BUT WHICH ONE?
Sunglasses – who does not love them?
Coolness can hardly be achieved with an accessory,
Elegance or sportiness easier to emphasize.
To protect the eyes it is worthwhile
Choice of sunglasses to ensure quality.
After the winter months, we are forced into the sun. Even at the open window or on the balcony every ray of sunshine is welcome. As the average temperatures are even lower and the spring winds cool down additionally, the power of the spring sun is slightly underestimated. Due to so-called “mini ozone fields” we are sometimes exposed to the strongest seasonal UV rays in spring, which can cause massive damage to our eyes over time. Not only the cloudless sky is dangerous. Depending on the formation of clouds, UV rays can be blocked, but also reflected and thus their effect can be enhanced.
Ideally, the sun, which helps us to build up vitamin D, should be enjoyed before 10.00 a.m. in the morning and from 4.00 p.m. in the afternoon. Depending on weather conditions and climate zone, 5 – 30 minutes of sun on the face, arms and legs are sufficient for this. Sunglasses should be with you every time you go out into the sun. They protect the retina of the eyes from damage by UVA and UVB rays and prevent the delicate skin around the eye from being too badly affected by the sun.
Three factors are important when buying
1. UV protection
Even though the EU standard is already satisfied with a UV protection of 380 nanometers (nm), ophthalmologists recommend choosing a UV protection of 400 nm to provide the best possible protection for the eye lens. The important UV protection is not, as one might think, dependent on the tint of the lenses, but is based on the material properties of the lenses used.
2. Sunlight filter
In Europe, the filter strength of sunglasses is divided into four categories:
Filter strength 0-1 | The tint of the sunglasses absorbs 20 -57 % of the light | Relatively low protective effect, for dull days with little sunlight.
Filter strength 2 | The tint absorbs 57 – 82 % of the light | Sufficient in moderate climates and in the city
Filter strength 3 | The tint absorbs 82 – 92 % of the light | In the mountains, by the sea or otherwise near water the ideal protection.
Filter strength 4 | The tint absorbs 92 -97 % of the light | Essential for alpine glacier tours However, it is not suitable for everyday driving.
3. Protection from unfiltered light
The size and shape of the sunglasses is not only a question of taste. The sunglasses should allow as little unfiltered scattered light as possible to reach the eye from above, below and above all from the side. A small frame with correspondingly small lenses can even be counterproductive. The pupils of the eyes are relatively wide open behind the dark-tinted lenses and may receive unfiltered stray light in the event of strong reflections from snow, water or light-coloured stones if the sunglasses have small frames or very narrow temples. In this way, UV and blue components of the light reach the eyes.
According to the product safety law, the CE marking of the European Union (CE stands for Communauté Européenne) must be worn by every pair of sunglasses sold on the European market. However, sunglasses are a market in which there are relatively many counterfeits and anyone who counterfeits the logo of a brand will not be deterred from additionally affixing a CE mark to the counterfeit sunglasses.
Polarizing lenses
Polarizing lenses help reduce the glare of light, for example on the sea or in snow. But only when looking into the distance. At close range, polarizing lenses make it difficult to see differences in structure, such as unevenness on the ground. A forest run with polarizing lenses can quickly become a tripping hazard. And since LCD-based displays, such as those used in navigation devices and mobile phones, are themselves equipped with a polarizing filter, this is clearly too much of a good thing. The displays on monitors are much harder to see with sunglasses that contain polarizing lenses, and in extreme cases you’ll only see black.
Extravagance pays off
An investment in high quality sunglasses is a good investment. Sunglasses can be fashionably extravagant and large. Extraordinary sunglasses make a comeback every few years. The small collection of stylish sunglasses is therefore no dead capital but a treasure chest. A handle and an otherwise unspectacular outfit immediately looks like Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Sex and the City or Top Gun. Elegant despite your budget – no problem with the sunglasses accessory.
Depending on the position of the sun and where you are, a slightly rosé tinted pair of glasses with a lower filter strength is just the right model for one day, while dark, large glasses are ideal for the beach. Less is more, so in this case, for once, it does not apply. To protect your eyesight for many years, it makes sense to have sunglasses with different filter strengths depending on where you are and the weather conditions, so that you can put on your sunglasses often.
Seriously
If you have found a whole arsenal of sunglasses at home while radically cleaning up, it is worthwhile having the quality of the lenses checked by an optician. After all, not every spontaneous purchase can be traced after decades and very few sunglasses have a label on the inside of the temple indicating the quality features.
The Federal Office for Radiation Protection considers sunglasses to be an important preventive measure to reduce lens clouding (cataract formation) and damage to the retina. Similar to the skin, the eyes are also thought to have a sun memory. The lighter the colour of the iris, the more sensitive the eyes react to UV radiation. Sunglasses can be glamorous, but to take them seriously, they certainly are.
Hat and Shades
Clearly the best possible combination. A sun hat with the widest possible brim provides additional protection and is unbeatable as a fashion statement. If you want to know what makes a real Panama hat, you will find the most important information here. We look forward to seeing you again with hat and sunglasses as soon as traveling becomes possible again.
