Best Reasons to Wear Sunglasses in Ireland All Year Round

A Complete Sunglasses Guide

Why You Should Wear Sunglasses in Ireland All Year Round

For some, sunglasses are an accessory, dusted off for use when going on a sun holiday, or for the garden or local beach when the sun decides to show itself during the spring and summer months. And once these times are over, said sunglasses are packed away until the following year or flight away.

Photo by Ali Pazani

For me sunglasses are more than an accessory, and for years I’ve I worn sunglasses out and about in Ireland, all year round, from spring to summer, autumn to winter. The only thing that stops me wearing them is when the rain is too heavy. And even then, once the rain has eased off, my sunglasses are back on my face in a flash.

This article will explore the reasons why you should wear sunglasses in Ireland all year round along with:

Top 5 Health Benefits of Wearing Sunglasses in Ireland All Year Round.
Types of Sunglass Lens and Their Benefits
How to Find the Perfect Pair of Sunglasses

Photo by Gift Habeshaw

Top 5 Health Benefits of Wearing Sunglasses in Ireland All Year Round

There are a number of reasons to wear sunglasses with good UV protection in Ireland, all year round. And to get you thinking on the matter, here are our top five:

Good Quality Sunglasses protect your eyes and eye area against the sun’s UV rays. Yes the sun shines brighter in spring and summer months. But the sun’s harmful UV rays, which include the main types UVA and the stronger UVB (Ultraviolet B), can penetrate cloud cover and can bounce off surfaces such as water, snow and even pavements. UV rays can increase the chances of cataracts and skin cancer. And there are no safe UV rays at anytime of year. Therefore it’s wise to wear sunglasses in Ireland all year round.
They protect your eyes from harmful Blue Light. Did you know that Blue Light has a number of health benefits that range from mood elevation to growth and development. However Blue Light has a darker side, because sometimes too much of good thing can be bad. Sunlight is the main source of Blue Light, other sources come from manmade technology such as digital screens and even LED lighting. And because Blue Light penetrates through to the retina, it has over time the power to cause retinal damage and vision problems. So another great reason to pop your sunglasses on when you’re out and about.
Sunglasses protect your vision both indoors and outdoors. Without sunglasses, one might find themselves squinting to see, or blinded by the light. Both summer and winter sun have been instrumental causes of accidents, from walking to driving. Sun glare is dangerous, and wearing sunglasses can help. Sunglasses also help your eyes adapt and adjust, from the bright outdoors to the darker indoors – again protecting your vision, keeping you safer than not wearing them.
They protect your eyes and eye area from the elements. Could your sunglasses have special powers? They certainly protect your eyes from the four elements of western culture: Earth, Wind, Fire and Water! Earth represents sand and soil that can scratch your eyes, which can take up to years to heal properly. Wind carries dust that can irritate your eyes. Fire represents the sun that carries harmful rays. And water, well water reflects the sun’s rays, and when frozen, so too does snow!
Sunglasses help protect against the premature aging of skin. Wrinkles, crinkles and crows feet are caused by facial movements, and in time, as we age, we’ll all be susceptible to them. But why hurry them along? Managing sun damage and squinting won’t eliminate the inevitable but by wearing sunglasses in Ireland all year round you are slowing those little lines down – And looking great whilst doing it!

Photo by yang miao

Types of Sunglass Lens and Their Benefits

When it comes to choosing your sunglasses always aim for sunglasses that block at least 99% of UVB rays and at least 95% of UVA rays. And when it comes to coloured lenses you’ll have a choice of nine or more colours, from grey that help reduce light intensity to brown which help block Blue Light. This article from Lentiamo, one of Europe’s leading contact lens and sunglasses stores, explains which coloured lens will suit you and your lifestyle most.

However the material of your sunglasses is also an important factor to consider when choosing your perfect pair of sunnies. Not only do they need to match your lifestyle, when it comes to the likes of durability but also your visual health.

Photo by Chris Spiegl

The Four Main Lens Types

1 – Glass lenses are the best choice when it comes to quality. However there are some major factors to consider if purchasing glass lensed sunglasses; they are more expensive, heavier than the likes of CR39 Plastic lensed glasses, and because they are glass, in most cases they’ll shatter on impact, and so definitely not suitable for all activities.

