When it comes to protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays, not all sunglasses are created equal. While all sunglasses can block some degree of UV rays, polarized sunglasses take eye protection a step further by reducing glare and enhancing visual clarity. In this blog, we’ll explore what polarized sunglasses are, how they work, and the numerous benefits they offer for your eye health and overall visual comfort.

1. What Are Polarized Sunglasses?

Polarized sunglasses are designed with a special filter that blocks intense reflected light, which creates glare. This glare often comes from surfaces like water, roads, and snow, which can make it difficult to see clearly. By minimizing this blinding effect, polarized lenses allow for better visibility and a more comfortable viewing experience.

How Polarization Works

Polarized lenses contain a vertical filter that blocks horizontal light waves. Since glare is typically produced by horizontal waves reflecting off surfaces, these lenses effectively reduce glare and enhance contrast, providing sharper and clearer vision.

2. Benefits of Polarized Sunglasses

a. Reduced Glare

The most significant advantage of polarized sunglasses is their ability to significantly reduce glare. Whether you’re driving, fishing, or spending a day at the beach, polarized lenses make it easier to see and reduce eye strain, allowing for more comfortable extended wear.

b. Enhanced Visual Clarity and Contrast

By filtering out glare, polarized lenses enhance contrast and visual clarity. This makes colors appear more vibrant and helps objects stand out, which can be especially beneficial for outdoor activities like hiking, skiing, and boating.

c. Improved Depth Perception

Polarized sunglasses can improve depth perception, allowing you to judge distances more accurately. This can be particularly useful when engaging in activities that require precise vision, such as driving or sports.

d. UV Protection

While not exclusive to polarized sunglasses, many polarized lenses come with UV protection. This feature shields your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays, which can contribute to cataracts and other eye conditions.

e. Less Eye Strain

By reducing glare and enhancing clarity, polarized sunglasses can help alleviate eye strain and fatigue, making them an excellent choice for anyone who spends long hours outdoors.

3. Who Should Consider Polarized Sunglasses?

Polarized sunglasses are beneficial for a wide range of individuals, including:

• Outdoor Enthusiasts: Whether you’re hiking, fishing, skiing, or participating in any outdoor sports, polarized lenses can significantly enhance your experience by providing better visibility and reducing glare.
• Drivers: Polarized sunglasses can reduce glare from the road and other vehicles, making driving safer and more comfortable, particularly on sunny days.
• Individuals with Eye Sensitivity: If you’re sensitive to bright light or glare, polarized sunglasses can provide relief and make outdoor activities more enjoyable.

4. Limitations of Polarized Sunglasses

While polarized sunglasses offer numerous benefits, there are a few situations where they may not be the best choice:

• Digital Screens: Polarized lenses can sometimes make it challenging to see images on digital screens, such as smartphones or GPS devices, as they may create a rainbow effect.
• Low Light Conditions: In low-light situations, polarized sunglasses can reduce visibility even further, making them less suitable for early morning or evening activities.

5. Choosing the Right Polarized Sunglasses

When selecting polarized sunglasses, consider the following factors:

• Lens Color: Different lens colors can enhance contrast in different lighting conditions. Gray lenses are versatile and true to color, while brown or amber lenses enhance contrast and depth perception.
• UV Protection: Ensure your polarized sunglasses offer 100% UV protection for maximum eye safety.
• Fit and Comfort: Make sure the sunglasses fit well and are comfortable for extended wear. A good fit will prevent light from entering through gaps and provide better overall protection.

6. Conclusion

Polarized sunglasses are an excellent investment for anyone looking to enhance their visual comfort and protect their eyes from glare and UV rays. With their ability to improve clarity, reduce eye strain, and enhance outdoor experiences, they are a must-have accessory for outdoor enthusiasts, drivers, and anyone who spends time in bright environments. So, say goodbye to glare and hello to clear, comfortable vision with a quality pair of polarized sunglasses!

Night driving can present unique challenges, including glare from headlights, reduced visibility, and difficulty focusing. For many drivers, wearing the right eyewear can make a significant difference in comfort and safety on the road after dark. Here’s what you need to know about night driving glasses, including their benefits, features, and considerations.

