ANATOMY
temple - Attached to the frame at the end piece usually with a hinge, the temple hooks over or rests on the ear to hold the sunglasses in place. It is measured in millimeters and marked on the inside of the temple.
- GRIP TEMPLE - An injected material made of rubber or nylon that is attached to the temple and goes over the ear, grip temples provide extra grip for sports or high-movement performance activities.
- SKULL TEMPLE - This standard temple bends over the ear and rests on the mastoid bone.
- STRAIGHT BACK - Rather than bending over the ear, this temple hugs the side of the head.
- TEMPLE TIP - A plastic sleeve added to the end of metal temples for added sunglass comfort and adjustability.
lens -
- POLARIZED - Created with a series of parallel iodine crystals, this coating allows only desirable light through to the eye, blocking unwanted reflections and glare.
Learn more about lens technology.
- PHOTOCHROMIC - Embedded with molecules that react to the presence of ultraviolet rays, this coating automatically darkens and lightens sunglass lenses for more comfortable vision in various light conditions.
Learn more about lens technology.
- INTERCHANGEABLE - A frame with more than one set of lenses that can easily be exchanged. This kind of frame allows a single pair of sunglasses to have a variety of looks and performance benefits in various light conditions.
Find the right lens tint for your activity.
- ANTI-REFLECTIVE - A treatment that reduces reflections and glare from light reflected from the inner side of a sunglass lens into the eye.
Learn more about lens technology.
- MIRRORED & FLASH - A treatment that makes the front surface of the sunglass lens reflective, thus reducing the amount of light passing into the eye.
- GRADIENT - A sunglass lens coating with a darker tint at the top fading to a lighter tint on the bottom, it allows for comfortable vision over a wide range of distance and lighting conditions.
- PLASTIC - Lighter and safer than glass, plastic is shatter resistant with the added benefit of UV protection.
- POLYCARBONATE - Safer, lighter, and with greater UV protection than glass or plastic, polycarbonate is scratch resistant and 10 times more impact resistant than plastic, making it the ideal sunglass lens material for the active sports lifestyle.
- GLASS - Chemically treated to harden it for safety, glass is slightly heavier while at the same time more scratch resistant than either plastic or polycarbonate.
bridge - The area of the frame front between the lenses, the bridge distributes the weight of the sunglasses on the nose.
- NOSE PADS - Usually found on metal frames, these plastic or silicone pads attach to an adjustable metal arm to create a customized fit.
- KEYHOLE BRIDGE - This nose pad design distributes the weight of the sunglasses to either side of the nose and prevents contact with the top of the nose, creating a keyhole shape, for which it is named.
- SADDLE BRIDGE - The most common type of bridge found in plastic or nylon, it distributes the weight of the sunglasses evenly with continuous contact against the nose and without the aid of nose pads.
frame -
- PLASTIC - Often known as zyl (short for zylonite) or cellulose acetate, plastic is lighter weight than metal, though not as light as nylon. It is typically laminated together into a large sheet and then milled or stamped into the shape of the frame. Plastic can come in a wide variety of rich colors, textures, and patterns. Plastic is usually the best choice for prescription sunglasses.
- NYLON - The best choice for sports performance sunglasses, nylon is a blend of resins that are injected as a liquid into molds to form frames. The material is hypoallergenic [one word in both M-W and AHD], highly flexible, lightweight, and durable, allowing it to maintain its shape well in all weather conditions and making it great for wraps. Cellulose propionate and polymide are other frame materials with similar properties and uses.
- METAL - Stronger and more durable than plastic, metal frames are usually soldered together, in most cases from more than one type of alloy. It is often colored with plating and specialized coats to prevent corrosion while making it hypoallergenic.
- STAINLESS STEEL - Made primarily of iron and chrome, stainless steel combines flexibility and durability. Strong and corrosion resistant, it's a great sunglass frame for active lifestyles.
- TITANIUM - With a very high tensile strength, titanium is stronger, more flexible, and 40% lighter than stainless steel. It is also hypoallergenic and corrosion resistant.
- MEMORY METAL - Extremely flexible and able to return to its original shape when bent or twisted, memory metal is a combination of titanium and nickel, ideal for anyone who is hard on his or her shades.
- GOLD - Because solid gold is too soft for frames, it is usually electroplated onto another metal and measured in microns of thickness. Completely hypoallergenic, it offers long-lasting color and style.
hinge - Located on the end piece, a hinge usually consists of a screw holding the temple to the sunglass frame.
- SPRING OR FLEX - This hinge features a coil component that can flex outward to absorb stress and add durability.
- HINGELESS - Commonly made of memory metal, this is a frame without hinges.
- INTEGRATED
SPRING - Built into the temple, the spring hinge gives a clean, modern look while adding durability.
You are viewing a version of sunglasshut.com which is optimized for users with Javascript disabled. You must enable Javascript to make purchases. If you did not intend to view this site in this format, please see the following link for information on how to activate Javascript.
How to enable Javascript
icon, or drag and drop to your file while you're browsing products.
