Golfers always welcome sunny weather. But that means you have to content with playing with the sun in your eyes. You may not feel it right away but the sun can damage your eyes in the long term. So cut out the glare and keep your eyes healthy with the perfect pair of sunglasses. We’ll show you how you can pick a suitable pair for yourself.

Lenses
UV or not UV?

Ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the cornea and cause sunburn on the eyelids when exposed to the sun for a prolonged period of time. Over time, you may even develop cataracts. So always pick sunglasses with lenses that blocks out both UVA and UVB rays.

Colour

Lens colour can affect the way you view your surroundings. Some may not like how brown, for example distorts colours while others find that they can see clearer. Whatever the colour, do test the lenses both indoors and outdoors as the lighting conditions are different.

For golfers, grey and green lenses are most suitable as they absorb UV and infrared rays well. Colours when viewed through grey lenses are not distorted and depth perception is maintained. Yellow, brown and rose lenses tend to distort colours but have better depth percetption.

Lens Material

Different lens material offer different benefits. Optical glass is the most common type of lenses and is the most scratch-resistant. It’s suitable for golfing but not so great for more extreme sports. For an all-round lens, try polycarbonate. This strong plastic is very hardy (50 times more resistant to impact than glass!), scratch resistant and much lighter than glass.

Reflected light, especially off glass and water, can be more intense than sunlight. Polarised lenses help cut this intense glare through the horizontal alignment of micro crystals that block the reflected glare. Most suitable for getting your ball away from that nasty water hazard! Mirror-coated lenses provide the same protection by deflecting the amount of light entering the eye.

For golfers who want to go from clubhouse to the greens without putting on or taking off her sunglass, there’s photochromatic lens. These lenses are sensitive to light conditions and will darken or lighten accordingly. The brighter the surroundings, the darker the lenses. Perfect.

Frames

When it comes to eye protection, wrap-round frames are best as it leaves little space between your eyes and the sunglass. This means that sunlight penetration is cut to a minimum, thus reducing the chances of eye damage.

And when it comes to the material, it’s important to invest in one that’s durable and lightweight. Metal frames may be strong but are rigid and can break or be bent permanently if you happen to step or sit on them. Not for the careless golfer.

Most sports sunglasses use Nylon frames as they are light, yet strong and flexible enough to withstand the rigours of sports. But if you’re looking for something cheaper, there’s always plastic frames. The cheapest of the lot, plastic frames are light, strong and flexible.