Tuesday 30 April 2013

Other name for sunglasses?

Is there any other name for sunglasses?
Well, there are quite a few. Here are the top 15 names for sunglasses:

-    Shades is probably the most widely used term for sunglasses in North America.
-    Glares is a term popular in India if the glass is dark.
-    Glints is a term for glasses originating from the "glint" that is noticeable when somebody wearing glasses moves their head.
-    Sun spectacle is a term used by some opticians.
-    Spekkies is a term used predominantly in southern Australia.
-    Sun specs (also suspects) is the shortened form of sun spectacles.
-    Sunglass a monocle version.
-    Sun-shades can also refer to the sun-shading eyepiece-type, although the term is not exclusive to these.
-    Dark glasses (also preceded by pair of) — generic term in common usage.
-    Sunnies is Australian, South African, UK, and New Zealand slang
-    Smoked spectacles usually refer to the darkened eyepieces worn by blind people.
-    Solar shields Usually refer to models of sunglasses with large lenses.
-    Stunna shades Used as a slang term in the hyphy movement, usually referring to sunglasses with oversized lenses.
-    Glecks is Scottish slang for glasses or sunglasses.
-    Cooling glasses is a term used in Southern India (predominantly Kerala) and the Middle East for sunglasses.

Monday 22 April 2013

What is a polarized sunglass lens?

What is a polarized sunglass lens
What is a polarized sunglass lens?
Polarized sunglasses are specialized eyewear designed to reduce glare and increase contrast sensitivity. Glare distorts the true color of objects and makes them harder to distinguish.

Unlike traditional sunglasses, polarized sunglasses selectively block out glare instead of dimming the entire field of vision. Traditional sunglasses may reduce glare, but they may also block out subtle details about the surroundings because of the dye used in tinting the lenses. 

Polarized lenses are transparent pieces of material, usually glass or plastic, that block certain types of light waves. Sunglasses and camera lenses are often polarized to reduce glare from surfaces, such as light reflecting off a lake or the hood of a car. Somewhat like the way Venetian blinds control the amount of sunlight passing through a window, polarization blocks as much as 50% of the light passing through a lens. The person looking through the lens can still see clearly in most cases, but it reduces the brightness and glare of light.

How They Work?

- When light bounces off of a surface, its waves tend to be strongest in a particular direction — usually horizontally, vertically, or diagonally. This is called polarization. Sunlight bouncing off a surface like water, a road, or metal will usually reflect horizontally, striking the viewer's eyes intensely and creating glare. Most polarized lenses in glasses are laminated with tiny vertical stripes that only allow vertically angled light to enter the wearer's eyes. Glare is eliminated because the horizontal light waves cannot bypass the vertical filter.

Lenses can be polarized to different degrees and in different ways. Most inexpensive polarized sunglasses have a thin film applied on one side of the lens. Many higher quality lenses have film laminated between two layers of lens material, preventing it from being scratched or rubbed off. In addition, the denser the film is, the more polarization it provides.

Today, polarized sunglasses are becoming more and more popular with other sports enthusiasts, including skiers, golfers, bikers and joggers, as well as the general public. Although they are more expensive than traditional sunglasses, polarized sunglasses effectively reduce glare from surfaces other than water, such as snow and glass. Drivers can also benefit from polarization, as the special lenses help reduce glare and reflections from the surface of the road.

Friday 12 April 2013

How to choose sunglasses for kids


How to choose sunglasses for kids
Sunglasses for kids
Kids can be pretty rough and careless when they’re at play. Sunglasses can get smashed, crushed, stepped on or cracked. Broken sunglasses have sharp edges that could potentially cause an eye or face injury. Finding sunglasses that offer 100 percent UV protection, while being a safe and smart choice for an active child, is important.

 Most parents don’t think twice about applying sunscreen to their children to protect them from the sun, but are they as careful about protecting their eyes?

During the summer months, children are often outside enjoying the warm weather and sunshine, whether it’s at the beach or in their backyard. It’s not enough to slip on a shirt, slap on a hat and slop on some sunscreen. UV rays can have the same harmful effects on a child’s eyes as on their skin. On average, a child’s exposure to sunlight is three times as much as that of an adult due to the amount of time they spend playing outdoors.

What should you look for when buying sunglasses for kids?

- Let them choose. You're not the one who has to wear the glasses or hear other kids' comments on them. Children are likelier to actually wear them if they select them themselves.
- Eyeball the glasses. Check to see that lenses are not scratched or warped and have no other flaws that distort vision.  Very young children may not know to complain if the glasses are flawed, so it's up to you to check before buying.
- Double Up. Sunglasses block only rays that come directly through the lenses. The skin around the eyes remains vulnerable to rays entering through the sides or from the top or reflected upwards off snow, sand, water, etc. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat is a good backup, blocking out many rays from above and even from the sides, while also shielding the face and neck. Seeking shade during the sun's most intense hours, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., provides another level of protection.
- Find glasses that block 99-100 percent of both UVA and UVB rays. Buy ones that indicate the percentage of UVR protection they provide.   The more skin covered, the better, so look for large, wraparound styles.
- Use playground-proof lenses. Kids run, trip, fall, and bounce off objects at an alarming speed. Their sunglasses should match this active lifestyle.  Find impact-resistant, scratch-proof lenses that don't pop out of the frames. Avoid glass lenses, unless recommended by a doctor; plastic is safer. Frames should be bendable but unbreakable. Make sure the glasses fit snugly, close to the face.

Check out the great range of kid's sunglasses at OptiLine.co.uk at affordable prices.

Thursday 4 April 2013

Should my child wear sunglasses?

Should my child wear sunglasses?
Kids should wear sunglasses
It's a habit to slather kids in sunscreen and pop on their hats before they go out in the sun. But do your kids wear sunglasses? Have you ever wondered if they need to?
It's a good idea to wear sunglasses, because exposure to ultraviolet rays may raise his risk for cataracts and other eye problems later in life. But if your child resists, don't push it. A visor or a hat that keeps the sun out of his eyes might be a more workable choice than shades for babies, toddlers, and even some older kids.

Children under age 10 are at high risk for skin and eye damage from UVR. The skin on their eyelids and around their eyes is more delicate and vulnerable than adult skin. And until about age 10, the lens of a child's eye is clear, allowing greater solar penetration and thus greater UVR-induced ocular changes.

We need to teach children early the importance of wearing sunglasses – just as we teach them to brush their teeth and wear a seatbelt so that they develop good habits that last for life!


Fortunately, good sunglasses protect both the skin around the eye and the eye itself.  While children under 6 months old should never be exposed to the sun, once they reach 6 months, they should wear sunglasses outside. If they require prescription glasses, they should also wear prescription sunglasses.

Here are some situations in which it’s important to remember sunglasses for your child:
- Remember to replace sunglasses once the lenses become scratched, and choose polycarbonate lenses, which provide extra impact resistance if your child will wear the glasses while playing sports.
- While playing outside in any season.  The sun shines bright all year round and can be especially harmful during the winter months when the sun reflects off of white snow.
- Anytime your child will be around water, whether it be the pool, beach, or lake. Like snow, the sun reflects off of the surface of the water and can create a harsh glare.
- While your child goes to an amusement park or sporting event. Spending extended hours in an area with little shade requires the protection of sunglasses. 
-Riding in the car. You wouldn’t think about driving around without sunglasses on when the sun was shining brightly and glaring off other cars, so don’t forget to shade your child’s eyes too.  Even if they may be avoiding UV damage while in the car, sun headaches aren’t fun for anyone.