What are sunglasses?

The interesting thing about sunglasses is that they mean different things to different people.

Let me explain what I mean...

Think about the last pair of sunglasses you bought (you haave purchased more than one pair, right?)

Why did you make that purchase? Was it because you forgot or lost your last pair, or were they just "really cool"?

How do you use your sunglasses?

To protect your eyes, to make a fashion statement, to intimidate someone you really don't like?

Or, do you need to cover up that "pink eye" or "shiner" someone gave you?

If you purchased an expensive pair of sunglasses, was it meant to be a status symbol? A "Look at me" kind of purchase?

Did you want people to see you as a homicide detective, a pilot or just a cool dude?

Watch People

Yep, next time you are out and about, check out people wearing sunglasses.

Can you imagine or guess what's behind those dark lenses?

The next flight you take peek into the cockpit and see what sunglasses the pilots are wearing.

As you go about your business take a look at people wearing sunglasses and try to figure out why they are wearing them.

What People Say

I get a lot of inquiries from people on our website Aviator-Sunglasses and most of them ask how well the sunglasses they are looking at will look on them. 

Then we talk about how well they protect their eyes, the best size for the shape of their head, and then about the lenses.

I am yet to have anyone tell me why they wear sunglasses; however, many times there are clues when we talk about what they do for a living. I get other clues too, like when they ask me about the mirrored blue lenses, or about the advantages between the green and the gray lenses. 

If they are into fashion, the mirrored lenses win. If they are serious about protecting their eyes, the green or gray lenses win. And, most people know that they want sunglasses that have 100% UVA/UVB protection. But, there are a lot more things to consider than just how the sunglasses look, and the UVA/UVB protection.

What Should You Look For?

The very first, and most important, is to know what lenses are in the sunglasses. As I mentioned earlier, most people check the UVA/UVB protection. Big surprise there - almost every pair of sunglasses will have 100% UVA/UVB protection, regardless whether they are clear or extremely dark. The darkness of the lens does NOT matter when it comes to UVA/UVB protection!

What is important is the material the sunglass lenses are made from. The first, and most important consideration, is the ABBE rating of the lens. An Abbe value (or Abbe number) measures how much an optical material disperses light into its component colors. 

The best lenses for a great pair of sunglasses would be mineral glass lenses. The provide the best optical quality for visual acuity. However, some people don't like glass lenses because they are heavier than other lenses like CR-39, Nylon, Polycarbonate, or RSR (Razor Sharp Resin). So as you consider a pair of sunglasses find out what material the lenses are made of.

The second consideration concerning lenses is the VLT (Visible Light Transmittance) value of the lenses. The VLT number tells you how much light is blocked from reaching your eyes. The higher the number the more light is blocked, the lower the number the more light is passed through the lens to your eyes.

Once you have determined the lens material and are comfortable with that, the next consideration is the frame of the sunglasses. Inexpensive sunglasses will typically have plastic frames which are the worst choice. Plastic will break easily, will melt under strong UV rays, and can irritate the skin on your head. While nickel steel frames are popular for their strength, they can cause irritation as well.

If irritation of your skin where the sunglasses frame touches your skin, then the very best choice would be Titanium because it is hypoallergenic and will not cause skin irritation. Other good choices are Resilamide™ and TR90™ frames. Resilamide™ frames are not only very strong, but they easily bend and can fit very comfortably on your head. TR90™ frames are more rigid, but are hypoallergenic and will not cause any skin irritation.

Our recommendation is before you purchase your next pair of sunglasses take a little time and learn what the lenses and frame are made of before you purchase. Make sure they have quality lenses and durable and comfortable frames. Because your eyes are important, don't settle for cheap sunglasses that look good, seek out a pair of high quality sunglasses like the best sellers you will find on our website at Aviator-Sunglasses.

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about Sunglasses for Pilots and Aviation Enthusiasts. If you enjoyed this trip, and if you are new to this blog, sign up to receive your own weekly blog post here: Subscribe here!