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. The choices available to you in the high performance eyewear market are seemingly endless. The simple sunglasses of years prior have turned into a complex maze of choices. Probably the most important feature to look for in a good pair of sunglasses is the protection from ultraviolet rays but they should also protect you from light itself. Quality shade can also protect your eyes from glare and eliminate specific frequencies of light. Some of those frequencies of light can actually blur your vision while other 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. Glass lenses are rarely used today even though glass is very scratch resistant. There are several new technologies in lenses which are widely used today. One is CR-39 which is a plastic made from a resin that meets optical quality standards. Another new technology is a synthetic plastic called polycarbonate and it is very strong and lightweight. Polycarbonate is also extremely impact resistant. You will find it used in the majority of high performance sunglasses. Shy away from cheap sunglasses which commonly have distorted lenses. You can tell if there is distortion in the lens by holding the sunglasses a short distance from your head and moving them slowly up and down and from right to left. Close one eye and look through the other at a straight line. If the line does not stay straight than the lenses are distorted. Glass lenses and polycarbonate lenses are distortion free and colors are evenly distributed across the lens. To help eliminate lenses getting scratched manufacturers have developed a technology that uses ionization to create a thin but very durable coating on the lens. These coatings are made up of polycrystalline diamond and diamond-like carbon or DLC. Without these coatings your lenses would be covered in scratches in no time. Visible light or white light is a major concern in the comfort that high performance sunglasses provide. Our sunglasses provide varying levels of protection from visible light. Another technological advancement in eyewear is in the form of the tinting of the lens. Today you will find many choices in tints from smoke which provides true color reproduction to brown for heightened contrast and depth perception. Also you will find yellow lenses to brighten hazy days and even clear sunglass lenses that still provide 100% UV protection. 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.
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