Discount Sunglasses 101: Coatings

It's not hard to find quality sunglasses that suit your needs and protect your eyes. Keep in mind, however, that many sunglass manufacturers use advanced technologies on their lenses to increase the clarity, improve protection, increase contrast, and/or block certain type of light. Unfortunately, you'll end up paying more for these features. Likewise, scratch-resistant, anti-reflective coatings or waterproofing, will improve the sunglasses but add to the cost.

Discount Sunglasses 101: Lenses

When shoping for discount sunglasses, you need to consider what kinds of lenses you need: Plastic or glass? If plastic, the hard resin "CR-39" along with the light, strong polycarbonate lenses meet optical quality standards. Glass lenses will make your sunglasses heavier, but they won't scratch as easily. Cheap sunglasses cause images to distort, so try this test: Find a repeating pattern, like a tiled floor. Hold the sunglasses a few inches from your face, cover one eye, and move the sunglasses slowly up and down, left and right. Look through one of the lenses. The lines shold stay straight. If lines wiggle or seem to move, they're not optical quality and will distort your vision.

Star Sunglasses

Forget what sunglasses the celebrities are wearing, why not wear the sunglasses that have been featured in actual films? Blinde sunglasses have appeared in such hit movies as "Charlie's Angels," "Tomb Raider," and the "Matrix Trilogy." Many of the cleverly-named styles like "Bambino," "Fellini," and "Bagel" are designed with sleek lines & elegant curves. They also feature durable, comfortable frames and impact-resistant lenses that ensure superb optical clarity.

Discount Sunglasses 101: Tint

The way you plan to use your sunglasses is going to determine the tint you should have in the lenses. Outdoor sports require a tint that blocks most light. Ninety-seven percent or more is ideal. Going to the beach or driving in the sun means you need a tint that blocks 70-90 percent of the light. Sunglasses with tints that block 60 percent of the light don't offer much protection, but if you're planning to wear them for fashion purposes only, they're not a bad choice.

Discount Sunglasses 101: Frames

Everyone likes to look good in the sunglasses they wear. They are as much protective tools for our eyes as they are fashion accessories. The cost and durability of the sunglass frames depend on the material used to make them. Strong, lightweight composite or metal frames are typically used for name-brand sunglasses, while plastic or wire are used for discounted versions. The higher-quality sunglasses generally have tension springs connecting the arms to the face, while many less expensive sunglasses use screws. In the end it's a matter of taste: what features you're willing to sacrifice to look good while still protecting your eyes.

Great Discount Sunglasses for Water Sports

Looking for a reliable brand of sunglasses for water sports? Costa del Mar sunglasses are famous for their polarized lens technology. The patented WAVE 580 lens provides enhanced color discrimination and sharper contrast to aid vision in bright sunlight. Each pair not only offers 100% polarization, but most of the styles are designed so that you can take them to your optometrist to have prescription lenses put in them. No more fumbling between eyeglasses and sunglasses when you're out waterskiing, sailing or fishing!

Shipping Costs Out of Sight?

There's another thing to watch for when you shop for discount sunglasses online. What are the shipping costs? Some dealers offer low, low prices but make it up in higher than average shipping costs. Shipping costs should be reasonable, especially since sunglasses are so lightweight and easy to ship. Outrageous shipping costs are just another way to gouge the customer, and may make your bargain price not such a bargain after all. So, before you order your discount sunglasses online, find out exactly what your shipping costs will be. Then weigh the costs with the discount price and see what dealer really offers discount pricing overall.

Accessories and Discount Sunglasses

If you purchase discount sunglasses, just because you get a discount shouldn't mean you shouldn't get accessories with your purchase. For example, do your discount sunglasses come with a case, or do you have to purchase it separately? Most reputable sunglass dealers offer cases free with all their glasses. If you have to purchase a case extra, your price may not be so "discount" after all. Many dealers also give out free lens cleaning mini-kits with their glasses, to make sure you maintain your sunglasses properly. If these items are extras from your sunglasses dealer, you may want to shop around before you buy. Find a reputable dealer that offers the right accessories with your glasses. They will also offer other accessories you may need, like cords, at a reduced price, too.

