Sunglasses for the Coming Age
Sometimes called: sun spectacles, spekkies, sun specs, sun-shades, dark glasses, sunnies, smoked spectacles.
Sunglasses, protective or fashionable? We see them around us, on our image in the mirror, on our friends, on people in the street, gazing out from the pages of fashion magazines. They appear to be here to stay. What will they look like in 20 years from now? Although many of us wear sunglasses for the look , they are an important means to protect our eyes from long term harm. The best way to avoid damage to the eyes from exposure to UVR is to avoid direct and reflected sunlight and other sources of UVR such as tanning lamps and arc welding. Sunglasses can be effective in reducing the amount of UVR that reaches our eyes. Dark and coloured lenses were not originally intended to protect our eyes from the sun as history shows they were used to hide the expression shown in our eyes. Sunglasses are a visual aid, sometimes called spectacles or glasses, which feature lenses that are coloured or darkened to screen out strong light from reaching the eyes.
To be effective sunglasses need to block at least 98 percent UVA, and 99 percent UVB. The EPF (Eye Protection Factor) should be stated on the glasses or attached label. Sunglasses should fit tightly to block UVR from the sides and top, and have lenses large enough to cover the entire eye area including eyelids. The colour of sunglass lens is irrelevant - dark glasses do not mean protection, and conversely clear glasses do not mean no protection. UVR protective coating is clear so clear glasses may offer maximum protection.
Polarised sunglasses cut down glare, but do not block UVR.
Sunglasses have been associated with celebrities and actors primarily due to their desire to mask their identity, but also because the lighting involved in production is typically stronger than natural light and uncomfortable to the naked eye. Celebrities with a reputation for wearing sunglasses even indoors include: Jack Nicholson, Howard Stern, Pedro Abrunhosa, Robert Ashley, Richard Belzer, Bono, Ray Charles, Jose Feliciano, Elton John, Lenny Kravitz, Yoko Ono, Roy Orbison and Stevie Wonder.