Sunglasses For Hunters/Fishermen
Do You Have the Facts?
By Todd "Toad" Crockett

I enlisted the expertise of Chris Vogler (formerly with C-Sport Optics in St. Louis, Missouri, now with SafeVision, LLC) to share his knowledge of this topic. Know the dangers of improper eye protection, and know what you’re getting for your hard-earned dollars.

IL: Chris, can you tell us a little about your background and professional experience?

Chris: I grew up fishing, bluegills and catfish, then got away from it in high school and college. After a car accident, eleven operations and a long rehab, my wife called my old college roommate and told him to get me out of the house before she killed me, so he took me fishing. Second cast with an Eagle Claw ultra-light (four-pound and a small Rapala) I hooked a 2.5-pound largemouth and got "hooked" myself! Now I have a Nitro with a Mariner, and I won’t admit how many rods and reels I have - it could be used against me for blackmail! Professionally, I opened my store three years ago and run it by myself. I am an ABO (American Board of Opticianry) certified optician. I have been in the eye business 14 years.

IL: What type of problems can sunlight cause to our eyes?

Chris: Simple facts: cataracts, macular degeneration, and corneal damage.

IL: What are those, exactly?

Chris: Cataract - The crystalline lens normally looks like a clear, soft M&M but due to overexpose to UV light (the same light that tans and burns your skin) the lens begins to thicken and darken. It turns from crystal clear to something that looks like river gravel. Everything begins to look dim and dirty. These days, the operation to remove the lens and install a synthetic lens is simple, but why not keep the OEM parts?

Macular Degeneration – The back surface of the eye is the macula. Due to overexposure to UV and blue light, the back surface circulation begins to decrease and the material begins to die. The result is blind spots. A person with this problem could be looking straight at you and it might look like somebody erased a spot on a picture. The spot grows until there is no sight out of that eye. Prevention is the cure. Again, overexposure to the sun will cause skin cancer and likewise, over exposure will cause some degree of damage to the macula.

Corneal Damage- Scratches from flying material, ulcers, and cancers.

IL: Are these types of eye damage permanent?

Chris: Yes, most are; it’s the saddest thing that I see professionally. Cataracts can be repaired, but the others are permanent. We only get one set of eyes. People spend big bucks on boats, trucks, and equipment, but want the cheapest glasses possible. You can replace all the equipment but you will never replace your eyes.

IL: Is the incidence of damage greater in fisherman than in the general population?

Chris: In a study on commercial fishermen, they had an incidence three to four times greater than the normal population. I would suspect farmers and other outdoor folks would be similar.

IL: How do sunglasses provide protection from these damaging effects?

Chris: Good sunglasses protect from UV-A and B. Cheap sunglasses may protect, and may not. Not only may they fail to protect your eyes, but dark, non UV-blocking lenses also increase damage by allowing the iris to fully open, essentially allowing the sun’s UV rays to cook the inside of the eye’s lenses.

IL: What kind of protection can we expect from foreign objects such as bugs, when running in the boat, or impact protection from lures that are pulled free from a snag and come rocketing back at us?

Chris: Here is where I get on my soapbox. It was once said that you see better with glass lenses than plastic or polycarbonate - 20 years ago this was true. I no longer believe it. In my opinion, 99.99% will never be able to tell the difference optically. As for safety, glass is the hardest to scratch but it is the easiest to break, particularly if you get a small scratch, or pit. Once that happens, the lens is no longer impact resistant; it can break much easier. Plastic (CR39) lenses are a lot harder to break and finally, there is Polycarbonate - the hardest to break. I tried shooting them with a 12-gauge shotgun, 3 1/2-inch magnum turkey loads at 30 yards and could not break them. A customer was hitting about 80 m.p.h. in his boat, and a spinnerbait was on his front butt seat. He hit a wake and the spinnerbait flew up, hitting him in the face. The lenses got scratched, but no breaks. It’s simple, would you rather try to replace your lenses, or your eyes?

IL: Explain the different types of lenses available and the pros and cons of each type.

Chris: These examples are all polarized:

• Glass: heavy, will separate, very fragile

• Plastic: lighter, most are not scratch resistant

• Polycarbonate: physically thinner, lighter, scratch resistant, impact resistant

• Hi index: physically thinner, lighter, scratch resistant, made for very high prescriptions

IL: When you talk about the different types of lenses, you preface your statements by saying they are polarized lenses. Why?

