The Best Round Sunglasses

Buying Guide

Retro sunglasses are all the rage. But before you buy a vintage pair of sunglasses, it’s important to realize how much UV-filtering technology has changed over the years. The sunglasses you buy in a thrift store or on an online indie shop may not offer the top-quality protection you’d get from a pair of lenses made more recently. In fact, before the late 1980s, sunglasses weren’t required to protect from UV rays at all.

The good news is, you can find brand-new sunglasses fashioned to look just like those made in the 1900s. This not only ensures the frame and lenses are made from today’s materials, but provides confidence that the latest technology is built in to protect your eyes.

Know the difference between UV coating and having UV built into the lens. Older sunglasses were coated to protect your eyes, and coatings can wear off over time — particularly if you use the wrong products to clean and sanitize them. While it’s still important to take care while cleaning any optical lenses or screens, today’s sunglasses are built with durability in mind, giving UV protection far more staying power than previous generations of sunglass lenses.

An important thing to look at as you’re shopping for sunglasses is the type of UV protection. There are two types of UV rays that come into play with eye protection: type A ultraviolet radiation (UVB) and type B ultraviolet radiation (UVB). UVA rays are the most dangerous for eyes since they can pass through the cornea to get to the lens and retina. UVB rays can’t penetrate that deeply, but they can still damage your eyes. UVB rays are the type that causes sunburns. You’ll want broad-spectrum sunglass lenses that block 99% of both UVA and UVB rays.

Round sunglasses are a great, unique way to shield your eyes while you’re outdoors or driving. They have a retro look that stands out as fun and stylish, especially when they’re more dramatic in design. You can also buy them with pastel-colored lenses for a little extra whimsy.

• Glasses with round lenses tend to look best on those with rectangular, oblong or oval faces, and they can soften more angular features. It’s best to avoid round lenses if your face is round or heart-shaped.
• When buying eyeglasses or sunglasses online, check the measurements carefully. It can help to compare the measurements to a pair of eyeglasses or sunglasses that fit well to help ensure you’ll be comfortable in them.
• Some frames build in a little extra flexibility to make them work with a wider range of face widths.
• Construction can be everything when it comes to a pair of sunglasses. Frames made from metal will give you more durability. Higher-end sunglasses will feature crystal lenses for clarity, but most will be made from plastic.
• When cleaning sunglasses, make sure you use a soft lens cloth. Other materials can scratch the lenses and damage any coatings that have been applied to them.
• Polarized lenses have a chemical coating used by many sunglass manufacturers to reduce glare. This can shield the eyes while keeping your surroundings clear, but you might have trouble seeing screens. Some people find they feel dizzy or nauseous while wearing polarized lenses. You can easily find non-polarized sunglasses if you prefer them.
• You’ll need a case for carrying your sunglasses. A cloth-based case is easier to carry, but if you’ll be tossing your sunglasses into a bag you’ll want a case that has a hard outer shell for extra protection.
• Smudges can become annoying, especially if you’re active. Some sunglasses have lenses coated with anti-smudge solution that reduces this issue and makes lenses a little easier to clean.
• Lens shape preferences are important when buying eyeglasses. But for sunglasses, you’ll want to give priority to lenses that completely cover your eyes, especially if you’ll be wearing them for hours in sunny weather.