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Product
Information
- Sunglass
Guide
Sunglass Guide & Information Page
DIFFERENT TYPES OF LENSES –
WHAT THEY MEAN FOR YOU
Different lens colors and treatments provide differing
levels of protection against UV radiation.
Brown or amber lenses are good for absorbing UV light
and blue light. This can enhance contrast.
Grey lenses do not distort colors while polarized
lenses absorb reflected light.
The following is a brief description of each lens and
what activity it is best used for.
|
Sunglasses Lens Color Chart |
|
Green lenses colors remain true and UV and IR is absorbed well. |
|
| Yellow
lenses
enhance depth perception, although colors are
somewhat distorted. Provides 100% UV protection.
However, yellow lenses require special coatings to
absorb IR. |
|
| Rose
lenses effectively filters out scattered
blue light and improves contrast.
Many people consider rose most soothing and
comfortable over a longer period of time. Perfect
lens for snow and water activities. |
|
| Grey
lenses
are best for most outdoor activities because they
give you true color perception.
Great general-purpose lens. |
|
| Brown
lenses
increase contrast because they filter out more
blue light than other colors. They are popular for
skiing, boating, driving and general use.
|
|
LEN'S TYPES AND EFFECTS
Polycarbonate Lens:
Polycarbonate lenses are super strong and
impact-resistant, a benefit that is particularly appealing
to many people involved in sports.
Polarized Lens: Polarized lenses reduce glare produced on flat surfaces such as water or a field of snow.
Photo Chromic / Photo Chromatic: Photo chromic or photo chromatic lenses are light sensitive lenses that grow lighter or darker as lighting conditions change. Some photo chromic lenses react to temperature as well as lighting changes .
LENS COLORS AND TYPES IN DIFFERENT
CONDITIONS
Snow / Sun: In
the snow and sun photo gray or photo chromatic lenses get
darker or lighter as the intensity
of light changes.
Sun: Gray, green and brown lenses block the most
light and offer the best clarity and protection.
Mirrored lenses even more so.
Snow: Brown, orange or
amber lenses give definition to snow.
PRESCRIPTION - IS
YOUR LENS BASE COMPATIBLE?
6 base lenses are exable, which means they are
complementary with most prescriptions for glasses.
8 base lenses are not, and therefore are only compatible
with a prescription in the plus or minus 4.5 diaper range.
It is extremely difficult to fit into 8-base frames; only
about 10 percent of optical labs are trained to do it.
FRAMES - WHICH FRAME FRAMES YOU?
Frames come in two parts, each with a specific function. The arms of the frame, which rest on your ears, keep the glasses firmly on your hear. The face
of the frame, which rests on your nose with a nose-bridge, keeps the lenses aligned properly with your eyes.
Sunglass frames may be metal, plastic,
carbon fibre or nylon. The lenses should fit comfortably,
without a visible gap between the frame and the edge of
the lens. The frame should be smooth along all surfaces and
the hinge joining the legs to the frame front should be
sturdy.
CHOOSE AN ACCURATE FRAME
Faces come in one of five basic shapes: square, round, triangular, oblong, or oval. The right frame style will compliment your features.
Square Face: choose frames that are slightly curved. The top of the frames should sit high enough on the face to downplay the jaw line.
Round Face: select frames with straight or angular lines. Deep color such as black or turquoise also minimizes roundness.
Triangular Face: frames with a thin rim and vertical lines will help balance the bottom part of the face. Frames should not sit too high on the face or they will emphasize the triangular shape. Avoid large frames, heavy nose bridges, bold colors and square shapes. Oblong Face: frames should cover as much of the center of the face as possible in order to minimize the length.
Oval Face: a majority of frames look good with this face shape than any other, as long as the size of the frames is in proportion to the face.
CONSIDER YOUR NOSE
Large Nose:
large oversized frames are recommended for balance. Small frames will accentuate the nose.
Long Nose:
frames with high sidebars that draw attention upward toward the temples and away from the nose are a good choice. A double bridge helps a nose appear shorter.
Small Nose:
high bridge in a light color lengthens a short nose or a nose that his small in proportion to the rest of the face.
FRAME MATERIAL
Plastic is usually
found in the less expensive sunglasses. Tends to crack
easily one should choose plastic reinforced with metal rod
molded into the arms for durability.
Nylon is a solid choice;
it's flexible, light and strong with a tendency to return to
its original position.
Metal is strong and
lightweight. The main downside is they will bend and break
more easily than nylon.
HINGE MATERIALS
The hinge pieces themselves should fit together tightly with
no gaps.
Metal Usually steel, and
will extend into the earpiece for added strength. The best
will often have a spring added inside. This helps keep the
glasses snug against your face.
Nylon The segments that
make up the hinge will be thick and fit together snugly and
should have a metal rod that holds the nylon hinge together
SUNGLASS CARE
-
Clean sunglasses with a mild soap; do not use chemical cleaner.
-
Dry sunglasses with a soft cloth or chamois.
-
Store sunglasses in their protective case to prevent scratches.
-
To maintain proper fit, tighten sunglass frames with an appropriate screwdriver or bring them to an optical store.
GLOSSARY OF TERMS
Blue Light a
portion of sunlight that is blocked by
yellow or amber lenses. Some people feel that filtering out
blue light increases contrast, and makes distant objects
appear more distinct.
Cellulose
Acetate Zyl this plastic is medium-weight,
flexible, and strong. It's adjustable with heat and most zyl
frame temples have metal reinforcements that will make them
stronger.
Infrared
(IR) Radiation long wavelength rays, sometimes
called "heat waves". Half of the sun's
energy is infrared; IR is stronger at high altitudes.
Mirrored lenses reduce the amount of light that reaches your eyes, so they can provide extra comfort in strong glare conditions. Mirrors can be semi-opaque or opaque from the front, so other people can see your eyes a little, or not at all.
Photo
chromic Coating will automatically darken and
lighten when the light changes, although the cheaper photo
chromic lenses wont' get very dark and take some time to
adjust to different conditions.
Polarized lenses a special filtering layer built in to block light reflections.
Polycarbonate
remarkable strong plastic. It weighs
the least and is the most impact-resistant making it a
perfect choice for rugged
sunglass frames and lenses.
Spring
Hinge type of hinge on eyeglass frames that
are more flexible than a regular hinge, making the frames
more durable and better fitting.
Titanium
a type of metal alloy that is very strong.
Eyeglasses made of titanium are lightweight, durable and
often hypoallergenic.
Wrap-Around
(Wrap) type of eyeglass frame that
curves around the head, from the front to the side.
Wrap-around sunglasses tend to offer extra sun protection
because the lenses usually wrap as well.
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