The 6 Common Myths About Sunglasses Busted

A good pair of sunglasses can protect you from UV rays, help you see better in harsh sunlight and reduce visual discomfort by several notches, and of course, make a style statement along the way! Like so many other products that are supposedly ‘non-essential’, sunglasses have often been criticized for being more of fashion accessories than protective wear. This is, in part, because of a couple of myths floating around that a surprising number of people believe. They say that the greatest enemy of truth is not a lie, but a myth, and so we’re here to bust those myths. If you’ve ever doubted a couple of things that sunglasses can do or are on the fence about buying a pair, this is just the thing for you!

It’s a well-known fact that we try to look for products at the lowest price, but in the case of sunglasses, that may not be the wisest choice. Cheaper sunglasses can do more harm than good, and despite everything they claim, may not be safe to use. Plus, even if they claim to offer UV protection, there has to be something they have skimped on. So if you want to get the best deal, always choose a branded pair of sunglasses with certified protection, even if they are slightly more expensive. We also agree that there are a lot of terms thrown around in the sunglass market, and if you’re confused about what to get, first check out the 6 common myths about sunglasses:

Myth 1: Darker Sunglasses Are Better

One of the most enduring myths out there, most people seem to think that the darker your sunglasses, the better protected you are. This is completely wrong. Tints have nothing to do with UV protection, and even though darker glasses make it seem like there’s less sunlight hitting your eyes, you’re actually being bombarded by invisible UV rays.

A pair of sunglasses that offers 100% UV protection and is lightly tinted is much better than a pair of extremely dark sunglasses without UV protection. So don’t make the mistake of thinking that if the lenses are darker, they’re better protection. The lens material also plays a role in this regard, as polycarbonate lenses can offer 100% UV protection, but CR-39 plastic can only provide up to 88% UV protection.

Myth 2: Sunglasses with 100% UV Protection Are Expensive

When you go for a premium pair of sunglasses with UV protection, it will obviously cost you more, but there are also smaller but nonetheless respected brands that offer sunglasses with 100% UV protection for much less. You can grab yourself a pair of good quality and protective sunglasses without spending a bomb if you choose the correct brands. Of course, a cheap $5 pair of sunglasses probably isn’t giving you all the features it advertises, so you have to find the middle ground between affordable and premium sunglasses, which also offer UV protection.

Myth 3: Polarized and Anti-Glare Glasses Are All The Protection You Need

A lot of people think that as long as the glasses are polarized and anti-glare, they’ve got the protection part covered. This is false. Polarization and anti-glare features have nothing to do with UV protection, and there are glasses out there that offer only the former two but not the latter.

The whole point of sunglasses is to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, so you should actually give preference to UV protection, then polarization and anti-glare features.

Myth 4: Lens Color Affects Protection Levels

Sort of a derivative of the ‘darker glasses are better’ myth, people seem to think that lens colors affect protection levels. You’ve probably thought or heard that darker colors offer more protection than lighter colors. That’s not true at all. Colors are simply for better vision, since som people prefer different   contrasts or tints.They also choose different colors as a fashion choice. So a good pair of protective sunglasses will offer the same sort of protection, no matter what color the lenses are. Don’t think otherwise!

Myth 5: Cheap Sunglasses Are Better Than No Sunglasses

If you’re still not that convinced about getting a good pair of sunglasses and have decided to go for cheap sunglasses to see if you need them, you’re actually harming your eyes even more.
Cheaper sunglasses are just dark lenses without any sort of UV protection. When your eyes are in the shade or under dark glasses, the pupils tend to dilate and let in more light. In the case of cheap sunglasses, your pupils dilate and let in more UV rays than ever because they’re not blocked by the non-protective lenses. So don’t even think of buying cheap sunglasses without protection for any reason at all, it could actually cause permanent visual damage.

Myth 6: You Need To Wear Sunglasses Only On Sunny Days

Another very prevalent misconception among people is regarding the usage of sunglasses on non-sunny days. When we think of cloudy days, chances are that the image that pops up in our head doesn’t include people with sunglasses. Heck, they’re named ‘sun’glasses, so why wear them when the sun is blocked by clouds? The truth is that you still need to wear sunglasses on cloudy days. Even though sunrays are blocked by clouds, UV rays still get through. They’re invisible and can cause a lot of harm so the same principle of pupils dilating and letting in more light applies here. Under the shade your eyes let in more light, but since UV rays are not blocked, they still enter your eyes and can cause harm.

We hope that debunking these myths has cleared up a thing or two in your mind about sunglasses. It’s high time that they’re seen as essential protective wear instead of fashion accessories primarily, and that can only happen when these misconceptions don’t exist anymore. So go out there and get yourself a good pair of sunglasses, you need it!

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What is the difference between shades, sunglasses, goggles, glares and aviators?

Shades: Have you heard of the word shade? It's someplace that protects you from sun, maybe dust and some light rain too. That's what they exactly are, they called that because they are eyewear that give you "shade" from the sun, wind, dust etc. They're not fancy ones, just a pair that will do the act of shielding. They are generally tinted a darker colour, hence the name.

