Sunglasses should always be worn when you are outdoors, whether it is a sunny or cloudy day, as UV rays are always present and can damage your eyes. Here are some things you might want to consider when getting your next pair of sunglasses:
Polarised lenses
Polarised lenses provide clearer, sharper and more comfortable vision by eliminating glare off reflective surfaces such as roads, snow and water. This allows you to enjoy sightseeing or activities such as paddleboarding without feeling like what you are seeing is ‘bleached out’ or glary.
Lens tint colour
It is important to consider the colour of your lenses as each tint has specific visual benefits.
- Grey lenses: Grey lenses offer the most true colour perception as it does not distort the natural appearance of colours. It reduces brightness and glare and is great for general, all-purpose use, including driving, sports and other outdoor activities. Grey lenses are the darkest of tinted lenses.
- Brown lenses: Brown lenses enhance contrast by blocking blue light. This provides brighter vision on cloudy or overcast days when grey lenses may be too dark, and better contrast against green and blue backgrounds such as the grass and sky. They also improve depth perception and are ideal for driving, racing, golfing and fishing. Brown lenses however do slightly distort colour perception, but are recommended for the elderly as it improves both their contrast and depth perception. This is important when there are steps or carpet in their environment as these can be very subtle to the ageing eye.
- Green lenses: Green lenses provide the benefits of both grey and brown lenses without compromising colour perception or contrast! Green lenses allow the eyes to see natural colour tones with enhanced depth and contrast perception. They dim glare while brightening shadows, provide a soothing effect to the eyes and are great for low-light conditions or people who are colour blind. Green lenses can be used for any outdoor activity, in rain or shine, and are ideal for sports such as golf where precision is required.
- Yellow/Orange lenses: Yellow or orange lenses increase contrast in hazy, foggy or low-light conditions. This provides better visual clarity both indoors and outdoors as yellow/orange lenses tend to make objects appear sharper. They are ideal for outdoor enthusiasts such as skiers, mountain bikers and tennis players, or even those in aviation, who tend to focus on moving objects in low-light, hazy conditions. Yellow/Orange lenses can also filter blue light from digital devices known for causing eye strain and headaches. Yellow/Orange lenses can however distort colour perception.
