A Guide to Choosing Sunglasses

Many people don’t know that different sunglasses cater for people with specific needs. People who live in urban environments, for example, might need sunglasses to cut out the glare of surrounding buildings. People living close to water may want special filtration and protection against UV rays that can penetrate the coastal atmosphere, while those who spend time in highly reflective mountain environments will need polarized lenses to reduce glare and light sensitivity.

In this article we're going to be looking at how these different categories of lenses work so you'll know what is best suited for your environment.

Transparent Polarized Lenses [ARTICLE CONTINUED]

These are the most common type of lens, and provide the most protection against glare and UV light. Polarized lenses will help filter out other wavelengths of light that you may not want to be exposed to. You can also use these lenses while in reflective environments such as brightly lit city streets or in direct sunlight. If you live near a body of water these lenses can be very helpful protecting your eyes from UV rays that may cause damage to your cornea (the clear front part of the eye).

It is important to note that certain sunglasses have polarized lenses, but many don’t. In this case it is not the brand or the type of sunglasses that matter, but the type of lens within the sunglasses. Polarized lenses can be found in normal sunglasses and those designed for sports, so you should always check before making a purchase.

Some sunglasses will have only one lens that is polarized, while some may have both lenses polarized. In either case make sure to check if they are polarized before making a purchase. This may be hard to do online because manufacturers rarely advertise this feature on their website (indeed many would prefer we didn’t mention it at all).

Mirrored Lenses [ARTICLE CONTINUED]

If you want to be stylish, are a fan of a retro look, or just find them cool, mirrored sunglasses can be a great choice. They reflect the light away from the face and towards the lens providing some glare protection. You can also choose lenses that reflect certain colors. Mirrored lenses come in many different colors including red, yellow (and other orange-colored shades), green and blue.

While many people wear mirrored sunglasses for fashion purposes, they are also very practical. These kinds of glasses work best at reflecting UV rays away from your eyes — but they don't do much for protecting against blue or white light (the ones that can cause damage). You can use these kinds of lenses on sunny days to protect your eyes and have fun looking cool.

Previously called "night vision" lenses, these are a very good choice for those who spend a lot of time outdoors when it’s dark. They help you see better in the darkness by reflecting light away from your eyes via the mirrored aspect of the lens. But they don't provide much protection against glare, which is why these are not great for city streets or beaches during daylight hours (though you may be able to wear them during outdoor activities like hiking or kayaking).

Coated Lenses [ARTICLE CONTINUED]

These lenses are coated with a special chemical that helps prevent glare. They do this by increasing the amount of light that is reflected away from your eyes without affecting the light coming through. Coated lenses may not be as effective in bright areas, though, and might seem to make your vision darker in those situations (this doesn't mean they aren't working).

These lenses are designed to protect you against UVA/B rays rather than UVB rays like traditional sunglasses.

Conclusion

So which of these sunglasses is right for you? Well that depends on a few things. If you know your environment well, like if you are living close to water or mountain tops, the specialist polarized lenses are the way to go. If you aren't sure what to look for in a pair of sunglasses or if you're just looking to get a general idea of what's out there, then we recommend reading our feature article on the top 10 types of sunglass lenses out there. Though polarized lenses are important, it’s always worth checking the other features the glasses come with as well.