What is Polarized sunglasses?

Sunglasses, also known as sunshades, as the name suggests, are used to block the sun. They prevent direct sunlight from causing significant damage to eyesight. But today, we’re going to introduce a special type of sunglasses: polarized sunglasses.

Polarized sunglasses are a category of sunglasses, but they are among the more high-end ones. They have a function that ordinary sunglasses don’t: they can effectively block and filter out various harmful polarized lights.

The so-called polarized light refers to the irregular reflected light generated when light passes through uneven road surfaces, water surfaces, etc., also known as glare. When these lights directly shine into people’s eyes, they can cause discomfort, easily lead to fatigue, make it impossible to see things for a long time, and significantly reduce the clarity of the viewed objects.

Ordinary sunglasses only work by dimming light. Since ordinary lenses cannot filter light, they can only reduce the intensity of glare, ultraviolet rays, etc., but cannot completely block these harmful rays. So their function is only to reduce damage to the eyes, but the biggest advantage of ordinary sunglasses is their good fashionability. Polarized sunglasses lenses, due to their polarizing properties, can completely block the dazzling glare caused by scattering, refraction, reflection and other factors. At the same time, they can also completely block ultraviolet rays that are harmful to human eyes, so that when people are active in strong light for a long time, their eyes are not easily fatigued, achieving a truly protective effect, and making the things seen clearer and more three-dimensional.

Because polarized sunglasses have the function of polarizing light, they can block all harmful rays without affecting the transmission of visible light, truly protecting the eyes. In addition to the basic ultraviolet protection function, polarized sunglasses also prevent glare, road reflected light, water surface shimmer, etc., making them suitable for driving, fishing, traveling, and daily wear.

As a professional eyewear supplier, we specialize in acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, and buffalo horn eyewear, sunglasses and optical frames, offering style, function, and premium craftsmanship.

How to choose sunglasses lenses?

Choosing a pair of lightweight and durable sunglasses can definitely protect your eyes in the scorching summer and add a stylish touch to your look. So, what materials should we choose for eyewear lenses? As a professional eyewear supplier, please allow us to briefly introduce several lens materials.

Lens Materials:
Resin: Common types of resin include PC lenses and regular resin lenses.

PC Lenses: PC stands for polycarbonate. Polycarbonate is 57% lighter than glass lenses and 37% lighter than regular resin lenses. It features high toughness, hardness, and shatter resistance, making it ideal for active children and athletes. Additionally, its high refractive index allows PC lenses to be made very thin. What’s more, PC lenses inherently block UV rays—unlike glass, they don’t require a coating to provide 100% UV protection.

However, PC lenses have drawbacks: their strength is lower than glass, so they are not wear-resistant and require a coating for long-term use. They are also softer than glass and prone to deformation under pressure, making them unsuitable for hand-made acetate eyewear or rimless metal eyewear. Their high refractive index also results in a low Abbe number (around 32), leading to significant dispersion.

CR-39 Lenses: Regular resin lenses typically refer to CR-39 resin lenses from the United States. They have a high Abbe number (low dispersion) and a slightly higher density than PC Lenses, but are still much lighter than glass and shatter-resistant. Even if they break, they don’t form sharp edges. Their refractive index is relatively low (around 1.5), so the lenses are thicker.

Glass Lenses: Glass was the earliest material used for eyewear lenses. It is hard, resistant to deformation and discoloration, and less prone to scratching than PC or resin. Its refractive index can be adjusted by adding different substances; ordinary glass lenses have a refractive index of approximately 1.523.

The disadvantages are that glass lenses are heavy—almost twice the weight of resin lenses—and fragile. If they shatter, they can easily scratch the eyes. For these reasons, glass lenses are now rarely used, replaced by resin lenses.

MR Lenses: MR lenses are high-refractive-index materials with the most balanced performance indicators, especially suitable for eyewear production. They are lightweight, provide clear vision, have high pressure resistance, and are less likely to break. Most importantly, they resist yellowing better than ordinary lenses, maintaining clarity and brightness over time, and have excellent corrosion resistance.

Nylon Lenses: Nylon lenses represent relatively new technology. They offer physical strength close to PC and optical performance similar to CR-39, with low weight, making them an ideal lenses material. However, they are more expensive than PC lenses.

Lens Coatings:
All lens materials have drawbacks, so coatings are applied to improve their optical properties.

