Things you need to know about Gradient Sunglasses

Sunglasses are an easy solution that makes life more comfortable when outdoors, while also providing critical protection from the sun’s damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays. Ophthalmologists and optometrists now recommend wearing sunglasses and a brimmed hat whenever you’re in the sun long enough to get a suntan or a sunburn, especially if you live at a high elevation or near the equator.

The good news is that sunglasses don’t have to be expensive to protect your eyes and they can often be found at the local drugstore. Unfortunately, a high price is not always a guarantee of high quality and protection. Part of the difficulty is the standards. But there are brands like MacV that offer sunglasses which tick all the right boxes of safety and style.

One such stylish eyewear that also works as a protective wear is the Gradient sunglasses. As their name suggests, the tint in gradient sunglasses recedes from top to bottom, so the top of the lenses are darkest, gradually receding until there is no tint at the bottom. Gradient lenses, therefore, offer the best of both worlds: complete clarity of vision and protection from the harmful UV rays from above.

There are also double gradient lenses, which are tinted from both the top-down and the bottom-up so that the midsection is the lightest, but most people go for the more popular ‘top-down’ gradient style. Because they feature a variation in lens tints, gradient glasses handle transitions between light and dark better than a lot of other lens types, meaning that you can effortlessly move between indoors and outdoors without having to swap frames. 

Gradient lenses are commonly used for driving. They operate in much the same way as sun blinds do on the windshields of cars because they protect the eye from incoming, overhead sunlight while still allowing a perfect view of what is both inside and outside the vehicle.

Gradient sunglasses are useful to have in a variety of other situations. If you are hiking, gradient lenses offer protection from the sun above you, while also allowing you to easily see where you are treading. Snow or water sports enthusiasts also benefit from the unique qualities of gradient lenses, although if you are looking purely to reduce glare, you may want to look at getting some polarized or mirrored lenses instead.

For those of you looking to get some sunglasses purely for fashion and lifestyle purposes, gradient glasses offer you a sweet deal - a subtle, classy fashion statement without having to commit to wearing dark lenses that obscure your eyes. They also look good on most frame styles, from classic aviators to oversized, round frames. The lenses themselves also come in all colours – from a smoky brown look to dark black fading into light purple, and many more adventurous colours besides.

Although some argue that gradient lenses enjoyed the height of their popularity in 2012, we will certainly see sunglasses with lenses like these for a long time to come.