What is the purpose of sunglasses? Well, the primary reason would be to make sure that the eyes are as fully protected from the sun's harmful rays as possible. But how can you be so certain that your eyeglasses are providing you with the necessary protection?
You might be shocked to learn that not all sunglasses have lenses that completely block the sun's damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. What can you do, then? Is there an exam you can take at home? We'll outline precisely what to look for when purchasing high-quality sunglasses for men and women. The major reveal is coming, are you ready?
Let's examine the seven methods to evaluate the caliber of your sunglasses and the qualities you should seek out when buying high-caliber sunglasses.
Should you perform an internet sunglasses test? There is no need; you just need to pay slightly closer attention. We are aware of how discouraging it can be to desire a pair of sunglasses but be unable to purchase them due to their caliber. There will always be high-end eyeglasses. Therefore, you might as well focus on finding the little things that really count. Let's examine them.
1. Check The Label For UV Protection
The finest sunglasses for protecting your eyes will come from reliable brands. They always specify the sort of UV protection on their labels as a result. There are two methods to encounter them: either you see the 100% UV protection or the
All light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, which includes all UVA and UVB radiation, are blocked by UV 400 lenses in sunglasses. To ensure that your sunglasses offer the best UV protection for your eyes, the best piece of advise is to always keep an eye out for either of these labels when you shop for sunglasses.
2. Use A UV Flashlight To Examine Your Sunglasses
What characteristics do polarized spectacles have? This is a frequently posed query. A quick examination can be completed at home. Although it may seem absurd, it actually works! You can check the caliber of your eyeglasses if you have a UV flashlight at home. Take any paper money and shine the light on it.
Placing your eyeglasses in front of the bill's watermark when it starts to glow is a good idea. It has UV defense if it vanishes. It's as easy as they come!
The torch will also emit visible light in addition to UV light, which your eyes are unable to see. Your optics will let in some of the light, which will then shine on the paper. Just be careful to note the differences between the UV light that directly hits the test subject and the UV light that passes through the lens.
Remember that you wouldn't be able to see anything through your spectacles at all if the visible light couldn't pass through your lens—that would be abnormal!
3. Verify The Use-By Date
Well, that's strange. Did you realize that sunglasses have a shelf life? They do. A set of sunglasses typically loses its usefulness after two to three years. But why do eyeglasses degrade over time? The lens' UV protection coating deteriorates over time when it is subjected to UV rays. It consequently loses its effectiveness.
4. Pay Attention To Dark Sunglasses
It's a prevalent misconception that sunglasses can better shield your eyes from the sun the darker they are. The truth is that a lens's darkness does not always imply that it can prevent UV rays more effectively.
Even if your sunglasses are dark, they won't adequately safeguard your eyes if they don't have 100% UV protection lenses.
The primary benefit of dark, high-quality sunglasses is their ability to block glare and ambient light. Dark sunglasses do have one drawback, though: they cause your pupils to dilate, allowing more light to penetrate your eyes. The additional UV exposure when wearing eyeglasses that aren't UV-protected increases your risk of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Make sure that any dark shades you choose have lenses that offer 100 percent UV protection.
5. Understanding Polarization
Owning polarized eyeglasses is growing in popularity. Obviously for a good cause! A filter that only allows light that is vertically oriented to travel through and blocks light that is horizontally oriented is present in polarized lenses. In this instance, three things occur:
The brightness is lessened.
The brightness is improved.
They enhance comfort and sharpness of vision.
Although they are not necessary for blocking the sun's UV rays, polarized lenses are an additional layer of safety for your eyes. They enable clearer vision in the sun as a result, which is advantageous in particular when driving or engaging in certain activities.
If you're looking to purchase a pair of high-quality sunglasses, polarized sunglasses are highly advised. However, bear in mind that there are some situations in which polarized glasses might not be the best choice, such as
- Driving at Night
- LCD Screens
- Dashboards for vehicles, clocks,
- Instrument panels
6. Consult An Optometrist
If you want to confirm that your high-quality sunglasses are appropriate for eye protection, you can simply take them to the closest optical store to have them tested. The best equipment to evaluate your sunglasses and determine what kind of lenses they are made of is available to optometrists and opticians.
You can find out if your sunglasses are secure or not by bringing them to your optometrist during your annual comprehensive eye exam, according to Dr. Andrea Thau, an optometrist in New York and a former president of the American Optometric Association. "Unfortunately, you cannot tell if they have UV protection from just looking at them, even though we have methods of testing their UV protection," she says.
7. Examine The Lens's Quality
The most important thing to do is to have your optician look at the condition of your sunglasses lenses. SEE Eyewear's general manager and New York-based optician Muse Amawi asserts that "the quality of the lens and coatings is what's important." Cheaper frames can be useful if you purchase them from an optical company rather than a fashion brand, Amawi continued.