How to choose sports glasses
Sports glasses differ from standard glasses because, in addition to ensuring the necessary protection of the eyes from light, they must also guarantee maximum safety. In fact, those who play sports are more prone to falls and shocks, so it is essential that the glasses are designed to meet specific needs.
Here are 10 tips for choosing the right sports eyewear model.
How to choose sports glasses: 10 aspects to take into account
Type of sport
First of all, it is important to tell the optician what type of sport you practice. There are three main types: hiking and skiing, boating, kitesurfing and kayaking, cycling and running.
Mountain goggles are opaque and shaped in shape, to adhere to the face and avoid the infiltration of diffused light. Water sports glasses are best floated, while running glasses should have a specific formulation to avoid condensation, with ventilation at the bottom.
Material
Sports glasses are usually made of plastic, in this case acrylic, CR-39, polyamide and polycarbonate. The latter in particular is flexible and malleable, light but ultra-resistant.
Lightness
This is an essential quality for high-performance sports glasses. The lighter the glasses, the better the fit on the nose. This ensures maximum comfort, as well as ensuring safety in movement. The weight is about 50% less than traditional lenses.
Grip
Sports glasses, in addition to being very light, as we have seen, must adhere perfectly to the face, without disturbing, touching the eyelashes. This means that in the event of a fall, the glasses do not break or splinter, but slip off. However, it is always advisable to have a hardening treatment carried out to protect the lenses from abrasion.
UV protection level
There are five most common levels of protection on the market.
- Clear lenses, with up to 20% light absorption to protect against insects and wind
- Semi-clear lenses, with up to 57% light absorption to increase contrast
- Dark lenses, with up to 82% light absorption, ideal for the summer season
- Very dark lenses, with up to 92% light absorption, for winter, mountain or beach sports
- Very dark or mirrored lenses, with up to 97% light absorption, for icing, water or desert
No glass or metal parts
A good pair of sports sunglasses normally does not have metal or glass elements, precisely because with a sharp blow it could shatter them and cause damage to the eye.
Suitable coloring
Coloring reduces the intensity of the light and based on the color, changes the spectral composition. The stronger the light, the darker the color must be. For those who practice winter sports in the mountains, it is advisable to insert a blue light protection filter.
Special lens coatings
Sunglasses for athletes are often treated in a special way, depending on individual needs. In the presence of water (for fishermen for example) the ideal is a polarized lens. While for those who need to shield a really excessive brightness (such as pilots and skiers), then it is good to opt for the mirror of the lens.
Prescription or progressive lenses
The athlete who needs to correct visual impairments can count on prescription lenses. Modern technology now guarantees optimal diopter correction, even on very curved frames. Progressive lenses are also available on the market, to ensure correct focusing both near and far.
Attractive design
Having achieved a good balance between performance and price, the last criterion to take into account when choosing sports glasses is, why not, the design. Various models are available on the market, in different colors and with very attractive shapes, to be chosen according to your taste and the morphology of your face.
