by Linda Sunkle-Pierucki

Created on: August 11, 2008

Oakley, Zeiss, Prada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Dior. . .the names bring visions of high fashion and high-dollar style. The frames are usually the brand-maker-that and the name in tiny letters on the earpiece. And the price tag-we cant forget that!

People spend a week's wages on frames that match their hairstyle, or their sports car, or their friends' sunglasses. Some have rose or lavender-colored lenses. Some are simply downright funky-because that's what the wearer wants to project to the world. Sunglasses are seen as an outward expression of the inner personality. As for how well they work, little thought is usually given.

One of the trends in recent years has been the "John Lennon's spectacles" lens; tiny wire frames, too close together and a real pain to actually look through. One can never decide if they are supposed to look over, under and around rather than through-or whether these cheap imported glasses were made to fit the smaller Asian features of the manufacturing country. These are sold primarily to the "for looks" crowd. An hour in these things and one risks permanent damage to their vision from having the frames intrude distractingly into the visual area.

Lens color can also be a factor; many of the yellows and light amber lenses filter so little sun that they are nearly useless. Some of the rose and blue hues distort color to the extent that looking through them becomes disconcerting. Some yellow shades can enhance night and foggy vision acuity, however.

Most people who drive give a bit more thought to the functionality of their sunglass purchases. Anyone who is exposed to a great deal of sun soon realizes a good pair of sunglasses can not only improve visual acuity in sunlight, but can keep the eye from tiring as quickly. Sportsmen and professional drivers determined long ago that a polarizing coating on the lens could cut down on glare when worn for an extended period. Fishermen quickly found that polarized lenses made it possible to see through the surface glare into the water and allowed for precision casting and landing of their prey.

As it is well-known that ultraviolet rays are damaging to the eyes in larger doses, most serious sunglass shoppers have chosen UV-blocking lenses in the hopes of preventing premature aging of the eye. A discerning outdoorsman will look for both of these qualities in optical-quality lenses, along with break-resistant rims that fit the face comfortably. Several companies sell a line of sportsman's glasses, often

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