The choice of polycarbonate lenses is part of the technical description. They have two categories (category 2 for low light or use in closed environments and category 3, for strong sunlight), and the temples, produced in a slim beta titanium wire, are hinge free.

But we enter the field of fantasy when we describe the film on the lenses, a fundamental feature in Eyers collections. The new themes are always the height of originality. And so Eyeway (illustrated here) makes a hibiscus flower bloom at the side of the eyes; Dragoo is for a decidedly imperial look; Peace and Love is the statement Eyers makes in every language; Damier evokes the games of checkers and chess.., and we might go on forever, but.., go and see for yourselves at Perret Optician !

It caused a storm this summer, and it's due to stick around. The aviator, at times sporty, at times styled more closely on the classic pilot design, will remain influential as each brand interprets its design according to a specific mood and lifestyle.

Eccentric sunglass designs will become even wackier in 2007 as mirrored finishes and logos or patterned designs on lenses inspire a moment of '80s nostalgia. The big look shapes will gradually feel the influence move from the '70s to the '8Os, with large but slightly cuter forms taking hold in dusty pinks or pastel blues. Plastic sunglasses with large square shapes and smaller, eye- hugging masks are expected to be the height of fashion. Wraparounds turn elegant. Women's sunglasses will continue to follow the glamour theme with decorations in diamante, precious stones and leather, using lots and lots of colour.

Scili : Ultra protective with their enveloping curves, these 4 acetate sunglasses reinterpret the classic of vintage eyewear. The "pilot", oval or rectangle shapes are asserted and modernized with bevels and volumes, that let the light slide on colours ranging from classics like black and tortoise to refreshing coral orange, pink violine or Tahiti blue.

Designers will become more creative with tinted lenses and lens colours will be more in harmony with the colour of the frame. Colours will be based on pink, lilac, blue or green. Graduated lenses are coming into their own with 50-65% tinting expected to catch on. Colour choice is now infinite.

Despite the abundance of colour, black is in the process of enjoying a revival. The trend is expected to have an influence on sun wear next year, as a new strain of feminine but thick-rimmed acetates, inspired by the classic '5Os' and '6Os' styles, are matched with black day or evening wear. Rimless frames will be an important statement for men and women alike. Just as eyewear gets lighter and lighter, sunglasses sometimes lose the frame altogether to emphasize the colour and curvature of the lens and the personality of the eye screened behind there.

20/20
 

The sunglass industry is dominated by fashion, frame style and brand names. Wearers choose mainly on the basis of frame style and colour, with little or no consideration for the lenses, which are assumed to give adequate protection. Even the choice between the major lens types of fixed tint, photochromic, polarising, or mirror, is usually secondary to fashion.

Some consideration may be given to the lens when it is to be used for driving or for sporting applications, but again choice is usually dominated by fashion. With sun lenses, however, visual appearance is less important than visual performance.

The main function of sun lenses is to protect against bright sunlight, so some reduction of visible light transmission is a prime consideration. This is normally done with an absorbing tint, although mirror type coatings can achieve the same effect by reflecting light.

The simplest absorbing tint is grey, often called a neutral density filter, because the absorption of all colours is equal. The most popular sun lens colour, however, is brown, and this is obtained by creating a higher transmission towards the red end of the spectrum than the blue end. Because the eye is highly sensitive to different wavelengths of light, only a small transmission difference across the visible spectrum is required. This can be seen in diagram 1, which shows transmission curves for grey and brown colours with similar transmission values.

A common feature of sun lenses is the reduction of reflected glare by the use of polarising filters. When light is reflected from a surface it undergoes polarisation, and the extent of this is dependent on the type of surface and particularly on the angle of reflection. For low angles this effect can be very significant. An explanation of polarisation and its effect on vision can be seen in diagram 2.

Technology for the Eyes

Polarizing glass lenses have undergone considerable, development in the last 3-4 years. The end customer has been more demanding and increasingly drives us to improve optical performances. This declaration comes from Jianni Vetrini,, a leading producer in glass sun lenses. The following interview (an extract from the more 'technical' one printed in one issue of  Vedere TECH) is an in-depth study of certain features of polarizing glass lenses, whose manufacture follow complex phases (zee box).

Which are the characteristics of Barberini polarized lenses?

The polarizing lens made of glass has been enjoying significant development in the past few years. End users are now more demanding and we are further improving the lenses optical characteristics. We have to stress that these lenses are mean for a public that requests top-notch performance. Typical users are sports anglers (widespread in the USA), sailing buffs, pilots, etc., who need glasses enabling them to see 'beyond' the glare and dazzle of light reflecting on water, but also motorists who have to drive hour after hour on motorways. Recently we made a collaboration agreement with a Korean maker of special polarizing films. We pooled our experiences to develop one of the more advanced films currently on the market. Efficiency is consistently better than 99.9%, black-crossing is neutral and films of different colours can be made. We should also mention that this film is unique because it can be shaped on our proprietary automatic machines, which ensure optical perfection and consistent production. This polarizing filter is Barberini's worldwide exclusive.

Sorry, your browser doesn't support Java(tm).

 BARBERINI POLARIZING LENS IS COMPOSED OF TWO LITTLE GLASS CROWNS WITH AN APPROXIMATE THICKNESS OF 1MM, WHICH ARE MOUNTED WITH AN ULTRA- SLIM POLARIZED FILTER PLACED IN THE MIDDLE. ASSEMBLING PROCESS IS MADE BY AUTOMATIC MACHINES, DEVELOPED AND PATENTED BY BARBERINI.

Do you think that the current standards for sun lenses and polarizing lenses are adequate and up to date?

With the European standards and the CE-mark to be carried by spectacles offered for sale, a significant major step for consumer safeguard has been taken. Today, eyewear offered for sale has to be certified to comply with a large number of specifications, which make it a quality item for sight protection. We can say that the lens is by now a flue optical instrument. Like the industry, which continuously improves its products, the standards too should be updated lo account for the industry's progress. As concerns the polarizing lens, for one, so many steps forward have been made, not only by Barberini, that the standards are significantly in arrears; they should be updated to ensure that the best performance attainable by the industry is available to the consumer.

Your clientele is International; do you think that some countries are batter Informed and more demanding as concerns the lenses' technical features?

Because al their cost, our lenses are meant for the upper bracket of the market, i.e., for a careful public, which asks for valuable items having specific technical functions. Undoubtedly, consumers from the USA will generally reward our quality and research, but I am pleased to note growing attention also from the European consumers, Italians, French and German leading.

VEDERE