It is important that you pick the perfect pair of sunglasses for driving. Considerations of fashion come after you have zeroed in on the appropriate coating, tint and level of protection from glares. When it comes to driving, functionality trumps fashion; consider the following tips when you choose sunglasses for driving.
Some helpful tips
Focus on the lens; it is the single most important aspect. The best ones when you are driving are brown or gray tints because they are neutral. A pink or blue tint can be quite misleading while driving and may lead to errors in judgement.
- You should choose lens that provide UV protection and safeguard your eyes from harmful UV rays.
- While driving, clarity in vision is of extreme importance so choose frames that are thin and curve just a little.
- Don’t opt for a designer frame that could hamper your vision or make you uncomfortable although they may look cool.
- Choose lenses that are polarized and cut out glare or reflections from water or snow. If the lens is not polarized, there is distortion of vision in sunlight. Lenses that are in the Class 1 to Class 3 range are ideal for driving in the day, and Class 0 for driving at night. Density of tint is given ratings between class scale 0 and 4. Class 4 is never used for driving.
- Oversized frames may be the current rage but are not appropriate for driving. They may affect your peripheral sight and you could miss some obstruction.
- Opt for anti-reflective lens coating and anti-scratch lens; scratches or lines can cause distraction and hurt the eye.
Why you should wear sunglasses while driving
Not only do sunglasses protect you from the glare of the sun, but they also act like wind shields. Sunglasses lower moisture evaporation rate from the eyes. When you don’t wear sunglasses, reflections interfere with your vision. On a particularly bright day, the retina receives too much light and cannot close adequately. You will then begin to squint resulting in problems such as nausea and headaches.
However, it is equally important to choose appropriate sunglasses because wearing the wrong ones for an extended period can cause damage to the retina, cataract or macular degeneration. In severe cases, high and prolonged exposure to UV light can cause cancer of the skin that is in the eyelid area. Cancer of the eyelids is also a possibility in extreme cases.
