Sunglasses, More Than Style, Health Matters Too
By: Kelly Gillis
Believe
it or not, the first "sunglasses" were made in China
sometime in the 1400's. The purpose of these sun glasses was
far from protecting the eye from the sun. It seems that
Chinese judges wore these glasses into court in order to
hide their eye expressions while listening to cases. Hmmmm,
gives new meaning to the phrase "who is that behind those
Foster Grants" doesn't it?
Today, sunglasses are worn by millions all over the world.
They come in hundreds of colors and styles. There is a pair
of sunglasses out there to suit every budget, fashion desire
or sporting necessity. They range from the $2.00 a pair
plastic knock-off's available at the Weir's Beach boardwalk
to Maui Jim Whalers priced at $335.00 to the Smith
Interchangeable Series, that have a dozen different colored
lenses available.
For a lot of people wearing sunglasses is a fashion
statement. It seems that it's the designer name and style
that hits the spot. "Just think of how those tortoise Alma
J-Lo sunglasses will set off my new pink Juicy tee." There
are many different designer sunglasses out there. All the
big designers have sunglass lines, Dolce & Gabbana, Missoni,
Versace, Prada, Fendi, Salvatore Ferragamo and the list goes
on and on. Even Stella McCartney has put her name on a line
of designer sunglasses with prices up in the $400.00 range.
For the hiker, biker, kayaker, skier, golfer, or anyone else
who spends time outdoors partaking in any type of sport, eye
protection, as well as lens filtering is key. As with the
Smith sunglasses mentioned above, the lens is the most
important aspect of most sports sunglasses. There are lenses
specifically designed for sunny conditions and lenses
specifically designed for flat light conditions. Dark lenses
and rose colored lenses are best for sunny conditions.
Yellow or orange lenses are best for low light conditions.
Some popular sports sunglass manufacturers are Bolle',
Smith, Rudy, Adidas, Body Specs and Spy Scoop. As with the
designer sunglasses mentioned above, there are an endless
array to choose from. Shatterproof poly carbonate lenses are
what most sunglass manufacturers use. The Food and Drug
Administration has ruled that all sunglasses, for fashion or
for sport, must have impact resistant lenses.
In the end though, it appears what really counts in choosing
your sunglasses is not the designer, color of lens, type of
frame style you choose or the price you pay. It's the UV
light protection. It is as important to protect your eyes
from the sun as it is to protect your skin from the sun.
Although it is still debated, some medical professionals
believe that daily exposure to UVB rays may cause cataracts.
There are government standards for lenses that claim to have
UV protection. The darkness of sunglass lenses is not an
indicator of UV protection and has no effect on UV rays.
What are called "UV Protective" sunglasses actually have a
lens that absorb the rays. Look for sunglasses that offer at
least 98% protection from both UVA and UVB rays.
Most importantly, have fun choosing!
About
the Author:
This article courtesy of
http://www.sunglasses-shopper.com
Source:
www.isnare.com
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