As an ophthalmologist, what are the 4 features most important features that I consider when selecting sunglasses? Sunglasses are an essential accessory, and we should all have a pair or two. You can get sunglasses nearly everywhere from the dollar store to Neiman Marcus, but what features really matter in protecting the health of your eyes?
1. 100% UV protection is the most important feature of any sunglass. Ideally, they should block both UVA and UVB as these rays certainly lead to many different eye diseases, including cataracts, macular degeneration, and pterygiums, just to name a few. Look for sunglasses labeled "UV 400," which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, which covers all of UVA and UVB rays.
2. Polarized lenses reduce glare from surfaces like water, glass, and snow. They are superior to standard tinted sunglasses for driving, certain sports since they allow the wearer to see more clearly as the polarized lenses selectively block out glare instead of just making the environment dimmer.
3. Polycarbonate lenses are an ideal plastic for lenses, whether they are tinted or not. They are shatter resistant in that they are constructed from compressed plastic tubes. They are shatterproof as these tubes roll upon each other with impact instead of crumble like glass or traditional plastics. So, for the safest sunglasses, look for polycarbonate.
4. The fashion of sunglasses is certainly towards large frames, but I personally find light-weight glasses to be far more comfortable. Wearing a large heavy frame can even give some people a headache as the weight causes stress on the bridge of your nose, your ears, and or the temples. Wearing lightweight sunglasses reduces or eliminates this problem. Titanium is an excellent option for sunglass frames as they are lightweight, flexible and sturdy. They also have the feature of being non-corrosive and hypoallergenic, thus allowing it to have a longer usage life.
