Sunglasses

Ultimately, everyone should care about their vision and want to protect it.  However, there are certain groups of individuals that should especially wear sunglasses.  This is for their safety, and the safety of others.

Drivers are one very important group that should always have sunglasses handy.  Whether you are driving your own vehicle or a bus full of people, the sun can be your enemy.  Picture driving westbound down the highway at 6:00 PM, coming up over a hill and being pelted in the face with the sun’s glaring rays.  This temporary blinding could cause you not to see the traffic that stopped 50 feet in front of you.  Accidents like this can be avoided by always having sunglasses in your vehicle.

Professional drivers have an even greater need for sunglasses than the rest of us.  Because they are often driving larger vehicles such as school busses or tanker trucks, their risk is much greater.  If these drivers lose control of their vehicle, it is much more difficult to gain control.  Again, simply by wearing sunglasses, these drivers can help avoid tragedy.

It is very important that children be taught from an early age to wear sunglasses.  By enforcing this from early childhood, you are creating habits they will carry with them.  In addition to teaching them that sunglasses are always important, you are protecting very delicate eyes as well.  Children, especially the very young, are constantly growing and developing in every way.  Protecting their eyes with sunglasses from the start will reduce the damage they will pay for later in life.

Even babies can wear sunglasses.  Besides being ridiculously cute, baby sunglasses are made for a reason.  Babies are, for all intents and purposes brand new, and so are their eyes.  A child begins their life by being able to focus on objects only less than ten inches from their face.  A pair of baby sunglasses will keep harmful rays out of your baby’s young, sensitive eyes.

Anyone who spends an uncommonly large amount of time in the sun should know the advantages of sunglasses.  If you are particularly interested in water sports and spend a lot of time at the beach or on a lake, you could be at greater risk than most.  Surfers, water-skiers and wake boarders can testify that a good pair of protective sunglasses will save a lifetime of hardship.  The sun reflecting off of the water into your eyes can intensify the damage it could do.
Find a good pair of water sunglasses, which will wrap around your head and stay in place while you ride the waves.

Elderly individuals are another group of people to whom eye protection should be important.  As age progresses, the eyesight deteriorates in even the healthiest of eyes.  Older individuals should always wear sunglasses when outside in the sun.  Sunglasses won’t stop the vision from going south, but it may slow the process.  One thing is certain, blinding sun in the eyes will speed it up the deterioration.

In case you haven’t figured it out yet, ideally everyone should wear sunglasses.  There are so many different designs, styles and prices that it is difficult to come up with an excuse for not wearing them.  There is simply no benefit to letting your eyes absorb the harmful UVA and UVB rays the sun emits.  Be smart and care about your eyes by protecting them with sunglasses whenever you’re outside.  You’ll be glad you did.

Where can you find a pair of sunglasses to fit your eyewear needs?  Sunglasses are absolutely everywhere!  It is hard to walk into a retail store and not see a display of sunglasses.  In fact, listing off the places that don’t sell them might be faster.  Hardware stores, emergency rooms and most car dealerships do not sell sunglasses.  Now to move on to the establishments that do.

Logically, one of the best places to buy sunglasses would be a retailer specifying in them.  Any mall or outlet strip center is bound to have at least one store targeting eyewear.  These stores will offer a wide variety of frames, lenses, sizes and styles to suit your needs.  Sunglasses at these stores can be pricey, anywhere from twenty-five to three hundred dollars.  However, you often get what you pay for.

Specialized sunglass retailers will know a lot about their product and help pick out the right ones for you.  Many of their glasses will offer higher percentage of UVA and UVB protection than less expensive brands.  If you don’t mind paying the extra money, these sunglasses will be a purchase that will last.  In addition, most of these retailers include a case, cleaning cloth and other accessories along with your purchase.

Upscale designers such as Armani and Christian Dior cater to the truly fortunate crowd.  Their sunglasses can be seen in fashion magazines and on red carpets all over the globe.  If it’s high fashion you seek, these designers and many others are truly the way to go.  Most of their products can be found in department stores.  However, in more upscale neighborhoods, designers may have their own storefront.

If you’re not a movie star or hotel heiress, you may want to take a more low-key approach when shopping for sunglasses.  Many malls have kiosks that sell designer-looking styles at a much more realistic price.  There is really no shame in wearing knock-offs, even if your friends tease you for it.  You can casually remind them that your sunglasses look exactly like theirs.  Then let them know that, unlike them, you’ll be making your car payment this month.

