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Archive for the ‘Angel Sunglasses’ Category
Summer of Surf better with Polarized Shades
Oh wow these past few weeks have been awesome we have had several storm generated swells back to back and I’ve been spending allot of time at the beach. My polarized sunglasses have made a world of difference! They really cut the glare and make it easier to figure out where the waves are best. I never leave home without them!
What is the real cost of cheap Sunglasses?
We’ve all been tempted to buy those cool looking sunglasses at the department store and when you add it to your other purchases you barely notice how much they cost. But what is the real cost of those sunglasses? I’m not talking about the number on the price tag I’m referring to long term costs associated with poorly manufactured sunglasses. These products rely on flash and often spend more money on the frames paying little attention to the lenses. Lets look at some of the costs of these dangerous impostors.
Exposure to ultraviolet rays is the leading cause of cataracts in adults but this damage can begin while we are children. They also can cause skin cancers on the eyelids and around the eyes. In addition to these problems excessive exposure to glare can cause eye fatigue and headaches. Think about the cost associated with an Opthamologist , Dermatologist or even an Oncologist.
I think it’s clear that purchasing quality eyewear from a reputable company is much cheaper than those department “cheapies”.
The hottest brands like Oakley and Maui Jim make some of the best designer sunglasses for women, however, these sunglasses come with an enormous price tag. It’s unreasonable to spend two or even three hundred dollars on a pair of sunglasses, so instead of opting for one of the high end designer brands, check out Angel eyewear. While Angel is a less renowned brand when compared to a name like Oakley or Maui Jim, the sunglasses often have a similar look and also have the polarized lenses that make them worth the money.
Angel eyewear provides great value, and is still amongst the best in both fashion and function. While not available from many designer sunglasses retailers (due to the inexpensive price relative to more renowned brands), Angel eyewear is available at several locations online. Get a new set of Angel sunglasses now and be prepared for the heart of summer when the sun’s rays are sure to be shining!
After spending the last week and a half in Italy, I am now in Florence and I can’t help to notice all the Sunglasses everyone is wearing. Everyone seems to have a different style or brand so I decided to try to figure out which brands were most popular. It seems that the cheap knock-offs are by far the most popular, everything from hello kitty frames to hearts to knock-off ray-bans (I guess they don’t read this blog). This is followed by designer eyewear like Gucci, Prada, Dolce & Gabanna, ect. Oakley also seems to be popular in the crowds and stores along with Ocean Waves and Anarchy.
Large frames seem to be the norm for women while men seem to prefer wraparound frames. It is very unusual for anyone to not be wearing some type of sunglasses and since there has been no rain or cloudy days since I’ve arrived I expect that to be normal for Italian summers.
Actually you have three choices when it comes to lens composition: Glass, Plastic or Polycarbonate. All have advantages and disadvantages we will discuss each so you can determine which is best for you.
Glass lenses provide the best scratch resistance and highest optical clarity. They are, however, 2-3 times as heavy as plastic or polycarbonate lenses and, while they are tempered for impact resistance, can shatter or break if struck by an object. These types of lenses are suitable for people who value durability and clarity but are not great for people involved in high speed sports or activities where something could strike your lenses or face.
Plastic lenses are significantly lighter than glass lenses, and thus, may be more comfortable to wear for extended periods of time. Also, while not shatterproof, these lenses are also more shatter resistant than glass. Disadvantages include average optical clarity and less scratch resistance. These types of lenses are great for customers looking for a lightweight, affordable pair of sunglasses.
Polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and extremely lightweight. Their primary drawback is that the material is very soft and is the least scratch resistant material used. These lenses are great for active people involved in sports. Because they are lightweight they will stay put when moving around. The shatterproof lenses will also provide protection from not only UV rays, but also impact from objects or in case of an accident or a fall.
Better frames (often called Hand-Made Frames) are made from Cellulose Acetate or Zyl, as it is often called. This is the material the optical world recognizes as the finest and over 90% of it is produced in Italy by a company named Mazzuchelli or by its sister company in Hong Kong. Cellulose Acetate is derived from natural cotton and wood fibers and is subjected to a process of steaming, coloring, molding and cutting to achieve the necessary characteristics: translucency, shine, fluidity, subtlety and rich color patterns. Cellulose Acetate is used to make colors as simple as black or tortoise shell in hundreds of variations, to special colors like Lipstick Red, Lime Green or colors that change depending on the angle you see them from, and everything in between.
A Zyl frame is composed of two main parts: the front and the temples. The two parts are made separately and then assembled after each part has been completed and inspected. Creating an optical quality frame is a labor-intensive process that can be carried out only by highly trained technicians aided by technologically advanced equipment. Optical quality frames can be used for either sunglasses or fitted with prescription lenses. They are perfectly symmetrical and will not distort vision when fitted with ophthalmic lenses.
When Italian materials are used in designer frames it is made by pouring liquefied Cellulose Acetate, in colors chosen and mixed into large molds where they cool and then harden. More complex colorations are produced somewhat like a sandwich: several colors, in separate layers, and permanently bonded together. Some special colors are made up of up to 4 separate and distinct color layers. The possible color combinations of these “laminates” are endless. As the precess of making the glasses proceeds, the material is skived, or shaved away, exposing these different layers and creating stunning visual effects.
