Sunglasses is quite a big topic. Photochromic or fixed tint, polarising lenses, graduated tints, optical quality lenses. I'll try and explain a few of these terms for you and give advice for what kind of lenses might be best.
Why wear sunglasses?
Radiation causes damage to the eyes. Ultraviolet light can damage the cornea and conjunctiva (the clear part of the front of the eye and the white part of the eye) and is a contributing cause of cataracts. Blue light is also one of the major causes of age-related macular degeneration. Wearing good quality sunglasses which absorb ultraviolet light will usually carry an indication of this with such marks as UV400.
Your optician can advise you on the best kind of lenses for the particular tasks that you wish to perform. Different pursuits can require different kinds of tints. Lenses ideal for driving will be different for those specialised for watersports. Sunglasses for skiing will be different to those used for going on holiday to sunny climates.
Sunglasses can also incorporate your prescription, and can be made in single vision, bifocal and varifocal designs. While most people might think that an ordinary pair of distance vision sunglasses will suffice, that may not always be the case. For example, when driving, the ability to see the dashboard of the car as well as seeing down the road would make using varifocals a better choice. Reading outdoors on the beach might also require something more than an ordinary pair of sunglasses too. When thinking about sunglasses, discuss your needs with our qualified staff, who will be happy to give you the best advice.
Our other articles will discuss some of the terms often used when choosing your sunglasses.
