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Dallas Modern Eyeware: Sunglasses – Fashion or Function?
Why choose between fashion and function when you can have both with your sunglasses?
You shouldn’t have to!
The number one purpose of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. Overexposure to sunlight can damage your unprotected eyes just like it can damage unprotected skin. Sun exposure can cause skin cancer on the thin, sensitive skin near the eyes as well as intraocular tumors such as melanoma. UV rays can also contribute to the onset of vision impairing eye conditions such as glaucoma, cataracts and macular degeneration. Sunlight can also burn your cornea leading to a condition called photokeratitis. Growths on the surface of the eye called pterygiums or pinguecula are also attributed to excessive sunlight exposure.
The good news is that by simply wearing sunglasses, you can help prevent these eye conditions. To protect your eyes, look for sunglasses with lenses designed to block 100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. It’s also important to understand that even on cloudy days, your eyes are exposed to UV rays from the sun, so wear your sunglasses anytime you are outside, in any season, not only when you’re laying out by the pool this summer.
Once you’ve narrowed down your selection by looking at sunglasses to protect your eyes, now comes the fun part — fashion. The best pair of sunglasses looks great and allows you to express your personality while protecting your eyes at the same time.
A fashion forward frame is always in order. Sunglasses can be sporty, classic or modern, but let’s be honest – whatever look you choose should be current, just like the rest of your look. Your sunglasses should say something about you and coordinate with your own personal fashion sense. For this reason, you may want to invest in an “everyday” pair of sunglasses, as well as a pair for special occasions, such as an outdoor wedding or a party on the beach.
Protective sunglass lenses are labeled with their maximum UV protection and can be virtually any color or density. Today, UV protection is inherent in most high quality lens materials. Tint color and darkness is only a matter of preference and does not have any bearing on the UV protection of a particular set of lenses. So darker is not necessarily better.
When it comes to choosing a tint color, grays are denser so many people with light-sensitive eyes love gray lenses. Another benefit of gray lenses is the ability to see true color. Shades of brown, on the other hand, offer higher contrast and better depth perception, but will distort colors.
Fashion tints can be added to lens materials giving eyewear a high-fashion look while still achieving maximum UV protection. However, for the most clarity and performance, a polarized lens is the optimal choice. A polarized lens not only reduces light transmission, but also eliminates unwanted glare from flat, shiny surfaces like water or even your windshield, reducing the need to squint.
Finally, keep in mind that larger lenses provide more coverage to the eye and area around the eye, best protecting your eyes and keeping you more comfortable you will be in the Texas sun.
For a fresh pair of shades that offer both fashion and function, stop by Occhiali Modern Optics.
