Eye Shades: A Guide to Stylish and Effective Sun Protection
Eye shades are a stylish and effective way to shield your eyes while still enjoying the outdoors. This guide will explore different styles of sunglasses and eye shades to suit any need or fashion sense. From sporty wraparounds to retro-inspired cat-eye shapes, there are many options for UV-protective lenses. You’ll also learn how to choose sunglasses that actually block UVA and UVB radiation, and discover some of the latest lens technologies that can enhance your vision or activities.
Make this summer one where you don’t have to squint into the sun and can avoid sun-related eye damage for years to come. With the right eye shades, you’ll be ready to face the bright days ahead.
The Benefits of Wearing Eye Shades
Wearing eyeshades offers several benefits to your vision and eye health.
Reduced Eye Strain
Eye shades decrease glare and excessive brightness which can cause eye fatigue and strain. By cutting down on intense light, eye shades make it more comfortable for your eyes to focus and can prevent headaches from eye strain. This is especially useful for activities like driving, working outside, or playing sports.
Improved Vision
Polarized lenses found in some eye shades are designed to reduce intense reflected light and glare. By decreasing distracting reflections, polarized eye shades can actually improve vision and make it easier to see details more clearly. This makes them ideal for activities near water or snow like boating, swimming, skiing, and fishing.
Protection from Wind and Airborne Debris
Eye shades also provide a physical barrier against wind, dust, and airborne particles that can irritate your eyes. Wrap-around styles in particular help shield eyes from wind and prevent foreign objects from entering around the sides of the lenses.
In summary, wearing a pair of high-quality eyeshades offers vital protection from environmental elements that can damage your eyesight and cause discomfort. By filtering out UV radiation, reducing glare and eye strain, and protecting against wind and airborne irritants, eye shades are an essential accessory for eye health and visual comfort.
Choosing the Right Style of Eye Shades for Your Needs
When selecting eye shades, you’ll want to consider a few factors to find a pair well-suited to your needs.
Lens Material
The material the lenses are made of impacts their effectiveness in blocking UV radiation as well as their durability and cost. Polycarbonate lenses offer impact resistance and 100% UV protection, while glass lenses also provide full UV protection but less impact resistance. Nylon lenses are lightweight but only provide partial UV protection. For most, polycarbonate lenses strike the best balance of protection, durability and cost.
Lens Color
The lens color affects how much visible light is transmitted to your eyes. Darker lenses like black, brown and gray block more bright light but also more color. Lighter lenses like yellow and rose still reduce glare while allowing more color transmission. A mirrored coating deflects light and hides your eyes but reduces visible light transmission. Consider where and when you’ll use your eye shades to choose a lens color suitable for your needs.
Frame Style
The frame style impacts the eye shades’ functionality, fashion ability, and fit. Wrap-around frames provide the most comprehensive coverage while aviators, wayfarers and shields offer solid coverage with stylish designs. Rimless frames have minimal frames for an unobstructed view. Consider face shape, personal style, and intended use when selecting a frame. For rigorous activity, a snug, wrap-around frame may suit you best, while casual daily wear may call for an aviator or wayfarer.
Top Eyeshadow Brands and Where to Buy Them
Ray-Ban
Ray-Ban is one of the most well-known and popular sunglasses brands. They offer classic styles like the Aviator and Wayfarer, as well as more modern frames. Ray-Ban sunglasses provide 100% UV protection and are available in different lens materials like polarized and gradient. You can find Ray-Bans online, in Sunglass Hut stores, and many eyewear retailers.
Oakley
Oakley is a leader in performance eyewear, including sunglasses ideal for sports or an active lifestyle. Their sunglasses are made of lightweight, durable materials like O Matter and feature innovative lens technologies such as Prizm. Oakley offers styles with interchangeable lens options for variable light conditions. You can shop Oakley sunglasses on their website, in sporting goods stores like Dick’s Sporting Goods, and select eyewear retailers.
Maui Jim
Polarized eyewear is popularized by the high-end brand Maui Jim. Their sunglasses provide superior glare reduction and color enhancement thanks to their polarized Plus2 lens technology. Maui Jim offers high-quality frames in sporty and classic styles. You can find Maui Jim sunglasses on their website, in specialty sunglasses stores, and at high-end retailers like Nordstrom.
Costa Del Mar
High-performance polarized sunglasses are made by Costa Del Mar specifically for watersports, boating, and fishing. Their patented 580P polarized lenses eliminate glare while enhancing color and clarity. Costa sunglasses are very durable and saltwater-resistant. You can shop Costa sunglasses on their website, in sporting goods and marine supply stores, and some eyewear retailers.
Conclusion
Remember the most crucial elements, including UV protection, polarization, the type of lens, and good fit. Your eyesight is a priceless gift, therefore take care of them by purchasing a good pair of sunglasses and wearing them anytime you are outside to protect your vision from sun damage over time and to improve eye health.
