LENS
-Regulaciones sobre niveles de protección:
El estándar europeo EN 1836:2006 establece 5 niveles que van, de menor a mayor protección, de 0 a 4 según su transmitancia (el porcentaje de rayos UV que atraviesan la lente):
0: del 80 al 100%
1: del 44 al 80%
2: del 19 al 43%
3: del 9 al 18%
4: del 3% al 8%
En la Unión Europea se exige que las gafas exhiban la marca 
y la correspondiente categoría ya que esto nos garantiza que se ajustan a esta norma. Suelen considerarse las categorías 2 y 3 las mejores para un uso medio, incluyendo la conducción. La categoría 4 está adaptada a usos extremos, por ejemplo en paisajes nevados o deportes acuáticos y no es apta para la conducción, ni siquiera de día.
El estándar australiano AS 1067 establece también 5 niveles de protección, que van del 0 al 4.
El estándar estadounidense ANSI Z80.3-2001 no distingue entre diversos niveles de protección. Exige una transmitancia de rayos UVB (280 a 315nm) y UVA (315 a 380nm) no superior al 1% y 50% respectivamente.
“Base curve” refers to the amount of “wrap” that a lens has, which in turn affects the curvature of the frame. These are rated by a number which represents the amount of curvature in the lens. The higher the number the higher the curve. A flatter lens, such as a 6-Base, will create a much flatter and squared frame shape, whereas a higher base number will cause a sleek, wraparound fit.
- 4 Base Curve: As flat as it gets. 4 base frames are for straight-up fashion purists.
- 6 Base Curve: A middle-ground curve, not too little, not too much. Traditionally used in optical or prescription styles, 6 base frames are engineered for the classic styles that are ideal for big city action.
8 Base Curve: Combining just enough head curve and optical centration to protect you from the elements. A good strong wrap that goes both ways, fashion and function.
- 9 Base Curve: Provinding the maximum amount of wrap around your face, each 9 base lens is optically centered to eliminate visual distortion, wich results in eye strain. 9 base lenses set the standard for optical clarity and performance.
- V-Toric: This lens has unique optical performance with futuristic ultra-wrapped design. Features curvature shape properties to conform to your face and head for ultimate eye protection, while maintaining a consistent thickness across the entire lens surface. Eliminating distortions and reflections, provides maximum comfort and a perfect global vision. The V-Toric lens gives the unusual appearance of turning a sharp corner while still providing precise optics. Lens creates a unique look of it’s own.
-LENS MATERIALS:
-Polycarbonate
Polycarbonate lenses are usually distortion free, optically correct and have maximum strength and shatter resistance, are ideal for active lifestyles. UV400 protection lurks beneath the dark exterior of these lenses.
-Polarized
When sunlight reflects off water, snow or roads, it creates glare reducing contrast and clarity. These distracting reflections can obstruct your vision and be annoying and tiring to your eyes. Polarized lenses use a thin polarization filter that blocks all evil glare reflected off a reflective surface, allowing for truer colours and exceptional optical clarity.
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Polarized lenses can normally be found in glass or polycarbonate.
- Glass polarized lenses
These lenses block 99.9% of glare while maintaining true colours and sharper images. Glass lenses have the best optical clarity and scratch resistance, but are heavier than plastic lenses. They can also shatter or break on impact. Glass polarized lenses are composed of two layers of glass which are sandwiched around an ultra-thin polarized filter. A hard coating is added to the lens exterior for scratch resistance and two layers of anti-reflective coating is added to the interior surface.
- Polycarbonate polarized lenses.
The polycarbonate lens offers exceptional glare reduction and clarity but are more prone to scratching. Made of polycarbonate materials, these lenses are lightweight and impact resistant which makes them ideal for outdoor sports.
-De-centered Lens Technology
Visual distortion occurs when light waves hit an aggressively curved lens causing them to refract. De-centered lenses correct this distortion by displacing the optical center of the lens to directly in front of the eye. Through a properly de-centered lens, all light, regardless of what angle it hits the lens at, travels straight to the eye. This generates precise vision, reduces potential eye fatigue and provides superior optical clarity.
-CR-39 Lenses
CR-39 lenses provide UV400 protection, superior scratch and impact resistance. This lens material combines fashion forward colourations, details of handmade designs and precise optics.
-Mirrored coating
A mirrored coating reflects high-intensity light to reduce glare. It lessens the amount of visible light that reaches the eye, but it does not block UV light.
