The Technology Behind Shades

If the terms “infusion molding,” “chemical reaction,” and “thermal process” leave you a bit confused when it comes to understanding sun lenses, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Although you don’t need to be an optical lab technician to comprehend the technology behind sun lenses, there are some basics that can help you understand your sunglasses better. Here are some of the different sun lens technologies you should know about.

Polarized Lenses, Please!
We’ve all had those instances where we found ourselves suddenly blinded by glare, whether it was on the road, water, or snow. The glare can be annoying and even dangerous – obscuring important elements that may be hidden behind it.

Similar to Venetian blinds, polarized lenses work by only letting in light at certain angles. Light reflected from surfaces like a flat road or smooth water is generally horizontally polarized. This horizontally polarized light is blocked by the vertically oriented polarized filter in the lenses. Going beyond simple tinted lenses that block out glare, polarized lenses reduce the brightness of light while still allowing optical information through. Without sun glare, objects become more distinct and are seen in their true colors.

This can be seen in Kaenon Polarized’s proprietary SR-91® lens material that combines the optical quality of fine glass and the light weight, strength, and impact resistance of polycarbonate. The polarizing filter, Glare 86®, blocks glare, allowing only the essential light through to produce the clearest vision, accurate depth perception, and true color representation.

Everyone can benefit from polarized lenses. Besides the obvious boaters and anglers that need to reduce reflected glare from the water, other outdoor enthusiasts can gain from polarized lenses as well. These include skiers, bikers, cyclists, golfers, and joggers. And don’t forget average drivers who will need to reduce dangerous glare every time they go behind the wheel.

Dynamic Photochromics
Lenses that change color/tint depending on the amount of ultra-violet (UV) rays they are exposed to are called photochromics. The secret to this automatic tint change is a material in the lens called Silver Halide. When more light is encountered – stepping outside on a sunny day – the lens becomes darker. When less light is present – going indoors – then the lens becomes lighter in color.

The big appeal of photochromic lenses is the convenience of not having to switch between sunglasses and regular glasses throughout the day. By adapting its level of tint to the environment, photochromic lenses help a person see and perform better in all light conditions.

Wiley X, Inc. has its proprietary LA™ Light Adjusting lenses. The lenses are darkest on bright days and virtually clear on overcast days or after the sun sets. According to the company, these lenses tend to be popular with motorcycle riders who like to ride at any time of the day or night.

Mirrors Reflect Cool
Besides providing a hip, fashioniable look, mirrored lenses also offer an important function. All mirrors naturally reflect light away, so the highly reflective coating of mirrored lenses is great for those light-sensitive customers and for everyone who experiences very bright conditions. Though the reflective coating is applied in a very thin, sparse layer, mirror lenses can absorb anywhere from 10% to 60% more light than uncoated lenses. Mirrors will also “bounce back” more infrared and UV radiation than visible light.

Mirrored coatings can generally be applied over a dark sunglass lens, but can also be applied over any base color as well as to both polarized and non-polarized lenses. Mirror tints come in many different colors and can be matched with various frame materials and colors to enhance the overall fashion look of the piece.

Play Harder With Sports-Specific Tints
The right clothing and shoes aren’t the only items that come into play for sports enthusiasts. Sunwear with sports-specific tints can also maximize sports performance.

All light, including outdoor sunlight, is composed of a variety of different color rays. Rays of violet, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red light each have a specific wavelength, depending on color. When all combined, these colored rays create white light. The tints’ color determines the parts of the light spectrum that are absorbed by the lenses. Since lens tints work by filtering out certain colors to allow the wearer to see the most important things, depending on the sport, certain lens tints are more appropriate than others.

“Various lens tints, such as amber or pale yellow, can amplify color contrasts to allow the wearer to see objects more clearly, such as fish and shoreline underwater, or targets while hunting,” said Rob Maser of Wiley X.

The most common type of lens color is neutral gray since it transmits all colors evenly without changing the true color. Yellow tints heighten contrast in overcast, hazy, low-light conditions outdoors or for indoor sports. Amber and rose tints heighten contrast in partly cloudy and sunny conditions. Dark amber, copper, or brown tints blocks high amounts of blue light to heighten contrast and visual acuity. It’s particularly useful to improve contrast on grass and against blue skies.

Oakley, Inc. has engineered various lens colors for the ultimate performance in specific sports. Its G30™ tint, for example, takes golf to a new level. With the ability to see with accuracy and clarity, athletes wearing sports-specific tinted lenses may have a key advantage.

Gradients Ease Into Chic
Sunwear with gradient lenses simply means that the lenses have a range of different color tones. Gradient lenses are permanently darker at the top of the lens and get progressively lighter at the bottom. With the darker tint at the top, light from high angles – such as a bright sky – is comfortably balanced and the clearer tints toward the bottom allow the wearer to see clearly below.

No matter the color, gradient tints are a hot item these days for sunwear. For instance, GUESS by Marciano sunwear offers trendy styles with gradient lenses in a range of hues from rose to gray and brown. With 100% UVA and UVB protection, these polycarbonate plastic lenses absorb energy and offer great impact protection. Another fashionable example is the gradient lenses of Tommy Bahama’s Weekender sunglasses that add an extra touch of style while also keeping your eyes protected.

It’s All Clear With AR
A feature gaining a lot of attention in all areas of eyewear is anti-reflective (AR) treatments. Made of a very hard thin film that is layered on the lens, AR lens treatment reduces back glare—the light that hits the back of the lenses and bounces into the eyes. This effectively gets rid of halos around light sources and ghost images. By virtually eliminating these reflections, AR lenses deliver truer color and enhanced contrast for improved vision and reduced eyestrain.

Being knowledgeable about the different technologies will help you determine which lens is best for you.

Related links: Eyewear Glossary, Lens Color Makes a Difference.

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