Types of Lenses:

Acrylic: Probably the most commonly used lens material, acrylic lenses are lightweight and relatively affordable. Acrylic is available in both tinted and mirrored lenses, and is also used clear, for reading glasses and goggles. "AC" and "CR39®" are types of acrylic.

Polycarbonate: Most often found in top-quality sports glasses. Polycarbonate (PCB) is the newest development in lens materials. It is Lexan from G.E., the same material used for bullet resistant glass in autos. It is such hard material that a special diamond grinding wheel must be used to cut the lens. To form the glasses the material is melted and them force injected into a special mold. Although all of our sunglasses are coated with a scratch resistant coating, they must be cleaned with care. The PCB material is naturally UV absorbing, so even the clear lenses are 100% Ultraviolet protected. Polycarbonite in certain glasses is actually approved for use as safety glasses. Polycarbonate lenses are lightweight, durable, impact-resistant and the most scratch-resistant of the plastics. They are virtually break proof. Polycarbonate eyewear is the only approved eye protection for most major Police & Fire Departments. The "bullet-proof" plastic known as LEXAN® is a type of polycarbonate.

Lens Tints and Coatings

Smoke, Gray and Gray-Green tints: The most common type of lens color. Transmits all colors evenly without changing value of color. Light enough not to impair vision, yet dark enough to provide overall protection from glare. Excellent for bright sunny days.

Copper or Brown lens tints: Especially good at blocking the blue light commonly found in diffused light such as one might experience on a cloudy day. Amber can improve both contrast and depth perception, and is a good all-around choice if you live in an area with changeable weather patterns.

Mirror Lenses: Good at blocking glare without changing color perception. Quality mirror coatings are effective, but beware of very cheap mirrored sunglasses, as they may trick your eyes into allowing harmful radiation into the interior of the eye.

Polarized: When sunlight bounces off a reflective surface such as glass, water or snow, the result is glare. Glare can be much brighter than the light that caused it, and can irritate or even damage the unprotected eye. Polarized lenses block vertically-reflected light by horizontally aligning the crystalline structure of the lens. This makes them ideally suited for use around water, snow, and for driving. Avoid cheap polarized glasses, because poorly matched lenses may result in eye strain. Polarized lenses eliminate glare (which causes eye fatigue, discomfort, and temporary blurring of vision) and allows for the natural perception of color; no compromise of reds, greens, and yellows.

UV Protection

Our sunglasses provide the industry standard UV 400 eye protection which protects 100%. All Matrix style sunglasses are warranted by the manufacturer to meet or exceed applicable U.S. Government standards for ultraviolet protection and impact resistance.

Hints

Wear your sunglasses on a cord, or chain around your neck. You'll avoid leaving them behind carelessly.

If you're in and out of the sun constantly, like a delivery driver, a cord is a must, or you'll have to be putting your sunglasses away all the time.

Remove glasses gently from your face with two hands. This will prevent the frame from becoming bent and curved.

Wearing sunglasses on the top of your head can stretch the frames.

Don't leave sunglasses with plastic frames on the dashboard of your car on a hot day. You don't want your sunglasses to "melt" and lose their form.

Storage

It's always best to place your sunglasses in a case when you aren't wearing them. Not only will it help in preventing them from becoming scratched, but it will also protect them from accidentally breaking, like someone sitting on them.

Avoid placing your glasses without a case in your purse or pocket. Keys or combs can easily scratch them.

When not using a case, do place your sunglasses on folded temples with the frame facing upward if you leave them on a table or any other hard surface.

Cleaning

Clean dust and lint from your lenses with a soft cloth. An excellent suggestion is the Micro Fiber cloth, which we provide with each order. Using Micro Fiber will ensure that the lenses do not become scratched.

To remove smudges, oils, and/or fingerprints, we recommend using a lens cleaner or washing the lenses with a mild soap and water. Dry with a soft, clean cloth.

To prevent scratches, never use your fingers or fingernails to remove a spot on the lens surface, and never clean your sunglasses with a rough fabric such as wool or denim. More than likely, they'll get scratched.