Consumer Guide to Sunglasses
Aimee Surtenich
Learn about the different types of sunglasses, including polarized lenses and the latest sunglass styles, in this series of articles written by experts in eye care.
Browse the Table of Contents below, or brush up on the basics with our Sunglasses FAQs.
Table of Contents
Kids' Sunglasses
Many parents don't think about sunglasses for their children, but experts say that sun damage to the eye is cumulative over a person's lifetime. Learn the best ways to protect your kids; plus, the top trends in kids' sunglasses.
Designer and Celebrity Sunglasses
Designer styles, often branded with celebrity names such as Armani, can be found in high end boutiques or department stores.
Eye Doctor Q&A
Our advisory board members answered these questions about sunglasses and UV light.
New Sunglasses
What's in style now: up-to-the-minute sunglasses you can find in stores.
Nonprescription Sunglasses
The latest styles range from retro aviators, gradients and John Lennon sunglasses to dramatic plastics, specialty metals, wraparounds and futuristic shields.
Thinking About Eyeglasses or Contact Lenses? - Sponsored Section
Take this brief assessment to find out which options are right for you.
Performance Sunglasses
Performance sunglasses leave your street shades far behind in terms of flexibility, durability, non-slip materials and high-quality lenses. Find out which features to look for, whether you need sunglasses for a specific sport such as golf or all-purpose toughness for the rugged outdoors.
Zeal Optics Launches World's First Plant-based Lens
March 2013 — Zeal Optics recently debuted its "e-llume" lens to the market — the first lens of its kind to provide an ecological alternative to crude oil-based lenses.
Engineers at Zeal have created a plant-based bonding agent, replacing the need for traditional petroleum-based bonders.
In addition to eliminating crude oil form the lens-making process, the e-llume lenses provide excellent visual clarity (Abbe value of 38) and block UVA, B and C rays, as well as harmful high energy visible light, also called "blue light."
E-llume also has a special hard coating for scratch resistance and a high-transmission polarized film to help eliminate glare.
All Zeal Optics sunglass frames are made with Z-resin, a plant-based material that uses castor oil, eliminating crude oil from the manufacturing process.
With the introduction of the e-llume lenses, the Colorado-based company says it is the first in the world to lead the way towards completely removing crude oil from sunglass production.
Want more sunglass news? Click here.
Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized lenses filter the glare that reflects from horizontal surfaces, making your eyes more comfortable when you're driving, out on the water or playing sports.
Prescription Sunglasses
Find yourself squinting in the sun, but don't want to endure the blur of going without your eyeglasses? Prescription sunglasses to the rescue!
Test Your Sunglasses "Eye-Q"
Find out what you really know about sunglasses and UV light in this self-test.
Ultraviolet (UV) Radiation and Your Eyes
Is it really that harmful for you and your kids to go outside without your sunglasses? Yes!
Basic Facts About Sunglasses
This FAQ explains different features of sunglasses, including lens colors and types of sun protection.
[Page updated April 2013]
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