Choosing Sunglasses

Stylish and sunglasses have to be functional as well as. You should look for the following features (not necessarily in this order):

• UV Protection
  
  
• Comfort
  
  
• Durability
  
  
• Lens Colour
  
  
• Style

First of all check labels to make sure the sunglasses provide 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Some lenses are labeled as UV400, which means the same thing. Remember that a darker lens does not necessarily indicate better protection, and lighter-tinted lenses offer better visibility. Look for sunglasses that filter out at least some blue light, which can damage the retina and lead to macular degeneration (vision loss from degeneration in parts of the eye). Invisible ultra-violet (UV) rays can seriously damage your eyes, causing cancer, cataracts and degenerative diseases. So choose sunglasses that block 100% of UV light.

Also ask about polarization, a type of filtering that helps reduce glare. Polarized lenses cut out 50 percent of light (vertical or horizontal). They block light reflected off snow, water and other surfaces. This feature is essential for water sports on mountaineering. You can tell by taking two identical pairs and turning one lens sideways on a polarize lens - there will be a blackout! .

The material your sunglass lens is made out of will affect their clarity, weight, durability and cost.

Glass.
In general, glass lenses provide the best optical clarity and scratch-resistance of all lens materials. However, they are heavier and more expensive than other options.

Polycarbonate.
It is lighter in weight, more impact-resistant and less expensive than glass lenses. However, it is not as optically clear or scratch resistant.

Acrylic.
It is a very affordable plastic lens found in inexpensive sunglasses. They provide less optical clarity and durability than the 2 options listed above, and can cause some image distortion.

Choose a lens colour based on your preferences and comfort level:

Brown/Gray/Green.
Brown, grey and green lenses render colours neutral, cutting down on overall brightness without distorting colours. They are ideal for moderate-to-bright conditions.

Yellow/Gold/Amber.
These colours enhance contrast in flat light conditions, providing good depth perception. They are ideal for low-light conditions and snow sports.

Rose/Vermillion.
Lenses enhance depth perception, providing excellent low-light visibility. They are ideal for skiing and snowboarding in cloudy conditions.

Mirrored Coatings.
Reduce glare by reflecting light away from the lenses. They are perfect for extremely bright conditions like water sports and alpine snow areas.

Other Considerations
Glacier Glasses. They are designed specifically to protect your eyes from the intense light reflected from snow at high altitudes. These glasses have side shields to help prevent light entering from the sides of the glasses. Because of their low light transmission, glacier glasses should not be used for driving or other everyday activities.

Wrap-Around Glasses.
They wrap around your face to block light hitting your eyes from the side. They also improve aerodynamics and provide extra protection against rain, sand and bugs, which makes them ideal for cycling.