This cold weather has us wishing for the summer months to come quickly! Shopping for summer necessities can help us get into the summer spirit, and that includes shopping for new sunglasses. If you are in the market for new sunglasses, here are four things to consider before you close the deal.
UV Protection
When looking for new sunglasses, make sure you are looking for options that have 100% UV protection. Many sunglasses will promote UV protection, but if they don’t say 100%, then you most likely aren’t getting complete protection. If you are unsure, it’s always a good idea to ask the store clerk before purchasing.
It’s also important to note that the darker the sunglasses lenses don’t always mean more protection. Only sunglasses with the UV protection tag will provide you with the best protection for your eyes.
Bigger is Better
Bigger sunglasses will provide you with more protection to your eyes than smaller frames. Bigger sunglasses will help prevent the sunlight from sneaking into the sides of your glasses. If you aren’t a fan of oversized sunglasses, consider wearing glasses that wrap around your face for better protection. Sunglasses that wrap around your face also provide good protection if you are into sports.
Lens Color
Sunglasses that have a colored lens, such as pink or blue, do not necessarily help with protecting you from UV rays. This is also the case for mirrored lenses. If you are an athlete who plays sports where you need to focus on a ball, many people find it helpful to have colored or mirrored lenses. Most of the time, the color of the lens is more about preference.
Fit
Sunglasses will do nothing for you if they don’t fit well on your head. If they are too big and fall to the tip of your nose, they will be more annoying than helpful. Make sure your sunglasses fit comfortably on your face – not too big but not too snug on your face either, which can cause discomfort.
Polarized
Consider polarized sunglasses if you think you will be near the water often this summer. Polarized lenses will reduce the glare that can bounce off the water, causing you difficulty seeing. It is important to note that polarized sunglasses do not provide UV protection; it gives you a better visual experience.
There is much to consider when shopping for sunglasses. It can be overwhelming at times. Our staff at The Sunglass Shoppe is here to help! Stop in at one of our locations, and we can help you find the perfect pair of sunglasses for the upcoming summer!
As we have stated before, it is just as important to protect your eyes from sunlight in the winter as it is in the summer. The same goes for when you are skiing or snowboarding on the slopes! Although wearing sunglasses would protect you from UV rays when you are skiing or snowboarding, they won’t protect you from all the elements of winter. We suggest investing in a good pair of ski goggles if you are into winter sports.
Here are five reasons we think ski goggles are necessary when you are on the slopes.
They will never fall off
When skiing or on a snowboard, you can pick up some pretty fast speed going down the mountain! If you are only wearing sunglasses, they can easily fly off depending on your speed. Avoid the fear of losing a good pair of sunglasses by wearing ski goggles. Ski goggles include a tight strap and should fit snug around your entire head, so they don’t go flying.
They protect you from flying debris
With the speed you are going when traveling down a mountain on skis or a snowboard, you never know what you might run in to, and you may not have enough time to get out of the way if there is flying debris or dust in your way. If you are wearing ski goggles correctly, they should be sealed around your eyes so small particles or dust can’t get into your eyes. This is especially important if you are night skiing, where your vision may be more altered due to the darkness.
Reduces glare
Snow is bright! If the sun hits snow the right way, it can produce a blinding glare and prevent you from seeing what’s in front of you. Purchase polarized or tinted sunglasses to help minimize the sun glare. They will also help with UV protection.
Protects your eyes if you are in an accident
Hopefully, it will never happen, but there is always a chance of losing control on the slopes and getting into an accident with another person or a tree. If you lose control and end up hitting a tree or running into branches, your eyes will be protected from anything going into your eye and causing damage if you wear ski goggles. This will help you avoid more damage that may have happened.
They will keep your eyes from drying out
The winter months bring dryer air, which can affect your eyes when you are out on the slopes. Having that dry air enter your eyes when you speed down the slopes can be very uncomfortable. If worn correctly, ski goggles will suction snug around your face so as not to let in any air as you are speeding down the slopes. You will feel much more comfortable on the mountain when you don’t have dry eyes.