1. What Are Night Driving Glasses?

Night driving glasses are specially designed eyewear that aims to enhance visibility and reduce glare when driving at night. They often feature specific lens technologies and coatings that can help improve overall vision in low-light conditions.

2. Benefits of Night Driving Glasses

• Reduced Glare: One of the primary benefits of night driving glasses is their ability to minimize glare from oncoming headlights and streetlights, which can be particularly distracting at night.
• Improved Contrast: These glasses may enhance contrast, helping drivers to see better in dim lighting. This is especially important for recognizing pedestrians, animals, or road signs.
• Increased Comfort: By reducing glare and enhancing visibility, night driving glasses can make nighttime driving more comfortable, helping to alleviate eye strain and fatigue.

3. Lens Features to Look For

When shopping for night driving glasses, consider the following lens features:

• Anti-Reflective Coating: This coating reduces reflections on the lens surface, minimizing glare from headlights and streetlights. It allows more light to pass through, enhancing clarity and vision.
• Yellow or Amber Tinted Lenses: Many night driving glasses feature yellow or amber-tinted lenses. These tints can improve contrast and depth perception in low-light conditions by filtering out blue light, which is often responsible for glare.
• Photochromic Lenses: Some night driving glasses come with photochromic lenses that adjust their tint based on light conditions. While these are primarily designed for daytime use, they can help transition from bright light to low-light conditions.
• Polarization: Polarized lenses reduce glare from reflective surfaces such as wet roads. However, they may not be as effective in nighttime driving as they are in daytime conditions.

4. Who Should Consider Night Driving Glasses?

Night driving glasses may benefit several groups of people:

• Older Adults: As we age, our eyes may become more sensitive to glare, making night driving more challenging. Night driving glasses can help improve comfort and safety.
• Drivers with Vision Impairments: Individuals with specific vision problems, such as cataracts or astigmatism, may find night driving glasses beneficial for enhancing visibility in low-light conditions.
• Frequent Night Drivers: If you regularly drive at night for work or leisure, investing in a good pair of night driving glasses can improve your overall experience.

5. Limitations of Night Driving Glasses

While night driving glasses can offer benefits, they are not a cure-all for vision problems. Consider these limitations:

• Not a Substitute for Corrective Lenses: If you wear prescription glasses, you should still wear them while driving, even with night driving glasses FishandSpins. Night driving glasses should be used in addition to your regular eyewear.
• Personal Sensitivity: Some people may find that tinted lenses do not improve their night vision and might even hinder it. It’s essential to try on different styles and tints to see what works best for you.
• Not a Replacement for Eye Care: If you experience persistent difficulties while driving at night, consult an eye care professional. There may be underlying issues that need to be addressed, such as refractive errors or other eye conditions.

6. Tips for Safe Night Driving

In addition to wearing night driving glasses, here are some tips for safer driving at night:

• Keep Your Windshield Clean: A clean windshield reduces glare and improves visibility. Use a good-quality glass cleaner to keep your windshield spotless.
• Adjust Your Headlights: Ensure your headlights are properly aligned to avoid blinding other drivers while maximizing your own visibility.
• Take Breaks: If you’re feeling fatigued while driving at night, take breaks as needed to rest your eyes.
• Limit Distractions: Avoid using your phone or engaging in other distractions while driving to maintain focus on the road.

Conclusion

Night driving glasses can be a valuable tool for improving comfort and safety when driving after dark. By reducing glare, enhancing contrast, and increasing overall visibility, they can help make nighttime driving a more pleasant experience. If you frequently drive at night, consider investing in a pair of quality night driving glasses, and consult with your eye care professional for personalized recommendations tailored to your vision needs. Safe travels!

Cool, trendy eyewear is characterized by frames that follow current, seasonal fashion trends. Themes typically found in cool, trendy eyewear include bright colors and the latest, popular features like snap on lenses, and hingeless frames. Certain frames and patterns can be seen as staples in this type of style, while other aspects are constantly changing. Recently, oversized rims and large temples have been trending in sunglasses, along with bold, solid colors, and multicolored rims.

