Common Myths About Sunglasses

It’s summertime! The sun is out and on full blast, which means we are reaching towards our sunglasses more often than before. This also means that misconceptions about sunglasses are floating around more frequently than before. Fuse Lenses is about to bust some myths about sunglasses so we can get to the truth once and for all!

Myth 1: Darker Lenses Offer More Sun Protection

This is completely false, darker sunglasses don’t equal better protection. Sunglasses that are darker significantly decrease the light that passes through the lenses compared to the lighter lenses. Depending on your preference, this might be a more comfortable option for you - but don’t confuse comfort with protection.

When people speak about sun protection, they are referring to protection from harmful UV rays. UV protection has nothing to do with the darkness of the lenses. In fact, even our clear lenses are 100% UV protected. Read our article about UV protection to find learn more.

Buying darker lenses without proper UV protection can actually be more harmful to your health. Since your pupils are more dilated behind dark lenses harmful UV rays can flow right into your eyes. That is why it is important to buy your lenses for a reputable place and make sure they 99 or 100 percent protection from UVA and UVB rays. Here at Fuse Lenses, you can rest assured that all of our lenses meet that standard.

Myth 2: Polarized Lenses are Better for Your Eyes than Regular Lenses

It is important to note what the benefits of polarized lenses actually are. Polarized lenses block glare, increases color contrast, reduces eye strain, and helps you into the water. Healthwise, polarized lenses don’t really give you any more protection than non-polarized lenses. As explained in the last section, the UV coating on sunglasses is what’s important when it comes to eye protection from UV rays.

However, since polarized offers all these additional benefits, it often the one that is most recommended. To read more on polarized lenses and see if these lenses are right for you, make sure to check out polarized lenses post.

Myth 3: Sun Damage to the Eyes are Temporary

This is not always the case. There are some eye illnesses that are temporary, like certain cases of snow blindness. However, the majority of damage develops over a lifetime of UV exposure. This type of damage can become irreversible macular degeneration, cataracts, and many other conditions. This is explained in the previous article about UV protection.

Myth 4: You Only Need to Wear Sunglasses During the Summer

There is a common misconception floating around that sunglasses are only needed during the summer. Your eyes need to be protected year-round and not only when there is full sun outside. Mornings and evenings actually have more reflected light that can make it straight into your eyes.

It is recommended to wear glasses during the winter months, especially when it is snowing because light and UV rays can bounce off the snow and be really harmful to your eyes. On cloudy days, UV rays are still able to filter through. 

Plus, wearing polarized lenses in the rain can actually help you see better! Do be mindful of the darkness of your lenses though. If it’s an overcast day, you don’t need a dark lens to filter out the little light that is passing through. A lighter shade of lens might be best to use in this situation, like our yellow polarized lenses. 

Myth 5: Children Don’t Need to Wear Sunglasses

As explained earlier in the article, sun damage to the eyes is cumulative. A child is still developing, and so are their eyes. This means that his/her eyes can actually be much more sensitive to damage caused by UV rays than an adult. Children also tend to be outside way more than adults, so getting them sunglasses to wear is a good idea.

For additional peace of mind, shatterproof polycarbonate lenses are recommended. Children can be a little accident prone so in case their sunglasses break, glass won’t be shattering everywhere.

Myth 6: Style or Lens Color Don’t Matter in Sunglasses

As far as sunglass styles, the bigger the better! (For UV protection). Obviously, the more area that is covered by your sunglasses, the more UV rays are blocked from getting to your eyes, and the sensitive skin on your face! In addition, wrap-style sunglasses are very popular for runners, bikers, and many sports players since they wrap around your face and are perfect for blocking sunlight at any angle.

The color of lenses can be a great way to show off your personality, but they actually have other benefits as well! For instance, there are different lens colors that can help you enhance color, distort it, or there are some that don’t affect the color at all. Lenses can even block out certain waves of UV light, like our Blue Light Lenses. G15 will help with enhancing color contrast, which is useful for certain activities, like playing golf. Or if you want lenses for everyday typical activities, I would go for something with a more neutral tint, like our greys.