Sunglasses are without doubt one of the more practical fashion accessories that we wear regularly. Not only do sunglasses protect our eyes from UV rays and protect from the glare of the sun, they also look great.
Sunglasses can be bought in a huge range of designs and looks, and are known by a number of different names. To name just a few: Speks, shades, sunnies, cheaters, Bonos and tints.
A pair of sunglasses can be bought for just a few dollars or for as much as hundreds of dollars. That said, you should be able to buy a quality pair of sunglasses for under 100 dollars.
Sunglasses are very popular for outdoor activities where there is lengthy exposure to the sun, such as wind-surfing, running, or snowboarding. Before buying, you should ensure the sunglasses guard you from ultra-violet (UV) light, which may cause potential eye problems such as snow blindness, cataracts and forms of eye cancer.
For people who use standard glasses to improve their eyesight, it is common to use prescription sunglasses that provide all the advantages of a normal pair of eye glasses and also help allow protection from the sun. Another popular answer to this problem is to have darkened lenses that flip down over the prescription lenses when required.
Like a lot of fashion items, sunglasses come in different shapes and sizes. Here are examples of the more fashionable sunglass designs to be had on the high street:
Aviators – These have been fashionable since originally introduced by Ray-Ban in 1936 for military personnel. They consist of a pair of teardrop lenses mounted in a thin metal frame.
Wrap-around – Wrap-around shades consist of one lens that protects both eyes and wraps around the side of the head. They offer excellent protection from the sun and are particularly popular among extreme sports enthusiasts.
Mirrorshades – This refers to the reflective finish on the lenses of many pairs of sunglasses. This can be used on any kind of sunglasses, though it is particularly popular on aviator and wrap-around styles.
Teashades – Think John Lennon or Ozzy Osbourne. Maybe not so popular today, these sunglasses, with two circular lenses in a narrow wire frame, were all the rage in the sixties and seventies.
Wayfarers – Another classic look. Wayfarers were first introduced by Ray-Ban in the 1950s. The lenses are slightly wider at the top than at the bottom and they have solid black plastic frames. Wayfarers were famously worn by screen star James Dean.
In addition to protecting the eyes from sunlight and being popular as a fashion item, sunglasses can also have other practical uses. They are sometimes used to hide the eyes to mask the signs of mourning, weeping or to make eye contact impossible. In addition, it is not uncommon to see people wearing sunglasses indoors or at night for that extra ‘cool factor’.
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