For the uninitiated, in the Matrix, Seraph (played by Collin Chou) in the Matrix films guards the Oracle.  The role was also offered to Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh, but it was Chou who portrayed the character so brilliantly. With the exception of Neo, no entity within the Matrix would be able to defeat Seraph in a one-to-one confrontation. The extent of his appearance within the Matrix films varies, but this is a strong character that alludes to an angel without wings.

Matrix Seraph

These particular Matrix sunglasses are pretty neat and of a high quality. Frequently found at well over a hundred dollars, it is possible to get them for less than forty from certain online outlets.

The styling of Seraph sunglasses are of a metal frame with smoke lenses. They are shatterproof and the lenses are also scratch resistant (unless you try very hard!). As you would expect from a quality product, you will also get UVA400 and UVB protection. And, in case you have a tendency to sit on your glasses, there is a hard spring loaded case to keep them in when you have to take them off.

Other styles include, Neo, Agent Smith and of course Morpheus. Matrix Morpheus sunglasses look a little quirky. If you have seen them, then you probably already know why … they don’t have any arms! They keep on by the use of a clever silicon nose pads that work surprisingly well. Bungee jumping is not recommended(!), but general speaking you will find that normal daily wear and you’ll be creating a topic for conversation whenever you wear them.

If you’re a serious Sepaph Matrix fan, or you just like all the Matrix characters, then you’ll definitely want to get yourself a pair of these Seraph Matrix sunglasses. They would also make a great gift for the Matrix fans you know. Work out their favourite character and buy multiple pairs as it is sometimes possible to get some great deals (currently, buy two get one free as well as Free worldwide shipping).

The range of Matrix eyewear has moved into the marketplace due to the need for many to emulate the style and appearance of the primary characters. The resulting high demand to for the Matrix look has resulted in the design, production and availability of Matrix sunglasses. They are manufactured from shatterproof, scratch-resistant, polycarbonate lenses and the hard wearing metal, lightweight frames. The lenses of course have UV400 protection for your eyes.

Precisely what styles can you get? Trinity, Morpheus, Neo, Seraph, Agent Smith or The Twins can all be found, and the good thing about these glasses could be the price! They can be really very affordable with greatly reduced prices from around $30 (although you can get the ‘toy’ versions that are only really suitable for fancy dress parties for about $10).

Morpheus Matrix Sunglasses

You can even get prescription eyewear using some of the frame styles. This includes progressive and bifocal lenses. You just need to take the frames to the optician to have your prescription filled. The Matrix eyewear site reports this has been done with the Morpheus, Agent Smith and Neo styles.

Morpheus Matrix sunglasses are some of the most popular, possibly because of the quirky design. They have no arms (!) and appear to ‘float’ on the face. They keep on by clipping to the bridge of the nose with the specially designed silicon nose pads. Surprisingly perhaps, they actually stay on.

The Matrix eyewear website includes a full cash back guarantee for one year and come with free worldwide delivery. At the time of writing there’s even a buy two get one free on some styles. This is great for those who have a habit of breaking your sunglasses all the time or just want spares in different locations for when the weather changes!

So, if you are looking for something that will attract attention from your friends and make that little bit of impact and at a reasonable cost, then the Matrix eyewear range may just do that for you. Look at options that are now available as the more popular styles come and go out of stock quite fast.

It’s not just in the summer you need worry about the sun but in the winter as well, you also need to consider what you are doing. For example, if you are skiing or snowboarding you need to make sure your ski goggles protect you adequately as the sun will bounce off the snow.  However, if there is a danger of thin ice, polarised sunglasses could cause problems because in some cases, definition will be lost because of the lack of reflection off the landscape. If there is no snow but bright conditions you’ll also get this ‘bounce’ effect from wet surfaces. An example of someone who would benefit from polarised sunglasses are fisherman, as these would make it easier for them to see more clearly into the water without the sun ‘blinding’ their vision. Therefore it is important to remember that safety rather than fashion should be your foremost consideration.

