SunGlass Information
Archive for the ‘Coyote Sunglasses’ Category
Macular Degeneration - A big name for a big problem
As we continue reduce the ozone layer the effects of UV rays on the mucus membranes continue to increase. Our parents didn’t think about SPF clothing or Sunscreen, they went out with oil in the hottest part of the day without another thought. People during thier time contracted Cancer and they’re deaths were described as “consumption” . The first sunglasses did little to protect the wearer and were more designed for fashion. And Sunscreen was not even a consideration.
Times have changed and now we know that UV rays can cause irreversible damage to both the skin and eyes. And we now have the technology to protect both. Experts suggest that we use Sunscreen with at least a SPF (sun protection factor) of 35 or more. And it has been proven that sunglasses without UV protection can lead to Macular Degeneration. So it is important to pick Sunglasses that have 100% AVA and AVB protection.
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”.
While most people base their selection of sunglasses on their visual aesthetic, there is a clear beneficial difference between some sunglasses. The truth is, a lot of cheap sunglasses aren’t polarized, which means that the sunglasses aren’t deflecting the sun’s harmful rays. When the eyes are exposed to the sun’s harmful rays all the time, it can cause damage over the course of the lifetime. Thus, some sunglasses aren’t offering all that much protection. It’s important to choose sunglasses that have polarized lenses, as these sunglasses do protect against harmful UVA and UVB rays.
Polarized sunglasses are most often available from designer brands, but don’t expect to pay the same $5 for designer sunglasses as one would at a curbside stand. Designer sunglasses can be expensive, however, there are several designer brands that offer more affordable sunglasses than the big names. Just like fashion, much of the reason for the cost is the brand name itself. Mens designer sunglasses from brands like Coyote and Ocean Waves are a great value, and also have polarized lenses.
If you find yourself squinting in the noonday sun and suffering sensitivity to glare, polarized lenses are worth a look. Glare is produced when the sun reflects off of horizontal surfaces such as roadways or water. This reflected light hits the eye all at once rather than being spread out safely in a normal configuration. For this reason, drivers and boaters are especially susceptible to glare.
Polarized eyewear corrects the way light is distributed to the human eye. Polarized lenses contain a filter to block intense rays of light, making for a more enjoyable midday drive or early morning boat ride. It should be noted that polarized glasses, as with any eyewear, are not intended to protect you from looking directly at the sun. Rather, they are unparalleled tools for cutting down on indirect glare.
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
The Age of Polarization
While strolling down Broadway in 1926, Edwin Herbert Land was blinded by the headlights of an oncoming automobile. It occurred to him that there must be away to develop a polarizing sheet that would reduce glare from light. He was attending Harvard University as a freshman when he first had his revelation about the polarizing process. He left Harvard and moved to New York, working secretly at night in a laboratory at Columbia University. In 1929 Land returned to Harvard, this time with his wife, Helen. Although Land would never graduate, he had already developed the first synthetic sheet polarizer by trapping tiny crystals in a thin sheet. By 1932 the sheet was actually being produced and would be used to make camera lens filters and polarizing sunglasses that cut glare from the sun. With the backing of Wall Street tycoons James P.Warburg, Averell Harriman (1891-1986) and Lewis Strauss, Land founded the Polaroid Corporation in 1937. One of the company’s first projects was to persuade Detroit’s automobile industry to install polarizing sheets in the headlamps and windshields of all its vehicles. Although Land was never able to sell his ideas to automobile manufacturers, he went on to discover many more uses for his invention.
By the 1940s, the Polaroid Corporation was making its contribution to the United States war effort. Servicemen who fought in World War II reaped the benefits of Land’s inventions that resulted in polarizers for rangefinders and . The development of infrared viewers also aided night vision. By 1945 the Polaroid Corporation received millions of dollars in government contracts to develop military optics, and sales increased from the original $142,000 to $17 million.