Sunglasses Day
This day was initiated by The Vision Council – an association to promote the optical industry – and celebrates the importance of wearing shades to protect the eyes from the sun’s harsh ultraviolet (UV) rays.
People have always protected their eyes from glaring light – from protective masks and slit glasses to tinted glasses.
Slit Glasses
Tinted lenses without UV filters protect from glare but may even increase the damage done by the UV-rays. Pupils widen in the darkness and thus more harmful rays can get into the eye.
The perfect sun lenses are polarized and the size of the glasses reduce stray light. Moreover, sunglasses are considered fashion accessories and therefore have to meet the wearer’s expectations in terms of fashionability and image.
The historian Karin Hartewig in her 2009 book «The veiled look – small cultural history of sunglasses» has given a deeper insight into the cultural development of sunglasses.
Sunglasses became relevant only with the beginning of mobility, as motorists and wood class tourists of the railway needed protection against sun, dust, smoke and airflow. The former «goggles» were finally able to experience a first boom as body cult, sunbathing and outdoor sports in the open air became ever more popular. For more than 50 years this classical piece of disguise allows more or less well known people to market themselves.
Many celebrities never leave home without. For many of them, the sunglasses turned into a trade mark. Could you imagine Karl Lagerfeld, Heino, Jackie Onassis, Udo Lindenberg or Andy Warhol without their signature glasses? But also heroes of the everyday world love this cool accessory.
Be it fully mirrored, jet black, gradually tinted, xxl-formatted or classically pilot shaped – sunglasses are more than a protective tool – they shield the wearer from unwanted paparazzi pictures and from showing their emotions on the red-carpet and demonstrate power over other people.
Sunglasses are light protection, cult object and trademark. It is said that the Roman emperor Nero (37– 68 AD) liked to watch gladiator fights with emeralds. These, however, appear to have worked rather like mirrors.
In the 15th century, tinted lenses had already been used to protect the eyes from glare. But only around 1752 did James Ayscough begin experimenting with tinted lenses in spectacles. These were not «sunglasses» as that term is now used; Ayscough believed that blue- or green-tinted glass could correct specific vision impairments.
In the 18th century spectacles with yellow, green, blue or red lenses were popular. Early spectacles also had protective caps on the side made from leather or tissue in order to protect from lateral scatters. In the 19th century, ophthalmologists disputed about the best color. Today, we know that brown, grey and green lenses hardly distort the color perception. Differently colored lenses distort the color perception and subsequently the brain takes some time to neutralize the changed color perception.
Sunglass Lens Colors (Tints)
Lens colors affect how much visible light reaches your eyes, how well you see other colors and how well you see contrasts.
Dark colors (brown/gray/green) are ideal for everyday use and most outdoor activities. Darker shades are intended primarily to cut through the glare and reduce eyestrain in moderate-to-bright conditions. Gray and green lenses won’t distort colors, while brown lenses may cause minor distortion.
Light colors (yellow/gold/amber/rose/vermillion) : These colors excel in moderate-to-low-level light conditions. They are often great for skiing, snowboarding and other snow sports. They provide excellent depth perception, enhance contrasts in tricky, flat-light conditions, improve the visibility of objects and make your surroundings appear brighter.
In the course of the 19th century, protection of dangerous UV rays has gained more importance. The first lenses with effective UV-filters were developed as early as 1905 by Josef Rodenstock even though the damaging effect of the UV-rays was proven only in 1908 by the Swiss Alfred Vogt.
In 1937 American Bausch & Lomb launched the brand Ray Ban. The first patent was based on a prototype for pilots of the US-Army created in 1936 and known as «Anti-Glare». Hence also the name for this model «Aviator». The collection was further developed and in 1952 the Wayfarer was launched. The design was inspired by «a mid-century classic to rival Eames chairs and Cadillac tail fins.» According to design critic Stephen Bayley, the « distinctive trapezoidal frame spoke a non-verbal language that hinted at unstable dangerousness, but one nicely tempered by the sturdy arms, which, according to the advertising, gave the frames a « masculine look ».
Numerous celebrities wearing the Wayfarer helped to build the myth around them: Buddy Holly, J.F. Kennedy, Bob Dylan or Tom Cruise to name just a few. Who does not remember Audrey Hepburn as Holly Golightly longingly looking into the Tiffany’s shop window on New York’s 5th Avenue wearing her big Wayfarer sunglasses?
As one of the first luxury products, original Ray-Ban-sSunglasses featured very early on some sophisticated characteristics that made it easy to distinguish them from copycats. In the meantime, this system has evolved. Today, e.g. a diamond symbol on the right lens means that the lenses are coated in a special way and are snatch-resistant as a diamond. A P or P3 stands for polarized lenses.
The Sixties saw the introduction of photochromic lenses due to an invention by Stanley Donald Stookey and his collegue William Amistead. These lenses darken on exposure to specific types of light of sufficient intensity, most commonly ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Another big invention was the introduction of tinted plastic lenses for sunglasses by Rodenstock in 1986.
The 1980s extended the considerable attention that Italian sunglasses producer Persol had always paid to technological innovation and care for its products. Indeed, it took part in several expeditions to test its lenses at high altitudes and in the desert, verifying their performance in extreme conditions, and to experiment with the use of innovative materials. Alpinist Enrico Rosso wore Persol glasses in 1989 as he climbed up to the Himalayan summit of Kun (7077 m). With him was ophthalmologist Paolo Gugliermina who looked after ocular testing. Upon his return he reported that non of the men on the expedition had suffered eye problems thanks to protection from Persol lenses specifically designed for the mission.
Due to the high sun intensity in Cambodia, it is very important to sufficiently protect the eyes.
Consequently, it comes in very handy that the Caveng Optik in Ilanz, Switzerland, Company sponsored sunglasses for the kids of the Safe House in Battambang. Thank you so much for your donation! The kids are proudly wearing the sunglasses and were happy to get them.
