You’ve probably heard it from a lot of people already, “Why buy THAT brand of sunglasses, it’s just the brand name that’s costing you!”, or “Are you sure you want to spend so much money just for a brand?” The answer, of course, is yes you do. Sunglasses are more than just fashion accessories, and no matter what you hear about them, they’re as necessary as sunblock. Not wearing sunglasses, or to be more specific, not wearing sunglasses that actually offer protection during sunny days can be very harmful in the long run. You’re at risk of several eye conditions and impaired vision.
Even though they sound deceptively simple, sunglasses aren’t just pieces of plastic or glass stuck together on a frame. Not all lenses provide adequate protection, and the cheap ones actually do more harm than good. It’s not enough for the lenses to be just dark in color, they have to actually offer UV protection to be effective. Non-branded sunglasses often skimp on all safety features just so they can look ‘good’, while costing a fraction of branded sunglasses.
No matter how decent these non-branded sunglasses seem to look, 9 out of 10 times they’re made out of cheap plastic which won’t last too long. Drop them once or twice, and they’re history. Branded sunglasses, on the other hand, are made with high quality materials, have strong hinges and joints, and can definitely survive a tumble or two. In fact, they probably also have scratch resistant lenses.
Cosmetic factors aside, the main reason you need to stay away from cheap non-branded sunglasses is the lack of protection. They often try to pass off for protective eyewear because of the dark lenses, and it’s a common misconception that the darker the lenses, the more protection offered. It’s in fact quite the opposite. The sun’s ultraviolet rays are what actually cause harm to your eyes, and can lead to cataracts, ocular melanoma and many more conditions. These UV rays are invisible, and aren’t stopped by dark lenses.
The sunglass lenses you use should be specifically certified to block all UV rays to be even close to effective. A combination of darkly tinted lenses and full UV protection will let you see clearly in bright sunlight as well as provide protection against harmful UV rays, but darkly tinted lenses without UV protection is nothing short of disaster. Wondering how? Let us explain.
Under the shade, your pupils dilate to let in more light so you can see better. The more light your eyes let in, the more prone they are to UV rays as well. Under darkly tinted lenses, your pupils dilate to let in more light. If the lenses offer UV protection, you’re safe, even though dilated pupils also put you at a risk of letting in more UV rays. However, if the lenses don’t offer UV protection, which is what usually happens with cheap non-branded sunglasses, your eyes are actually letting in more UV rays than they would have if you didn’t wear sunglasses in the first place. See what we mean now?
Apart from the usual build quality and protection issues, non-branded sunglasses aren’t usually polarized either. Polarized sunglasses help you see better in sunlight, near water bodies or while driving, because they block horizontally polarized light and get rid of the dreaded glare. You don’t want your attention to be diverted while doing something critical like driving, do you? This is why you’d probably need polarized sunglasses as well. However, it is worth noting that polarized sunglasses can make it difficult to see anything on LCD or LED screens, so if your job involves looking at a screen for a long time, it’s probably a good idea to opt for non-polarized UV protective sunglasses.
So how do you make sure you’re getting the best bang for your buck? It’s simple really, just get a pair of sunglasses from a reputable source, and a reputable brand. Make sure to check that there is a certification for UV protection, and you should be good to go. Keep in mind, however, that a lot of high fashion brands have sunglasses, but they’re not actually produced by them, but only branded such. Since they’re made by third parties, they may not offer a lot of protection even though they’re priced at a premium. It’s best to go for sunglass brands that exclusively manufacture eyewear. Even if you do see affordable sunglasses claiming 100% UV protection, get them checked at your local optometrist. It’s a pretty short process, and you’ll rest easy knowing that you’ve got yourself a good pair of sunglasses.
Don’t be fooled by cheap, non-branded sunglasses, they may look great, but they might actually do more harm than good! After all, you don’t want to take chances with something as important as your eyes, do you?
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