Sunglasses offer their wearers a perfect way to express themselves and their personalities. The wide variety of styles available makes it essential for users to understand their choices and select the option that best fits them. For example, aviator sunglasses feature oversized lenses and wire frames. Wearers can opt for polarized lenses or protection from ultraviolet rays. Another popular type is oversized sunglasses, which protect part of the face as well as the eyes. While some are designed with style as a primary consideration, others provide valuable protection against bright sunlight, dust, or sand.
Alternatively, some people enjoy imitating celebrities and wearing the sunglasses worn by their favorite movie stars or pop singers with celebrity sunglasses or expensive designer sunglasses manufactured by retail designers such as Armani. Opt instead for vintage sunglasses in the spirit of certain movie character with Ray-Bans or cat-eyed sunglasses that will take you back to these popular movie eras. Wear them at a costume party, or choose funny novelty sunglasses instead just for a laugh.
Some sunglasses wearers need extra visual support in addition to protection from the sun's rays. Bifocal sunglasses, for example, are available for people who wear bifocal glasses or contacts and need these for reading as well as distant vision. Driving sunglasses with high-contrast lenses that are specially designed for image clarity and glare reduction are also popular with people who drive frequently or for long distances.
Sports enthusiasts will enjoy the versatility and lightweight convenience of sport sunglasses. Some are made with water-resistant lenses that are helpful for boating or other water sports, or specially designed lightweight lenses that can be worn when rock climbing or with other activities requiring strenuous exertion. Most of these feature scratch-resistant coatings on the lenses.
Color is important. Choose a color that accentuates the wearer's skin tone, or highlights flattering features, such as the eyes. Color preference and choice will also make the wearer more satisfied with the style of sunglasses.
When selecting sunglasses, select a style that flatters the wearer's face. One way to do this is to purchase frames that are shaped differently from the wearer's face. Similarly, match the frame size to the wearer's face. Typically, smaller frames are best for people with smaller faces, while persons with a larger face should select larger frames.
Concerning shapes:
- People with oval faces can easily wear sunglasses with any frame shape, so personal preference is the key to selection. Retro frames, wraparound frames, or any of the other latest designs will also compliment the wearer's face structure, as will square frames.
- People with round faces look best wearing rectangular frames, wider frames, or double brow bars.
- People with square faces can soften the sharp lines of their faces with oval or round sunglass frames. Some trendy female fashionistas may opt for cats-eye sunglasses as a stylish alternative.
- People with triangular faces need to distract attention from sharp jaw lines. Styles such as aviator sunglasses, or those with angular frames, feature straight top lines that help to accomplish this. Another alternative is rimless sunglasses.
Construction Materials for Sunglasses
Sunglasses are made of a variety of different materials, and each type of material and design is made primarily for certain purposes. For example, durability and lighter weight are essential for sport sunglasses, while designer sunglasses primarily focus on style. Several factors are important in considering sunglasses choices, include the materials from which the lens is made, as well as the color of the lens, and the design structure of the sunglasses frame.
Lenses for sunglasses are typically made from plastic, glass, or polycarbonate materials. Glass lenses are heavier than the other materials, but still provide the sharpest image clarity. In contrast, plastic materials are the most popular and lightweight, but scratch easily. Polycarbonate lenses are durable and lightweight, and do not shatter.
Colors for Sunglass Lenses
Choose from a variety of colors for sunglass lenses. Each color provides a different type of protection or visual enhancement. For example, grey lenses reduce light and avoid color distortion. Brown lenses or green lenses provide increase contrast with only slight color distortion.
Although red lenses provide a greater degree of contract, they also cause colors to be more distorted than other colored lenses. Yellow lenses or orange lenses provide the greatest amount of color contrast and the best depth perception. Clear lenses, on the other hand, do not reduce sunlight exposure but do help to protect against ultraviolet rays.
Materials for Sunglasses Frames
Typically, frames for sunglasses are manufactured from plastic, metal, or nylon materials. Frames made from metal are quite strong, but are also very rigid. They can be bent or broken with twisting. In comparison, Nylon frames are usually very strong but also very flexible. This material is used frequently for sport sunglasses. Lastly, plastic frames cost little, and are flexible and lightweight. They are also fairly strong.
Important Features for Sunglasses
Some people may prefer certain features offered by sunglasses, while other persons may find other features more helpful. For example, while the majority of sunglasses offer protection against UV rays, not all sunglasses do. Furthermore, some brands offer more protection than others. Price is not always a factor; some relatively inexpensive brands often offer up to 400nm of UV absorption; this is equal to 100 percent UV protection. Some brands also distinguish between UVA and UVB rays, so read the label carefully.
Polarized sunglass lenses do not offer inherent protection against UV rays, but they do decrease the amount of light that is reflected off surfaces like snow and water. Similarly, mirrored sunglass lenses offer reflective surfaces that also filter light to some extent. These r eflective lenses are available in an assortment of colors.
People who have vision problems may benefit from prescription sunglasses. These offer corrective lenses with the ability to filter sunlight and/or UV rays. Some lenses even change between indoor and outdoor lighting. Some lenses, including plastic sunglass lenses, glass sunglass lenses, and polycarbonate sunglass lenses offer scratch-resistant coatings. These are especially valuable for persons with prescription lenses, as these sunglasses are significantly more expensive than regular sunglasses!
Not all sunglasses are suitable for all occasions. For example, orange sunglass lenses or yellow sunglasses lenses do offer high-contrast vision. Color distortion, however, can make driving more difficult. When choosing sunglasses, keep the purpose in mind. Choose sunglasses that are attractive, but practical, for the desired situation. Personal taste and style are important, but safety and durability are crucial too. Consider all these factors when selecting the perfect pair of sunglasses!