Chris: There are glass polarized, plastic polarized, polycarbonate polarized, and Hi Index polarized lenses. There are models of name brand glasses like Ray Bans or Oakleys which are not polarized, so they’re not removing glare. A big name does not always make for good vision, or protection.

IL: Aside from style and fit, do any manufacturers of lenses or glasses offer anything substantially better than their competitors?

Chris: When manufacturers use the optically ground, plastic, poly or glass lenses, most are very good. Most top manufactures use the same lenses.

IL: What about things like UV protection, polarization, scratch proof coatings? Are they all the same? How do we know if we're getting the real McCoy?

Chris: Most are the same. Call the manufacturer; ask whose lenses they use. The best are KBCO, Nupolar, Vision Ease, Gentex, Essilor, Sola, Kodak, and Signa Armolite. Most are made in the same plant in Japan.

IL: What lens colors do you recommend for fisherman?

Chris: Color is a personal preference. For years I thought you needed two pair, gray for bright days, amber for low light conditions. I now believe that most can use just one pair. Vermilion (Copper vision, Rose) will give you the true colors of the gray and the depth perception and contrast of the amber. Some pros that I fit wear sunrise (Yellow, sightmaster, gold) polarized in very low light conditions, and for spring sight fishing.

IL: For prescription eyewear, what advice would you offer?

Chris: Get an eye exam. The best money you will EVER SPEND is on a current exam, not the glasses. I came close to losing my left eye from pigmentary glaucoma, twice. Get an exam!

IL: Lot's of us have seen and used the $10.00 glasses offered by a few big name pro's and tackle companies. Is there any harm in using that type?

Chris: Most of those have a pressed lens, not ground, and these lenses are usually about .7 to 1.1-mm thick - unbelievable distortion. In-Fisherman magazine did a report back in ‘91 and found a lot of the bargain lenses were not even mounted correctly. They might be polarized, but if they’re not on the 180-degree axis, they are not polarizing properly.

IL: Is one polarized lens better than others?

Chris: Yes there is a difference. Optically ground lenses, or optically formed lenses, (most polycarbonate shields such as Smith, Costa Del Mar, Hobie, Action Optics, Bolle) are better than a flat, sheet-stamped lens found in discount store specials. If you push on the lenses and they flex, put them back on the shelf.

IL: What price should we expect to pay for a good pair of non-prescription sunglasses, and how much for prescription?

Chris: For non-prescription glasses expect to pay from $85 to $200. For prescription, $200 and up, depending on options. Recently a trout fisherman bought a $275 Armani frame - I asked him why? He said, "You gotta look good to feel good." He got every option (some I tried to talk him out of) and they came to $400, but he was happy.

IL: What about scratch resistant coatings, worth the money?

Chris: These coatings are baked on the lenses. The coating is made of pulverized quartz and is 15 to 20 times harder to scratch. Scratch resistant coatings are great as long as you maintain them. Never use ammonia - it will strip the coating off the lens.

IL: Of the popular brands for fishermen, and in the price range you mentioned, do they all give adequate protection from UV and impact?

Chris: The UV rating is good on all, and close to the same; polycarbonate will always be highest. As for impact protection: yes to polycarbonate or plastic. Poly's are the best, plastics are okay. I hate glass – too many lost eyes with glass lenses.

IL: Okay, we buy good glasses, how do we care for them so they’ll last?

Chris: Buy a good case and do not leave them in the dash or visor area of your vehicle. The heat can get to 200 degrees, or more. When you clean the lenses, wet both sides and clean with soft cotton cloth. Do NOT use paper products, paper towels, napkins, or Kleenex; they will wear the surface. Don’t use ammonia or Windex-type products that eat up any coatings - use alcohol to clean lenses.

IL: Is there anything I haven't touched on that you feel is important to tell the Inside Line readers?

Chris: If you can't see it, you can't hit it, or miss it, or catch it. The single most important piece of outdoor equipment is your eyes, period.

Well, there you have it, the straight scoop on sunglasses from a professional. For more information, contact Chris at SafeVision, LLC, at 314-961-7406.
Or email him at sales@safevision.net
He’ll be happy to assist you in making the right choice.