How Sunglasses Work

Are ten-dollar sunglasses as effective as hundred-dollar sunglasses? Does price constitute effectiveness? If it is bright and sunny outside, you may reach for your (or any!) sunglasses without even giving it a second thought.

What to think about

But there are a few key things to think about when buying those sunglasses, because they do more than just shade your eyes from the sun.

The right sunglasses could protect your eyes for years to come from harmful UV rays that could potentially cause macular degeneration and blindness.

Functionality of sunglasses

There are four things good sunglasses should do. Sunglasses should provide protection from the harmful UV rays in sunlight, provide protection from intense light, provide glare protection and eliminate specific frequencies of light.

The right sunglasses made with lenses with polarization, photo-chromatic lenses or anti-reflective coatings are a great place to start in protecting your eyes.

Full UV protection lenses

You want to select a pair of sunglasses that have a 99% or 100% UV protection. The UV protection is what keeps the harmful UV rays out and protect you eyes. UV rays can cause blindness and macular degeneration.

Protective coating

The biggest problem with some cheap sunglasses is the way the lenses are made. Many are made with ordinary tinted plastic that does not include the extra coatings and protections.

If you are an outdoor enthusiast or you spend a lot of time driving in the daytime, it is important to buy sunglasses accordingly.

Polarized glasses protect from the glare of water, snow and asphalt. So you don’t have to spend hundreds of dollars on the right sunglasses, but make sure you are getting what your eyes need to keep them safe and healthy.