Clear lenses are used typically to protect the eyes from impact, debris, dust, or chemicals. For low-light or nighttime, untinted for indoor or outdoor use.
Gray lenses are considered neutral because they enhance bright colors and not alter the contrast or colors. Especially recommended for driving.
Brown and green lenses can cause a minimun color distortion, but have contrast-limiting properties. Especially recommended for outdoor sports.
Turquoise lenses are good for medium and higher light conditions because they are good at enhancing contrast, but do not cause significant color distortion.
Yellow and orange lenses are used for overcast days, increases visibility and depth perception. Used by fishers and shooters for their contrast enhancement and width perception properties.
Blue or purple lenses are mainly cosmetic. No real benefits, its use is purely aesthetic.
Smoke Dark. Tint for daytime, bright and sunny days. Decreases sunlight without distorting colors.
F
Flash Mirror Lens with a partial mirror coating, used for both bright and low light.
Smoke Mirrored. Smoked lens with a partial mirror coating.
Amber and Rose Mirrored lenses with partial mirror coating. These lenses enhance contrast, enabling you to make out shapes, objects, and bumps in the snow more clearly because it blocks out the blue, or hazy, end of the color spectrum.
Revo Mirrored lenses are a multi-layered titanium which provides a brilliant rainbow color. Discovered by aerospace engineers at NASA, these high-tech lenses have 12 layers of titanium dioxide and silica applied onto shatterproof polycarbonate. They are also scratch resistant.
-FRAME MATERIALS:
-Grilamid
These frames are made from tempered steel molds. Grilamid nylon is flexible in all temperatures, shatter resistant and possesses a high memory to ensure the frame retains it’s shape and fit.
-Handtooled Acetate
Acetate creates unique and rich colour combinations that are not possible through other materials. Each frame begins as a laminated sheet of acetate that is milled, shaped and then hand-formed to perfections. Optical quality hinges and logos are hand set. All frames are fitted with wire injected temple cores. The finished frame is meticulously hand polished and is registered to ensure a perfect fit.
-Metal Alloy
Each signature frame features optical quality nickel silver metal alloy construction for strength, durability and a lightweight fit. Each frame is hand soldered and fitted with stainless steel, optical quality multi-barrel hinges, silicone nose pads and shapeable temples to allow for a custom fit.
-Grilamin TR90 Frames
Grilamid TR90 is a class of nylon known for resistance, elasticity and light weight. This injected-molded material allows for thin, flexible designs, is highly durable and resistant to aging. Grilamid frames are generally 20% lighter than handmade zyl acetate frames.
-TR-90
Is a superior compound which has no risk of toxicity or allergy. It is extremely light weight and designed to flex making it resistant to stress cracking and material fatigue. It is free of plasticizers and extremely stable to UVA exposure in all types of temperature and humidity conditions. Strong resistance to chemical products such as solvents, alcohol, cosmetics and organic acids gives TR-90 maximum durability in outdoor environments.
-Zyl Acetate Frames
Zyl Acetate is a resin material used to craft handmade designs. Zyl is known for its endless colours, patterns and texture possibilities. Zyl is the featured material in Quiksilver’s limited fabric collection and offers a richer, dense finish.
-Nickel Silver Hinge
Optical quality, triple barrel hinges offer strength and durability to last a lifetime.
-Spring Hinge
Optical quality, spring piston hinges flex both inward and outwards to fit every face without pressure points.
UV consists of the short, invisible rays from the sun that reach the earths surface. These rays contain three separate bands:
-UVC rays (100-290 nm) are absorbed by the earths atmosphere and do not reach the earths surface and therefore do not relate to sunglass performance.
-UVB rays (290-315 nm) are the “sunburn” rays. Exposure to UVB rays can potentially produce harmful effects to your eyes and may be associated with cataracts and retinal damage.
-UVA rays (315-380 nm) can pass through the cornea and reach the lens and retina inside the eye. Overexposure to UVA radiation has been linked to the development of certain types of cataracts, and research suggests UVA rays may play a role in development of macular degeneration.
UV 400 Protection lenses are engineered to block 100% of all harmful blue light up to 400 nanometers.
Sunglass standards place limits on UVA and UVB exposure. UV radiation is strongest at high altitudes, low latitudes and in open or reflective environments (sand, snow or water).
