Savvy Sunglass Wearing: Notes from a San Francisco Bay Area Dermatologist

We are lucky to have an array of choices when it comes to sunglasses, but where do you start to find the right pair?

Begin by choosing lenses that block 99-100 percent of the sun’s ultraviolet rays as our eyes are susceptible to cataracts, macular degeneration and cancers of the eye and eyelid.  UV-blocking lenses will also prevent squinting, which helps reduce wrinkle formation and eye strain.  To know that your lenses are 99-100 percent UV absorbing, purchase them from reputable companies, specialty sunglass stores or from an optical professional

Next, look for a shape that flatters your features.  In general, the frame shape should contrast with the face shape and the frame size should be in scale with the face size.  Keep these simple rules in mind when trying on sunglasses:  square or cat-eye frames complement an oval face; rectangular frames look great on a round face; rounder oval cat-eye frames look best on a square face; and frames with a straight, flat top, like aviator frames work well on a triangular or heart-shaped face.

For the frames, choose a lightweight material that does not slip down your nose.  The stems of the sunglasses should fit comfortably around your ears.  Avoid heavy frames and a fit that is too snug, which can feel annoying over time.  I have found that patients looking to prevent wrinkling around there eyes do best with slightly larger lenses or wraparound style frames which help block peripheral sun rays.

Certain lens colors can also enhance certain activities.  For example, polarized lenses reduce glare, making them a good choice for driving or water sports.  Yellow lenses show more contrast and depth, useful for golfers and bikers.  Brown lenses create greater color contrast, providing better visibility on solid-color surfaces such as ski slopes.

Grey lenses are the most popular choice and provide the most natural color vision.  Green lenses provide a cool, soothing tone to colors. Pink, orange, rose and blue colors should only be used as fashion sunglasses.  These tints can distort colors and are unsuitable for driving or tasks where color recognition is important.  Whatever color the lens, make sure the tint is not too dark as it could impair vision.  If you prefer no tint, clear lenses are available that have 100 percent UV protection, just ask an optical professional.

Quality sunglasses are available in all price ranges, so find your best style and start protecting your eyes today!

Tags: Bay Area, Dermatologist, lenses, san francisco, san francisco bay area dermatologist, sunglass, sunglasses, ultraviolet ray, UV

This entry was posted on Tuesday, June 16th, 2009 at 3:40 pm and is filed under Skin Health. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.