Sunglasses are made of two pieces of dyed glass or plastic in a plastic or metal frame. Can
anything get more uncomplicated than that? It is not so obvious, but the two pieces of glass have a
variety of uses, each one impacting you differently. It should be apparent to you now that there is
definitely a difference in the quality of the wide range of sunglasses available.
If you're shopping for a high-quality pair of sunglasses, there are four things you should make sure
you're getting:
First, the sunglasses should provide protection from ultraviolet rays. Light from ultraviolet (UV)
rays can damage both your cornea and your retina. A high quality pair of sunglasses might completely
eliminate any UV rays.
Sunglasses protect your eyes from strong light. The eyes respond to strong light by closing the
iris. After the iris has closed as much as possible, then the squinting begins. But if there is
still an overabundance of light, as when sunlight is reflecting off of snow for example, damage
could be done to the retina. Sunglasses are considered to be "good" if they block out at least 97%
of the damaging rays that are constantly streaming towards your eyes.
Sunglasses shield glare. Specific surfaces, such as water, can reflect a large amount of sunlight,
and the light could play tricks on your eyes, making it hard to see clearly. When you have good
polarized sunglasses, it will eliminate any glare.
Polarization in sunglasses acts like a filter, blocking certain wavelengths of light. Some light
frequencies bother your eyes and can blur your vision while other frequencies are exactly what you
need for good contrast. Specific situations require the correct sunglass color in order to provide
superior performance.
Generally, the cheaper the pair of sunglasses, the less they offer you, especially in regards to eye
protection. Inexpensive sunglasses often provide no protection of the eyes from harmful UV
radiation. The low quality sunglasses will block some of the light which will cause your iris to
open and let in even more light. This will let in more UV light and will increase the damage to the
retina.
Hence, there obviously is a difference. For maximum protection and performance, you should invest in
the right pair of high-quality sunglasses.