If you are a normal human being, you probably have a tendency to lose things.  That is where the truly inexpensive sunglasses come in handy.  These less expensive shades can be found at any retail chain superstore.  You can also find them at your local grocery store or pharmacy.  Less expensive shades may not offer the same great protection as the expensive ones, but they will usually help to filter out the UVA and UVB rays.

When shopping for sunglasses, no matter where you look, there is one important thing to remember.  Choose sunglasses that fit.  They should fit your face, your style, and your budget.  Before you spend a week’s paycheck on a pair of sunglasses, you might want to consider their use.  If it is a trendy style that is bound to go out in five minutes, head to the kiosk for some knock-offs.  If you are planning to wear them somewhere they’ll be easily lost, like the lake or camping, opt for the much less expensive.  The last thing you want to be doing is playing diving-for-sunglasses while everyone is having fun.

If you do drop some serious cash on a pair of sunglasses, learn to take care of them.  Carry a case for them to be in when not being worn.  Clean them only with a specialized lens cloth.  Finally, keep up with them!  Sunglasses do no good if you can’t find them.

You may have a favorite pair of sunglasses that goes great with a certain outfit.  You might also have a tendency to wear a pair of sunglasses you just got religiously…for a week.  Then you never pick them up again.  Sunglasses do you no good on your dresser or in the visor of your car.  It is important to wear sunglasses at all the appropriate and important times.

Of course, a blanket statement is to say that all sunglasses should be worn at all times during the day.  Ideally this is great, but do you know why it is more important to wear them sometimes and other times not as pertinent?  There are certain high risk activities, times, and locations that warrant special sunglass consideration.  If you wear sunglasses no other time, these are the most important occasions.

Summertime is the most dangerous season for your eyes.  You are at least three times more likely to cause serious sun damage to your eyes in the summer than you are in the winter.  This is because the sun produces three times more ultraviolet radiation in the form of UVA and UVB rays during the summer than any other season.  Aside from this, there are clear and obvious reasons you would want to utilize sunglasses more in the summer than the rest of the year.

The sun is out in full force during the hot summer months, and most people like to spend their free time outside when they can.  The light and heat of the midday summer sun is enough to leave anyone reaching for the SPF 45.  So if you are so protective of your skin, why wouldn’t you be equally concerned about your eyes?  Summer is the most important time for sunglasses to be worn.  Make sure you have a trusted pair of shades before hitting the beach with July.

Some medications can cause people to experience photosensitivity.  This heightened sensitivity to sunlight can cause increased discomfort if sunglasses are not in place.  Medications to treat psoriasis, some birth controls and even pills for skin treatment can cause photosensitivity.  When this happens, you won’t have to be reminded to bring the sunglasses along.  The inability to open your eyes for longer than ten seconds will let you know that it is time to go shopping for shades.

Winter sports enthusiasts often forget about the importance of sunglasses.  When you are sailing down the mountain with the fresh cold air in your face, it is easy to forget that the sun is alive and well here too.  Although the sun may not shine as brightly or produce as much heat as other times and places, the damage it causes can be the same or worse.  The white of the snow reflects the harmful rays of the sun directly into your eyes if not properly protected by sunglasses.  Some people will not realize until much later that their eyes have been burned, but it is not something they will soon forget.

Water sports are another occasion in which a dependable pair of sunglasses will save much hardship.  While surfing, wake boarding or water skiing, you may be aware of the sun above you.  However, what may not be as prevalent is the fact that the sun is reflecting off of the water and straight into your eyes.  Just as it does with snow, the sun wreaks havoc on eyes unprotected by sunglasses.

It should go without saying that sunglasses are almost always a good idea.  Any daytime outdoor event is an occasion for the sun to damage your eyes if you are not wearing sunglasses.  Avoid a lifetime of suffering by making the right decision now.  When you’re headed outside for any reason and the sun is going to be attending also, grab the sunglasses. You’ll thank yourself later.

As with virtually anything else in life, there is a time an place for sunglasses.  Most would agree that the benefits of protective eyewear are tried and true.  Still, there are times and places that your sunglasses are not appropriate.  Additionally, there are also times and places that they’re just not going to do you any good.

