How to choose sunglasses

When summer is literally on the doorstep, preparing to enter your life with bright sunny days and good mood, it will not be superfluous to take care of protecting your eyes from ultraviolet radiation in advance. Such advice today can be heard not only from sellers of fashion accessories, but also from professional ophthalmologists who think about the health of your eyes, and not about a good deal.

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1. Why wear sunglasses
2. What's really dangerous
3. Exploring sunglasses
4. How to choose the shape of your sunglasses
5. How to choose sunglasses by type of protection
6. Polarized and photochromic lens coating
7. Top Sunglass Manufacturers

Why wear sunglasses

It is not for nothing that the name of these glasses contains the word 'protection' – it really is: the right lenses absorb harmful ultraviolet radiation, which can lead to problems with the visual system. Doctors note that those who underestimate the dangers of UV radiation are more at risk of partially losing their eyesight, developing eye degeneration or cataracts – this is the price of a rash act. Now let's turn to the opinions of professional experts, ophthalmologists, who study the eyes of people in their normal and pathological conditions.

1. Ultraviolet radiation is dangerous for human skin and eyes, even in small quantities – such results have been shown by all modern studies aimed at studying this issue;
2. Five hours of active exposure to UV rays on the eyes is quite enough to get a retinal burn, which entails much more serious consequences, including loss of vision;
3. A cloudy day is also not a reason to abandon sunglasses, the clouds let through not only light, but also the rays of the medium wavelength range, which are dangerous to humans.

If, after a picnic or going out into the countryside, your health deteriorates, your eyes are watery, headaches start and it is difficult for you to focus on a specific subject – immediately go to the doctor for advice, this is the only way to fully preserve your vision.

What's really dangerous

In this matter, not only the UV radiation itself, from which there is absolutely no escape, is scary, but also low-quality sunglasses, they only create the appearance of protection – so, for example, you think that you are safe, but in fact you expose yourself even more risk. It is very simple to explain this: when looking at a bright light source, your pupils automatically narrow, but if your eyes at that moment are under the imaginary cover of simple dark plastic or glass, you not only get a full dose of ultraviolet radiation, but also lose your natural protective mechanism.

The right sunglasses are the only way to truly protect your eyesight. In addition to the eyes, they also protect the delicate skin around them, which burns very quickly in the bright sun, which can cause you a lot of trouble: from simple burning and redness to serious pain.

Exploring sunglasses

So, we have completely decided – glasses for protection from UV radiation are really necessary, now it remains to answer the questions regarding their choice and purchase. We'll start with the structure of the glasses: conditionally, they consist of a frame (the frame itself and temples) and lenses. The frame is evaluated for several characteristics.

1. Material. It can be made of various types of plastic, steel and composite materials – this mainly affects the weight of the glasses and their strength. Recently, metal frames have been very popular, but experts do not recommend dwelling on this option: the metal heats up very much in the sun, and this is already fraught with burns;
2. Thickness. It's very simple: the more 'massive' the frame, the more side (peripheral) light it blocks. Not everyone likes thick side arms, but it's a great option, for example, for going to the beach;
3. Design. The frame and temples can be regular and stylized, that is, have a specific pattern. The second option mostly concerns women's glasses, men's models are rarely so abundant.

So, we completely figured out the frame, it remains to decide only on the types of lenses. It is still simpler here, but not so unambiguous, there can be only two options – glass and plastic.

1. Glass lenses. Glass itself absorbs some UV radiation, so it needs fewer surface layers to provide adequate safety. Another advantage is its resistance to scratches, glass glasses can be freely worn in a purse without fear of their condition. Of the shortcomings: they cannot be bought for a child, since it is simply unsafe, and they are quite heavy.
2. Plastic lenses. Ordinary plastic does not filter harmful UV radiation at all, which is why such lenses need additional protective layers – they determine the value of glasses. On the other hand, plastic is safe; if damaged, it will not crumble into small sharp crumbs, but simply deform – only this type of lens is allowed for purchase by a child. The plastic is also light enough not to put pressure on the bridge of the nose, even after prolonged wear. Among the disadvantages is the instability to scratches; for such lenses, a case is vital.

At this point, the study of the constituent parts of sunglasses can be considered complete, we proceed to consider the following nuances.

How to choose the shape of your sunglasses

The right sunglasses can rejuvenate you, give you a determined look, or vice versa – cast a shadow of mystery over you. The wrong choice will most likely just look ridiculous, in addition, it is less effective, because the glasses should sit comfortably on the bridge of the nose, only then they 'meet' the sun's rays at the right angle, thereby protecting your eyes.

Further, we will consider each type of person separately, giving him a brief description, in order to then give specific advice on choosing for each of the cases. There are 6 face shapes in total.

