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Author Topic: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health  (Read 3869 times)

lifejoy

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Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« on: July 15, 2016, 07:08:36 PM »
Can I buy cheap sunglasses and protect my eyes from UVA/UVB rays? Please don't tell me the expensive sunnies protect my eyes better...
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lbmustache

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #1 on: July 15, 2016, 07:57:08 PM »
I don't know the answer to this question but would like to know.

I went a long long time without sunglasses (I need prescription ones since I wear glasses) and now I have a brown spot on my eye that looks ugly :( The dr said it is from the sun and it happens as you age. I now wear sunglasses whenever I am outside, including while driving. I use Warby Parker since mine are prescription, they were around $100.
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Metric Mouse

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #2 on: July 15, 2016, 08:03:41 PM »
Anything's gotta be better than nothing, right?
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Nothlit

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #3 on: July 15, 2016, 08:13:50 PM »
I have never really considered sunglasses as UV protection. I wear them because without them the sun is too bright and forces me to squint. I buy the cheapest ones I can find because I inevitably misplace them about once every 18 months or so (I am not the kind of person who typically misplaces things, but sunglasses just seem too easy to put down or leave behind somewhere absentmindedly).
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jp

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #4 on: July 15, 2016, 08:35:03 PM »
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csprof

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #5 on: July 15, 2016, 09:24:08 PM »
Quote from: jp on July 15, 2016, 08:35:03 PM
There is no difference.

http://abcnews.go.com/Lifestyle/pricey-cheap-designer-sunglasses-provide-uv-protection-cheaper/story?id=25337330

And irrespective of the measurements:

If they're actually made of glass, there *can* be a difference.

Most sunglasses, cheap and otherwise, are made of polycarbonate, which absorbs 100% of UV.

Polarized sunglasses absorb 100% of UV.

There are possibly some cheap triacetate sunglasses floating around that only absorb 40-90%.  Avoid those.  Look specifically for polycarbonate if unsure.

I've been wearing these cheap 3M safety glasses from Amazon:  non-affiliate  affiliate lately, and have been almost satisfied with them.  The only way in which they fall short for me is they don't stay on as well as sunglasses with more grippy rubber parts.  But I cycle commute daily with them, and for $3-4 and last 4+ months, I find them just fine.

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gooki

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #6 on: July 16, 2016, 03:19:38 AM »
Just get name brand 'expensive' ones for $10. Aliexpress/eBay can help you out here.
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Secretly Saving

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #7 on: July 16, 2016, 07:10:05 AM »
Two quick other thoughts: 

You can take them in to a glasses shop and get a UV coating out on them if you find that it doesn't have one.

Also a way to quickly check if the sunglasses are polarized.  Put them on and look at your phone vertically/portrait.  Then turn your phone horizontally/landscape.  You'll see a difference if they're polarized.
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ender

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #8 on: July 16, 2016, 07:51:19 AM »
My biggest problem with sunglasses isn't cost, but finding any that I like.

I actually just found a pair I liked at a higher-than-I'd-like-to-pay cost, I think $35/pair or something. I bought both the pairs they had.

I like wrap around, polarized, sunglasses which actually block all the light hitting my eyes. I also like the reflective coating on them (normally that skiers blue color). This is hard to find. Most people wear sunglasses it seems more for looks than function...
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Joggernot

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #9 on: July 16, 2016, 08:08:42 AM »
Quote from: csprof on July 15, 2016, 09:24:08 PM
I've been wearing these cheap 3M safety glasses from Amazon:  non-affiliate  affiliate lately, and have been almost satisfied with them.  The only way in which they fall short for me is they don't stay on as well as sunglasses with more grippy rubber parts.  But I cycle commute daily with them, and for $3-4 and last 4+ months, I find them just fine.
These.  We buy a box of 20 at about $21, so if we leave them somewhere we don't cry; we just get another pair from the box.
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waltworks

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Re: Expensive sunglasses vs $10 sunglasses and eye health
« Reply #10 on: July 16, 2016, 08:48:38 AM »
Jackson Safety makes a wild variety of safety glasses that come in almost every "style" available for other eyewear. They tend to cost $5-10 per pair and provide 100% UV protection, plus a number of other irrelevant-to-almost-everyone (impact) things.

They have hilarious names like "Hellraiser" and "Nemesis" too.

https://www.industrialsafety.com/Jackson-3013854-Spec-Hellraiser-Smoke-p/c24121021.htm?gclid=CjwKEAjwtqe8BRCs-9DdpMOilBoSJAAyqWz_MPTujQZP1jBnfHsZEZY7-gLt5msP-uKv6dbf2F0mtRoC4ybw_wcB

-Walt
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