For once that promise of the fabled Barbeque summer may just be possible, as some parts of the country swelter due to the driest weeks since records began. Our thoughts, and those of our clients, turn to sunglasses, as spectacle wearers have to think a little more carefully than carefree, non-prescription wearers! For the latter it’s easy, just making a decision based on looks and comfort to see them through the summer months.
Sun clips that you put on top of your glasses may seem like a cheap, simple, easy option. You simply pop them on to your frames when the needs arises, no problem. They are lightweight, easy to carry around, and can be transferred to new frames when you change your glasses. There are however a few pitfalls that you may need to avoid so think carefully before using that ancient sun clip you unearth every year.
Firstly, make sure they give 100% UV protection. A dark lens makes your pupil open wider, allowing light to flood into the eye. Without a UV filter damaging rays can cause irreversible problems, such as cataract or macular degeneration. Legislation now means that all sun protection must be kite marked and give full UV protection, but sun clips tend to hang around for longer than actual sunpecs, so if you have an old pair, get them checked before you wear them.
Sun clips can also damage your glasses, especially if their style means they come into contact with lenses. We’ve seen scratches down the front of lenses due to those huge shields you wear right over your frames, and deep edge scratches where the clip holds the lenses. This kind of damage means a new lens, making your ‘economical’ clips a rather false economy!
The other danger is in clips that obscure your peripheral vision, due to bad fitting around the edge of your specs. This can be dangerous for drivers and elderly people who are unsteady on their feet. So if you wear clips yourself or have a relative who does so, make sure they fit well, without touching the spectacle lenses, think about obscured vision, and ask an Optician to check their level of UV protection.