Sunglasses: If you've ever been to the mall, the sales person would've asked you to wear a pair of sunglasses with Polaroid coating and such and then shown an image to show the genuineness of the product. THOSE are sunglasses, the ones with Polaroid coating, UV filter.

Goggles: You see the industrial workers, swimmers, construction workers etc cover their eyes with a pair of bulky eyewear? Those are goggles. Meant for more heavy duty stuff that your regular sun protection. 

Glares: Same as sun glasses. Polaroid/UV coated eyewear to cut the glare of the sun in your eyes

Aviators: n 1937, the eyewear company Ray-Ban developed a style of sunglasses known as aviator sunglasses, or “aviators” for short. They are characterized by their thin wire frames, often black or gold in color, and large dark lenses that are approximately three times larger than the average human eye socket. Some versions actually have reflective lenses instead of simply having dark lenses.

Another traditional feature of aviator sunglasses is their bulging lenses. While traditional glasses and sunglasses are fitted with flat lenses, aviators have lenses that bulge outward slightly. This design allows for maximum coverage of the eye area.

The original aviators were designed to mimic the flying goggles that Ray-Ban sold to the Navy and the Army.

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All about Contact Lenses

Who Can Wear Color Contact Lenses?

Colored lenses can be worn by virtually anyone who wants to enhance, or completely change the color of their eyes. It is an easy way to subtly or dramatically change your look.

What are Some of the Different Types of Color Lenses Currently Available?

There are three major types of contact lenses that are capable of changing the color of your eyes; one is an enhancement tint lens, the other is a color tint lens, and for a very dramatic look, there are theatrical lenses.

• Enhancement Tint:

  These contacts are designed to enrich, but not dramatically change the natural hue of your eyes. This lens type ideal if you want to make your original color deeper or more intense. These tinted lenses are also ideal for people who have lighter hues in general, and they do not work well for those with dark eyes.

• Color Tint Lenses:

  This type of lens will dramatically change the color of your eyes regardless of whether you have light or dark eyes.

• Theatrical Lenses:

  If you are looking for the perfect accessory to compliment your Halloween costume, or are looking for lenses that will give a special effect, you can purchase theatrical lenses.

• Handling Tint:

  Lenses that say “handling tint” are slightly tinted to make them more visible for both care and insertion of the lens. The tint on these lenses has no effect on eye color.

Do I Need a Prescription to Wear Color Contact Lenses?

Yes, Under Federal and State law you need a contact lens prescription. This is true even for lenses with no prescriptive power called “Plano” lenses.

How do I Choose the Right Contact Lens Color?

The color you decide to choose will depend on how often you will be wearing and using the lenses. If you will be wearing them on a daily basis, you may prefer a more natural color. If the contacts will be used on special occasions, you can be a little more colorful going for a more dramatic look. You can look on the product descriptions or speak with your eye care professional about what lens would give you your desired look.

What is a Plano Lens?

Plano is a term eye care professionals use to describe lenses with no corrective power. The term is most often applied to nonprescription contact lenses that are worn for cosmetic purposes only, such as color contact lenses.

If I Have Astigmatism, Can I Wear Color Contact Lenses?

At this time there are no tinted or color contacts available for those who have astigmatism.

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The Right Sunglasses Do Prevent Wrinkles

Sunglasses are great for deflecting the sun, hiding hangovers, and spicing up your outfit, but it turns out they serve a greater function. If you wear the right ones, they’ll actually prevent wrinkles. Dr. Ava Shamban, a Beverly Hills dermatologist and author of Heal Your Skin, says there are two ways your shades can protect your face. “Wearing sunglasses will prevent squinting, and thus help prevent crow’s feet,” says Shamban. “They also block out UV rays so the fragile skin around the eyes is protected from sun damage. But, the glasses must have adequate UV filters in them.”

Reflective and ultra-dark lenses might seem like they let in less light and protect the delicate eye area more than light lenses, but Shamban says that’s not the case; UV filters matter most. In fact, wearing lenses without UV protection might actually cause you harm.   “Aside from damaging UV rays getting through the lenses, they can hurt your eyes and vision,” says Dr. Shamban. “Lenses without UV protection can contribute to the formation of cataracts.”

The frames don’t matter (though the bigger the glass, the more skin you’re protecting). Look for a little sticker on the glasses or actually read the label or booklet included with any sunglasses you might purchase to make sure they offer adequate UV protection.  “Wraparound styles generally give the best coverage because a lot of UV rays can still get at the eye area via the open sides of the frames,” she says.  

Of course, this doesn’t mean you should skip sunscreen. Make sure it’s on your nose and around the eye area before going outside.

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Choosing the right sunglasses for every occasion 

One of the main rules when it comes to putting outfits together and to coordination your clothes is that they need to match the setting and the occasion for which you will be wearing those clothes. It is essential that you dress for the occasion, otherwise, no matter how great your outfit looks; you will be out of place and risk to attract the wrong kind of attention. Sunglasses are a very important part of an outfit, especially in the summer time when, for most people, they tend to become an essential part of their daily looks. But, just as your outfits, your sunglasses need to look very good as well.

