Need to buy a new pair of sunglasses for an upcoming trip? These are the five things you need to look out for before handing over your credit card.

 

UV Protection

Protection from ultraviolet light is vital for any pair of sunglasses, and especially so when you're traveling. Vacationers often head to sunnier climes to avoid the mid-winter blues, or up the slopes for a skiing holiday – both of which subject our eyes to more ultraviolet light than usual.


Snow, for example, reflects nearly 80% of the sun's rays.

Since prolonged exposure to UV light causes eye damage, including blindness and cancer, it's vital to protect yourself. Look for sunglasses specifically rated to block at least 99% of both UVA and UVB light. Price isn't necessarily a factor here, since even cheap eyeware can have this level of protection, while expensive fashion glasses don't always come with it. If the level of UV protection isn't clearly stated on the label or tag, don't buy the glasses. When it comes to style, ensure the lenses fully cover your eyes, including at the sides, to keep out as much light as possible.

 

Scratch-Resistant Lenses

Sunglasses get a remarkably hard time when we're on the road. They fall from our heads, get scuffed by dirt, salt and sand, squashed into our carry-on luggage and more. Since it's almost impossible to protect them from damage 100% of the time, help yourself out by buying sunglasses with a high degree of scratch resistance.

NXT polyurethane lenses are great for this, but are quite expensive.

Glass, too, resists scratches well, but is heavier, more costly and shatters more easily than polycarbonate. If the lens material isn't naturally resistant to scratches by itself, some manufacturers add a scratch-resistant layer on the front. Whatever approach you take, you'll appreciate it the first time you accidentally leave your sunglasses in the same bag as your car keys.

 

Durable Frames

Just like the lenses, the frame of your sunglasses doesn't have an easy life. I've dropped, sat and stood on more pairs of sunglasses than I care to remember while traveling. On one particularly memorable occasion, I had my glasses perched on my head and smashed them into a low ceiling as I descended some hotel stairs. The end result? Multiple pieces of shattered plastic flying into the reception area. Not ideal.

Avoid brittle plastic frames, as well as thin metal that gets easily bent and twisted out of shape. Titanium frames are lightweight yet very strong, while memory metal frames will return to their original shape if they get bent.

 

Make Sure They'll Stay Attached

If you're having any kind of active vacation, make sure your glasses will stay attached when you need them to. While you don't want them to be too tight, loose sunglasses will fall off at the slightest provocation. You don't want to lose them overboard if you trip on a sailboat, or fall into the middle of a busy street as you run to cross it.

Ensure they fit properly, especially around the nose and ears. Rubber stoppers on the stems also provide a little extra grip. If you're still concerned about losing your glasses, pick up a pair with an attached cord that can be placed around your neck.

 

Polarization

If you're going to be spending time on the water during your vacation, or doing lots of driving (especially when the sun is low), make sure your glasses have polarized lenses. They'll help reduce the glare caused when the sun reflects off the road surface, for instance, giving you much better visibility.

Polarized lenses are especially important when you're navigating on lakes and oceans, letting you see through the surface glare to anything that may be hiding underneath like rocks, reefs and other hazards.