Selecting Appropriate Sunglasses & Eyewear for the Summer

Purchasing sunglasses for the summer months should be a lot of fun, rather than a chore. Many people, though, struggle with the process. Which shape frame should I buy? Do I want big sunglasses or smaller ones? Should I get UV protective lenses or not? The investment in a pair of sunglasses should be as significant as purchasing a pair of shoes. You need them to be comfortable, protective, stylish and affordable.

There are three things to remember when it comes to buying the right sunglasses for this summer’s outdoor excursions:

#1: Invest in Protection

Any sunglasses you do purchase need to protect your eyes from the ultraviolet rays from the sun. The UV lenses you purchase should protect your eyes from the sun by 95 to 100 percent. In other words, they should block out as much of the UV light as possible. This protects your eyes, which most eye doctors will tell you is one of the most sensitive areas of the body when it comes to UV exposure. In addition, consider polarized lenses. These help provide you with another layer of protection, specifically against glaring sunlight that bounces off surfaces that are wet or otherwise reflective.

#2: Go Stylish

You could choose practical sunglasses to wear this summer. You would save a good amount of money and you most likely will find yourself looking at what works rather than how you look in them. However, there are two things to remember. First, you will find stylish lenses within your budget, including off brand and brand name eyewear. Second, you will find comfortable lenses that are stylish, too.

For this season, check out the big frames that help to exemplify the look of your face, drawing people to your eyes. Choose darker lenses rather than lighter ones. However, color is always a big player in the role of sunglasses. Do not be afraid to pick up a pair of sunglasses that scream color!

#3: Comfort and Budget Matter

Finally, find summer sunglasses within your budget. A wide range of products are now on the market that are less expensive, but still have those impressive features you are looking for. Further, you may want to consider some of the budget frames and lenses available through new brands just hitting the market’s shelves. These are trendy and fun, but at the same time they are highly fashionable.

Comfort is not something you have to give up. Designers are paying more attention to comfort now than ever before. They are also looking for products that fit the face better without giving too much attention to bulk or being too heavy to wear comfortably.

The good news is that you will find a wide range of choices on the market that fit all of these specific areas. Comfort is something that you can focus on while still getting affordable and trendy looks that protect your eyes from the sun’s harsh rays. Yes, you can have it all in today’s sunglasses for the summer months.

At our Optometrist office in New York, we carry many unique frames that cannot be found anywhere close to home such as Grant (made in Italy) and Elce (made in France) to name a few. Make an appointment today or call 607-754-8670!

Technology Has Improved Eyewear Choices

If you look at eyewear from just ten to twenty years ago (and farther back) you are likely to notice a few things. First, the lenses themselves are heavy and they often leave red marks on the high check as a result of wearing them all day. The frames are larger and thicker, which is necessary to hold the actual lenses in place. And, you might notice that the frames have a full rim, often the same color as the frame, giving the lenses a very strong appearance on the face.

Things have changed. They have changed in many ways, in fact. Look at a few of the changes that continue to happen in eyewear today to improve the overall look and feel of eyewear in general.

• Technology has excelled when it comes to the weight of lenses. In fact, you can expect not to feel these lenses at all on your face.
• The weight reduction in lenses is one thing, but the fact that they are now thinner than ever is incredibly important. This allows you to have thinner frames, which means more style options for many people.
• With that thinner frame, you can now choose from a wider range of types of frames, including everything from metal to plastics.
• Some of today’s best eyewear choices even include a rimless look or a semi rimless look. This means that at least half of the lens does not have a rim around it. Rather, there is an embedded plastic string like attachment to keep it in place.
• Lenses can be tinted now, too. A few years ago, if you wore glasses you simply could not wear sunglasses since you could not get prescription sunglasses. Today, this is no longer a problem. In fact, some lenses even transition to sunglasses when you enter bright light automatically.

Technology really continues to add to the world of eyewear. Today, people who have stronger prescriptions or unique eye problems can find stylish sunglasses and eyewear to use without it looking out of the normal range. For those who have uneven eyes in prescriptions, this is a very helpful benefit to the overall look.

Even better, these technology upgrades are not specific to certain brands, either. In fact, many of today’s top designer names now offering sunglasses and prescription glasses that look great and function well in a wide range of methods. Keep in mind that you do not have to purchase expensive frames to have the look you are after, either. In fact, even designer products can be affordable to purchase.

However, when it comes to buying any of these eyewear options, always talk to your eye doctor first to ensure that the product is right for your unique eye condition. You also want to ensure that the product you choose is well made and offers the style that you like so that they are long lasting and provide you with look you want to have. With so many options available, you are sure to find numerous options to choose from.

At our New York eye doctors office in Broome County, we carry many unique frames that cannot be found anywhere close to home such as Grant (made in Italy) and Elce (made in France) to name a few. Make an appointment today or call 607-754-8670!