Check for Clearance Items

Does your sunglass dealer offer special clearance prices? Many dealers offer clearance specials throughout the year on older or discontinued sunglasses. That means you can save big money with these clearance items. Many discounted items will be sold at clearance at even bigger savings, and the glasses are still high-quality brand names you can trust. When you shop for discount sunglasses, be sure to check for special clearance items or online sales. Check back often too, because these discount clearance sunglasses change often.

Polarized Lenses

Finding a pair of discount sunglasses with polarized lenses is a real find...but where to start? Try Serengeti sunglasses, specifically their Strata model. When normal, parallel rays of light bounce off surfaces like windshields, windows, water or ice, they create random light waves. The glare that's produced from the reflected light waves can cause eye irritation. Serengeti's Strata lenses work like microscopic Venetian blinds by gathering and organizing the light. This, in turn, eliminates glare and reduces eye fatigue.

Clip-on Sunglasses

If you normally wear eyeglasses, one way to save money on sunglasses is to purchase clip-ons. These are shaded lenses that clip to your prescription glasses directly. Some come with a magnetic frame that attaches to your glasses. Fit-overs are another option. Fit-overs are sunglasses designed to fit over prescription lenses, giving you two pairs of glasses, but only requiring the removal of one set of glasses when coming indoors.

Discount not Low Quality

Discount sunglasses don´t have to be low quality. Shopping online for sunglasses can save time and money because online merchants do not have to pay high overhead such as rent and display. However, always choose quality discount sunglasses merchants who offer money-back guarantees and carry name-brand sunglasses at reasonable prices.

High-Priced Sunglasses

High-priced sunglasses are not necessarily better than lower priced alternatives. High-prices do not guarantee quality, the buyer should look for good quality polycarbonate or glass lenses, strong frames, and coatings to indicate the sunglasses will do their job and protect from harmful UV rays of the sun. Discount sunglasses are often better quality than higher priced sunglasses, so don't shop by price only when you shop for sunglasses, look for reputation and a reputable dealer.

Watch for "Optimum Pricing"

High-quality discount sunglasses can be found from reputable dealers. Make sure you watch for sales and "optimum pricing." Sometimes dealers get the chance to buy out existing inventories of sunglasses, and they pass the savings they get on to their customers.

This is called "optimum pricing." You can look for this type of pricing on dealer's web sites, and you can be assured that this is the best possible price the dealer can offer on these particular sunglasses. So, take advantage of optimum pricing when you shop for discount sunglasses! You'll save money and still be assured you are buying high-quality glasses.

It's Hip to Be Fly

When shopping for great-looking discount sunglasses, you can't go wrong with Black Flys. They offer sassy styles that fit an urban lifestyle. Although they are discounts, Black Flys sunglasses don't sacrifice quality, which means you'll be protected as well as fashionable. Each of the styles provide durable metal or nylon frames designed with contours that hug the face, and self-locking screws to hold arms in place. The distortion-free polycarbonate lenses are impact-resistant and ensure 100% UVA/UVB protection, which means you'll be protected as well as fashionable.

Beware of Knock-off Discount Sunglasses

"Knock-off" discount sunglasses are difficult to spot, except by their incredibly low prices. Watch out for these glasses, they can be very dangerous to your eyes. These glasses are cheap because they use cheap materials and do not guarantee UV protection and optical quality. Real name-brand manufacturers will guarantee the dependability of their sunglasses. They use high-quality materials to ensure your safety and your satisfaction with their merchandise. Knock-offs can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. The materials are cheap, and so they can break or shatter and this could injure your eyes. The lenses are not high-quality optical materials, and this too could injure your eyes in time. Always look for reputable discount sunglass dealers, and avoid cheap, "too good to be true" prices.