The Vision Council > Consumers > Eyewear Options > Sunglasses
Sunglasses
Aside from the very important function of guarding your eyes from sun-related eye disease, sunglasses provide a variety of additional benefits, like comforting dry eyes, enhancing contrast and reducing tearing. When purchasing a pair of sunglasses, look for the following features:
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Products that comply with the ANSI Z80.3 general UV standard.
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Polarized or mirror coated lenses to filter reflected glare from shiny surfaces like water, pavement and dashboards.
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Oversized frames to protect the sides of your eyes from UV rays, as well as keeping out dust and debris.
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Lens tints that can improve performance by enhancing contrast, colors and visibility.
There are also other options available to protect your eyes from the sun. Sun-clips can be snapped onto a pair of glasses for UV protection. Photochromic sunglass lenses also provide variable degrees of darkening when one is outdoors.
The Vision Council’s guide, Under the Sun [PDF, 542 KB], will help you learn more about sunwear.
Tints
If you are looking for your sunglasses to help enhance your performance, take note of the following lens tints:
- Brown/Amber/Copper: Reduces glare and improves contrast and visibility by selectively filtering blue light. Great for driving, golfing, water and snow sports.
- Gray/Green-Gray: General purpose tint reduces glare while maintaining natural colors.
- Yellow/Rose: Enhances contrast and definition, especially in lower light conditions.
Fashion
Aside from protecting your eyes from harmful UV rays, sunglasses can also make a fashion statement. Sunglasses are a great way to show your sense of style, and by creating a sunwear wardrobe you’ll be ready with a pair of frames for any occasion. For the latest trends in sunglasses, visit www.eyecessorize.com or "Like" us on Facebook.