Bright colors and patterns can be used to liven up any outfit. The difficult part of these frames is that they can be difficult to match with. Take the time to think ahead about your personal, fashion style before purchasing these frames, so you know that they will fit in well with your clothing style.

Cool, trendy frames are also a way in which you can stand out when wearing your glasses. Wayfarers and aviators are common frame shapes associated with cool and trendy styles. Ray-Ban is a staple brand that works hard to create fashion staples that are timeless. Today, many celebrities can be seen wearing Aviators, Wayfarers, and Club Masters in true, Ray-Ban fashion. Another famous, trendy style, is the John Lennon glasses. These frames are associated with the icon, John Lennon and are seen in many street and festival-style collections.

Another important aspect to look at, when choosing cool, modern eyewear, are small details. Details in frames such as a key hole bridge, a double bridge, or pointed end points, like in cat eye frames, can make any neutral colored frame pop. These details can mean the difference between a sleek, professional frame and a young, fashionable one.

Finally, do not sacrifice fashion for comfort. At the end of the day, your frames have to be on your face for more than a couple of hours. If the frames do not feel comfortable, get them adjusted immediately, or maybe exchange them for a new pair. Look and style is half of the cost of your frames, the rest is about making sure that you feel cool and comfortable while wearing them.

It’s fun to shop for and try on the latest styles of sunglasses. No other fashion accessory does more to change or enhance the look you are going for than really cool sunglasses.

But there’s more to sunglasses than what meets the eye. In addition to being a fashion accessory, sunglasses perform the very important roles of enhancing your vision and protecting your eyes from the sun’s damaging UV rays and high-energy visible blue light.

Here are some key tips when looking for your next pair of cool sunglasses to help you choose quality outdoor eyewear that is both fashionable and smart.

Cool Sunglasses: Frame Shapes And Materials

When shopping for sunglasses, it’s tempting to look for the most fashion-forward frame styles and shapes. But this approach can backfire when styles (sometimes quickly) change and your sunglasses that looked so cool when you bought them now look dated and out of style.

Often a better approach is to choose variations of classic shapes, such as new versions of aviator styles, classic round “P3” shapes, and sleek wraparound styles.

Size also is important. Choosing a frame that comfortably fits your head and has lenses that are not too large or too small is a good way of keeping your sunglasses looking fashionable for years to come.

Keep in mind that sleek, aerodynamic wraparound frame styles are perfect for sport sunglasses, but they usually don’t give you a fashionable appearance for more social activities. A better choice is to purchase both pair of sport sunglasses and a pair of fashionably cool sunglasses for social wear.

Wraparound sport sunglasses also are an excellent choice for the beach, snowboarding or skiing, boating, fishing, and any time you are on or near the water.

Why?

Because wraparound sunglasses enable the lenses to shade your eyes more effectively, protecting them from sunlight from the side or reflecting from surfaces below and around you.

Shielding your eyes from sunlight as best you can when you are young may decrease your risk of sun-related eye damage, including cataracts and macular degeneration, later in life. It also might protect you from cancer of the eye and the delicate skin around your eyes, and decrease your risk of an unsightly pinguecula or pterygium forming on the surface of your eyes.

Cool Sunglasses: Smart Lens Features

Generally, polycarbonate lenses are the best choice for sunglasses. This is especially true for sunglasses used for sports eyewear.

Polycarbonate lenses offer the best combination of lightweight comfort, built-in UV protection and impact resistance for safety. Do not choose other lens materials for your sunglasses without first discussing the safety risks of such a choice with your eye doctor or optician.

Choosing the color and darkness of your sunglass lenses is, to some degree, a matter of personal preference. The best choice depends on the type of lighting conditions you typically will experience when wearing your sunglasses. Your optician also can discuss with you the best sunglass tints for specific sports.

Be aware that the color and darkness (density) of sunglass lenses does not tell you how much UV radiation the lenses block. This can be determined only by a special light meter. Ask your optician for details about the specific amount of UV protection different lenses provide.

