There are two main reasons for wearing sunglasses – for the visual aid that they are designed for and for the fashionable look they can give you. Sunglasses are a must have accessory and the pair that you wear can say a lot about your personality and style. Finding a great pair of sunglasses depends a lot on your fashion taste. But regardless of the reason, the types of lenses you choose in them are very important. Here we will look at two types, polarized and prescription.
POLARIZED SUNGLASSES
Polarized sunglasses are mainly used in situations where the wearer needs to be able to see clearly and needs to have glare that could pose a danger, filtered out. Glare makes seeing difficult because the light can upset the eye and obscure details which are hidden behind it. Polarized sunglasses consist of a second protective layer bonded on, similar to car windshield tinting, but this layer will allow only vertical waves to pass through. Since most reflected waves are horizontal, they are effectively blocked and prevented from passing through the lens to the eye. Polarised lenses were developed to eliminate glare caused by reflection. Initially fisherman and boaters were the first to use polarized lenses as the addition of the polarizing filter eliminated most of the glare from the surface of the water. However, it was not long before the value of polarised sunglasses was realized for other situations and they became routinely used at the beach, while driving, sailing, skiing, playing golf and in many other activities.
Utilizing polarized sunglasses is a good idea for professional drivers, runners and cyclists and other road users as they cut down on glare reflected off shiny and wet streets and sidewalks. Polarized sunglasses are excellent for people who need to see below the surface of water as they dramatically reduce the glare coming off the water so they can see what is below. In fly-fishing, boating and other water based activities and sports in particular, polarized sunglasses are a must when you need to see below the surface of the water. Polarized lenses are great for many other outdoor activities that take place in bright sunlight where glare is an issue as they block light reflected off smooth surfaces like water and pavement.
PRESCRIPTION SUNGLASSES
Prescription sunglasses are used by people who have sight problems like short or long sightedness and take the place of their regular glasses for outdoor activities.
Like ordinary sunglasses, they are available in all types of lens materials, including high index polycarbonate, Trivex (a lightweight material similar to polycarbonate), regular (CR-39) plastic and glass. Even though glass lenses provide the best optical quality they are no longer the most popular choice for sunglasses mainly due to their weight and cost. Lighter and often cheaper materials are now more often used for prescription lenses. Also, for convenience, prescription sunglasses are a much better option than carrying clip-ons that have to be attached to regular prescription glasses when the wearer is outdoors. As well, they are lighter to carry and the owner does not have to look for and carry the extra set of clip-ons whenever the need to use them arises.
Prescription sunglasses must be prescribed by an optician but this does not mean they cannot be fashionable. Like ordinary sunglasses, they are available in a multitude of styles and colors to suit the current trends and fashion. There are also designer frames that can be fitted with prescription lenses. However, it is important to be aware that although they look no different to conventional sunglasses they are suitable only for the person for whom they were prescribed.