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Sun Insight
This basic primer can help you pick the right sunlens for every patient
By Karlen McLean, ABOC, NCLC

Kristi Leskinen is ready for anything in Oakley style Dart

The sunlens arena is heating up with new materials and treatments, and all the indications are that sunlenses will continue to drive innovations in the sunwear marketplace.

This basic sunlens primer helps guide you through the current sunlens menu to better understand the products you sell now and are looking to carry in the near future.

►Glass. Glass lenses, also known as mineral glass, are naturally UV protective and scratch resistant. Glass lenses also feature superior visual clarity. Glass lens tints don't fade since the tints are part of the lens, and glass polarized lenses offer glare reduction
performance.

Glass lenses can be heat-treated or chemically tempered to meet industry standards. Because of its heavier weight and lower impact resistance than other materials, glass is a small sunlens market segment at this point.

However, for those who want the best visual acuity and lens durability and whose lifestyle fits the demographic, glass may still be the answer.

►Standard plastic. CR 39 plastic lenses, also known as hard resin or standard plastic lenses, come in several sunlens options, including polarized. CR 39 can be tinted to any hue or density and can be a good base for custom sunlens tinting.  

UV protection and scratch resistance are necessary features for sunwear. Standard plastic lenses are usually recommended for those with low-to-moderate Rxs—between +3.00D and -3.00D.

In order to meet high- and mass-impact ANSI lens safety standards, standard plastic lenses may have to be processed in 2mm to 3mm center thickness, meaning lens edges will be thicker and lenses will be heavier.

►Polycarbonate. The workhorse of the thin-and-lightweight lens set, poly is also naturally impact resistant. It is thinner and lighter weight than standard plastic lenses and comes in a variety of sunlens options.

Polycarbonate is UV protective and scratch-resistant treated to increase performance and durability. Most poly is tintable to sunlens density; be sure to check with the manufacturer for tinting procedure recommendations.

Because of its superior impact resistance, poly is recommended for active adults and children and ideal for sportswear and sunwear.

►Trivex. The premium entry into the impact-resistant lens market, Trivex is known for durability and strength plus excellent edge-to-edge visual clarity.

Trivex lenses come in several sunlens options, including polarized. The material is also compatible with many tints, scratch-resistant treatments, and AR.

This lens material is a strong choice when patients want the best visual acuity and visual safety for active outdoor work or recreational activities.

►High index. The lens choice for high-power prescriptions, high index lenses come in a variety of sunlens options. For example, 1.67 polarized lenses combine the benefits of high index—thinness and lightweight—with the glare reduction of polarization.

Quality high index sunlenses include UV protection and scratch resistance, and feature aspheric/atoric design for top-notch visual performance lens edge to lens edge.

Traditionally recommended for Rxs over +/- 3.00D, high index sunlenses can also be an edge-reducing, weight-reducing boon for those in almost any Rx who want to select a large frame.

UNIQUE PROPERTIES

Top to bottom: Photochromic lenses darken in the sun and provide UV protection. Shown: Transitions; Mirrored sunlenses lend visual comfort and style to many activities, including boating. Shown: Rudy Project style Skipper; Polarized lenses help cut glare anywhere. Shown: Vision-Ease Lens

Many sunlenses go beyond standard features and benefits to address specific market sectors and overall sun and sports protection in innovative ways. Some of these are:

Anti-fog: Some lenses are treated with anti-fog properties to help boost performance in all environmental conditions.

AR: Anti-reflective properties on sunwear reduce distracting and dangerous reflections. Backside AR helps wearers avoid backside reflections caused by objects behind the lens.

Wind and dry eye: Some sunwear features filtered vents to ensure healthy airflow around eyes.

Mirrors: Mirrored lenses, available in a virtual rainbow of colors, are a fashion statement, but also offer additional glare reduction, especially when combined with polarized lenses.

Photochromic: Photochromic lenses come in a variety of colors and in an array of different lens materials to suit any customer's taste or visual demand.

Polarized: Polarized lenses help cut distracting and dangerous glare so that sunlenses perform to the highest visual capabilities. Some offer protection at different light levels and in various colors for specific environments and activities. Some can also help protect against harmful blue light and melanin.

Whatever the sunlens material you opt to recommend, do your homework.

Sunlenschecklist 

If you want to learn more about a product, ask about white papers. Also, don't forget about:

Efficiency rate: Many sunlenses have efficiency ratings for lens features such as polarization, so check them out.

Safety standards: Ask manufacturers for impact resistance ratings on their sunlens products.

UV protection: Know the UV ratings of various lenses, since types and levels of UV protection can vary.

Proprietary lenses and wraps: A number of companies have sunlens materials that are proprietary in nature and exclusive in makeup. Check with manufacturers for individual details. Many traditionally plano-only sunwear manufacturers have established Rx sunlens programs that produce patented lenses designed specifically for their frames. Also, traditional lens manufacturers are launching lenses designed specifically for wrap-style frames. Getting the right base curve for the best vision is essential with wrap-type styles, so be sure to look into these products and programs.