The etiquette of eyewear is not a topic that is often discussed.  We would all like to think that everyone would make the right decision in deciding when to take and when to leave behind the sunglasses.  Still, there are obviously those that could use a little help on the subject.  For those people, and as a reference for the rest of us, compiled here are just a few of the occasions in which sunglasses should be left in the car.

Wearing sunglasses indoors anywhere is almost always not appropriate.  If you have a medical condition causing sensitivitety to artificial lights, you may be excused from this rule.  To everyone else that insists on wearing shades indoors, you should know something crucial.  The rest of us are watching you, waiting for you to walk into a wall or trip over a chair.

Socially, wearing your sunglasses indoors is often just plain rude.  When you are trying to carry on a conversation with a person that is wearing sunglasses for no apparent reason, it can be rather distracting.  While you may think that you are putting out the mystery-man vibe, you’re actually just telling people you are not interested in what they have to say.  If you plan to make it a habit of giving off this attitude, expect to receive the same in return.

Unless you are Corey Hart and need to “keep track of all the visions” in your eyes, sunglasses at night seem a little silly.  For the same reason you should not wear sunglasses indoors, wearing them at night should be avoided as well.  Again, you may think you look cool, but just about everyone else will think you’re drunk or trying to cover up a black eye.  Whether or not it is socially acceptable, sunglasses at night is just not a good idea.

Consider what a pair of sunglasses is meant to do for you.  They are designed to shield your eyes from the violent radiation of the sun and make it more comfortable for you to see.  While your efforts of protecting your eyes from the brightness of the street lights, you may be doing more harm than good.  Logistically, it can be dangerous to wear dark shades at night, particularly while driving.  Why inhibit your vision more than the darkness of the night already does?  Find another way to tell people you’re cool.

Some situations are acceptable times to wear sunglasses, but still carry rules to be considered.  For example, you have been invited to a friend’s house for a mid day barbeque.  This is a perfectly good time to wear that great pair of sunglasses you got last week.  However, if those sunglasses are completely opaque or mirrored on the outside, reconsider for something that shows off your eyes a little.

In a social gathering or setting, people will presumably strike up conversations with others they find interesting.  It can be difficult to approach a new person and say hello.  When that person is wearing dark, reflecting sunglasses, they may find themselves sitting alone watching everyone else mingle.  For this circumstance, consider a shade of lens that protects your eyes and still allows your features to be seen.  This will help you seem more approachable and less intimidating.

There are other times that you may want to wear sunglasses and social acceptability does not get in your way.  You will not, however, enjoy any of the benefits of sunglass protection, as these high intensity lights are much stronger than the UVA and UVB rays emitted by the sun.  Any kind of welding equipment, tanning beds and eclipses all emit high intensity light for which your sunglasses are no match.  Special protective eyewear is needed while working with welding equipment and while in tanning beds.  Additionally, a pinhole camera is the preferred apparatus for viewing an eclipse.

When deciphering where and when to bring the sunglasses, a little common sense will go a long way.
Protect yourself from high intensity light with specialized eyewear designed for that particular activity.
Know when sunglasses are needed and when they are not.  Taking a moment to consider a few factors will save you embarrassment and possibly injury later.

Everyone loves a good pair of sunglasses.  With all the benefits of sunglasses, it’s hard to have an excuse not to wear them.  You may even want to tell your friends about all the great things a pair of shades can do for you.  You probably own one or two pair of standard issue Jackie-O’s or Aviators, but wait until you find out about the strange oddities that are available in a pair of sunglasses.

Some people may take pet ownership to extreme levels.  For those people, sunglasses for your dogs are just a drop in the bucket.  It’s difficult to picture your little ball of fur in a pair of Aviators.  However, the truth is that dogs have just as many eye problems as humans do, and their eyes should be protected.  Having said that, if you can get your canine to wear sunglasses-and keep them on-more power to you.  You’re probably the same one that buys seasonal outfits for them too.

Regis and Kelly, National Geographic and Animal Planet have all taken notice of sunglasses for dogs.  They actually serve more than one purpose.  Doggie sunglasses help protect your hound’s eyes from the same harmful rays our sunglasses so.  However, since we very rarely hang our heads out a car window, dog sunglasses have an added feature for even more protection.

