Sunglasses can be found in a variety of different models with varying shapes, materials, and colors with or without a prescription. Below you will find some of the more common sunglass features that you can get for your vision enhancement and eye protection.

One of the most basic feature for all sunglasses is complete protection against the potentially damaging effects of the sun’s ultraviolet-A and ultraviolet-B rays. You should never purchase dark tinted sunglasses that do not offer 100 percent UV protection. Why? Because sun glasses make the pupil of the eye dilate and open up to allow more light in which, in turn, allows UV rays to easily enter the eye. If your sunglasses lack complete UV protection, they can result in damage to your eyes.

Polarized sunglasses reduce bothersome glare from flat surfaces like snow, water, roads and other reflective surfaces. By removing the glare, polarized sunglass wearers see better and have less eye fatigue as they need to squint less. These advantages are critical to drivers, airline pilots, heavy-equipment operators, outdoor enthusiasts like hunters and fishermen and many athletes like skiers, golfers and ball players.

Glasses tend to fall or rub up against objects so it’s important to consider the material used for the lens. Consider impact-resistant sunglasses as they resist breakage when dropped or mishandled. Lenses made of a trade-name plastic called CR-39 are lighter than glass and even more resistant to breakage. Glasses made of high-index plastic are even lighter than CR-39 glasses and have a coating that protects them against scratching.

Photo-cromic sunglasses have lenses that are designed to brighten or darken in response to the intensity of sunlight. When outdoors the lens are dark providing the maximum protection. But when you go indoors, where the lighting is lower, the optics lighten allowing the sunglass wearer to see better in low light conditions.

When sunglass wearers get rain, mist, or fog on the lenses it becomes near impossible to see clearly. However, water sheeting is a feature that helps preserve visual acuity even when the lens are exposed to water and get wet. Water-sheeting allows the water to form in a see-through sheet on the lens rather then in individual droplets that block or distort vision. Water sheeting lens are essential for fishermen out on the water in the early morning mist.

There are three types of rays that the sun emits: visible, infrared and ultraviolet (UV). Generally, without added technology, our eyes can see only portions of visible light. But the most dangerous of these rays, that can cause eye damage, are the UV rays. Continuous over-exposure to bright sunlight can damage the eye including the cornea, lens and retina. If the damage to the eye is excessive it can lead to cataracts, or clouding of the lens, or macular degeneration, a breakdown of the macula.

By becoming more educated about the harmful effects of UV rays on the eyes, you will be better able to choose quality sunglasses that are capable of providing lasting protection to you from the irreversible damage to your vision that can result from prolonged exposure to the sun.

Prescription sunglasses are specially designed for people who need vision correction to see clearly while also providing protection from the sun’s rays. Many sunglass companies now make stylist, fashion-conscious sunglasses that also require a prescription.

Prescription sunglasses are designed to protect the user from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the sun. However, polarized lens can provide added protection for the eyes from glare that occurs when light is reflected off flat surfaces such as water or snow. Another great choice is photo-chromatic sunglasses because they have the ability to darken in the sun yet lighten automatically when you go indoors.

Until recently prescription sunglasses were not available in a wrap-around style. The curvature of the lens would cause vision distortion. Now with new technology, prescription sunglasses are available with wrap-around making them very fashionably.

If you require custom-made prescription sunglasses, be aware that they will cost you more and usually no refund is available from the manufacturer. Make sure you work with a reputable company that offers quality prescription sunglasses and first class service.

When you consider all the equipment it takes to hit the links one of the most forgotten pieces are often the most important: golf sunglasses. Having an appropriate pair of polarized lenses can provide the necessary sun protection for your eyes that is imperative if you will be following the track of a ball in flight or gauging the distance to the pin for an approach shot or even navigating around a water hazard. For these reasons alone, good polarized sunglasses must be considered an essential addition to any golfer’s arsenal of equipment for bringing your “A” game.

Many of the professional brands on the market today can run steep in price. But there are some reasonable alternatives in the lesser known brands that can equally protect you from the harmful effects of the sun. In fact any polarized sunglass is better for you than no protection at all. While you spend your day out on the course looking up in the air trying to follow your ball you will need adequate protection from the sun.

When looking for the right pair of sunglasses for you, you need to keep in mind some basic requirements that make polarized optics critical to your golf game. Pay attention to the UVA and UVB rating which will be provide protection from the harmful rays of the sun. Another important element to consider when looking for the best possible pair of golf sunglasses is the material used to make them. To maximize your success on the course and make playing the game more enjoyable you will want a pair that will feel as though you are not wearing anything at all. This means that the right choice is usually made from a lightweight polycarbonate material. Also insist on polarized lenses to reduce eye strain and eliminate the bothersome glare of the sun that reflects off of flat surfaces.

You do not want to cut corners when it comes to your clubs. Similarly the same can be said for your golf eye protection. Golf sunglasses can be an integral part of your game that will make you feel more comfortable and relaxed which leads to more success on the course. It’s difficult to hit the ball where you want it to go when you can’t see clearly where it needs to go. And when you can follow the ball better there is less chance of loosing it in the rough. So find yourself a great pair of polarized golf sunglasses and see how much better you feel about your game. You’ll even look more professional too.