Useful Terms and Helpful Hints When Shopping for Sunglasses

TERMS:

Blue light: a portion of sunlight which is blocked by yellow or amber lenses. Some think that filtering out blue light increases contrast and makes distant objects appear more distinct.

Nylon: a lightweight and durable synthetic material derived from coal, water and air.

Polycarbonate: a very hard and impact resistant plastic.

UV radiation: an invisible type of the sun’s radiation which is considered harmful to the eye. UV exposure is increasing, possible due to an increase in air pollutants that cause degradation of the earth’s atmosphere.

HINTS:

If the lenses are described as acrylix or acrylux they’re soft acrylic and scratch easily.

If the frames say Made In France or Frame France, they’re probably nylon. Nylon is preferred over plastic for its durability.

Go outside with the glasses you’re considering purchasing. Check out how they look in the sun.