DETROIT – Sunglasses are a very popular fashion accessory because they accentuate the personality and add a whole new dimension to our personal style. Moreover, some of the high-end sunglasses offer 100% protection against UV rays from the Sun, which is crucial to protect our eyes on a bright day. However, the biggest mistake we make with sunglasses is not getting a prescription first. Wearing non-prescription sunglasses can ruin eyesight in the long run and hamper visibility, which is risky.

Therefore, always consult your optometrist before heading out to buy a new pair of trendy sunglasses. Apart from the utility, we must also remember the aesthetic value that the sunglasses add to our outfit. Poorly picked sunglasses can ruin your fashion statement and burn a hole in your pocket. But before jumping into all the technicalities, it is important to stress the necessity to have the right supplier.

Find a store that has a loyal customer base and good feedback. This is because you want to ensure that the sunglasses you buy are certified by professionals, so you get the best quality. In this article, we will talk about some of the common mistakes that people make when buying a new pair of sunglasses.

Selecting frames that don’t cover the eyes

When buying a new pair of sunglasses, always prioritize utility over fashion. Your primary goal should be to get maximum protection against harmful UV rays. Therefore, do not buy frames that will cover only part of your eyes. It is pertinent to note here that smaller frames are in fashion currently and very popular with millennials.

Therefore, you will have a driving instinct to invest in smaller frames. Moreover, people with round faces often go for smaller frames so their face won’t look slimmer than it is. You have to remember that all these points are from the fashion perspective, which won’t serve its true purpose.

The skin around your eyes is extremely sensitive and highly vulnerable to the evils of the environment. Even your eyelids are extremely prone to skin cancer. Let’s not forget the possibility of sunburns around the unprotected areas, which has the ability to ruin your facial features. Therefore, always invest in a frame that covers your eyes completely.

Being careless during lens selection

Once you have settled on a frame of choice, move on to the lens selection process. People who are fixated on the fashion quotient, often ignore the quality and type of lens, which is harmful. The two most popular lens choices are tinted and polarized. Tinted lenses cost way less and are great for people who are on a budget.

However, they are not good for long-term investment. This is because the tint fades away over time, thereby, exposing your eyes to harmful UV rays. Moreover, if you are not careful, you may not even notice the damage, and subject your eyes to the evils of the environment.

Although, if you are hell-bent on tinted lenses, you can go for some of the trusted brands and market leaders so you get some warranty on the tint. The best choice for a lens is the polarized lens, which is also in fashion currently.

Polarized lenses have premium quality, and they are very durable. These lenses also have anti-glare protection, which is great for people who spend a good amount of time on the roads. The only downside to polarized lenses is that they are costlier than tinted ones. However, they are a good long-term investment.

Not going for durable frames

Frames are the exosksleton of the sunglasses, which makes them the most important part. Still, most of us go for cheaper frames that use low-quality material.  As a result, most people have to replace their sunglasses because the frame comes off easily.

Therefore, it is wise to invest in a high-quality frame. Hence, always buy a frame that is durable. We wear sunglasses outdoors, which means they could be subjected to rough use every now and then.

So it is only reasonable to expect your sunglasses to take occasional blows. However, if you are buying sunglasses for sporting activities, invest in frames that are made of materials with high tensile strength. You can also look up product reviews online to get an idea of a product’s performance. Customer reviews are the best way to unravel the real story.

This column was provided by Mohd Mustafa