Four convincing reasons to abandon your old sunglasses

How often do you buy or replace your sunglasses? While you might be in the habit of donning sunnies as trendy accessories, it’s more important to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes. Researchers say that if you have been wearing the same set of glasses for a while, the UV protection may be fading. Consequently, frequent exposures to UVA and UVB rays can cause discomfort, light sensitivity, and deformity.

“Your eyes are windows to your soul but make sure they are UV protected.”

Elle Muse

Protecting your eyesight is far from being an act of vanity. If you over 40, like me, you could experience some deterioration in your vision. Simultaneously, as we age, we have to watch for more serious problems such as glaucoma, cataracts, oracular cancer, and age-related macular degeneration. To keep your eyes healthy while enjoying the outdoors, you should be replacing your sunglasses every two years, and choose a pair with 100% UV protection.

Why should you change your sunglasses?

Look, ladies, I replace my prescription sunglasses every two to three years for the following reasons: First, my vision changes as I age, so I have to replace the lenses regardless. Second, the efficacy of UV protection on the lenses declines, and it becomes evident when I start squinting outside while wearing sunglasses. Third, after wearing them for over 2 years, I begin to notice wear and tear signs, such as the tiny abrasions and scratches that can be annoying and distracting. Forth, I like to update my look with new frames as they too, will wear out over time. If your lenses start to pop out of the frames then it’s definitely time to replace them.

Why aren’t lenses capable of enduring UV rays?

• UV radiation will break down the protective coating of dyes and pigments that can reflect and absorb ultraviolet radiation.
• The usual wear and tear also break the strength of your UV resistance.
• The environment is a factor as well — the more time you spend in the sun, the quicker the protective dyes and pigments become ineffective.

Sunglasses trends for 2021

I find myself breaking all the guidelines when it comes to choosing eyewear frames. It doesn’t matter if they are round, square or pointy as long as they sit well on my face and provide sufficient coverage. I noticed that it’s not so much the shape that matters but rather the size of the frames (small vs. large). And since I’m a petite woman with a tiny face, I often end up buying medium-sized frames for my sunglasses. I recently bought YSL Kat Cat Eye sunglasses with a bold retro look to replace the old navigator/sporty sunglasses I’ve had for a few years.

The sky’s the limit for eyewear styles and shapes, and deciding on a new style can be confusing. Sometimes we are influenced by social media and celebrities and want the same pair of glasses, even if it doesn’t suit everyone’s face. And often, we stand at the eyewear counter, trying on different styles before buying a new pair. That was the norm until recent times. However, trying on sunglasses during the pandemic poses some risk of catching the virus, and most women can’t quite make up their minds about shopping online. Before making a decision, take a look at the most trending sunglasses in 2021.

Gold frames

Yellow gold has become a popular trend in 2020 and it’s only natural for metal sunglasses to follow the trend. After all, your sunnies should match your golden earrings and chain necklaces.

Rectangular shaped sunglasses

For an edgy look, choose geometrical shapes like rectangular sunglasses. They are suitable for round and oval-shaped faces and provide sufficient coverage to protect your eyes from the harmful sun rays.

Transparent

Transparent sunglasses bring you style an undeniable touch of playfulness. They are made with acetate and come in different levels of transparency, which indeed captures the eyes.

Sporty sunglasses

The rise of sporty eyewear had to happen to align with the way we dress these days. These loungewear and activewear suits needed a pair of sunglasses to elevate that youthful and laid back trend.

Oversized Cat-Eye

The Cat-eye sunglasses are the epitome of femme fatale and class that never goes out of style. This season, they took a sharper turn with more defined corners for the ultimate expression of confidence.

Round

Are you a little bit retro? Maybe you care to express the inner hipster flower girl. Round sunglasses pair with the easy-breezy bohemian essence of long floral dresses and your favourite pair of denim.

Futuristic

The future is here, and this could be the decade to reinvent your style and seek an eccentric look. Funky frames will instantly transform your look and give you a vanguard appearance.

Blue-light

Blue-light glasses are a must now that our normal has become digital. We are spending more hours gazing at screens throughout the day, whether for work, meetings, social or entertainment. Blue-light glasses protect your eyes from blue light found in all devices.

A personal piece of advice — buy blue-light glasses with a light frame for comfort. Heavy frames will leave dents in your nose bridge and can cause headaches with extended wear.

Originally published at https://ellemuse.com on January 28, 2021.