Sunglasses are the most popular and must have accessory out there, with everyone toting one around to keep their eyes protected from harmful UV rays while making a fashion statement at the same time. Despite popular belief, sunglasses are not only for style statement, they are a necessity in a lot of jobs where individuals are exposed to bright sunlight and harshly warm conditions. In these situations having the right kinds of sunglasses with the right type of lenses makes all the difference in increasing visibility and keeping your protected against the harmful elements.

Selecting the right lens for your sunglasses is critical to their performance. There is a wide variety of options out there and to understand them better, this guide will help!

The first thing you need to consider is how much curvature you want on your lens. The measurement is called base curve and it signifies the primary curvature – with higher numbers signifying more curvature of the lens. Most fashion and average use sunglasses have a base curvature of 6, which is pretty standard. There are sunglasses with a base curvature of 8 as well as the rare ones with base curvature of 12 – which are almost impossible put prescriptions into and are impossible to polarize.

The second important factor is deciding the material you want the lens to be made out of. Currently there are three lens material choices available:

• Polycarbonate Lenses
  These ultra-lightweight lenses are 20 times more impact resistant than glass lenses and are virtually shatterproof. A huge plus is that the color is embedded rather than painted or stuck on like other tinted sunglasses and thus can’t scratch or peel and remains optically correct at all times.
• Glass Lenses
  Most glass lenses are made from borosilicate optical glass which is distortion free and offers the highest level of visual acuity available in the market. These lenses allow for excellent optical quality and a scratch-resistant surface. And to ensure that they are safe in the face of reasonable impact, all glass lenses are mandated to go through a drop ball test. With the proper care, these lenses can last a lifetime.
• Plastic Lenses
  These are much lighter in weight as compared to glass lenses but are more prone to scratches on and marks. Although they are less expensive, most manufacturers of sunglasses have now shifted to polycarbonate lenses for the durability.
  Apart from these lens materials, you can also decide if you want mirror lenses or photo chromatic lenses. Mirror sunglasses are great for when you’re in direct sunlight for extended periods of time. Photo chromatic lenses are designed to switch between lighter and darker shades based on the level of UV light they are exposed to.
  Choosing the right sunglass lens material depends on the type of activity that you normally indulge in and the length of exposure to direct sunlight you encounter on a daily basis. Having the right sunglasses is very important which is why TOG provides a wide range of options to choose from.