By Function: Common coatings include hardening coatings, anti-oil coatings, polarizing coatings, anti-UV coatings, and multi-layer coatings combining multiple functions.

By Color: Coatings are mainly green, blue, red-green, etc. The color of the coating has no specific correlation with its function, so there’s no need to focus on it.

Blue is a cool tone, red is warm, and green is neutral. Psychologically, people tend to adapt better to green coatings, making green-coated lenses feel more comfortable (though this is purely a psychological effect).

Hardening Coatings (Scratch Resistant Polymer): These reduce the risk of lens scratches. Glass lenses generally don’t require a hardening coating, but resin lenses must have one.

Anti-Oil Coatings: These not only reduce smudges on the lens surface but also repel water, fog, dust, oil, and other contaminants.

Anti-Reflective (AR) Coatings: Applied to the side of the lens closest to the eye, these prevent ghosting by reducing reflections from light entering the back of the lens. They channel light from the back to the front of the lens, minimizing reflection interference and significantly improving visual clarity, with noticeable benefits for wearers.

While some coatings harden the lens surface, they remain delicate and require careful handling. All coatings have a lifespan; if a coating is damaged, the lens is essentially ruined.

UV Protection:
UV (ultraviolet) protection is a must for sunglasses. It is unrelated to lens color or light transmittance and is typically achieved through coatings. Common labeling methods include:

“UV400”: Indicates the lens blocks UV rays and visible light with wavelengths below 400nm. A lens is considered qualified if it transmits less than 2% of UV rays.

“UV” or UV Block)”: Indicates the lens blocks UV rays with wavelengths below 380nm. A lens is qualified if it transmits less than 2% of UV rays.

“100% UV Absorption”: Claims to absorb 100% of UV rays. In practice, a lens is qualified if it transmits less than 0.5% of UV rays.

SHMC Lenses: means the lenses with Super Hydrophobic coating + AR coating + hard coating anti scratches polymer.
As a professional eyewear supplier, we are specialize in acetate eyewear and metal eyewear and buffalo horn eyewear.

How to Choose Myopic Sunglasses: A Professional Guide

To prevent the eyes from being damaged by the harsh summer sunlight, it is essential to choose a suitable pair of sunglasses. Especially for myopic individuals, wearing low-quality sunglasses not only fails to protect the eyes but may cause greater harm, so caution is advised when purchasing.

For myopic people who want to wear sunglasses, the following methods are available:

Contact lenses + sunglasses: This is not applicable to the main scenario mentioned here, so it will not be elaborated on.

Polarized clip-ons: Convenient but unsightly. They are uncomfortable to wear and prone to loosening.

Dyed myopic sunglasses: Lenses dyed in ordinary stores are prone to color fading and scratching and have a short lifespan. Lenses pre-dyed by professional lenses manufacturers have more stable colors but are relatively expensive.

Magnet-on sunglasses: More stable than clip-ons but heavier. Frequent removal and wearing can easily cause scratches on the sunglasses lenses.

Myopic polarized sunglasses: Highly functional.
Sunlight reflecting off water, snow, or roads creates glare, often causing eye discomfort and fatigue. Polarized sunglasses can effectively filter out these irregular reflected lights, making surrounding scenery appear soft and non-glare. Especially for drivers, anglers, and sports enthusiasts, it is recommended to wear myopic polarized sunglasses. Even for those who do not exercise frequently, purchasing them is cost-effective—they are lighter, more stylish, and have a longer lifespan than other methods.

Shortcoming: If the myopia diopters is high, the lenses will be thicker. Within 800 Diopters, it is still feasible. Of course, MR-8 lenses with a refractive index of 1.6 can be used, which are much thinner but slightly more expensive.

Common sense about optical frame fitting:

Diopters:
The diopter of a lens, commonly known as “degree,” is the most important parameter of a lens.
Thickness is basically proportional to diopter, but there are ways to reduce lens thickness.

Refractive index:
The refractive index is the ratio of the speed of light in a vacuum to its speed in the material.
For the same degree, a higher refractive index means thinner, lighter, and more aesthetically pleasing lenses, but the price is also higher. However, a higher refractive index is not always better, which relates to the lens’ Abbe number.