2 – CR39 Plastic is the most widely used type of lense for everyday sunglasses. This organic material is thinner, cheaper, has a good scratch resistance and is up to twice as light as glass. CR39 also makes for a very good choice when it comes to optical performance as it works very well with high prescriptions.

Photo by Dmitry Mishin

3 – Polycarbonate lenses have a number of excellent advantages; they’re light, have excellent impact resistance – up to ten times more than plastic or glass and they provide 100% protection from the sun’s harmful UV rays. The disadvantage is that, compared to glass and CR39, they aren’t as good when it comes to optical performance.

4 – Acrylic lensed sunglasses might be the most affordable type of sunglasses available however they aren’t a very good choice when it comes to strength, durability and optical performance. So before you purchase a pair of sunglasses with acrylic lenses, remember the saying ‘quality over quantity’!

Photo by Kevin Wolf

How to Find the Perfect Pair of Sunglasses

So we’ve looked at the benefits of wearing sunglasses in Ireland, all year round. And you now know there are four main types of lens to consider, and a number of coloured lens to suit your lifestyle. But how do you find the perfect pair of sunglasses to suit your face?

Of course we could spend hours trying on pair after pair. But there are easier ways, and knowing your face shape, and knowing your skin tone will not only help you find your perfect pair of shades, but will also help with other decisions in the future – from hairstyles to hats, makeup to masks!

The easiest way to find your skin tone and determine if it’s ‘Cool’ or ‘Warm’ is to follow this simple guide. To help you find your face shape you can follow the steps below.

Photo by Karsten Winegeart

How to Find Your Face Shape

Some say there are five main face shapes, others believe there are 12! In fact some of us can even have more than one face shape, but it’s best to focus on the more dominant type.

For this article we’re going to meet somewhat in the middle, and take a look at six of the main face shapes there are in the world. From there we’ll look at which styles of sunglasses suit these shapes.

Step One: Know Your Facial Measurements

Firstly if you want to do this properly, you’ll need to take your measurements. For this you’ll need a measuring tape and somewhere to keep note of the measurements.

Measure your forehead from hairline to hairline at the widest point.
Measure your cheekbones from the outer eye to outer eye above the bridge of the nose, keeping the tape straight.
Measure your jawline from under your ear, along your jaw to the middle of your chin. Multiply by two to get your full jawline measurement.
Measure the length of your face from the middle of your forehead hairline to the tip of your chin.

Step Two: Know Your Face Shape + Sunglasses Style

Face Shape: Round

Description: Often the face length is similar to cheekbones measurement. So the face is as long as it is wide.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Rectangular, Square, Over-Sized

Wish List: These beautiful round Womens Tom Ford sunglasses.

Face Shape: Square

Description: Usually the forehead, cheekbones and jawline are the same width.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Round, Oval, Cat-Eye

Wish List: These super stylish Womens Salvatore Ferragamo sunglasses

Face Shape: Oval

Description: Often longer than wider in measurements, with a wider forehead than jawline.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Square, Rectangular, Aviator

Wish List: These gorgeous square Womens Gucci sunglasses

Face Shape: Diamond

Description: Similar to oval but with wider cheekbones and pointed chin.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Round, Rectangular, Cat-Eye

Wish List: These sleek and stylish Mens Persol sunglasses

Face Shape: Heart-Shaped

Description: Forehead measurements are the widest features along with a pointed chin.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Round, Rectangular

Wish List – These stylish round Mens Giorgio Armani sunglasses

Face Shape: Triangular

Description: Stronger jawline than cheekbones, with the smallest measurement being the forehead.

Complimentary Sunglasses Style: Rectangular, Over-Sized

Wish List: These timeless Mens Prada Linea Rossa sunglasses.

Disclaimer: The article, Best Reasons to Wear Sunglasses in Ireland All Year Round, was sponsored by Lentiamo.ie. In operation since 2008, Lentiamo, one of Europe’s leading contact lens, glasses and sunglasses stores, has processed over one million orders, and prides itself on its superior customer service and products.

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