New Technologies In High Performance Sunglasses

When you reach for your sunglasses on a bright sunny day have you ever really thought about how they work? I'm sure that you haven't but what about when you go to purchase a new pair? Now you might wonder how they work especially with such a wide range of choices and the new high performance sunglasses available. Let's take a closer look at sunglasses so the next time your looking to purchase a new pair you have a better idea of what to look for.

Protection is the ultimate benefit your looking for when shopping for a pair of high performance sunglasses. Naturally protection from ultraviolet rays should be on the top of your list but don't forget about protection from light itself. You can also get protection from glare and rid yourself of specific frequencies of light. Some of which can actually blur your vision while others can enhance contrast.

Advance technologies in high performance eyewear include tinting, UV coating, anti reflective coatings, scratch resistant coatings, polarization, and even mirroring. Polarized lenses are actually treated with a chemical film which eliminates glare. The tint used in the lens controls what parts of the light spectrum they absorb. There is a light which hits the back of the lens and then bounces back into the eye. This is controlled with anti reflective coatings and UV coatings eliminate the harmful UV radiation from entering your eye.

When light waves are aligned in one or more planes of direction it is called polarization. The film which is applied to the lens is a chemical compound which is composed of molecules that align in parallel relation to one another. The molecules create a microscopic filter which absorbs light that matches their alignment. High performance eyewear with polarized lenses allow you to enjoy a much clearer view without glare.

Most high performance sunglasses now use polycarbonate lenses. This new technology is actually a synthetic plastic which is very strong, lightweight and impact resistant. Another advanced technology is CR-39 that is a plastic made from hard resins that meet optical quality standards. Glass is still used but rarely even though it is the most scratch resistant.

Polycarbonate and glass lenses are distortion free and the colors are evenly distributed across each lens. Distortion is very common in cheap sunglasses. There is an easy way to tell if the lenses in a pair of sunglasses are of good quality. Find a surface with parallel lines and hold the sunglasses a short distance away from your face and cover one eye. Look through one of the lenses at the lines while moving the sunglasses slowly up and down and then from right to left. The lines should remain straight as you look at them. If they don't then the lenses are not optical quality.

Manufacturers have developed ways to add coatings to lenses to increase their scratch resistance because plastics are not nearly as scratch resistant as glass. These coatings are made of polycrystalline diamond and diamond-like carbon or DLC. They use ionization to create a thin but durable film on the lens. These coatings help keep scratches to a minimum on you lenses.

High performance sunglasses are available to aid in the comfort of your eyes. That is made possible due to the control of visible light or white light. Sunglasses provide various levels of protection from this type of light. Many types of tints are also available today. Yellow lenses are available which brighten hazy days. Smoke lenses provide true color reproduction and brown lenses help with depth perception and contrast. Clear sunglasses are available which block 100% of UV radiation.

I hope this article will help you make an informed decision when you purchase your next pair of high performance sunglasses. Remember that everyones situation is different so buy the sunglasses that will provide you the most protection and comfort possible.

By: Geoffrey Holdermiller

Before you buy anything online be sure to check out Geoffrey Holdermiller's site for other excellent articles about eye health and examples of advanced technologies in High Performance Sunglasses and High Performance Eyewear

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