Things You Can?t Ignore When Choosing Pilot Sunglasses

Posted by Tarun Aarya on February 19th, 2018

Looking as cool and striking as Tom Cruise is one of the many benefits of pilot sunglasses. Being a part of the fashion landscape dating back to World War II, these glasses still have preserved their remarkable presence and are known as aviator sunglasses. But, looking good shouldn’t be your only criterial when shopping for a new pair of flying sunglasses.

As a pilot, you’re prone to meet dangers due to exposure to higher levels of UV light, which is extremely harmful to your eyesight. You shouldn’t use any type of lenses as they can distort your vision. Instead, go for sunglasses that block 99%+ of UVB and UVA light rays in order to keep your eyesight healthy.

Here’s an expert guide about how to choose the right pilot sunglasses that can look good as well as keep my vision healthy.

UV Protection Lenses

Ultraviolet light (UV) is a type of electromagnetic radiation. This radiation comes from the sun’s rays. UV rays are dangerous for eyesight. They spoil the outer cells on the eyeball and make you temporarily blind until new cells form. Hence, look for glasses that are UVA and UVB protected. Since the UVB can cause severe danger, the glasses need to stop minimum 95% of UAV.

Polarized or Non-Polarized

Don’t be confused between polarized and non-polarized.

Assume that you’re driving. When the sun strikes or car passes with a glare off, it makes you temporarily blind. It’s dangerous for driving. So, the polarized glasses the right option for you. They filter horizontal reflected light and block out glare.

But, it’s not advisable when you fly an aircraft. As, visibility of some instruments get reduced or completely gone. It becomes harder to spot a nearby aircraft. So, in that case, go for non-polarized sunglasses.

Colorful Tint or Bland

It’s good to go for bland. Colorful tints can distort the image. They can also make it harder for you to identify signals, lights, and color-coded information. So, when it comes to flying, go for bland pilot sunglass. It’s good to go for grey. However, you can choose it while being involved in other activities.

Photochromic or Not

As you know, photochromic lenses feature to darken when exposed to light and return to normal when the light is gone. When you drive a car or fly a plane, photochromic glasses don’t work. So, you don’t need to go for photochromic glasses.

Final Opinion

Pilot sunglasses have a long proud history. They look stylish as well as protect your eyesight. So, it’s good to pick up a pair of pilot sunglasses. What set them apart from others are their large frames and oversized lenses. So, when you buying a pair of aviator sunglasses ensure you’re choosing the right lens and liking the frame style.