The Science behind Your Shades
For every aspect in our time and age is a history and reason behind it. Each technological advancement starts with a scientific purpose, and sometimes this fact is present in things we would not normally categorize as scientific and technological. Well, the most common things around us that we use everyday indeed fall under this principle, and this includes your sunglasses.
Contrary to the common understanding of this eyewear accessory is the fact that it was not only built for aesthetic purposes but for more important health concerns. No, it is not just about feeling good by looking good; it’s about looking good by seeing well.
So how do sunglasses make the magic of science and beauty possible? There are various technologies that are purpose-specific, effective, and equally appealing to the eye of the modern fashion lover. One example is tinting.
Color tints are specifically designed for their corresponding colors of light they ward off. Generally though, all tints reduce glare (blue light) as this light destroys eyesight. If you are particularly uncomfortable with a specific light color you commonly see, refer to this list to know the perfect tint color for you:
§ Amber/Brown tints: Best for extreme glares
§ Gray tint: Best for slight reduction of light for certain activities like driving or an outdoor walk
§ Yellow/Gold: Brightness (but not glare) and clarity are improved with these tints, and they are recommended for use against the glare of snow
§ Purple/Rose tints: Provides contrast to blinding green and blue lights
§ Green tint: Creates high contrast vision and harmful blue light elimination
Besides tinting, there is also another method used called polarization. This manipulates the direction of intensely bright light into a vertical direction adept to eye functioning, reducing glare. Another technique is using photochromic lenses. This widely used technology involves the darkening of the lenses according to intensity of surrounding light. The brighter the glare gets, the darker the shades become. The reaction reverses accordingly as conditions change. There is also the technique of using coatings for the lenses. This is used for mirroring, anti-reflective, scratch-resistance, and ultraviolet radiation protection purposes. These work against back-glare and UV rays that damage the eyes (e.g. causing cataract formation), damage to your sunglasses, and inappropriate light distribution.
With this information, you can choose the right eyewear for your comfort and eye damage resistance. It’s always best to know the science behind your style.