Have we sold you on the importance of ski goggles yet? If we have and you are not sure where to start looking for a good pair, stop into the Sunglass Shoppe, and we can fit you for the perfect pair! The Sunglass Shoppe has locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Saugatuck, MI.
It’s no secret that as you get older, your eyesight changes. Rather than carry around multiple pairs of glasses for different uses, many lean more towards purchasing bifocals or progressive lenses. However, which is better: progressive or bifocal lenses? This depends on which will work better for you.
Let’s look at the difference between bifocals and progressive lenses to help you determine which is better for you.
Bifocal Lenses
Bifocal lenses are lenses that have a line separating each prescription. In most cases, the top prescription is for distance, and the bottom prescription is for reading or viewing things up close. Bifocal lenses only allow for two different prescriptions.
Progressive Lenses
Progressive lenses do not have a line separating different prescriptions. Progressive lenses look like a single prescription lens but can allow you to see better at up to three different distances. There are many kinds of progressive lenses.
Standard progressive Lenses
The most affordable progressive lenses. These lenses give you a wide reading area.
Short-corridor progressive lenses
Used more in smaller frame eyeglass frames. They do not have as wide a reading area as the standard progressive lenses.
Computer progressive lenses
Used for short-range viewing, such as looking at a computer. These lenses are created to give clear vision at about 16 inches to 6 feet.
Premium progressive lenses
These lenses are customized to your prescription and frame size. They provide a vast reading area. They are the easiest to get used to.
Ground-view progressive lenses
Lenses that are good for people who spend a lot of time outdoors being active. They give you a better vision when looking down at the ground or driving. These lenses are great for golfers.
Which is right for you?
If you have discovered that your eyes are changing due to age and it’s time to get eyeglasses with different prescriptions, knowing what you know now can help you decide if you should get progressives or bifocals. Consider your lifestyle. Do you stare at a computer for most of the day, or are you outside working looking out into the distance? If you decide on bifocals, will the line in the middle of the lens be challenging to get used to? Whichever lenses you choose, it will help give you a wider range of vision and improve your quality of life.
Stop into the Sunglass Shoppe, and one of our experts can help you find the perfect fit for what you are looking for. We have stores located in Petoskey, Traverse City, Charlevoix, and Saugatuck, MI.
We all put on our sunglasses every day (or at least you should) when we walk out the door on a sunny day, but have you ever thought about how your sunglasses work and the technology behind them when it comes to protecting your eyes? We decided it would be fun to lay it all out for you!
Different types of UV rays
There are many different types of UV rays, but the ones that affect our eyes the most are UVA and UVB rays. Both types of UV rays are those that reach the earth and can be harmful to a person’s eyes. Sunglasses are designed to reflect both of these types of rays.
Types of sunglasses
There are many different types of sunglasses that all serve different purposes. It’s important to decide which ones are best for you and what you are using them for (i.e., driving, outdoor sports, etc.).
Prescription
Lenses are the same as your eyeglass prescription, but they have a tint to them to protect the sunlight.
Gradient lenses
These lenses have a darker tint at the top and get lighter towards the bottom. This allows for more protection from overhead sunlight.
Transition lenses
Lenses adjust to the brightness of the sunlight.
Mirrored
Lenses look like a mirror on the outside and work in the most bright conditions.
Polarized
Lenses have a special lamination on them which blocks horizontal light and sun glares.
How do sunglasses actually work?
Sunglasses are designed to protect your eyes from damaging UVA and UVB rays. UVA rays can damage the retina, which is in the back of your eye. UVB rays can damage the front of your eye in the cornea. When you are wearing proper sunglasses, the UV rays are unable to get into your eyes. If they did, you could eventually potentially suffer from eye damage or loss of vision.
