A guide to choosing the perfect lenses
In the summertime, on holiday, or even just at bright points in an otherwise dreary day, your sunglasses can become your best friend… they can protect your eyes from UV rays, prevent headaches and damage to your eyes due to squinting, allow you to see without being sun-blinded and act as an accessory to complete your outfit. Whether it's snowing or the sun is gleaming… there's never a wrong occasion for a pair of sunglasses (maybe unless at night time of course)! Making sure you’ve chosen the best lenses for your stylish frames is also important to finish the look, and can impact the functionality of your sunglasses, from how glare-proof they are to the levels of UV protection they provide! Here are the factors you should consider when choosing lenses for your sunglasses…
1. UV protection
Sunglasses main function should be to block UV. Choose lenses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Long term UV exposure raises the risk of eye conditions like cataracts and macular degeneration. Check the label or product description and make sure it clearly states full UV protection.
2. Lens material
Lens materials differ in durability, clarity and weight so pick the one that suits how you use your sunglasses.
• Polycarbonate: Lightweight and impact resistant. Good for sport and active use.
• CR 39: Good clarity and lightweight making it a solid everyday option.
• Glass: Very sharp optics and strong scratch resistance but with the downside of being much heavier.
Match the material to your lifestyle and how often you use sunglasses.
3. Polarisation for glare reduction
Polarised lenses reduce glare from water, roads and glass by blocking horizontal reflections making these a great choice if you are driving during the day, partaking in water sports, or in bright outdoor settings. Some digital screens can look strange through polarised lenses so they are not the best choice for everyone.
4. Tint and lens colour
Tint changes both comfort levels and what you see. Grey will reduce brightness while keeping colours natural, brown will reduce brightness and add contrast which many people like for driving and mixed light conditions, while yellow and orange will increase contrast in low light but are not ideal in strong sun. Mirror coatings can reduce your perceived brightness in very sunny conditions.
5. Photochromic lenses for adaptability
Also known as Transition lenses, automatically get darker when outdoors and become clear indoors so they are handy if you move between inside and outside often, but they can take a little time to change.
6. Specialised lenses for specific activities
Choose lens features based on what you do most:
• Water sports: Polarised lenses and mirror coatings help with surface glare.
• Driving: Polarised lenses reduce road glare. Brown or grey tints keep colour clear.
• Snow activities: Higher light reduction helps deal with snow glare.
7. Prescription and customisation
You can get prescription sunglasses since almost all popular brands offer custom lenses to match your prescription. Anti reflective coating can also reduce glare and improve clarity.
8. Your Face shape
Your face shape will affect comfort and how the sunglasses sit. Round faces often suit more angular frames while square faces often suit rounder shapes.
As much as you want to look good whilst wearing any pair of glasses, it's important to consider the less exciting parts too, people may not necessarily be able to tell what type of lenses you have just by looking at your sunglasses, but it's an important factor when choosing your shades! Find the perfect lenses for you today that suit your style and protect your eyes as much as possible!