Resembling goggles, these sunglasses will keep dirt, dust and other debris from flying into your little friend’s eyes while flying down the highway.  It seems like an insane design, but when you think about it, it makes a lot of sense.  These shades for dogs help to protect your best friend the way he would protect you if he could. 

Child sized sunglasses are one thing, but baby sized are quite another.  These miniature sunglasses are sure to inspire a collective “Awwwww” from anyone passing by, but are they really necessary?  This idea seems silly at first, but is another that becomes more reasonable when you consider all of the factors.

Babies are the most sensitive creatures of all of us.  This goes double for their eyes.  A newborn’s eyes are capable of seeing no more than about ten inches away from their face.  Even at this distance, most things are very blurry.  When the sun reflects into an already blurred perception of the world, the results can be very harmful.

Baby sunglasses are not just a cute idea, they are essential to protecting your child’s eyesight.  Anytime you are outside with your baby, you should utilize shades on the car seat, stroller, and in the car.  A pair of tiny sunglasses adds an adorable finishing touch with extra protection.  Don’t forget to take a lot of pictures; you won’t want to forget this!

Flip-up sunglasses are by no means a new invention.  Still, the look of these glasses still deserves mention and a second look whenever you see them.  For this particular weird design of sunglasses, the utility makes perfect sense while the appearance is often strange.  It does make perfect sense that you would want to turn your average glasses into sunglasses, and the flip-up shades are very convenient.  But when you’re in a meeting with the shades popped up and what appears to be two sets of eyes looking back at the other person, don’t be surprised if they stare and giggle a little.

Sunglasses, as with any other type of popular culture are going to come in normal and strange designs.  However, before you dismiss those abnormal styles, consider its usefulness.  Even the odd in appearance can be functional, and possibly make life a little easier.

Summer is upon us, and with it comes a wave of new styles.  Perhaps the most fun about summer style is finding out which sunglasses will be hot this year.  The key to the hippest styles usually has nothing to do with what is brand new.  Most “new” style trends are simply spins off of formerly worn, beloved fads.  This summer’s sunglasses will be no exception to that theory.

For men and women’s sunglasses this year, bigger is definitely better.  Paris Hilton and Nicole Richie have flaunted their flair for the oversized frames for the past few years, and it looks like the trend has finally taken hold.  Oversized sunglasses, paying homage to the late, great Jackie O, appear to be here to stay.  However, fashion gurus will warn you not to go overboard with this idea.  If the sunglasses appear to be swallowing your face, you might want to take it down a notch.

Particularly in the moment of the oversized framed sunglasses, women appear to be having fun with their colors.  No longer is the Jackie O a plain black frame with dark black lenses.  Today’s are Onassis Glasses with an attitude.  Fashion icons can be seen sporting oversized frames in red, green, purple, and other bright colors.  However, white frames also seem to be a favorite.

One retroactive style of sunglasses that is back again is no longer exclusive to men.  While guys love this look too, Aviators are striking a feminine note this year.  These sunglasses are as versatile and fun as they are functional.  For the men, they can be found in dark colored or mirrored lenses, while women may favor purple or rose tints on these particular sunglasses.  Rhinestones and other gems are added to the sides of the lenses for a little flare.

Another particularly popular style of the moment for men and women is the wraparound.  Don’t be fooled by the name.  These are not your average snowboarder’s goggles turned sunglasses.  This year’s wraparounds are being designed by some of the most celebrated designers in Hollywood, New York, Milan and everywhere in between.  You will not be disappointed.

Particular varieties of wraparound sunglasses are geared toward either men or women by changing up the style, color, and size.  Women are leaning toward larger styles, as with the oversized craze discussed earlier.  For wraparound oversized sunglasses, stars like Beyonce have been of inspiration to designers.  One favorite is a square shape, and the lenses simply continue to the arms of the sunglasses and lay over the temples.  This style too has been dressed up with rhinestones for a little shine.

Men’s wraparound sunglasses this season are all about sleek and simple design.  Most designers have abandoned the flowing, rounded look of original wraparounds for a more box like effect.  As with women’s wraparounds, the lens continues to the sides of the head.  Black seems to be the most popular color in these men’s sunglasses, which completes the chic, classy look you want your man to have.