"Good-looking” is a relative term. The reason for this is because, one, what looks good on a person might not look as good on another and secondly, because "looking good” is always related to the context.

You might look fantastic wearing shorts and a yellow blouse on the beach, but the same look might not be appropriate for a black tie event.

But, what you should know is that your overall outfit is not the only thing that needs to be context-appropriate. The rule we mentioned above applies to each individual piece that is a component of your look. In this article, we will be focusing on sunglasses and explain why some models fit casual outfits, while others are appropriate for more formal looks.

Generally, most people own just one pair of sunglasses, but we always advise everyone to own several pairs. Just as you have more pairs of shoes, appropriate for different settings, you should have different pairs of sunglasses, each intended to a purpose.

Let’s take a look at what makes a pair of sunglasses casual rather formal. There are three main elements you need to look at in order to establish whether a pair of sunglasses works better with a formal outfit or with a casual one. These are the line, the texture and the color.

Note that these tips are not unbreakable rules, but rather guidelines that will help you make better sartorial choices. Here they are:

1. The line. In product design, the “line” is referred to the outline of a product, as it would look if you were to make a simple sketch of it on a piece of paper. If your pair of sunglasses consists of very few, very simple lines, then it is probably more appropriate for a formal look than for a casual one. A pair of sunglasses featuring a combination of light curves, smooth and rough corners and so on is most likely to be more appropriate for a casual outfit. Of course, there are other elements to consider as well, such as the texture and color or colors.

2. The texture. The texture of your sunglasses is also a good indicator of whether you should wear it with a suit or with a t-shirt and shorts. Sunglasses made from flexible plastic, wood, etc. fall in the casual category, while glasses made from finer materials are usually more formal. The overall design matters very much here, as you can have a very elegant pair of sunglasses made from plastic as well. If you are not sure, look at the shine (the shinier, the more formal), the colors, etc., and see whether they would go better with a formal outfit or with a casual one.

3. The color. The color or colors of a pair of sunglasses are strong indicator of when you should wear those sunglasses. Bright colors, such as neon, fuchsia, etc. are generally casual, while metallic and darker colors, such as black or burgundy are more formal.

Sunglasses for casual outfits

When you are wearing a casual outfit and wish to match it to a cool pair of sunglasses, there is pretty much no wrong choice you can make. Of course, the sunglasses need to work with your overall look and to go with the colors you are wearing, but when it comes to sunglasses, most sunglasses go with casual outfits.

Informal sunglasses usually feature a combination of lines and shapes: rectangles combined with squares, pointy corners, etc., which give them a more relaxed, versatile look.

For example, sunglasses with mirrored lenses combine all these elements: they have straight lines mixed with rounded edges as well as with square corners. Both the glass and the frames feature bright colors. The result is an amazing pair of summer sunglasses, which, due to their size also offer a good amount of protection.

This being said, there are different ways of being casual. One can be casual and urban or casual and quite elegant and sophisticated. For a more urban look, we definitely recommend getting sunglasses that feature bright colors. You can get sunglasses that feature bold frames or glasses or that mix bold frames with bold glasses.

Some sunglasses are on the border and go with both casual and formal outfits.The Carrera Square aviator sunglasses is the perfect example of a pair of sunglasses that works with pretty much any anything. These specs feature a cross between casualness and extreme sophistication, by mixing a series of fine lines with smooth colors and textures.

Sunglasses and formal outfits

If casual outfits go with pretty much any type of sunglasses, the same thing can’t be said about formal outfits. Our recommendation is to never wear sunglasses with very formal outfits. There is no need to wear sunglasses at a highly formal event (unless you are some kind of music star on a red carpet). Besides from the fact that sunglasses don’t go with formal outfits such as tuxedos, most formal events are held in the evening and during the night, so there is no practical need to wear sunglasses there. To be clear, there are different degrees of formal wear. Morning coats, Hátíðarbúningurs or Barong Tagalogs, which are clothes specifically destined for formal events, are clothes that should never be worn with sunglasses, while everyday, modern yet formal suits can be worn with sunglasses.

Sunglasses that go with formal outfits are generally pieces that consist of very fine, simple lines. Shades that have very simple outlines and neutral glasses work very well with formal or semi-formal outfits as well.

To exemplify, we can take a look at the Oliver Peoples gold sunglasses.

This amazing pair features simple lines, smooth edges and the fine, smooth materials give it a relaxing vibe that makes the pair stand out but in a non-ostentatious way. Note that gold and silver are both neutrals, so they go with any type of outfit and with each other. What this means is that for example, you can wear both golden sunglasses and a silver watch and that you can wear them with any colors, textures or patterns.

Wearing sunglasses is very important during the summer, as they have a very practical function as well, which is of course, to protect you from the strong radiations of the sun. And because wearing them is so important, make sure that you find a pair or two that fit your style and taste and that you can always rely on.

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