advice re. buying sunglasses

Legacy_user

My eyes seem very sensitive to the sunlight this year, so I think it's time to get myself a pair of sunglasses. I've never worn sunglasses, and I don't think I actually own a pair (!) and I am not sure where to start when it comes to choosing some.

Are they all much of a muchness, or are some makes better than others? I don't need prescription glasses (only for reading) so it would just be for protecting my eyes from the bright glare of the sun or daylight.

What would you say is a reasonable amount to pay? I am not sure whether to just go into Boots and try some on (I couldn't find any nice ones the last time I was in there, a couple of months ago) or to go to the opticians. Or perhaps there are some good online retailers?

Advice would be much appreciated

InsideInsurance

Beyond their style there is only really a question of how dark you want them, what colour lenses, if they block UV light or not and if they are polarized or not.

Most glasses do block UV these days which clearly is good for your eyes but as a downside you end up with white rings around your eyes where you face tans but there doesnt

Polarized lenses will help stop glare off certain reflective surfaces and makes things like clouds look more pronounced etc. A personal taste, but I like them.

Coloured of lenses varies by personal taste as much as the design. Personally not keen on browns as they colour cast everything which is fine whilst I wear them but makes the world look odd when I take them off.

The only other thing to check, esp if you are getting it for stopping headaches etc is checking how much light is going to get round the edges/ over the top etc. Some lenses are very stylish but not actually good at blocking sun coming in from the peripheries

hgotsparkle

Get ones with a high UV filter, and one important tip (that most people forget!) is that they shouldn't touch your cheeks when you smile, if they do, they're too big and you aren't getting enough protection from the gap between the glasses and your brow bone.

System

Thanks. I'm having a bit of eye-trouble at the moment and they seem much more sensitive to the light. I have never needed to wear sunglasses before. I don't much like wearing glasses, to be honest, but my eyes are watering, and they're having to squint a lot due to the glare.

Has anyone tried the ones which react to the light? Are those any good?

theoretica

The reactive ones are more expensive - my suggestion would be to go an get yourself a cheapo pair so your eyes stop watering and squinting and then spend the time to find a pair you actually like.

pogofish

avogadro wrote: »

Are they all much of a muchness, or are some makes better than others?

Actually they are. A while back, one of the pushbike mags did a massive test on sunglasses where it emerged that most big-name brands sold in Europe came from the same two Italian factories that made almost everyone else's cheap sunglasses.

IIRC, while there was a great difference between the quality of the really cheap Chinese sunspecs and the EU brands, when you got to brands costing about twenty quid, the difference in quality/UV performance between them and brands costing five to ten times as much was undetectable.

geri1965_2

Have a look in TK Maxx - they have a huge range at a fraction of the prices in Boots - hence the reason I have about 15 pairs

I have some cycling sunglasses which are supposed to react to the light, and frankly they are rubbish.

Weirdly, the best glasses I have for cycling were £2 in Tesco.

System

pogofish wrote: »

IIRC, while there was a great difference between the quality of the really cheap Chinese sunspecs and the EU brands, when you got to brands costing about twenty quid, the difference in quality/UV performance between them and brands costing five to ten times as much was undetectable.

So if they are made in the E.U. chances are they will be reasonable quality?

balletshoes

i never have sunglasses off my face if the sun is about - whether thats outside or in the car.

My sunglasses for the past 5 years or so have been from Primark, at this time of year there are loads and loads of styles to choose from and no more than about £2-3 per pair.

MrsE_2

I'm a real fan of polarised lenses.
My personal fav make is rayban, I've been a fan for over 20 years.
I have a lovely Paris Hilton style of rayban polarised at the moment.

InsideInsurance

avogadro wrote: »

Has anyone tried the ones which react to the light? Are those any good?

They tend to be fairly good at getting darker in the sun but not so good at lightening up when you go into the shade/ inside etc. One of the chaps in my office has reactive lenses for his glasses and typically they are still in blackout mode even after coming into the building, waiting for the lift, going up 12 floors and walking across to his desk. He moans about them constantly.

Most would probably rather have multiple pairs of glasses with different tints than photoreactive lenses