This summer welcomes old styles of sunglasses with new attitude.  Check the red carpets and runways for the latest developments and to make sure they style you’re sporting didn’t go out of style yesterday, how embarrassing!  Just remember that all the celebrities in the world can’t dictate what looks good on you, so pick your sunglasses based on what you like, not them.

Roman Emperor Nero “made” the first sunglasses by  watching gladiator competitions through polished light emerald green gems held up to his eyes.  The true invention of sunglasses was somewhere between 1268 and 1289. 

Around the twelfth century and before 1430, sunglasses were worn by Judges in the Courts of China.  The smoky quartz, flat-glassed panes were not used as protection from the sun.  They were used to conceal any expression in their eyes to keep from giving away the outcome of their decisions.  Prescription sunglasses were developed in Italy in 1430 and were later used by the Chinese Judges. 

By the 1600’s people began to realize the benefits of prescription glasses as helping the elderly to see better and the motto “A Blessing to the Aged” came into being in 1629.
In the mid 18th Century, James Ayscough developed blue and green corrective lenses which began the use of sunglasses for correcting optical impairments.

The development of glasses and sunglasses evolved.  Problems in keeping eyeglasses propped on the nose led to experiments.  Glasses frames had been made from leather, bones and metal and were propped on the nose.  Sidepieces began as silk strips of ribbon that looped around the ears.  Instead of loops, the Chinese added ceramic weights to the ends of the ribbons.  Solid sidepieces were invented by Edward Scarlett in 1730.  Benjamen Franklin’s invention of bifocal lenses followed in 1780.

By the 20th Century, sunglasses were used to protect the eyes from the sun.  In 1929 Sam Foster began selling his protective sunglasses at Woolworth stores on the boardwalk at the beaches in Atlantic City and New Jersey.  His Foster Grants were the first mass-produced sunglasses and they began the trend of sunglasses for fashion.

In the 1930’s the Army Air Corps asked Bausch & Lomb to develop sunglasses that would efficiently reduce high-altitude sun glare for pilots.  Bausch & Lomb came up with sunglasses that had a dark green tint that absorbed light through the yellow spectrum. 

Edward H. Land had invented the Polaroid filter and by 1936 he was using it in the making of sunglasses and soon, sunglasses became “cool.”  Movies stars began wearing sunglasses as a statement and to hide behind.  Aviator glasses became popular with the movie stars and the general public in 1937 after Ray Ban developed the anti-glare sunglasses using polarization.  The longer lens was created to give more protection to pilots’ eyes from the light reflecting off their control panels.

By the 1970’s Hollywood stars and fashion designers made a huge impact on the sunglasses market.  Clothing designers and stars put their names on glasses and sunglasses and everyone had to have them. 

In 2007, stars are still hiding behind their oversized designer sunglasses, making fashion statements and protecting their eyes from the harmful effects of the Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun.  With modern technology and improvements, the making of sunglasses continues to evolve.  We have gone from holding green gems up to our eyes to watch Gladiator sports to Oakley’s 2004 sunglasses with digital audio players built in.  What’s next?

Who Made Sunglasses Popular?

We know by simply looking around that sunglasses are a pop culture phenomenon.  Have you ever stopped to wonder how they became this way?  Humans seem to have an obsession with sunglasses as more than protection for their eyes.  Sunglasses make a statement about the face they’re sitting on, and can add much needed style to an ensemble.  One has to wonder how sunglasses came to be what they are today.

Sunglasses have been worn and made infamous throughout the years by a variety of icons and legends.  Some of these iconic names have even been given to their chosen signature style.  Former First Lady and American Royalty Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis had a particular favorite style of sunglasses.  This oversized look was coined as “Onassis Glasses” or “The Jackie O” and will probably never be known by any other name.

Sir Elton John has paraded his courageous fashions on stage for the past four decades.  Known for his amazing way with Ivory keys, and his crazy fashion statements, Elton John has inspired stylistic insanity with his share of peculiar eyewear.  He has been seen on stage wearing some of the most imaginative and artistic sunglasses the world has ever known.

However wacky the designs have been, Sir Elton John’s trademark is not necessarily in the frames of the sunglasses he wore.  Lenses of all different shades have been this icon’s signature style.  Whether yellow, blue or purple, Sir Elton seems to like the way the world looks through these colorful shades.