When you are shopping for sunglasses, it’s important to make sure that the ones you choose protect you from 99% of UV rays. Otherwise, you are risking damage to your eyes. Stop in at the Sunglass Shoppe, and we can fit you for the right sunglasses that fit your needs and lifestyle.
Eyeglasses can significantly impact your appearance and choosing the right makeup to complement them can sometimes be tricky! Here are a few makeup tips to make you look your best while wearing your glasses.
Avoid shadows Some glasses will cast dark shadows around your eyes in certain lights. To fight this, use a lighter shade of foundation under your eyes and down the center of your nose. Contouring your face by your cheekbones and around your forehead can also help with shadows.
Lighten up your eyeshadows Wearing darker eyeshadows with glasses can make your eyes look tired. Sticking to more neutral and bright colors can make your eyes pop more behind your glasses. If you just can’t give up those dark eyeshadows, invest in larger frames. The bigger the eyeglass frames, the more people will see your eyes and your darker eyeshadows.
Match your eyeliner with your glasses If you have thinner eyeglass frames, go for a thinner eyeliner around your eyes. If your glasses have a thicker frame, a thicker eyeliner around your eyes will accentuate them.
Volumize your eyelashes Choose a volumizing mascara if you wear glasses. However, be careful about using too much mascara because you don’t want clumps ending up on your eyeglass lenses. A creamier mascara will help prevent this.
Boost your brows Use a brow brush to brush your brow hairs up and out. This will make your eyebrows sit more on top of your eyeglass frames.
Bring attention to your lips or your eyes – not both Whether you wear glasses or not, it is best practice to accentuate either your eyes or your lips. If you have big, bold glasses, go for a more neutral lipstick color so your eyes will stand out. If you have thinner, less obvious eyeglass frames, go for the red lipstick!
Wearing makeup is fun, but it’s also important to remember that it can sometimes cause eye irritation or infections. Always remember to clean off your makeup every night before you go to bed to prevent infections. Be sure to also clean your eyeglass lenses frequently, as makeup can often get on them. Use an anti-reflective coating on your lenses to help eliminate distracting reflections so people can see the beauty of your eyes more clearly!
Not sure which lenses are suitable for your face? Stop in to a Sunglass Shoppe store, and we can help pick out the perfect pair! Locations in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Saugatuck, MI.
Have you ever wondered about the parts of your eyeglasses? Let’s dive into the anatomy of your eyeglasses.
Frames This is the main part of your eyeglasses. It is what holds the lenses in place. They come in a variety of different styles and brands.
Lenses Most people would say this is the most important part of your eyeglasses. The lenses are the clear pieces of your eyeglasses. It usually comes in prescription form. The size of the lenses depends on your prescription and the style of frames you choose.
Bridge This part of your eyeglasses does precisely what it says. It bridges your nose and allows your eyeglasses to sit comfortably on your face.
Nose Pads Nose pads also help with comfort. They are the small pads that rest on your nose. Nose pads can either be part of the frame or a separate piece that attaches to the frame with a piece of metal.
Hinges Hinges are the joints that allow you to open and close the temples on your eyeglass frames.
Screws The screws of your eyeglasses are what join the two pieces of a hinge together. It is not uncommon for a screw to come loose or even fall out. Most eyeglass stores, such as the Sunglass Shoppe, can help you with replacing or tightening the screws.
Temples This part of your eyeglasses falls on both sides of your head. The temple’s job is to keep your glasses secure when you are wearing them. Temples are made in different lengths to fit different head sizes.
Temple Tips At the end of your temples are the temple tips! Some temple tips can be covered or coated with plastic or a rubber material to make your eyeglasses sit more comfortably.
If you are looking for the perfect fitting eyeglasses for yourself, visit the Sunglass Shoppe and we can help you! We have shops located in Petoskey, Charlevoix, Traverse City, and Saugatuck, MI.