To help you adapt to changing light conditions, some sunglasses come with interchangeable lenses. Another option for optimum comfort in variable outdoor light is to consider self-adjusting photochromic lenses.

For the greatest comfort in high-glare situations (such as driving when light is reflecting off the hood of your car, or boating or fishing and sunlight is reflecting off the water), polarized sunglass lenses are the best choice. Polarized lenses are available in polycarbonate and a variety of other lens materials.

A mirror coating is a special feature that can be applied to sunglass lenses to add mystery to your appearance or to provide additional light reduction in very bright conditions, such as when skiing or snowboarding on a sunny day.

What exactly are UV rays?

Ultraviolet rays are rays located beyond the visible spectrum. UV rays are categorized into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC.

• UVA: Most common throughout the year. These rays pass through glass so the can be harmful both indoors and outdoors.
• UVB: The most dangerous type of UV rays and the primary cause of skin burning and retina harm. Rays do not pass through glass.
• UVC: Blocked by the Earth’s Ozone layer and do not reach the Earth’s surface.

Does where I live affect the amount of UV radiation I am exposed to?

Many factors determine how much UV you are exposed to, including:

• Geography
• Altitude
• Time of year
• Time of day
• Weather conditions
• Reflection

Geography

UV rays are strongest in areas close to the equator. Because the sun is directly over the equator, UV rays only travel a short distance through the atmosphere to reach these areas. UV radiation is also the strongest near the equator because ozone in these areas is naturally thinner, so there is less to absorb the UV radiation.

UV exposure is lower in areas further from the equator because the sun is farther away. Exposure is also decreased because UV rays must travel a greater distance through ozone-rich portions of the atmosphere to reach the earth’s surface.

UV exposure is also greater in areas of snow, sand, pavement, and water due to the reflective properties of these surfaces.

Altitude

Altitude is another contributing factor to the amount of UV. Higher altitudes have greater UV exposure because there is less atmosphere to absorb UV rays.

Time of Year

The sun’s angle in relation to the Earth varies according to season. During the summer months the sun is in a more direct angle, resulting in a greater amount of UV radiation.

Time of Day

UV is most intense at noon when the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and UV rays have the least distance to travel through the atmosphere. Especially in the hot summer months, it is a good idea to remain indoors during the peak sun hours of 10am and 4pm.

Weather Conditions

Many people believe that you cannot get sunburned on a cloudy day; this is simply not the case. Even under cloud cover it is possible to damage your skin and eyes, and cause long-term damage. It is important that you protect yourself with sunscreen, even in cloudy weather.

Reflection

Some surfaces, such as snow, sand, grass, or water can reflect much of the UV radiation that reaches them. Sunglasses rated for 100% UV protection, a wide-brim hat, and broad-spectrum sunscreen can help protect your eyes and skin from reflected UV rays.

Can certain medical problems increase my risk for damage from UV rays?

Yes. People with cataracts (and those who have had cataract surgery), macular degeneration or retinal dystrophies should be extra careful. Read more about these conditions in our Eye Problems and Diseases section.

What are my options to prevent UV damage to my eyes?

You must wear sunglasses to prevent damage to your eyes. While some contact lenses provide UV protection, they don’t cover your whole eye, so you still need sunglasses.
Look for sunglasses that protect you from 99 to 100 percent of both UVA and UVB light. This includes those labeled as “UV 400,” which blocks all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. (This covers all of UVA and UVB rays.)
Also, you may want to consider wraparound sunglasses to prevent harmful UV rays from entering around the frame.

What are the different kinds of lenses that are available?

With so many lenses available, it’s a good idea to ask a professional optician for help when choosing sunglasses. Different tints can help you see better in certain conditions, and a knowledgeable optician can help you choose sunglass tints that are best suited for your needs.

Blue-blockers block blue light and sometimes feature amber lenses. Some evidence indicates blue light is harmful and could increase risk of eye damage from diseases such as macular degeneration. These lenses are popular among skiers, hunters, boaters and pilots who use them to heighten contrast.
Both polarized lenses and anti-reflective coating cut reflected glare. Polarized lenses in particular are popular with those who play water and snow sports. Anti-reflecting coatings reduce glare caused by light reflecting off the back surface of your sunglass lenses.