James Dean helped make one particular style of sunglasses popular.  The 1950’s movie star could often be seen wearing the style known as the Wayfarer.  This simple design of sunglasses made famous by the “Rebel Without a Cause” is proof that even the most uncomplicated ideas can take off with a little bit of fame behind them.

Later, James Belushi and Dan Aykroyd put their own spin on the retro sunglasses.  The Blue Brothers movie of 1980 saw the two sporting the Wayfarer style in a more modern, sleek, black look.  The glasses came back in style briefly and made other appearances on the screen, such as Risky Business.  No girl can forget a young Tom Cruise in underwear, a dress shirt and his Wayfarers doing a sideways sock-slide to “Old Time Rock and Roll”.

Musicians are known for setting style trends, including sunglasses.  In reality, the reason so many musicians began wearing sunglasses while they performed is that the stage lights can be blinding.  Additionally, during the 1960’s and 1970’s, musicians like John Lennon, Ozzy Osbourne and Janice Joplin were said to have worn the sunglasses all the time as a way of disguising mysteriously bloodshot eyes.  This theory has not been proven, so we can all assume they wore them because they looked cool.

John Lennon and Ozzy Osbourne helped bring the Teashades into popular culture.  Other musicians such as Mick Jagger and Janice Joplin favored this style.  This style of sunglasses is still mostly associated with former Beatle John Lennon.  This is perhaps because not only were they his preferred shape for sunglasses, but his corrective lenses were this shape as well.

Movie and rock stars are not the only ones that have made sunglasses what they are today.  The United States Military has had a hand in coining what is possibly the most famous sunglasses style in history.  In the 1930’s, Ray Ban designed sunglasses that were sold to the U.S. Military to be issued to pilots.  Ladies and Gentlemen, the Aviators are born.  This is quite possibly the strangest fashion trend setter yet: the United States Government!

Another example of the average Joe popularizing a fashion trend is in the case of the “cop shades” or Mirror Shades.  Police officers favored this design and it quickly made its place in pop culture trivia books everywhere.  A popular theory for this preference is that police officers like the intimidating vibe they gave off.  It is somewhat unnerving to look into a one-way mirrored pair of sunglasses and not know the expression of the person looking back.

Many people have played a part in making sunglasses the pop culture icon they are today.  You don’t have to be a movie star, musician, or government official to start a fashion trend.  Pick up a pair of sunglasses that looks good on you, even if they have been out of style since the Reagan Administration.  Wear them with pride; you never know when it might catch on!

Sunglasses have a dark history, but a brilliant future.  The history of sunglasses can be traced back to Roman Emperor Nero who watched the gladiator competitions through polished light emerald green gems held up to his eyes. 

The invention of sunglasses was somewhere between 1268 and 1289.  A visual historical recording of early sunglasses is a painting done by Tommaso da Modena in 1352.  The person in the painting was wearing sunglasses.  This was the first painting of a subject in sunglasses and many more were to follow as it became a fashionable symbol of distinction or honor.

Around the twelfth century and before 1430, sunglasses were worn by Judges in the Courts of China.  The smoky quartz, flat-glassed panes were not used as protection from the sun.  They were used to conceal any expression in their eyes to keep from giving away the outcome of their decisions.  Prescription sunglasses were developed in Italy in 1430 and were later used by the Chinese Judges. 

By the 1600’s people began to realize the benefits of prescription glasses as helping the elderly to see better and the motto “A Blessing to the Aged” came into being in 1629.  It was the motto of an English eyeglasses manufacturer, Spectacle Makers Company.

In the mid 18th Century, James Ayscough developed blue and green corrective lenses which began the use of sunglasses for correcting optical impairments.

The development of glasses and sunglasses continued through the years.  Problems in keeping eyeglasses on the face or propped on the nose led to experiments.  Glasses frames had been made from leather, bones and metal and were propped on the nose.  Sidepieces began as silk strips of ribbon that looped around the ears.  Instead of loops, the Chinese added ceramic weights to the ends of the ribbons.  Solid sidepieces were finally invented by Edward Scarlett in 1730.  Benjamen Franklin’s invention of bifocal lenses followed in 1780.

By the 20th Century, sunglasses were used to protect the eyes from the sun.  In 1929 Sam Foster began selling his protective sunglasses at Woolworth stores on the boardwalk at the beaches in Atlantic City and New Jersey.  His Foster Grants were the first mass-produced sunglasses and they began the trend of sunglasses for fashion.