Developed originally by Edwin Land around 1936, lenses are now either coated with a protective substance or have a filter enclosed within them. Polarisation absorbs solar glare from reflective surfaces by up to 99% to counteract the bright glare that the eye cannot protect against by restricting the light waves to a singular direction. For example, Oakley sunglasses have optimised polarisation that exceeds 99% protection with the lens coatings being moulded at the molecular level. (For more information on the technology Oakley uses visit their website.)

Oakley Tangent Sunglasses

As there are many replicas around, to test whether your polarised sunglasses are authentic, rotate it and watch to see if the light passing through the lens changes intensity – it shouldn’t. Don’t go for cheap imitations, it is your sight we are talking about. You can pay over a hundred for the Oakley Tangent (see left) or just £35 for the Bloc Cobra Sunglasses.

Your sunglasses should also protect against 100% of all UV rays ( UVA, UVB and UVC). You should also remember that despite the colour or darkness of the lens, it is the clear outer coating that filters the rays and not the colour.

So what should you look for when buying your new sun glasses? Most people are now aware that they need UV protection but just to explain, UV radiation comes in at least two primary forms, UVA and UVB and both carry their own dangers. UVA can lead to premature skin aging while UVB may cause skin cancer. UVC has lower radiation and is mostly found in artificial sources such as certain types of lamps.

Short-term exposure is not really harmful but repeated and extended exposure is. What you need to look for is a 99 – 100% protection against UV, irrespective of the price of your glasses or the darkness of the lens. Although a bit more expensive, even if it’s a second pair, there are certainly many benefits to having polarised sunglasses as well, so do at least consider this option.

Commonly seen in the movies, worn by celebrities, pilots, US police and Army personnel, aviators sunglasses remain very popular with many different designer brands now producing their own aviator styles. With their trademark wire frames they now come with several different types and colour lenses.

One of the most popular types of aviators sunglasses have the silver mirrored lenses as worn by the US police and seen in TV series such as C.H.I.P’s and classic 80′s films like Top Gun with Tom Cruise. They do appear to give an element of mystery, intrigue and danger as well as being able to protect the eyes and it is these properties that have made them a strong fashion choice.

The design of aviators sunglasses is ideal for protecting the eyes from all angles against the sun and now come in a variety of coloured lenses that may or may not be polarised. Polarised sunglasses as you may know, block out horizontal light waves to greatly reduce reflection of the sun’s rays, somewhat of a plus for pilots!  As with all sunglasses, one needs to make sure that the sunglasses you buy protect your eyes sufficiently from all UV rays. Although the mirrored lenses are traditionally more popular, it must be noted that mirrored sunglasses are more at risk from getting scratched, but that won’t stop people wearing them!

Electric Bullitt

Nueu Aviator 601

Although not the original aviators that were designed and produced by Ray Ban, there is now a range of superb designer styled aviators sunglasses such as the Electric Bullitt Sunglasses or the Spy Wilshire or the more reasonably priced Nueu Aviator range where you will find some good quality aviators sunglasses at a really good price. Today’s aviator style glasses make a great, noticeable accessory and suit most faces, male or female.

Whether you need sunglasses for sports, driving or leisure, then aviators sunglasses make an excellent choice because of the available range that I’m sure you will be happy with.

Originally developed by Edwin Land in 1936, lenses are now either coated with a protective substance or have a filter enclosed within them. Polarisation now absorbs solar glare from reflective surfaces by up to 99% and counteracts the bright glare to the eye by restricting the light waves to a singular direction.

Its not just in the summer you need worry about the sun but in the winter as well especially if you are involved in winter sports. For example, if you are skiing or snowboarding you need to make sure your ski goggles protect you adequately as the sun will bounce off the snow.  However, if there is a danger of thin ice polarised sunglasses could cause problems because in some cases, definition will be lost because of the lack of reflection off the landscape. If there is no snow but bright conditions youll also get this bounce effect from wet surfaces. An example of someone who would benefit from polarised sunglasses are fisherman, as these would make it easier for them to see more clearly into the water without the sun blinding their vision. Therefore it is important to remember that safety rather than fashion should be your foremost consideration.