Do mirrored lenses offer better UV protection than standard lenses?

No. Mirrored lenses are coated with a metallic coating that is partially reflective. Mirrored lenses are good for sports and driving where glare is an issue.

Gradient lenses are tinted from the top down, so that the top of the lens is darkest. These lenses are good for driving, because they shield your eyes from overhead sunlight and allow more light through the bottom half of the lens so you can see your dashboard clearly.

Double gradient refers to lenses that are also tinted from the bottom up: The top and bottom are darkest and the middle has a lighter tint. Double gradient lenses are a great choice if you want sunglasses that aren’t too dark, but shield your eyes well against bright overhead sunlight and light reflecting off sand, water and other reflective surfaces at your feet.

Photochromic lenses adjust their level of darkness based on the amount of UV light they’re exposed to. Read more about photochromic lenses.

Multifocal sunglasses. Over age 40 and experiencing presbyopia? Not a problem. Virtually any type of sunglasses can be made with progressive lenses, bifocals or trifocals.

Do I need to worry about infrared rays?

Infrared rays are located just past the red portion of the visible light spectrum. Though infrared radiation produces heat, most experts agree that the sun’s infrared rays do not pose a danger to the eyes.

Which lens color is the best?

Lens color is a personal choice and doesn’t affect how well sunglass lenses protect your eyes from UV light. Gray and brown are popular because they distort color perception the least.
Athletes often prefer other tints for their contrast-enhancing properties. For example, yellow lenses are popular with skiers and target shooters because they work well in low light, reduce haze and increase contrast for a sharper image.

Do I need to wear sunglasses on a cloudy day?

UV rays still permeate through clouds and can still cause damage to your eyes. It is recommended you wear protective eyewear on both sunny and cloudy days.

Are impact-resistant lenses necessary?

The FDA requires all sunglass lenses to be impact-resistant. If you play sports or wear sunglasses on the job, you might want to consider ultra-impact-resistant polycarbonate lenses for even greater eye safety.

Do darker sunglass lenses provide more UV protection than lighter lens tints?

Darker sunglasses decrease the amount of visible light that passes through the lenses compared with lighter lens tints, but they don’t necessarily provide greater protection from UV rays (which are invisible). For adequate protection, have your optician make sure your sunglasses block 100 percent UV, regardless of the color of the lenses.

Children don’t need sunglasses, do they?

Children’s sunglasses are essential. Children are at particular risk because they’re in the sun much more than adults, and their eyes are more sensitive as well. UV damage is cumulative over a person’s lifetime, which means you should begin protecting your child’s eyes as soon as possible.
Most parents would not allow their children to go outside without shoes, yet many seem unaware of the need to protect their children’s eyes.

I wear glasses. What options are available to me?

You can buy prescription sunglasses or glasses with photochromic lenses (which change from clear to dark) from your eye care practitioner. Clip-ons may be a less expensive option, and can be bought at the same time as your regular eyeglasses to perfectly match the frames.
Some eyeglass frames include sun lenses that magnetically attach to the frame. This gives you the convenience of clip-on sunglasses with less risk of scratching your prescription lenses.

Can sunglasses designed for specific sports really make a difference?

Yes. Sports eyewear in general tends to be safer than regular sunglasses because the lenses and frames are made of special materials that are unlikely to shatter if struck and can give you the benefits of both sunglasses and protective eyewear.
Also, certain lens colors in performance sunglasses can enhance your vision for certain sports; brown, for example, is popular with golfers because it provides nice contrast on those very green golf courses.

