When we think of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), what usually comes to mind is OHV body armor or even something like firefighter turn out gear. However, even something as common as ordinary sunglasses can be considered PPE but are often ignored.
Sunglasses are nearly essential for just about any outdoor recreational activities. We see a lot of sources promoting the use of sunscreen to protect our skin against cancer-causing UV light. Our eyes are also subject to UV light and are worth protecting. Good sunglasses are more than just a fashion accessory or comfort. They are essential for protecting our eyes against damaging UV radiation. which in addition to being uncomfortable can cause permanent damage to our eyes. Sunglasses can be especially useful when we are around water -- on our boats or near the ocean or a lake.
NOTE: sunglasses are NOT an adequate substitute for safety glasses or goggles when you need to protect your eyes from flying debris. Sturdy sunglasses can provide some protection against flying debris like wood chips from chopping wood or sparks kicked out by a popping campfire. They are not an adequate substitute for safety goggles, but can provide some protection. You should still wear real safety glasses or goggles when performing any task that might generate flying debris or when riding in or on OHVs. While sunglasses might block some things flying directly into your eyes, they lack the strength and wrap-around protection provided by safety glasses. The primary use of sunglasses to to reduce the glare and discomfort and improve vision in bright sunlight along with protecting from UV radiation. To many people they are also a fashion statement.
You've probably seen OHV riders wearing sunglasses instead of goggles. Not a good idea! You really need the extra protection of googles when riding in an open OHV. Sunglasses provide some but not enough protection. Sunglasses might be OK if you are in a side-by-side with a windshield, but you should always wear goggles riding a dirt bike or ATV. I always wear goggles even in a side-by-side. If you need dark lenses, opt for shaded or light sensitive lenses for you goggles. Or get goggles that will fit over your sunglasses, which is also a good option for folks who wear prescription glasses. You always want to be able to clearly see where you are going!
Polarized sunglasses have lenses that filter out reflections from horizontal surfaces such as bodies of water, paved roads, and even the hood of your vehicle. If you are driving on icy roads you might want to see those reflections so then you might want to wear non-polarized lenses. Polarized lenses also affect how well you can see LCD screens making it difficult or impossible to read some phone and computer screens with them on.
Sunglass lenses are available in various colors. Lens color is more than a fashion statement. Green lenses provide better contrast than
gray lenses and transmit color accuracy better than brown lenses. Ideal
for both sunny and low-light environments, green lenses have a way of
reducing glare while brightening shadows. Blue and yellow both tend to distort color perception even though yellow can help sharpen images, hence their use by hunters and shooters. Reflective silver lenses look cool but it is the base color underneath that will affect how you see.
Sunglasses do wear out. Some signs of wear, such as scratches, damaged ear pieces, or missing nose pads are obvious but even the polarization as well as the tint will fade over time. On average, sunglasses should be replaced about every two years, more frequently if wear them daily in a high UV environment.
Cost. Sunglasses can cost as little as $1.25 (at Dollar Tree) and you can spend well over $200 for high end designer glasses. Are the expensive sunglasses really worth the extra cost? That is a very subjective question, one that only you can answer for your own situation. If, like me, you have a tendency to lose to break your sunglasses often, less expensive ones will lessen the financial as well if not the emotional impact of frequent loss. More expensive sunglasses are usually made of better materials and may provide a better fit and may have more features. Generally speaking, the lower the cost of your lenses, the fewer features you have available. Personally, I like to have several pairs of sunglasses in different places so they are always convenient when I need them. I keep some on my dresser, in my car and truck, in my motorhome, in my boat, and in my motorcycle trailer. Stocking all those places with designer glasses would cost me a fortune so I tend toward the less expensive glasses that I can also replace cheaply as often as needed. I wear them when driving, when doing yard work, and when just relaxing outdoors. I have recently started seeing ads on TV decrying the high cost of designer sunglasses. One begins by saying it is ironic that the most expensive part of what you are wearing is also the most fragile, at which point he removes his companions designer sunglasses and easily snaps them in half! But even their ''affordable'''sunglasses are more than $50 a pair! Guess it beats $200 a pair!
Prescription sunglasses. If you normally wear eye glasses you might want to consider getting prescription sunglasses for outdoor use. There are a couple of alternatives. One is to opt for light darkening lenses on your regular prescription glasses. The lenses will darken in just a few seconds when exposed to bright sunlight, making them pretty good for driving. But they are slow to lighten again when you go inside, which can be a problem if you drive into a long tunnel where you need more light. Clip-on or flip-up sunglasses can be worn over prescription glasses. If they contact the lenses they can scratch or rub them so always be careful putting them on and off and make sure they don't press against the prescription lens. Sometimes, if your prescription hasn't changed too much, you can have your old prescription glasses tinted to use as sunglasses when you get new glasses.
Sunglasses usually don't fog up because we usually aren't using them in the cold, damp environments that contribute to fogging (skiing might be an exception). If, for any reason, you encounter fogging you might protect them with anti-fog compounds used for off-road goggles. One of the most effective and most popular is a brand named Cat Crap. As unappealing as the name may be, the stuff really does work. There are also a number of anti-fog sprays and anti-fog wipes that will help keep your lenses clear but I'm told it only lasts about half an hour. Rubbing alcohol is also said to work. Also detergents. Anti-fog preparations work by changing the surface tension so water vapor doesn't condense on the lens.
Cleaning sunglasses. Like all lenses, sunglasses should never be rubbed dry. Your best bet is to wet the each lens, add a drop of liquid soap, clean the lens, rinse it, and dry it with a soft, clean cloth. Paper towels are usually too coarse to safely clean lenses. Facial tissue often contains lotions that can leave deposits that fog or streak. Even some toilet tissue is coarse enough to scratch lenses or has lotions that leave streaks. The safest thing to use is a lens cleaning cloth designed for that purpose. Lots of people use handkerchiefs or shirt tails but they are too coarse and over time they will scratch and dull lenses.
Sometimes you can clear scratches from sunglasses to improve clarity, but often they are probably already nearing the end of their useful life by the time they get enough scratches to become cloudy. I have used a 3-part plastic polish successfully on googles and motorcycle face shields but have not tried them on sunglasses. The 3-part system uses progressively finer grits for removing scratches then polishing the lenses. Sometimes the optical departments at places like Walmart offer lens cleaning services that might be worth trying. However, the cost might be higher than replacing cheap sunglasses.
I can see clearly now!
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