Who doesn't like wearing sunglasses? They come in so many colours, shapes, and sizes. From sporty to fashionable to oversized, sunglasses are a must have accessory!
Every summer there's always a new trend that makes us justify buying a new pair. As we all know, trends come and go, but there are always certain features that everyone should make sure their sunglasses have.
Polarization
I've described the benefits of polarized lenses in a previous post and I find that once people have worn these lenses, they can't go without! Polarized lenses cuts out the glare and enhances visibility. Not all sunglasses have this feature unfortunately, but Maui Jim has made it their mission to see the "world at its brilliant best!" Their patented PolarizedPlus2® lenses eliminate 99.9% of glare, decreasing eyestrain and fatigue.
Other sunglass companies will either indicate on the lens or on the inside of the frame that the lenses are polarized. If you are not sure, always ask.
UV Protection
Blocking UVA and UVB rays is important in protecting your eyes from damage and long-term health risks like cataracts or age related macular degeneration. Sunglasses that do not provide UV protection can actually cause more damage because they shade the eye, causing the pupil to dilate and allow more UV exposure to the back of the eye. Therefore, just because lenses are tinted in sunglasses, it doesn't mean they have UV protection and vice versa. For example, clear prescription lenses like polycarbonate and trivex have UV protection in them even though they are not tinted.
Make sure sunglasses have UV400 protection indicated before purchasing, that way you know that both UVA and UVB are blocked out.
Scratch Resistance and Backside Anti-reflective Coating
Scratch resistance on any pair of lenses is a "no-brainer" in my book. Sunglasses are meant to be worn and will likely take a beating if you're an active outdoor enthusiast. So why not try to maximize their durability?
Backside anti-reflective coating is probably something many have not heard or thought about on their sunglasses. "Why do I need an anti-reflective coating on the back of my lenses?"
Well, just as glare can affect the view in front of you, "bounce-back" glare from behind can also cause the eyes to strain and impact your vision. Rays from the sun behind you could also bounce back into your eye and backside AR coating helps absorb those rays, decreasing the amount of UV exposure to your eyes.
Again, this feature is not standard on all sunglasses except for Maui Jim sunglasses. It does take an expert eye to notice any AR coating on the backside of sunglass lenses, so always ask if you're not sure.