Contents

• Eyewear for Sports: Protection and Performance
• Introduction
• Racquet Sports: Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Racquetball and Ping-Pong
• Basketball and Volleyball
• Baseball, Rugby, Soccer, Hockey and Football
• Swimming
• Surfing, Sailing, Water Skiing, Scuba Diving and Fishing
• Skiing and Snowboarding
• Cycling
• Hunting, Shooting, Archery and Golf
• Summing Up
• Important fitting considerations

Introduction

If you’re not wearing protective eyewear, consider this…

Prevent Blindness America reports that hospital emergency rooms treat 40,000 eye injuries every year that are sports-related. Sports such as racquetball, tennis and badminton may seem relatively harmless, but they involve objects moving at 60 miles per hour or faster. During a typical game, a racquetball can travel between 60 and 200 miles per hour. Another potential danger is that the racquets themselves move at high speed in a confined space and often make contact with one another.

Flying objects aren’t the only hazard. Many eye injuries come from pokes and jabs by fingers and elbows, particularly in games where players are in close contact with each other. Basketball, for example, has an extremely high rate of eye injury.

These are great reasons to wear protective eyewear. Another aspect has to do with performance. It used to be common for people with mild to moderate prescriptions to simply participate in sports without wearing their glasses or contacts. But sharp vision is a vital ingredient to performing well in nearly every sport, and participating in sports when you have less than 20/20 vision is counterproductive.

We make recommendations for sports eyewear with these two goals in mind, although the discussion for each type of sport emphasizes eye protection and safety. The lenses in the eyewear are made to the best prescription to enhance clarity and ease of vision.

For impact resistance from fast-moving balls or equipment as well as other players, we recommend polycarbonate lenses for their almost-indestructible impact resistance.

Racquet Sports: Tennis, Badminton, Squash, Racquetball and Ping-Pong

Eye injuries in racquet sports are fairly common, as balls, racquets and players are all moving quickly in a defined area. (This list also includes handball, because it has the same type of projectiles flying about in a confined space.)

For eye protection we recommend polycarbonate lenses in glasses or goggles. Goggles provide more protection than spectacle eyewear, as well as less interference with vision. Top TeaSpins payouts offer players the chance to win big with high-paying games and rewarding promotions. The platform features a wide selection of slots and table games with exciting payouts. Check out Top TeaSpins payouts and start winning today. Goggles may also be worn over contact lenses. It is also common for the fast-moving ball to cause damage or even break a pair of regular eyeglasses, although the glasses will provide some protection to the eyes.

There are specialty lenses available for tennis players, with lens tints to intensify the colour of the tennis ball, making it easier to track and enhancing a player’s game.

Basketball and Volleyball

Injuries from basketball and volleyball are mainly due to either a ball or a finger in the eye. Polycarbonate lenses in protective goggles that align closely to the face will protect the eyes from both large and small objects. If using eyeglasses or goggles, use an elastic band to keep the frames from falling off or becoming loose during play.

Baseball, Rugby, Soccer, Hockey and Football

In these rough contact sports, eye injuries result from balls or pucks hitting players when they use their bodies to block each other. In hockey, the stick becomes a source of injury as well. Both helmets and protective eyewear should be worn at all times, when permitted by game rules.

Swimming

Indoor and outdoor swimming pools are commonly sanitized with the use of chlorine, which is a corrosive substance that can damage the outer eye over time with extended exposure. Even after only a few hours in a highly chlorinated pool, many swimmers experience redness and irritation of the eyes.

Contact lens wearers should remove their lenses before entering the water, unless they are using watertight goggles over them. There are several reasons for this, including the possible loss of the lenses. Even with chlorinated water, there are microorganisms in the water that can cause serious eye infection. With soft lenses, the chlorine molecule binds with the lens material and this keeps it in contact with the ocular tissues for a longer period of time. While it is possible to swim with the eyes closed, there is still a risk of contamination or lens loss.

Prescription goggles are available for those who want to see more clearly underwater, and of course non-prescription goggles are perfect for those without need of prescription lenses or who wear contact lenses. Again, protect the contact lenses from contact with the water in the pool.

Surfing, Sailing, Water Skiing, Scuba Diving and Fishing

Outdoor water sports enthusiasts have several natural elements to contend with, including wind, reflected UV rays off the water, hard falls and the salt water itself. Shatterproof polycarbonate goggles will prevent the lenses from breaking and causing injury in a fall. Lenses should also have a specialized coating to reduce glare and reflected UV rays from entering the eyes. Polarized lenses are good for reducing glare off the water, and make it easier to see while sailing or fishing.

