Thread: lense color for surf and pier

She has Costas.

I am an Eye Doctor and fisherman. Not necessarily in that order. Sun is very damaging to the eye. It can cause cataracts pterygia and macular degeneration. There are definitely differences in quality. In my opinion Maui Jim Polaroid Plus is the best . Lightweight and blocks 99% of glare and 100% of UVA and UVB rays. Amber is great for low light but bright sun days require gray or I prefer dark green.

I wear Nemesis safety glasses in the darkest green they have with +2.5 readers ($12.50), but I may have to try some of those Maui Jims.

I'm pretty rough on glasses and don't like to spend a lot for something I'm going to destroy in short order, but I do need to take care of my eyes. Thanks for the info, Doc.

See, the broad spectrum of replies is why I asked the original question. I guess there is no correct answer. Is a guy that is pretty rough on glasses better off with 15 pairs of lower quality glasses that cost the same as 1 top-tier pair? Everyone can make up their own mind, but it would be interesting to know what more folks wear. I wear bifocals; sunglasses with reader inserts are my minimum preference. They don't have to be expensive, but the 'swimmy' ones don't work for me at all.

If you are rough on them, go cheaper, Cacoons was a great suggestion, I have used those. I hate 2 pairs of glasses at the same time but they work. Finally broke down and bought some Costas, prescription, bifocals, whole 9 yards, I'll let you do the math, yikes!, but I DO love them. Got the green/amber lenses.I'm very careful with them, treat them like a new born child and use a strap while on the Hobie or even when i was at the pier.

i have a large head so most caps and hats don't fit me, as well as sunglasses. i have to pick what fits. that being said, i also have extremely light sensitive eyes and wear them in the evening at times. please, no sunglasses at night references...
anyways, i wear what fit me but also have learned that a quality/more expensive pair of glasses are exponentially better. also, i have found that when i spend a little more i take better care of them. i always check backcountry.com for sales on quality glasses.

I looked at Cacoons online today. We have similar at work for UV light source protection. Not a big fan either, but like you said, they work. Plan to look closer next time I'm in Academy. Glad to hear you like your new glasses. If it ever comes to that, I'm going to tell my wife 'HobieKen likes his'!!!!! And I'd kinda like to have a Hobie, too.

I wish I had more choices in sunglasses, but I wear prescription (can't stand contacts) and I can't afford Costas in trifocal. The ones I do get are pretty good, and I prefer the brown color for contrast---great to drive in the rain with---and I can see fish better, but there is no substitute for younger eyes. (I can't afford them, either>)

I prefer the blue mirror Costas. I only wear mine while I am fishing and take very good care of them because of the cost. I had bifocal prescription lenses put in mine a couple years ago, but the coating on the inside of the lenses started coming off this spring while we were on vacation at the pier. Couldn't use them because everything was too fuzzy looking. Went to Sun Rays in gulf shores and bought a pair of Costa Readers. Found out the hard way NOT to use Dawn to clean sunglasses. The lady at Sun Rays says to use ONLY water, anything else will destroy the coatings. By the way I highly recommend shopping for sunglasses at Sun Rays. Very nice folks that know everything there is to know about sunglasses. They also have the clip-ons in several different sizes if you wear glasses and they are a fraction of the cost of sunglasses.

2nd on Sun Rays, meant to post them up earlier. Nice folks, veteran owned, bought several pair of glasses from them.