1. Round. It is characterized by rather full cheeks, a round chin and a wide forehead, and the chin and forehead are approximately the same in width. The goal of the sunglasses here is to create contrast that dilutes the overly smooth shapes. Experts advise taking a closer look at medium and large-sized glasses with square (to have clear angles) frames.
2. Oval. The cheekbones are slightly protruding, gradually tapering towards the chin, which is somewhat inferior to the width of the forehead. This face shape is considered almost ideal: glasses should simply emphasize the already pleasant features – any option will do except for large glasses with wide frames.
3. Square. Everything is clear already from the name: the proportions of the 'forehead-cheekbones-chin' are approximately the same. You need to choose glasses like this: no angular shapes (especially with right angles), only round and oval frames, and preferably more massive.
4. Rectangular. A wide forehead, the same chin, while having an outstanding 'angularity', cheekbones are straight, not 'sharp'; face is longer than wide. Glasses of large sizes with sufficiently thick frames are ideal.
5. Diamond-shaped. The same sharp chin as in the case of the triangular face, however, this shape is characterized by prominent cheekbones and a low, wide forehead. In this case, just as in the previous one, rounded frames are recommended, but in no case too thin. Glasses with prominent brow ridges are great.
6. Triangular (heart-shaped). Wide forehead, clear cheekbones and a narrow, as if sloping chin. Sunglasses with thin, rounded frames should be chosen, so you 'balance' the lower and upper parts of the face with each other.

Having studied the information provided, you can easily choose both women's and men's glasses, because these rules are universal, you just need to carefully determine your face shape.

How to choose sunglasses by type of protection

All over the world there is only one certified system for assessing the quality of sunglasses filters – it is divided into 4 classes, including zero.

1. 0 – in the case of such a marking, you can rely on safety only on an easy walk on a cloudy day, because such glasses absorb only 20% of UV radiation.
2. 1 – absorb up to 50% of radiation, already better, but not enough for safety.
3. 2 – over 50%, ophthalmologists all over the world recommend buying such sunglasses for daily trips around the city.
4. 3 – most tourist glasses have such markings, lenses absorb over 80% of radiation.
5. 4 – maximum protection, lenses absorb over 90% of UV radiation.

Some manufacturers also use a simplified classification system, it looks like this.

1. Cosmetic – most often designer models, that is, just for beauty, you should not wait at all for protection from such glasses.
2. General – correspond to group '2' in the international classification: lenses absorb more than half of the harmful radiation.
3. High UV-protection – Groups '3' and '4', great for sports and travel.

Knowing the markings, you can accurately determine the type of protection for any model of sunglasses – this is a huge advantage when choosing glasses, for example, in an online store.

Polarized and photochromic lens coating

Modern manufacturers, using new lens coating technologies, can achieve simply incredible results – this is evidenced by all kinds of development of space glasses, glasses for absorbing laser radiation, and so on. In the case of sunglasses, the two most popular layers are polarizing and photochromic, let's talk about each of them in order.

1. Polarized coating. Another name for 'anti-reflective coating': lenses simply acquire the property of 'cutting off' the peaks of the amplitudes of light waves. The glasses will be useful for drivers, fans of fishing, surfing and other sports, and are often also used by photographers to work with flash. It is very simple to check the authenticity of the polarizing layer: look at a special hologram (must be at the point of sale), which under other conditions simply cannot be seen under bright lighting.
2. Photochromic coating. Those famous 'chameleons': the brighter the sun, the darker the lenses, at night and indoors they are completely transparent. Sounds great, but there is one 'but' – the photochromic filter wears out quickly enough, which means the longevity of sunglasses is compromised. Photochromic lenses are checked as follows: they are kept in the sun for some time, then the degree of darkening of the glass is assessed – it should darken in proportion to the intensity of UV radiation.

These are the most popular 'add-ons' to sunglasses, they are optional, but sometimes necessary – for example, when driving at night or during some extreme sports.

Top Sunglass Manufacturers

When you buy glasses, you first of all evaluate them by quality, but in the modern world, quality does not always increase in proportion to the price of the product. For example, it's no secret to anyone that designer pieces are expensive because you pay for the brand first. So take your time to buy expensive sunglasses – you may find a satisfactory model at a lower cost.

Let's take a look at 5 internationally renowned manufacturers of eyewear for both men and women in a wide price range.

1. Giorgio Armani. The Italian company, which produces a huge number of all kinds of accessories, including, of course, sunglasses, specializes mainly in collections designed in a classic style.
2. Christian Dior. An insanely popular French brand – even if Dior sunglasses do not differ in democratic value, they will surpass any other company in originality. Therefore, if you want to find something absolutely unusual, Dior is your choice.
3. Dolce & Gabbana. An excellent example of a brand that produces truly stylish luxury accessories – at D & G you will find refined minimalism, bright modern, and restrained classics.
4. Hugo Boss. The German company, known for its discreet and status accessories for business and celebrations, is the most popular model of sunglasses for men.
5. Givenchy. Another French house specializing in luxury accessories for men and women. Givenchy produces sunglasses in many styles, including collections for everyday comfort, sports, outdoor activities and more.

Naturally, you don't always want to spend a large amount of money on sunglasses, but you should always remember that health is more important, this is the main, unconditional truth. Today you can pick up good glasses from hundreds, even thousands of different brands – among the assortment presented, you will definitely find something for your taste and wallet.

Keep an eye on your eye health, especially in summer, and don't forget: if you have vision problems, you should definitely consult with your ophthalmologist before making the final purchase of sunglasses.

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In the following articles, our experts will tell you how to choose the right frame for your glasses and the secrets of choosing lenses for glasses.

Attention! This material is the subjective opinion of the authors of the project and is not a purchase guide.