The frames are then “tumbled” with teakwood chips for as long as a week to make them smooth. The frame is then hand polished using a wax and emollient shining cream then buffed to a high luster.
A good designer spends a great amount of time designing temples that are comfortable to wear and that blend seamlessly with the front., while imparting a special flair to the glasses. Depending on the particular style, you will notice many different shapes and sizes of temples in different collection. The handmade process on the temples is as painstaking as that of the fronts because the temples are specially color designed to match he patterns on the front.
Nickel Silver wire temple cores and barrel hinges are inserted into the polished temples using an ultrasonic machine that shoots them into the temple at the proper angle. The wire core can be adjusted by you, or an optician, to comfortably fit each individual customer.
In this two-part Blog, I will discuss the three main ways that non-metal sunglass frames are made. In this part I will discuss the first two types Injection Molding and Advanced Materials. In the next part will be devoted to explaining Hand-Made frames.
The least expensive method is made by Injecting a mold created from aluminum or highly polished stainless steel with liquid plastic. This material is petroleum-based products that begins in bead form. To add color, they are spray-painted and then glass coated and tumbled for shine.
Recently materials like Grilamid TR-90 have been developed to answer the need for lightweight and durable frames that offer optical quality not typically associated with typical injection plastics. This new technology has made it possible to make great looking frames that can, in many cases accommodate prescription lenses. A new material, Grilamid TR-90, is a Swiss Nylon Polymer that is melted and then poured into optical quality stainless steel molds. fronts and temples are produced separately. Once removed from the molds, they are hand polished and assembled before the lenses are fitted. The temple tips and nose pieces of many Grilamid TR-90 frames are made from optical grade rubber to add comfort and prevent slippage during strenuous activity. The end result is a frame that is lightweight, yet extremely durable and flexible.
Macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in people over age 60. It occurs when the small central portion of the retina, known as the macula, deteriorates. The retina is the light-sensing nerve tissue at the back of the eye. Because the disease develops as a person ages, it is often referred to as age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Although macular degeneration is almost never a blinding condition, it can be a source of significant visual disability.
There are two main types of age-related macular degeneration:
- Dry form. The “dry” form of macular degeneration is characterized by the presence of yellow deposits, called drusen, in the macula. In general, drusen do not cause changes in vision; however, as they grow in size and increase in number, they may lead to a dimming or distortion of vision that people find most noticeable when they read. In more advanced stages of dry macular degeneration, there is also a thinning of the light-sensitive layer of cells in the macula leading to atrophy, or tissue death. In the atrophic form of dry macular degeneration, patients may have blind spots in the center of their vision. In the advanced stages, patients lose central vision.
- Wet form. The “wet” form of macular degeneration is characterized by the growth of abnormal blood vessels from the choroid underneath the macula. This is called choroidal neovascularization. These blood vessels leak blood and fluid into the retina, causing distortion of vision that makes straight lines look wavy, as well as blind spots and loss of central vision. These abnormal blood vessels eventually scar, leading to permanent loss of central vision.
Most patients with macular degeneration have the dry form of the disease and will not lose central vision. However, the dry form of macular degeneration can lead to the wet form. Although only about 10% of people with macular degeneration develop the wet form, they make up the majority of those who experience serious vision loss from the disease.
It is very important for people with macular degeneration to monitor their eyesight carefully and see their eye doctor on a regular basis. An remember, use of sunglasses with good UV protection can reduce the suns damage.
source: WebMD.com
Since I spend most of my time at the beach, I like to wear Mirror lens (they also let me check the boys out!). But I found that most of the glasses I bought at the department stores scratched easily. So I started to look into how these lenses were made and it seems that the mirror coating is applied last putting it on the outside of the lens making most susceptible to scratching.
As I continued searching I found that better sunglasses used a film made of materials such as diamond-like carbon and polycrystalline diamond. These materials are used to create a thin but extremely durable film on the surface of the lens. This process makes it possible for me to get affordable polycarbonate mirror glasses that are scratch resistant and will really last!
Summer Sunlight Linked to Macular Degeneration
In a recent study, researchers looked at the association between sunlight exposure and the 10-year risk of age-related macular degeneration among a large group of adults aged 43 to 86 years who were first examined between 1988 and 1990 as a part of the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
The results appear in the May issue of The Archives of Ophthalmology.
Researchers found that people who spent more than five hours a day in the summer sun in their teens, 30s, and after age 40 were more than twice as likely to develop early age-related macular degeneration compared with those who reported spending less than two hours per day of sunlight during the same periods.
In addition, those who got five or more hours per day of summer sun were more than three times as likely to develop increased retinal pigment, a condition commonly associated with age-related macular degeneration.
But the study showed wearing hats or sunglasses at least half of the time reduced the risk of developing deposits on the retina by 50% among those who reported the highest sun exposure levels.
The study also found that people who had more than 10 severe sunburns in their youth were two and a half times more likely to develop an increase in pigments found in the retina.
Source: WebMD