Unfortunately, while trying to emulate movie stars & fashion models, consumers often pay top dollar for trendy sunglasses advertised with fancy slogans but offering insufficient protection.
Whether you are a long-distance runner, travelling salesperson or bird watcher, the most important reason to wear sunglasses is to protect your eyes against ultraviolet radiation.
While such companies as Bausch & Lomb, the world's largest sunglass manufacturer, Vuarnet & Oakley have well-established market niches, numerous others including Killy, Hobie, Serengeti, Gargoyles, Revo, Nikon & the newest competitor, Swiss Army, all tout their brands with varying promotion savvy.
The American Optometric Association (AOA), estimates over $2.5 billion was spent nationwide last year to purchase about 270 million pairs of sunglasses.
"There's a lot of hype in the sunglass market," said Dr. Donald G. Pitts, a former U.S. Air Force optometrist as well as a professor of environmental vision & anatomy at the University of Houston College of Optometry. "The fancy words & slogans mean nothing, except the sunglasses usually cost more.''
But the perceived mystique, glamour & "coolness" of wearing sunglasses should never be overshadowed by the more important issue of eye protection.
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