So you are thinking of investing in a pair of sunglasses? Like most others, you may have chosen your shades based on looks. Aside from how a pair of frames may compliment your face, a factor which is still very important, there are some basics that everyone should know before purchasing sunglasses. If you wear sunglasses on a regular basis, we commend you, you are protecting your eyesight as well as preventing facial wrinkles around the eyes that are commonly known as “crow’s feet”. Similar to prescription eyeglasses, sunglasses come in a variety of different lens styles and it is important to be able to differentiate between them.

Step one of finding the perfect shades is UV protection! The sun gives off something called UV radiation which is invisible to the human eye, but has the potential to cause a lot of damage. UV radiation is the reason for sunburns and in the worst case, skin cancer. If UV radiation can cause that much damage to the skin, imagine what it has the power to do to the eyes. There are three types of Ultraviolet Rays (UV Rays). The first type is UVA which has the power to pass through glass, there is still speculation about whether UVA can cause damage to the eyes. The second type is UVC rays, which we luckily don’t have to worry about because they cannot reach Earth. The type of UV ray you should be concerned about is UVB rays because they are the most harmful. You want to be especially cautious of UV rays if you have cataracts, macular degeneration and retinal dystrophies because it can worsen the condition. With all of that being said, danielwalters.com urges you to make sure you purchase a pair of shades that have 100% UV protection written on the label.

Now that we’ve covered the basics about UV rays, it’s time to introduce you to polarized lenses. Polarized lenses do not replace UV protection, but they do help reduce the sun’s glare. Have you ever driven during sunset and felt like you were being blinded by the sun? That is probably because the glare was making it hard for you to see. People who use polarized lenses claim to experience improved vision, but may have some trouble while looking at computer screens. The letter "P" used in Ray-Ban Sunglasses indicates that the lenses are polarized. 

Another type of lens coating that we highly recommend is mirror-coated lenses. In addition to looking cool, mirror coated lenses reduce the amount of light entering the eye. The mirror coating is applied to the outer surface of the lens and literally looks like a mirror. Mirror flash coating has come a long way and is now available in a variety of different colors in order to match your personal style. The color of the lens does not have any effect on the amount of protection against the sun. Mirror coating does not replace UV protection so it is important to have both coatings.

Gradient lenses are very popular, if you look through your collection of sunglasses, you are bound to find a pair of gradient lenses. Gradient lenses are tinted darker at the top and gradually becoming lighter as they reach the bottom of the lens. These lenses are great for driving because they block out the overhead sun which usually enters through the top of the lens. There are also double gradient lenses which are tinted darker at the bottom and top but have a light tint in the middle. If you want to protect your eyes against overhead light or any light that is reflected from the ground, double gradient lenses is a great option for you. We do not recommend double gradient lenses for driving because they may make the dashboard harder to see.

Now that we’ve covered different lens types, there are some other important factors that you should know before purchasing sunglasses. One question that may have popped up in your mind is whether different colored lenses have different benefits. There is no color that is “better” than the other when it comes to protection, but many people prefer a gray or brown tint because it is the closest thing to having “no filter” per se. Among athletes such as pilots, skiiers, snowboarders, and target shooters, yellow or amber tinted lenses are popular because they increase contrast and give the wearer sharper vision and they work well in areas that have low light.

Danielwalters.com wants the best for their customers, which is why they allow access to the latest styles in eyewear for the best prices. Every pair of frames you purchase through danielwalters.com comes with a one year manufacturer’s warranty in order to make sure that you are satisfied with your purchase. In addition, danielwalters.com offers free upgrades to high quality polycarbonate & anti-glare lenses on all prescription eyewear. For our customers in the United States, shipping is quick and complementary.