Abbe number:
Different colors of light have different refractive indices in a medium. When refracted by a lens, the propagation directions of light differ, causing sunlight (composed of polychromatic light) to disperse into different colors—a phenomenon called chromatic aberration. Chromatic aberration affects visual clarity.

The Abbe number measures the degree of chromatic aberration. A higher Abbe number means less chromatic aberration, and vice versa.

Generally, a higher refractive index corresponds to a lower Abbe number and more severe chromatic aberration.

Therefore, when choosing lenses, do not blindly pursue a high refractive index—it not only increases costs but also reduces visual clarity. In general, the refractive index should be selected based on the degree:

Below 200 Diopters: Choose 1.50 refractive index myopic lenses.
200–400 Diopters: Choose 1.50 or 1.56 refractive index myopic lenses.
400–600 Diopters: Choose 1.60 refractive index myopic lenses.
600–800 Diopters: Choose 1.67 refractive index myopic lenses.
Above 800 Diopters: Choose 1.74 refractive index myopic lenses.

As a professional eyewear supplier, we specialize in acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, and buffalo horn eyewear,offering style, function, and premium craftsmanship.

Our customized services include eyewear raw material customization and development, product design and development, production, quality control, packaging, and delivery.

What kind of Sunglasses are suitable for driving?

After long hours of driving, drivers will feel fatigued, which affects their driving condition. Therefore, wearing Sunglasses while driving is not just about looking cool—they play a crucial role in protecting vision and eyesight, especially in strong light. For driving, Sunglasses are essential auxiliary tools. Today, let’s discuss the Sunglasses suitable for drivers: what types are ideal for driving?

Wearing Sunglasses is not just to block dazzling sunlight, nor is it for vanity; it is directly related to driving safety. When driving, we need to focus on the road ahead. Besides the sun, there are reflections from the road, the rear windshield of the vehicle in front, and glass walls of buildings on both sides. Without the protection of Sunglasses, eye fatigue is prone to occur. Additionally, when the eyes switch between bright and dark environments, the inability to adapt instantly can affect driving safety.
Polarized lens Sunglasses— the best choice for driving
Polarized sunglasses can effectively filter out external stray light and glare. If you plan to buy Sunglasses for driving, remember one term: “polarized sunglasses.” If you don’t want to delve into the details, just remember to choose this type, as they are the most suitable for driving.

Polarized Sunglasses are ideal for drivers because they reduce glare, effectively eliminating and filtering scattered light in beams, making the vision clear and natural. Wearing polarized Sunglasses is like having shutters on a room’s window—the external light is adjusted into parallel light entering the room, making the indoor scenery look soft and non-glare. In addition, polarized Sunglasses can also weaken strong light, reduce fatigue, maintain clear vision, and block ultraviolet rays.
Suitable Sunglasses for driving: Color selection matters
Many people mistakenly believe that the darker the color, the better the UV protection. In fact, the UV filtering function of sunglasses depends on the coating, not the color depth. Especially for long-distance drivers, if the sunglasses are too dark, the eyes are more likely to get tired, and it is more dangerous when entering dimly lit areas like tunnels from strong sunlight.

Sunglasses with excessively dark lenses are not suitable for frequent drivers. This is because overly dark lenses can delay the time it takes for the eyes to send images to the brain, extending the driver’s reaction time to situations and increasing the risk of accidents.
Proper storage of Sunglasses
Avoid placing Sunglasses randomly. It is best to wrap them in an eyewear pouch and store them in the car’s glasses case. Prolonged exposure to high temperatures in the car can easily deform the frames and accelerate color fading of the lenses.

Additionally, since polarized Sunglasses are relatively expensive and difficult to distinguish between genuine and fake products, consumers are advised to purchase polarized Sunglasses from professional eyewear stores. To test the lenses, use a special polarized sunglasses test card—genuine polarized lenses will reveal specific patterns or text on the card, while ordinary lenses will not. When wearing polarized Sunglasses, looking at reflective surfaces like metal or glass under the sun will significantly reduce the glare.

As a professional eyewear supplier, we specialize in acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, and buffalo horn eyewear, mainly with OEM and ODM business models.

Our customized service offering eyewear raw material customized and development, eyewear products design and development, production, quality control, packaging and delivery.

Do you need to buy polarized sunglasses for summer vocation?