Similar to swim goggles, diving masks and goggles are available for outdoor water sports without a prescription. Some masks have prescription power in the lenses, but they will have the same prescription in both eyes, unless they are custom made with prescription lenses made to order.

Consult an eyecare practitioner if you wish to wear your contact lenses while scuba diving about the procedures to follow, to avoid either hard lenses pushing into the eye due to the increased pressure at depth, or soft lenses from attracting microorganisms in the water.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are great winter sports, but the eyes need protection from the reflected glare off the snow, wind, sun and accidental trauma. Polycarbonate lenses in frames of soft and flexible materials are the best choice for these sports. Traditional metal frames can become cold and brittle and thus prone to breakage.

Ski goggles should provide protection from both direct and reflected UV rays and glare. Usually, ski goggles are ventilated to keep them from fogging up for an unobstructed view. Some have polarized lenses to reduce the sun’s glare off the snow. Some goggles even come with additional, interchangeable, lenses of different tints for different weather conditions; a yellow tint, for example, will enhance contrast and make it easier to see obstacles and moguls. Most ski masks come with a wide strap that keeps them comfortably in place.

Ski goggles in general are usually large, as they provide protection not only to the eyes but to some of the face. However, some are smaller and could be mistaken for regular sunglasses, although they are designed to fit closely around the eyes and often have a wraparound design to provide a wide field of view.

Cycling

Cyclists must contend with wind and flying debris as potential causes of vision obstruction or eye injury. Well-fitted, aerodynamic polycarbonate lenses worn with an elastic strap to keep them in place will prevent injury and allow concentration on the path ahead. Wraparounds offer the best protection for cyclists, and most come with interchangeable lenses for different lighting and weather conditions.

Those who ride motorcycles should protect their eyes and face with a helmet that has a full-face shield, which will fit over prescription eyeglasses.

Hunting, Shooting, Archery and Golf

Any sport that involves flying projectiles such as bullets or arrows requires protective eyewear, preferably with polycarbonate lenses.

Specialty features such as flip-up sunglasses can help your eyes adjust to varying light conditions in wooded areas. Yellow or orange tints improve contrast and visual acuity in hazy, overcast or dark conditions. Brown or grey tints block sunlight on bright days, while red tints can enhance the target against a dark background of trees.

Polycarbonate lenses with UV protection and a scratch-resistant coating with an appropriate tint are the best choice for these particular sports.

Summing Up

As noted above, protecting the eyes is of utmost importance when participating in sports, indoors or out. It just makes sense to enhance your vision as well as protect your eyes to have the proper prescription in protective eyewear. Eye injuries are easily avoided, and protecting vision will help enhance performance as well.

As in sports, it is necessary to protect the eyes and vision whenever hazards exist for injury, even in everyday activities like hobbies or mowing the lawn. A simple pair of safety goggles worn over glasses or alone will prevent injury and will be well worth the small investment.

Important fitting considerations

Sport goggles must be properly fit to the individual wearer. This is particularly important with children, because there is a temptation to purchase a larger goggle than what is needed today so the youngster has “room to grow.” Some growing room is acceptable, since sports goggles are made to be somewhat flexible in their width adjustment. If the frames are oversize, however, they will not protect the way they were designed, leaving a potential for damage when there is impact to the head or the face. It’s a risk not worth taking.

By the same token, permitting a youngster to continue wearing goggles that he or she has outgrown can be just as dangerous. First, the frames will be uncomfortable, tempting the child to take them off. Secondly, the frames may obstruct peripheral vision, leading to poor performance with a potential for impact from unseen sources to one side or another. Review the fit of your youngsters’ sports eyewear each year to ensure that they are still providing proper protection and are fitting comfortably. Make sure the padding inside the sides of the goggle rests flush with the face and the eyes are centered in the lens area.

Sources:

Safety and Sports Glasses in Harrisburg