Why Do We Need Polarised Sunglasses?

Polarised sunglasses are just one way to protect your eyes from the sun’s rays, providing they are a decent pair. You don’t need to spend the earth, although a great deal of the designer sunglasses will protect you and are not always as expensive as you may think.

It’s not just in the summer you need worry about the sun but in the winter as well, you also need to consider what you are doing. For example, if you are skiing or snowboarding you need to make sure your ski goggles protect you adequately as the sun will bounce off the snow.  However, if there is a danger of thin ice, polarised sunglasses could cause problems because in some cases, definition will be lost because of the lack of reflection off the landscape. If there is no snow but bright conditions you’ll also get this ‘bounce’ effect from wet surfaces. An example of someone who would benefit from polarised sunglasses are fisherman, as these would make it easier for them to see more clearly into the water without the sun ‘blinding’ their vision. Therefore it is important to remember that safety rather than fashion should be your foremost consideration.

Developed originally by Edwin Land around 1936, lenses are now either coated with a protective substance or have a filter enclosed within them. Polarisation absorbs solar glare from reflective surfaces by up to 99% to counteract the bright glare that the eye cannot protect against by restricting the light waves to a singular direction. For example, Oakley sunglasses have optimised polarisation that exceeds 99% protection with the lens coatings being moulded at the molecular level. (For more information on the technology Oakley uses visit their website.)

Oakley Tangent Sunglasses

As there are many replicas around, to test whether your polarised sunglasses are authentic, rotate it and watch to see if the light passing through the lens changes intensity – it shouldn’t. Don’t go for cheap imitations, it is your sight we are talking about. You can pay over a hundred for the Oakley Tangent (see left) or just £35 for the Bloc Cobra Sunglasses.

Your sunglasses should also protect against 100% of all UV rays ( UVA, UVB and UVC). You should also remember that despite the colour or darkness of the lens, it is the clear outer coating that filters the rays and not the colour.

So what should you look for when buying your new sun glasses? Most people are now aware that they need UV protection but just to explain, UV radiation comes in at least two primary forms, UVA and UVB and both carry their own dangers. UVA can lead to premature skin aging while UVB may cause skin cancer. UVC has lower radiation and is mostly found in artificial sources such as certain types of lamps.

Short-term exposure is not really harmful but repeated and extended exposure is. What you need to look for is a 99 – 100% protection against UV, irrespective of the price of your glasses or the darkness of the lens. Although a bit more expensive, even if it’s a second pair, there are certainly many benefits to having polarised sunglasses as well, so do at least consider this option.

An Introduction To Aviator Sunglasses

Although originally introduced in the 30′s for US Air Force pilots, one of the most well known and fashionable type of glasses that are now making a re-appearance in the fashion stakes, are aviators sunglasses.

Commonly seen in the movies, worn by celebrities, pilots, US police and Army personnel, aviators sunglasses remain very popular with many different designer brands now producing their own aviator styles. With their trademark wire frames they now come with several different types and colour lenses.

One of the most popular types of aviators sunglasses have the silver mirrored lenses as worn by the US police and seen in TV series such as C.H.I.P’s and classic 80′s films like Top Gun with Tom Cruise. They do appear to give an element of mystery, intrigue and danger as well as being able to protect the eyes and it is these properties that have made them a strong fashion choice.

The design of aviators sunglasses is ideal for protecting the eyes from all angles against the sun and now come in a variety of coloured lenses that may or may not be polarised. Polarised sunglasses as you may know, block out horizontal light waves to greatly reduce reflection of the sun’s rays, somewhat of a plus for pilots!  As with all sunglasses, one needs to make sure that the sunglasses you buy protect your eyes sufficiently from all UV rays. Although the mirrored lenses are traditionally more popular, it must be noted that mirrored sunglasses are more at risk from getting scratched, but that won’t stop people wearing them!

Electric Bullitt

Nueu Aviator 601

Although not the original aviators that were designed and produced by Ray Ban, there is now a range of superb designer styled aviators sunglasses such as the Electric Bullitt Sunglasses or the Spy Wilshire or the more reasonably priced Nueu Aviator range where you will find some good quality aviators sunglasses at a really good price. Today’s aviator style glasses make a great, noticeable accessory and suit most faces, male or female.

Whether you need sunglasses for sports, driving or leisure, then aviators sunglasses make an excellent choice because of the available range that I’m sure you will be happy with.

Bomb Proof Sunglasses!

Buying bomb-proof sun glasses is no longer science fiction! Grilamid sunglasses are now available in a variety of styles more easily than ever before.

Haymaker sunglasses from Spy are quite special and pretty unique as they are built from bomb proof Grilamid materials.  Grilamid combines safety, strength and fashion detail in a single package and makes for a unique statement!

But what is Grilamid? Simply put, Grilamid is a transparent polyamide that is processed using thermoplastic methods. Amongst the exceptional properties of Grilamid is its lightness, gives good transparency, has high flex fatigue strength, impact resistant and weather resistant, can be coloured and has low flammability and is resistant to chemicals at temperatures and to stress cracking.

The Grilamid used in frames and sunglass lenses, not only has very good optical and mechanical properties, you will find it is also resistant to damage from a large number of normally corrosive chemicals. In addition, Grilamid is resistant to cracking up to at least 23 degrees centigrade after one minute’s exposure from substances such as diesel and petrol fuel, amido sulphuric acid, acetone and butyl acetate to name but a few.

Spy sun glasses are not the only range from the Californian innovators who also produce goggles and apparel that are now made in Italy. It is perhaps no surprise that they introduced these sport inspired Haymaker sun glasses given that the founders are action and motor sports enthusiasts! Uses for these Spy sun glasses are obvious. Not only are they a fashion statement coming from Spy, they will protect your eyes if you work with hazardous materials. We’re not saying a direct and hard blow with a hammer won’t damage them, as it probably may, but debris flying up while you are digging, gardening, skiing, and partaking in other action and motor sports, should not be a problem.

Given the composition of the material, only the genuine designer sunglasses who claim to use Grilamid, will actually use it! If you buy fake designer sunglasses and you need them for safety reasons, it could eventually lead to optical harm as the fakes won’t protect you in the same way. The Haymaker range from Spy sun glasses are built from Grilamid, have 100% UV protection and can be found in a range of colours. There are other “bomb proof” sunglasses around if you want an alternative style, but they can be difficult to find. You will also find some slightly cheaper grilamids from Arctica and Polarlens.