit more is a small price to pay for the health and safety of our eyes!
There are so many fabulous frames available on the market that choosing a pair is something like cruising around an empty car park - there are so many spaces to choose from, how can you make a choice?
Always begin with making an appointment to have your eyes properly and professionally tested. A comprehensive eye test will include colour tests and depending on your age might even include testing for glaucoma or other eye diseases. Take the advice offered by your eye care practitioner and only begin shopping for frames when you have been provided with a prescription.
If your sight is extremely poor, it is likely that your lenses will be thicker and you might opt for paying for a lens thinning process, to make the lenses both more attractive look at and lighter to wear. Modern lens technology allows for considerable slimming down and can make even the strongest prescription lenses suitable for fashionable frames.
When considering which frames to purchase, share a little information with your eye care practitioner. If you spend half of every day in the gym, for instance, it might be a good idea to purchase highly robust frames, possibly featuring the kind of flexibility that allows for accidental crushing or impact. If you are going to avail yourself of the many ‘two for one’ deals that are highlighted in optical outlets, consider choosing a good quality pair of 100% UV filtering sunglasses as your second pair. Traditionally, this kind of choice is available during the Summer months.
Look at your reflection in a mirror carefully and decide on the shape of your face and the colour of your complexion. Your eye care practitioner has specialist training to choose a collection of frames that are suitable for your particular face shape and colouring so take advice and ask for a short list of possible frames to be presented for you to try. Most opticians will provide a tray of a dozen frames and advise on whether your prescription is suitable for the frames you like.
Do not go against the advice of your eye care practitioner and attempt to buy frames that do not suit your lenses. Although opticians will advise, very few will refuse to make glasses to your order and you could end up ordering spectacles that look awful. Returning the glasses will be impossible unless an error has been made by the optical provider and you could waste a lot of money in an expensive experiment.