Considering there are many fakes around, test whether your polarised sunglasses are authentic by rotating them and watching to see if the light passing through the lens changes intensity – it should not. Don’t go for cheap imitations, it is your sight we are talking about.

Your sunglasses should also protect against 100% of all UV rays ( UVA, UVB and UVC). You should also remember that despite the colour or darkness of the lens, it is the clear outer coating that filters the rays and not the colour.

UV radiation comes in at least two primary forms, UVA and UVB and both carry their own dangers. UVA can lead to premature skin aging while UVB may cause skin cancer. UVC is a third type of radiation and is mostly found in artificial sources such as certain types of lamps. While short-term exposure is not really harmful to the eyes, repeated and extended exposure is. What you need to look for is a 99 – 100% protection against UV, irrespective of the price of your glasses or the darkness of the lens.

They may cost you a little more but even if they are a second pair, there are certainly many benefits to having polarised sunglasses.

If you are a fan of The Matrix, The Matrix Reloaded and/or The Matrix Revolutions then you may be interested in getting your hands on some of the impressive designer sunglasses worn in these films.

Matrix sunglasses were brought to the market because of demand, and a frequent question asked has been, “where can I find the sunglasses worn in The Matrix?” So whether you fancy Morpheus, Trinity, Neo Seraph, The Twins or Agent Smith styles, the best bit is the price. They really are affordable with greatly reduced prices from about $30.

The range of sunglasses are shatterproof with scratch-resistant polycarbonate lenses and with metal frames. Naturally, they also have UV400 protection which is the best protection you can get for your eyes.

As an example, what makes Morpheus Matrix sunglasses so quirky? If you’ve seen them, then you probably already know … they don’t have any arms! So, how do they stay on? They simply clip on to the bridge of your nose with the help of some very specific silicon nose pads. A word of caution though, if the bridge of your nose is particularly wide, you might want to give these designer sun glasses a miss. Now, do they really stay on? Yes, and you can do the majority of things while wearing them; bouncing on a trampoline, running, on the beach, driving etc. However, if you are planning going on a roller coaster or bungee jumping or similar, I would take them off or you may lose them! They do take some adjusting to, but once you have, they’re absolutely fine and do tend to create lots of interest from your friends and those that wonder how they magically ‘float’ on your face!

If you need prescription sunglasses, your optician will find it simple to replace the lenses, even with bifocal and progressive lenses. The Matrix sunglasses website reports they know it has been done with the Neo, Morpheus and Agent Smith styles.

Shipped worldwide for FREE they also come with a years unconditional money back guarantee. Currently, if you buy two pairs, you’ll get another FREE on some styles so you can keep a pair in your car, a pair at home and a pair at work! Just in case the sun decides to come out unexpectedly (in the UK anyway) and you don’t have any with you!

While visible light is the part that provides the perception of colour on the eye, HEV is the upper end of the spectrum in the violet blue band approaching ultraviolet. Substantial experience of ultraviolet waves can have effects later in life and can lead to macular degeneration.

Ultraviolet light waves are electromagnetic radiation that is seen to be stronger in higher altitudes or in open highly reflective conditions like water, snow and sand. Ultraviolet waves can be split into three forms of light, UVA, UVB and UVC. While most know that excessive exposure to ultraviolet waves leads to sunburn, there are other damaging effects to health which could occur, particularly on the eyes.

UVA (often known as longwave or black light) penetrates the skin and eyes and could cause untimely aging. It has also been linked to short term eyestrain and fatigue.

UVB (also referred to as medium wave light) is easily the most damaging of the sun’s rays and is known to be one factor in retinal damage and the advancement of cataracts. Ultraviolet B waves are also associated with other issues that can bring about eye disease and possibly blindness.

