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Blinged out styles - (clockwise from top left) Cristian Doir 'Black Tie" $250, Ralph Lauren 'Aviators' $260, Bulgari with Swarovski crystals $750, and Oliver Peoples 'Isla' $370. |
Sunglasses are more than just another fashion accessory. They should be worn outdoors at all times (unless it's a rainy day of course). Protecting our eyes is a necessary step needed to prevent the dangerous UV rays that can eventually lead to serious problems like cataracts, skin cancer around the eye area, and macular degeneration.
When shopping for the proper sunglasses it's very important to consider the lenses, frame, tints, and coatings before making your purchase. Lens material can be made from glass (the most scratch-resistant), CR-39 (light weight), acrylic plastic (usually the most inexpensive), or Polycarbonate plastic which is very durable, extremely lightweight and a great choice for kids, outdoor activities, and safety.
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More choices to love - (from top) Ralph $89.95, Ray Ban 'Limited Edition Gold'
$720, Prada $310, Oakley 'Nanowire' $300, and Versace $210. |
When deciding on the level of tint for your lens, the darker tints absorb more light. Gray tints reduce glare and will allow you to see the most natural light and is a great selection for golfers or cyclists. Amber and orange are great options for skiing and boating because it reduces high glare. Brown is a little darker and allows for variable light while cutting down on the glare factor. Green is good for low light as it enhances contrast. Vermillion is also great for color contrast. Yellow is the best option for overcast/haze conditions. Finally, rose is an excellent choice for daytime and also offers high contrast.
When it comes to deciding on the proper coating here are a few things to remember. Polarized lens absorb 98 percent of reflective glare and are ideal for all sports. An anti-reflective coating consists of layers of metal oxides that aid in the blockage of light. Mirror and flash coatings absorb 10 percent to 60 percent more light than uncoated lenses. Gradient light coatings come lighter in the middle with a darker coating on top and bottom. Ultraviolet treatment percentages of light blockage vary, scratch-resistant helps to prevent glasses from everyday wear and tear, and photo chromic adjusts to levels of light in various conditions.
Now that we've reviewed the technical facts it's time to take a look at the fashionable side of sunglasses. Selecting the correct frame for your shape face is very important. Square and angular shape frames look best on people who have a round face. Large bold frames fit the person with an oblong shaped face. Oval and round frames are the perfect choice for a square shaped face. Just about any frame looks good on someone with an oval shaped face. Rimless frames are also a great alternative.
One of the most famous companies to design rimless frames is Ray Ran. Celebrating their 70th year in the industry, Ray Ban has designed a special anniversary sunglass for the occasion. Their limited edition outdoorsman aviator shades are made of a lightweight titanium frame finished with a 22-carat gold plating, with P3 polarized lenses, and a luxurious leather case (retail approximately $485).
There are so many designers to choose from, but some of the more popular include Oliver Peoples, Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Oakley, Cartier, Bulgari, Chopard, and Christian Dior - just to name a few. Wearing sunglasses is the responsible thing to do if you want to protect your eyes.
Jackie O made her sunglasses a symbolic part of her life. She always wore them all the time and she looked fabulous.
When shopping in the Hamptons for the best eyewear, stop by Leahy Opticians (45 Main Street, Southampton, 631-283-4244), Main Street Optics (82 Main Street, Southampton, 631-287-7898), Optyx in the Hamptons (28 Jobs Lane, Southampton, 631-287-2549), Gruen Opticka (10 Main Street, East Hampton, 631-324-5441), East Hampton Optical (9 Barnes Lane East Hampton, 631-329-2020), Optical Shop of Aspen (53 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 631-329-4318) or Sunglass Hut (Montauk Highway and Snake Hollow Road, Bridgehampton, 631-537-0507.) Lens Crafters and many online eyewear companies are options as well.
Guest (Jim Gallas, Ph.D.) from San Antonio, Texas says:
This article offers some useful tips for choosing sunglasses to protect our eyes from sunlight damage. However, your advice to rely on UV protection to reduce the risks of sunlight-related macular degeneration is not completely correct. UV is not a factor in macular degeneration in the adult eye because it is filtered by the ocular lens and its ocular lens pigment (OLP) before it reaches the retina where the macula is located. Visible light does reach the retina, and among the wavelengths that the eye associates with color, it is the higher energy visible (violet and blue) that increase the risks of macular degeneration. Good sunglasses should eliminate all of the UV to reduce the risks of cataracts; but they should also reduce the levels of HEV (high energy visible) light - to reduce the risks of macular degeneration. Children are at particular risk from early damage to the retina because their lens does not yet have the age-related OLP. And seniors who have had a cataract operation are also at higher risk when the HEV-protecting OLP is removed along with their cataract lens – especially at a time when the anti-oxidant system located near their retina is compromised because of age.