Sunglasses are up there as one of the most popular fashion accessories during the summer months. Not only do they jazz up any outfit, but they provide necessary protection from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays. There are a number of important factors that should be considered before purchasing sunglasses, especially if you want to ensure they are long lasting and stylish while providing full protection.
4 Things To Consider When Buying Summer Shades
UV protection
Whether sunglasses are used for cosmetic or general purposes it is important to ensure they have full UV protection. UV rays expel invisible light that without protection can result in serious eye damage. Commonly without UV protection eyes can develop photokeratitis, this is damage to the outer layer of the cornea that results in red swollen eyes. Luckily this usually resolves itself after a short period of time, however, they’re more serious conditions developed through prolonged exposure to UV light. Macular degeneration and cataracts are very serious conditions that can result in vision loss and potentially blindness
For the highest level of protection ensure your sunglasses are UVA and UVB protected. Although UVA makes up 95% of the sun’s rays and is classed as the ‘most important’ UV protection, UVB is still highly important as these 5% of rays can heavily damage the top layers of your skin. UV400 is the recommended strength as this blocks out 99% of UV light rays. Usually these UV ratings will be displayed on a small sticker on the sunglasses lens or if shopping online it will be stated in the product description.
Cost
There is a common misconception that the more expensive the sunglasses the higher the quality. This is not always the case, there are many affordable sunglasses that are high quality and include the highest UV rating for ultimate eye protection. It is important not to focus on price when choosing sunglasses as often it is based more on the brand name rather than the quality of the sunglasses themselves.
However, if you are looking for branded or designer sunglasses then it is recommended to take into account the UV protection, size of the lenses and the quality of the sunglasses. Often customer reviews can be good when it comes to looking at the quality, if the brand is notorious for poor quality glasses their reviews are likely to be negative.
Design
Although UV protection is the top priority when buying sunglasses, you still want to make sure your sunglasses are stylish and suit your face. There is a simple rule to stick to when it comes to finding the perfect pair of sunglasses, this involves determining your face shape. Different facial proportions suit different styles of sunglasses, you can determine your face shape by using measurements easily found online. Heart shaped faces feature wide temples and a narrower chin/jaw, they therefore best suit cat-eye sunglasses as these create the effect of a smaller forehead and help to balance out facial proportions.
However, it is also important to consider the size of the lenses and the effects this can have on sun protection. Often cosmetic sunglasses are designed purely with style in mind and fail to acknowledge sun protection. Commonly high fashion sunglasses provide minimal sun protection due to their thin frames, so it is recommended to opt for sunglasses with medium to large sized frames. This will ensure that the lenses block as much sunlight as possible, not only to protect your eyes themselves, but the skin surrounding them as well.
Colour
The colour of your lenses is more than just a fashion statement, in fact, different colours can affect visual aspects due to colour contrasts. The most common and popular lens colour is grey, this tint shows true colour perception which makes it the most practical shade for driving. However, when it comes to cycling the best lens colour is red due to the colour contrast it provides against yellow road markings. It is important to consider the different colour lenses and how this can affect the type of activity you are partaking in.
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