People knows that sunglasses can block ultraviolet (UV) rays in sunlight. As summer approaches, sunglasses have become one of the essential items in our lives. My friends often ask: Is it necessary to choose polarized sunglasses for outdoor traveling? Today, let me satisfy your curiosity by explaining the differences between ordinary sunglasses and polarized sunglasses, and how to choose between them.

For most people, buying a pair of dark-colored sunglasses in summer is believed to protect the eyes from UV rays. In fact, this idea is incorrect. Ophthalmologists point out that polarized sunglasses are more effective than ordinary ones in summer.

Why are polarized sunglasses more effective? This relates to the properties of natural light. Natural light, also known as unpolarized light, consists of electromagnetic waves that vibrate in random directions. When natural light passes through a polarizing lens, only waves vibrating in one specific direction can pass through. Polarized sunglasses leverage this property to block harmful light.

When sunlight hits any object, it generates harmful light through reflection or refraction. Polarized sunglasses can completely absorb these rays, reducing damage to the eyes. In contrast, ordinary sunglasses lack this function. Their lenses cannot filter light but only reduce the intensity of strong light and UV rays. They are powerless against harmful reflected or refracted light, meaning they can only mitigate eye damage to a limited extent. However, ordinary sunglasses have a significant advantage: their fashionability, which many online buyers favor.

Moreover, sunglasses aren’t just for sunny days. They are categorized into sunshade sunglasses, colored sunglasses, and special-purpose sunglasses. Colored sunglasses can be used for fashion matching throughout the year, while sunshade sunglasses are suitable for all seasons. Even on cloudy days, it’s recommended to check the daily UV index to decide whether to wear sunglasses.

As a professional eyewear supplier, we specialize in acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, and buffalo horn eyewear, offering style, function, and premium craftsmanship.

A Guide to Choosing Eyewear Materials

The Burning Question: How do I choose the right frame for me? What materials are available, and what’s the difference between them? Although many have worn eyewear for years, terms like acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, white copper eyewear, tungsten carbon eyewear, and titanium eyewear still leave them confused most just pick based on style and make a purchase without a second thought.

Aoker here to break down their differences in simple terms, so you can easily master the skills to select the right material.

What are the main frame materials?

1. Acetate: The Treasure Material in Eyewear
Scientific name: Cellulose acetate. It has high raw material costs and strict manufacturing process requirements.
Product Features:
Strong texture, rich and glossy colors, warm touch, and hypoallergenic.
Representative Products:
Acetate eyewear is an eco-friendly material that won’t be affected or altered by human skin or bodily secretions. With high transparency, easy dyeing, comfortable touch, and timeless appeal, it offers creative flexibility for processing making final acetate eyewear vibrant and full of character. Our factory specializes in producing high-quality acetate eyewear, including handmade acetate sunglasses, acetate optical frames, and laminated acetate frames.

2. Tungsten Carbon Eyewear: A High-Tech Material in Recent Years
Widely used in medical, electronic, and aerospace fields.
Material Features:
Flexible and unbreakable, with sweat-resistant surfaces that won’t peel.

3. Metal Eyewear: The Current Fashion Favorite
Metal materials for frames are divided into three categories: copper alloys, nickel alloys, and precious metals.
Material Features:
Wear-resistant, hard, shiny, and fashion-forward in design.
Metal eyewear boasts hardness, flexibility, corrosion resistance, metallic luster, light weight, and comfort, with adjustable nose pads. Materials include nickel silver, stainless steel, titanium, memory metal, aluminum, monel frames, etc. We produce various metal eyewear styles, such as rimless, full-rim, and half-rim frames.

4.Pure Titanium Eyewear: The Noble Material in Eyewear
Titanium is used in aerospace and nuclear power generation, weighing 48% less than ordinary metal frames.

Material Features:
Both flexible and lightweight, non-fading, with delicate and slim designs.

5. Buffalo Horn Eyewear: 100% Natural Material
Purely natural, extremely lightweight, comfortable to wear, pleasant to the touch, and suitable for many with skin allergies.
Horn is a lightweight, comfortable, and beautiful frame material that commands a premium price. While Asian water buffalo horn is abundant, few manufacturers have the skill to transform it into eyewear. Only the most skilled artisans at top frame workshops can cut and polish horn materials to meet the standards of luxury eyewear.

As a professional eyewear supplier, we specialize in acetate eyewear, metal eyewear, and buffalo horn eyewear offering style, functionality, and premium craftsmanship.