Advances In High Performance Eyewear
Geoffrey Holdermiller
When the sun is bright and you put your sunglasses on do you ever think about how they work? The thought has probably never crossed your mind. Although if you were to go shopping for a new pair of high performance sunglasses that thought may pop into your head when you see how many choices there actually are today. Lets explore the technological advances in todays eyewear so when that day comes around you will be better equipped to make that decision.
Sunglasses look like such a simple thing but they are much more complex than you may realize. As you will see there is a big difference in the various types of high performance eyewear available today. A good pair of sunglasses should provide protection from ultraviolet rays and also from light itself. Good sunglasses can also protect your eyes from glare and eliminate specific frequencies of light. Certain frequencies of light can blur your vision and others can actually enhance contrast.
High performance sunglasses have become very technologically advanced. These new technologies used include UV coatings, scratch resistant coatings, anti-reflective coatings, polarization, and tinting. Anti-reflective coatings are used today to reduce the light which bounces off the back of the lens and than into your eye. UV coatings are used to eliminate harmful UV radiation. The chemical film applied to the lens to stop glare is called polarization and the color of the tints used control what part of the light spectrum they absorb.
You will find that high performance eyewear with polarized lenses gives you a clearer view and eliminates glare. This is possible due to a film which is applied to the lens. This film consists of chemical compounds which are composed of molecules that align in parallel relation to one another. Polarized light is actually light waves aligned into one or more planes of direction. The molecules in the film create a microscopic filter that absorbs light that matches their alignment.
Glass lenses are rarely used today even though glass is very scratch resistant. There are several new technologies in lenses which are widely used today. One is CR-39 which is a plastic made from a resin that meets optical quality standards. Another new technology is a synthetic plastic called polycarbonate and it is very strong and lightweight. Polycarbonate is also extremely impact resistant. You will find it used in the majority of high performance sunglasses.
Shy away from cheap sunglasses which commonly have distorted lenses. You can tell if there is distortion in the lens by holding the sunglasses a short distance from your head and moving them slowly up and down and from right to left. Close one eye and look through the other at a straight line. If the line does not stay straight than the lenses are distorted. Glass lenses and polycarbonate lenses are distortion free and colors are evenly distributed across the lens.
To help eliminate lenses getting scratched manufacturers have developed a technology that uses ionization to create a thin but very durable coating on the lens. These coatings are made up of polycrystalline diamond and diamond-like carbon or DLC. Without these coatings your lenses would be covered in scratches in no time.
Visible light or white light is a major concern in the comfort that high performance sunglasses provide. Our sunglasses provide varying levels of protection from visible light. Another technological advancement in eyewear is in the form of the tinting of the lens. Today you will find many choices in tints from smoke which provides true color reproduction to brown for heightened contrast and depth perception. Also you will find yellow lenses to brighten hazy days and even clear sunglass lenses that still provide 100% UV protection.
I hope this article will help you make an informed decision when you purchase your next pair of high performance sunglasses. Remember that everyones situation is different so buy the sunglasses that will provide you the most protection and comfort possible.
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