Choosing The Perfect Pair of Sunglasses

Your definitive sunglasses buying guide

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12 of the best sunglass buying tips, proudly brought to you by the team at Spotters.

We understand that you have heaps of choice when it comes to selecting your eyewear.  Here are our top tips for choosing the perfect eyewear for you.

Polarised Vs. Non-Polarised

The choice is yours!  All sunglasses sold in New Zealand and Australia need to meet minimum requirements for protecting you from UV radiation and bright light.    Polarised lenses go one step further, eliminating scattered light and allowing you to see through the surfaces such as water.  Try both and see which you prefer.

Consider the application

What do you most want to use your sunglasses for?  What are the light conditions going to be like?  To get maximum visual performance, choose eyewear that will cater to the main light condition you’ll be using them in.

Consider your budget

So you need sunglasses but don’t want to spend a bomb.  Fair enough.  But before you limit yourself to a $20 budget, consider what your eye health and clear vision means to you.

Make sure you get value for money.  There should be a good balance between quality materials, clear visual benefits and the brand name.

Choose a specialist

If you are looking for your eyewear to meet a specific purpose, choose a brand that specialises in your performance area.  If you want polarised lenses, choose a brand where polarising is a specialty, not just one of the options you can choose on a select range.  Brands specialise when they excel at something – and that is the kind of eyewear you want!

Check out the warranty

Find out what kind of warranty is available on your sunglasses and make sure you read the fine print. 

Consider your eye colour

Seriously.  People with lighter eye colours – like blue, green or grey – have a much greater sensitivity to light because they have less pigment around the iris to protect them from sunlight.  This can lead to greater risk of macular degeneration and other eye-health issues.  If this is you, choose lenses that have a darker tint density to block more light reaching your eyes.

Choose your lenses

Your lenses are the most important thing about your eyewear.  It is the lenses that protect you from UV damage and block glare. 

Consider longevity and clarity.  There are so many lens materials on the market, and they all differ in terms of clarity, durability and scratch resistance.  You only get one set of eyes – make sure you choose lenses that reduce eye fatigue and strain and contribute to your eye health.

Everyone’s eyes perceive colour differently.  Your friend’s favourite lens isn’t necessarily going to be yours.  Take time to try out different colours and allow your eyes to relax.  Choose the colour that suits you!

There are several different lens tints available on the market.  These colours offer a range of different visual benefits, from enhanced colour clarity and depth perception to bright light reduction and natural colour representation. 

Perfect fit

This one is crucial!  You want the frames to sit comfortably on your ears and nose.  If they feel too heavy or unbalanced when trying them on, imagine how they will feel after a few hours!

You want your frame to feel snug but not too tight.  A small gap off your cheeks is beneficial to help enable air flow.

Screw your face up, mess around, smile a lot.  It sounds weird, but making lots of different facial expressions while wearing your sunglasses helps you get a feel for how they will fit you long term.  If any of these feel uncomfortable, move on to the next pair.

If you normally wear a cap with your sunnies, make sure you bring one with you when you try them on.  Your eyewear should be comfortable whether your hat is on or off.

Try them outside

Artificial lighting (like the LEDs and fluoros in most stores) travels at different wavelengths than natural sunlight, and as a result can alter your colour perception through the lens. 

Get outside to see how the lenses will look in their natural environment.  Many stores will let you try them on outside if you leave a security deposit or they come with you.

Get some advice

Shop assistants are so named because they’re there to assist you!  They should have extensive training on the benefits of each product and be able to help you make your choice.

Look after your investment

Your new sunglasses are an investment, so make sure you look after them!  Try to get a case and a Microfibre cleaning cloth so you can take care of your sunnies and avoid scratches.

There are a few simple steps to keeping your new sunnies in pristine condition, so make sure you read and follow the manufacturer’s care instructions.

Enjoy!

This is the most important step of all!  Enjoy the eye relaxation and clarity that comes from choosing and wearing the right pair of sunglasses for you!

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