DO I NEED SUNGLASSES?
Good question! Maybe! This should help you think through a few questions we get from parents and individuals.
You don’t even have to give up your frames while we are making the lenses. We will take all necessary measurements and fabricate your lenses to fit them!
- What do I look for in prescription sunglasses?
- Do I really need sunglasses in the winter?
- With 'youthful eyes', do children really need sunglasses?
- What are polarized sunglasses?
If you have questions after reading this, feel free to call or stop by - we would love to help you think through your options.
What do I look for in prescription sunglasses?
More than a fashion statement
Sunglasses are essential to any wardrobe, from business to party. It is not just a fashion statement (though we can help with that too, if that is your style), but it is imperative for the health of your eyes. And no, adding inexpensive clip-ons to your glasses is not the best option. Neither are sunglasses over contacts, because when you are at the beach, the effects of sun, salt, sand, wind and water will make your contacts as comfortable as sandpaper on your eyes. Swimming with contacts on is not a good choice either, as they can retain bacteria and cause serious issues in the future. What you need are prescription sunglasses and that is where we come in.
UV Rays
All of our sunglasses we offer meet the necessities and go farther. Our expert opticians can tell you about what you need, not what a marketing gimmick will sell. Prescription sunglasses should not sacrifice quality of lens to get the “sunglasses” look; they should match your prescription and filter out the harmful rays that can cause long term damage to your eyes. The most harmful are UVB rays, so you should make sure to get at least 95% filtration. We can point you to which glasses are UV400, filtering all light with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers, which includes UVA and UVB. Wraparound sunglasses offer the best protection, keeping out glare from the sides.
Consider the Features
The features that you need outside of UV protection depend on how you will be using the sunglasses. For an active lifestyle, look for scratch resistance and degree of impact resistance. While the FDA requires all sunglasses to be impact resistant, our experts can point you to higher degrees (ultra impact, polycarbonate lenses). Remember that the degrees of darkness and gradient lenses do not have an effect on the level of UV rays being blocked. You can get lenses from blue blockers, polarized, anti-reflective, mirror coated, single or double gradient, or even photochromatic (which change with amount of UV exposure). We can point you to the correct color for your lifestyle.
The Hocke Difference
Because we have been family owned for 70 years, we are not beholden to telling you what brands to buy. We sell many brands that we have researched, use ourselves, and found to be of the quality that we would use for our families. We are motivated to get the right pair of prescription sunglasses that fits your lifestyle. Nothing more, nothing less, only the best value for your money to meet all your optical needs.
Do I really need sunglasses in the winter?
You especially need sunglasses in the winter! Just because it is not hot outside doesn’t mean you can ignore the sunglasses.
Tilted Earth
Ever notice how, when doing a winter road trip, your exposed skin can get a sunburn? Your eyes take the same beating; in fact, it can be worse for them. Due to the earth’s tilt, the sun is lower in the sky in the winter, which gives a different angle for its rays, which can actually mean more exposure to harmful UV rays. UV rays can contribute to various eye diseases, like cataracts and macular degeneration, or even skin cancer on the eyelids.
Can you remember the last time you put sunscreen on your eyelids? In the winter? Sunglasses are an integral part of your complete care to your body. You can thank us when you are 80 and your eyes are still working fantastic. We have been around 70 years and are looking forward to serving you for the next 70 and beyond!
The Snow Factor
We can point you to the lenses that work best in the winter. Amber or yellow lenses significantly enhance contrast and are excellent for snow. And speaking of the snow, the winter wonderland make the world a house of mirrors for the snows reflective surface to bounce those UV rays towards your eyes from all angles. Without sunglasses keeping your eyes safe, you are increasing your odds of eye problems in the future. Don’t make the mistake of stashing the “sunnies” for only the sunny weather.
With "youthful eyes", do children really need sunglasses?
The logic
Do we say that "with youthful skin, my kids don’t need sunscreen?" No, we take extra precaution. According to Harvard Health Publications, our eyes are most vulnerable in our teens, 20s and 30s, even though the damage does not usually show up until later in life. With the amount of time that kids often spend at the pool, the sun’s rays are especially intense near reflective surfaces. We can point you to the sunglasses that will have the correct fit for your children’s eyes and with the style that just may get you in the “cool parent” category.
Cumulative Effect
We are big fans of encouraging active kids. With water, beach, sun, snow… any number of activities that get kids moving will also be activities where they need the right protection for their eyes. Just like you wouldn’t send your child into a football game without a helmet, neither would you leave your kid's eyes unprotected. There is strong evidence that sun exposure can cause exfoliation syndrome, which in turn, can lead to vision problems. Tiny dandruff-like flakes build up inside the eyes and "clog the eyes natural drains, which can lead to other problems." The damage is cumulative, starting at a young age, and manufacturers are not required to disclose or guarantee UV protection. Our experts will point you to the right glasses to protect your most precious possession; your kids.
AthleticS & EYEs
We can also provide your children with protective eyewear to wear during athletics. We have the options for impact resistance that meets the strictest ASTM F803 standards. According to the Vision Council, more than 90% of all eye injuries are preventable with use of appropriate eyewear. Don’t let an inferior product compromise the safety of your kids.
What are polarized sunglasses? (What is polarized in sunglasses?)
Polarized sunglasses were originally popular with fisherman and boaters, because they needed something to protect them from the suns glare on the water and see better what was underneath. As they became more popular, more and more people became aware of the benefits. Everyone from soccer moms (glare off pavement and other cars) to professional athletes realized that the clarity polarized lenses provide was a huge benefit.
How does it work?
The way polarized sunglasses work is like a blind on a window. They have an embedded chemical film which lines up the molecules, creating slots for the light to get through. Most of the time when light bounces off an object, it scatters. When it is a smooth surface, more of the light remains aligned and it all reflects at the same angle. Glare off a surface can prevent you from being able to see. With the polarization, it limits that intensity, providing increased clarity, a little darker but less washed out.
are ALL polarized lenses equal?
While some sunglasses will market “polarization”, it may not be the quality you want. There is a reason that companies can sell “polarized lenses” inexpensively; they may be spray on and will wipe off eventually with continued use. With our expertise, we can point you to the best options on the market for the best price. And then educate you on how to care for and when to not wear polarized lenses (they can inhibit viewing of LCD screens, such as a touchscreen phone or some car dashboards).