As a life-long skier, mountaineer, and climber, I’ve been through a metric ton of eyewear. In short, I’ve made every mistake in the book, so that you don’t have to. Losing, breaking, or bringing the wrong kind of sunglasses for an alpine adventure can complicate or even ruin your ascent. There’s no need to constantly take off sunglasses when travelling in and out of tunnels, while the stylish frames make them acceptable to wear at the pub. Cancer Council Australia recommends protecting the eyes during sun protection times (when the UV level is 3 or above):

Lens darkness has no relevance towards UV protection as is merely a personal preference based on how you use your sunglasses. Ultraviolet C-Rays.It has, among other forms of UV rays, the highest energy. UVC can also come from different sources produced by humans. It includes welding torches, mercury lamps, and UV sanitizers. Depending on your application, most recreational sunglasses use category 2 or 3 lenses for tasks like driving, walking and sport.Polarised lenses must always be UV protective, but they also contain an additional filter called a polariser. This filter is a chemical film which is built into the layers of the lens construction. The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1338.1:1992 Filters for eye protectors - Filters for protection against AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 Personal eye protection Eye and face protectors for occupational applications relates eye protection in the workplace. Tinted eye protectors that comply with AS/NZS 1337.1:2010 are recommended as these provide at least the same amount of protection against solar UV radiation as sunglasses, as well as impact protection. Untinted eye protectors marked ‘O’ (for outdoor) also have sufficient UV protection for outdoor use. The Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 1338.1:2012 Filters for eye protectors - Filters for protection against radiation generated in welding and allied operations and AS/NZS 1338.2:2012 Filters for eye protectors - Filters for protection against ultraviolet radiation regulates eye protection in the workplace for occupations both indoors and outdoors where artificial UV radiation may reach potentially hazardous levels. Prescription safety spectacles must comply with 1337.6 which includes the same impact requirements as AS/NZS 1337. Some drivers like the benefits of a graduated tint, as the top part of the lens in which you look out is darkest. The bottom part of the lens is generally lighter and this makes it easier to see the controls within the car. Exposure to UV radiation over long periods can result in more serious damage to the eyes including squamous cell cancers on the surface of the eye [2] [3] [4] and skin cancer around the eyes [5]. There is a strong evidence that UV exposure is associated with basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the eyelid, photokeratitis, climatic droplet keratopathy, pterygium, and cortical cataract [6]. However, the evidence of the association between UV exposure and ocular melanoma is limited [7] [8]. There is insufficient evidence to determine whether there is a clear causal link between UV exposure and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) [6] but there does appear to be evidence showing greater sun-light exposure could increase risk. Theoretically this may be more due to effects of visible blue light rather than UV [9] [10]. Although UV radiation is strongly associated with skin cancer, including on the eyelids [2] [11], UV does not appear to be a risk factor for sebaceous carcinoma of the eyelid [12]. Ironically (and dangerously) a very dark lens without UV filtration would make your pupils dilate to let more visible and UV light-in. This would seriously damage your eyes and could lead to significant or permanent damage such as cataracts, photokeratitis, macular degeneration or even blindness.

Taylor HR. The biological effects of UV-B on the eye. Photochem Photobiol 1989 Oct;50(4):489-92 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/2687903.THERE COMES a point in most motorists’ lives when a routine trip to the optician results in the dreaded phrase: “you’re going to need to wear glasses when behind the wheel”. Generally known as 'photochromic' lenses, these change their tint density when exposed to certain kinds of light. Generally the brighter the light, the darker the lenses will turn. Whiteman DC, Whiteman CA, Green AC. Childhood sun exposure as a risk factor for melanoma: a systematic review of epidemiologic studies. Cancer Causes Control 2001 Jan;12(1):69-82 Available from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11227927.

However, for the majority of drivers, these will give an impressive performance and, more importantly, have that classic Aviator style that is so popular. They’re a classic that should last a lifetime if well cared for.The plano (non-prescription) lenses provided to test were nestled in a pair of ultra-trendy Parisian LaFont frames and adopted a mild olive hue when not subject to direct sunlight, making it easy to see in low light conditions. But upon stepping out into the spring sunshine, they turned a dark brown and cut out most of the glare from shiny surfaces. The best of everything Gordon Murray T.50 dynamic debut - report Driving Bentley's Blower continuation (video) Video: Revisiting the Jaguar I-Pace in Tokyo › More here... Polarised lenses normally have a fixed tint and are specially-designed to reduce glare. They're particularly effective on light shining off wet roads. Tinted and transition sunglasses will never be the peak of cool but these manage to look good and will prove handy for those irritated by the driving glasses dilemma.

Ultraviolet A-Rays.Of all types, it has the least energy but can cause skin cells to age and some indirect damage to the cells’ DNA.Here at Shade Station, we recognise the importance of eye protection and therefore every pair of sunglasses we sell effectively filters out 100% of the harmful UVA and UVB rays, are CE certified and also comply with the European Directive 89/686/EEC in accordance with standard Pr-EN-1836:1997. These measurements are usually presented as three numbers separated by dashes, eg. 50-18-130 (all measurements are in millimeters). The first number is the lens width, which is usually from 40-60 mm. This number indicates the width of the front face of the frames. The second number is the bridge size, or the gap between the lenses.