How to Identify a ‘Good Pair’ of Sunglasses
Whether you’re out on Lake St. Clair relaxing on a boat, skiing down a black diamond hill or just lounging in the backyard, if you’re outside, it’s absolutely crucial that you protect your eyes. The easiest way to do this is to simply wear a pair of sunglasses, but there’s a little more to it than that.
Wearing a pair of glasses with tinted lenses isn’t enough, you actually have to wear a pair of “good sunglasses.” But what does that entail exactly? The first thing you want to check is if your shades were designed to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet radiation. If they don’t, you might as well be wearing regular eyeglasses, because while your sunglasses might be making the sunlight less intense, you’re not doing any favors for your retinas. And while UV protection is essential for keeping your eyes safe, there are two types of UV light that you need to shield your eyes from — UV-A and UV-B. Always make sure that your sunglasses protect against broad spectrum UV light.
Another important thing to consider is the fact that light doesn’t enter our eyes from one location, it hits out eyes from all different directions and angles. Light will bounce of walls, water, concrete, snow, etc., which is why in addition to UV protection, that your sunglasses should also be polarized. Polarized sunglasses, as opposed to their non-polarized counterparts, help protect your eyes from light that comes at your eyes from different angles.
The color of your sunglasses’ lenses is also important. Most sunglasses have lenses that are some variety of gray, this is because gray–in addition to being a neutral color–doesn’t distort the natural colors of the world around you. Gray also limits the intensity of sunlight better than any other color lens.
I also know that fashion is important when it comes to picking out your sunglasses; we all know you’re not going to wear an ugly pair of sunglasses, no matter how protective they are. If you need help picking out that perfect pair of sunglasses, don’t hesitate to call my office at (313)278-SEEN or contact me online today!