Ultraviolet waves of the C subtype (often called shortwave or germicidal light) are not a specific problem to the eyes, because they are mostly absorbed by the outer atmosphere before reaching the planet earth. UVC radiation is usually seen in artificial sources such as germicidal light and mercury arc lamps.

Don’t forget when buying sunglasses to look for those with 99-100% protection against UV damage.

It’s not all bad news, of course some exposure is certainly advantageous to your health. The only thing that people should understand is that for health purposes, moderation is highly recommended if you are in direct sunlight.

Jim Jannard started Oakley in 1975 from his garage with just $300. His first product was a motorcycle handlebar grip that increased the grip of the hands when the hands sweated. These were quickly picked up on by top sportsmen. Other products, including eyewear followed.

Oakley look for the unexpected but always produce well researched and tested, quality products that have been designed and produced to exceptional standards. The only downside for the consumer is that this type of quality will not come cheaply.

Oakley sun glasses are popular as they certainly set fashion trends, but also, are popular for many different forms of sports usage. High Definition Optics ® allows for sharper and clearer vision and provides 100% UV protection that is so important to protect the eyes from the sun. Different lens tints will allow the user to optimise their performance in different types of sport, and you can also find Oakley sun glasses with photo chromic and polarised properties.

Some glasses will have greater impact protection if they are coated with Plutonite ®lens materials. Amazingly, Plutonite will protect from a metal spike weighing just over a pound in weight and dropped from four feet, or, a ¼ inch steel shot travelling at just over 100 miles per hour! A Hydrophobic® coating will make glasses great for water sports (or the English weather!), as water will just bead off without streaking. It also makes the glasses more resistant to finger smudges, oils, dirt and dust particles.

Styles suitable for women include Half Jacket, Minute 2.0 and Flak Jacket. If you find that glasses tend to sit too low on your face, slide down your nose, touch at your temples or cheeks, or feel narrow at the sides of your head, you may need a European/Asian fit. These can be found in the Half Jacket, Flak and Radar Pitch ranges among others.

The worst thing about the success of Oakley sun glasses are the imitations. As with most popular merchandise, there will be those who seek to make a profit with inferior quality copies. Fine – if that’s what you want. However, if you want to know your glasses are genuine and will last and protect your eyes; do not mess with fakes.

Buying bomb-proof sun glasses is no longer science fiction!

Haymaker sunglasses from Spy are quite special and pretty unique as they are built from bomb proof Grilamid materials.  Grilamid combines safety, strength and fashion detail in a single package and makes for a unique statement!

But what is Grilamid? Simply put, Grilamid is a transparent polyamide that is processed using thermoplastic methods. Amongst the exceptional properties of Grilamid is its lightness, gives good transparency, has high flex fatigue strength, impact resistant and weather resistant, can be coloured and has low flammability and is resistant to chemicals at temperatures and to stress cracking.

The Grilamid used in frames and sunglass lenses, not only has very good optical and mechanical properties, you will find it is also resistant to damage from a large number of normally corrosive chemicals. In addition, Grilamid is resistant to cracking up to at least 23 degrees centigrade after one minute’s exposure from substances such as diesel and petrol fuel, amido sulphuric acid, acetone and butyl acetate to name but a few.

Spy sun glasses are not the only range from the Californian innovators who also produce goggles and apparel that are now made in Italy. It is perhaps no surprise that they introduced these sport inspired Haymaker sun glasses given that the founders are action and motor sports enthusiasts! Uses for these Spy sun glasses are obvious. Not only are they a fashion statement coming from Spy, they will protect your eyes if you work with hazardous materials. We’re not saying a direct and hard blow with a hammer won’t damage them, as it probably may, but debris flying up while you are digging, gardening, skiing, and partaking in other action and motor sports, should not be a problem.

Given the composition of the material, only the genuine designer sunglasses who claim to use Grilamid, will actually use it! If you buy fake designer sunglasses and you need them for safety reasons, it could eventually lead to optical harm as the fakes won’t protect you in the same way. The Haymaker range from Spy sun glasses are built from Grilamid, have 100% UV protection and can be found in a range of colours. There are other “bomb proof” sunglasses around if you want an alternative style, but they can be difficult to find.