In the 1930’s the Army Air Corps asked Bausch & Lomb to develop sunglasses that would efficiently reduce high-altitude sun glare for pilots.  Bausch & Lomb came up with sunglasses that had a dark green tint that absorbed light through the yellow spectrum. 

Edward H. Land had invented the Polaroid filter and by 1936 he was using it in the making of sunglasses and soon, sunglasses became “cool.”  Movies stars began wearing sunglasses as a statement and to hide behind.  Aviator glasses became popular with the movie stars and the general public in 1937 after Ray Ban developed the anti-glare sunglasses using polarization.  The longer lens was created to give more protection to pilots’ eyes from the light reflecting off their control panels.

By the 1970’s Hollywood stars and fashion designers made a huge impact on the sunglasses market.  Clothing designers and stars put their names on glasses and sunglasses and everyone had to have them. 

In 2007, stars are still hiding behind their oversized designer sunglasses, making fashion statements and protecting their eyes from the harmful effects of the Ultra Violet (UV) rays of the sun.  With modern technology and improvements, sunglasses continue to evolve.  We have gone from holding green gems up to our eyes to watch Gladiator sports to Oakley’s 2004 sunglasses with digital audio players built in.  What’s next?

When it comes to fashion, sunglasses are “hot!”  What can be hotter than George Clooney as Danny Ocean wearing designer sunglasses in the Oceans movies?   Paris Hilton or the Olsen twins can be seen, just about anywhere in Hollywood, day or night, wearing the latest in designer sunglasses.  When they walk the red carpet and they are asked, “What are you wearing?” they might lower their sunglasses down on their noses and peer over the rims and drop designer names like Vera Wang, Dior, Valentino, Gucci and Armani.

As an attention-getting accessory or fashion statement, designer or custom sunglasses are nothing new.  Trendsetters like Marilyn Monroe, Elvis Presley, and Elton John sported designer and custom sunglasses as part of their “look” or star status.  Some have worn sunglasses to hide behind, cover their drug-affected eyes, or make a statement.  Pictures of Elvis Presley reveal that he had sunglasses custom-made for him with his initials or the letters TCB (Taking Care of Business) built right into the nose bridge.  

Stars like Sophia Loren, Donald Trump, and Britney Spears have their own name brand sunglasses on the market while others may be wearing Marc Jacobs or Armani sunglasses for a classy look or Baby Phat for punk style.  The mood for the day might be for the blast-to-the-past 1950’s look of Fossil sunglasses.

The same clothing designer may also be the designer of the sunglasses that you choose to accessorize your brand-name clothing.   For instance, the smart Tommy dresser can add to the look of a Tommy Hilfiger clothing ensemble with Tommy Hilfiger sunglasses.  For casual wear, Kate Spade sunglasses might do nicely.   Carrera is known for a sporty look.  For a sensual mood, Valentino  frames that have smooth round edges and Swarovsky crystals might just put you (or whoever is looking at you) in the mood.

Designer sunglasses, if you can afford them, are a status symbol showing everyone that you have the cash (or credit card) to buy them.  However, in order to be fashionable in sunglasses, you do not have to give up quality.  Sunglasses, not being just fashionable accessories, are used to protect your eyes from damage caused by the sun’s UV (ultra-violet) rays.  Designer prescription sunglasses can improve vision, and reduce eyestrain, just like ordinary glasses.

Name-brand and designer sunglasses can be polarized to reduce the glare of the sunlight reflecting off surfaces like the highway, cars, water or snow.  Polarized sunglasses work by blocking off the horizontal light reflections and only let in vertical light reflections.  The polarization of designer sunglasses makes them fashionable in other areas of lifestyle like golfing, boating, biking, swimming, fishing and aircraft flying.

Marketers of designer sunglasses aim toward children who enjoy the same hot styles and brand-names as their parents and their idols.  Children’s designer sunglasses can also be polarized.  Sunglasses should be part of children’s daily wear as they play outside and engage in outdoor sports and activities.  Sunglasses can prevent them from the long-term affects of sun damage to their eyes.

Sunglasses in any shade, shape or size, by any name may be a “hot” fashion item for trend-setting stars, men, women and children, but the importance of protecting the eyes from damage far outweighs the importance of looking cool.