You will also find out about some more quirky aspects of sunglasses such as those with bluetooth and MP3 technology included.

The most popular types of designer sunglasses include aviators and anything Oakley! Oakley sunglasses are probably the most popular brand and certainly have a very extensive range, including aviators. However, aviator sunglasses are typically associated with Rayban who originally developed them way back for the military. Electric sunglasses are also very popular and have some great styles.

Some designer sunglasses are possibly more associated with women’s sunglasses. These would include Dolce and Gabbana and Armani of course.

Oakley Jupiter

Because of the cost of some of the designer sun glasses, if the label is really important to you, the last thing you want is to end up with a fakes! There are tips on this site to help you avoid this but a rule-of-thumb is usually to pick them up and hold them. The fakes will feel cheaper and generally, it will be obvious that they are not of the same quality.

It is important to note here that you don’t have to have designer label sunglasses to get good glasses. There are plenty of lesser known brands that provide good value for money. Also, if you find a frame you like, you can often have prescription lenses inserted by your optician.

It is also particularly important to be careful of really cheap polarised sunglasses. If you need this type of lens, check you actually have them! Again, you will find tips on how to do this on this site.

All-in-all, there are many options available to you when looking for your new sunglasses. Get a cheap throwaway pair because fashions will change next year anyway, get designer label sunglasses as this is important to you or have prescription sunglasses made.

However, if you have a more expensive pair, such as a pair from the Oakley sunglass range, instead of getting scratches out of sunglasses you can order a new set of lenses from your supplier or from Oakley direct.

There are some who suggest that you can mend high quality lenses but if they are still under warranty, once you try this you will void the warranty. If they are out of warranty, there the suggestions mentioned is to make light circular movements using a soft cloth and white non-abrasive toothpaste. Personally, I’d just replace them as I don’t think toothpaste can get scratches out of coloured lenses without it showing!

You brought your sunglasses in the first place to protect your eyes and look good – so unless anything has changed either change your glasses or get new lenses. To try and get scratches out of sunglasses is IMHO a waste of time.

Don’t forget that you first need to consider that sunglasses, cheap or expensive, should comply with certain standards with regard eye protection. Such standards will carry different labels depending on the country, in Europe the standard is EN 1836:2005, in the US ANSI Z80.3-1972 and in Australia AS1067. You will find all designer sunglasses will adhere to these standards.

When you are buying new designer sunglasses they should not only protect against 100% of UV rays, but also filter out UVA, UVB and UVC.  Also remember that irrespective of the colour or darkness of the lens, it is actually the clear outer coating that filters the rays and not the colour itself.

Although you probably have an “everyday” pair of sunglasses, you probably know that you need a different pair for different sports or for driving. Many people don’t consider the reason, but the colour of the lenses and construction of the sunglasses may affect your vision in dissimilar ways. The proposed use of your glasses is probably why some companies (such as Birdz Hawk) produce sunglasses with interchangeable lenses.

Driving glasses should help keep you alert and your eyes comfortable without causing any eye-strain or headaches. Look for polarised lenses and, if possible these should have a grey tint which is more neutral and is unlikely to affect visual contrast or to distort colour.

If you are a cyclist, you really need a tougher lens because of the increased airflow to the face. Don’t forget your peripheral vision is also susceptible so a wrap-around style may be preferable. If you are a golfer, try yellow lenses as it enhances contrast and depth perception.

More extreme sports demand particular elements for sunglasses. For instance, for mountaineering and other altitude sports one needs to consider the exceptionally bright conditions as well as the high altitudes. Altitude sports require a category 4 lens that takes these conditions into account. Glasses or goggles required for water sports such a surfing or kayaking etc., should be shatter-proof and fog resistant, have a nose cushion, be buoyant and have a means of fixing such as a strap.

In summary, get the best UV protection you can, think about the colour of the lens and the other considerations mentioned above in relation to the intended use of your new designer sunglasses.