Spring has sprung. The weather is getting nicer. Time for a new pair of sunglasses?  It was time for me. Even though sunglasses are not a regular topic of our lighting blog, I felt that my recent experience picking out new sunglasses warranted this post. I was disappointed at the number of myths about sunglasses that were told to me by multiple, yes, multiple, supposedly knowledgeable sales people. So, I figured that it might prove useful to others if I shared my experience and busted these myths with this sunglasses buying guide. 

Myth #1: UV Protection In Sunglasses Not Important

Fact: The sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays can do several very bad things to your eyes and the area around your eyes: harm the lens, retina, and whites of your eyes, cause corneal sunburn and blisters, increase your chances of getting cataracts, have been linked to macular degeneration (vision loss due to damage due to a small spot near the center of the retina called the macula), cause skin cancer around your eyes including your eyelids, and help cause unwanted wrinkles and skin thickening around your eyes. WOW!  There’s a lot more but it would take more than this short response to get even more technical.

Myth #2: Sunglasses With Glass Lenses Remove All UV Radiation

I visited a small boutique optometry store and spoke to someone with 40 years of experience. He told me that if a pair of sunglasses has glass lenses, then they remove all UV radiation. Not true.

Fact: Glass of almost any kind (building windows, car windows, a pair of clear glasses) can remove some but not all of the UV radiation that reaches your eye. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is made up of three segments: UVA, UVB, and UVC. Fortunately for all of us UVC radiation is blocked by the earth’s atmosphere, ordinary glass blocks out UVB radiation (the main sunburn ray that causes skin cancer and sun damage) but allows UVA to pass right through (UVA rays penetrate the skin more deeply and can also cause skin cancer, wrinkles, and premature skin aging). However, it is possible to add a special UV-blocking film to ordinary glass or use specially formulated glass (or plastic) to block out 99.9% of UVB and UVA radiation.

Myth #3: Polarized Lenses Also Mean UV Protection

Two representatives in the optical department of a national chain of retail stores told me that if a pair of sunglasses has polarized lenses, then they also provide UV protection. Not true.

Fact: These two features of sunglasses are entirely different from one another; one feature does not imply the presence of the other feature. Polarized lenses minimize direct and indirect glare from the sun; they allow you to see more clearly when the sun’s rays are reflected off flat, smooth surfaces like water, road pavement, and car hoods. Polarized lenses are not designed to reduce the ultraviolet radiation that reaches your eye.

Myth #4: More Expensive Sunglasses Have The Best UV protection

Fact: This is not always true. Relatively inexpensive sunglasses can sometimes block 99%-100% of UV radiation but they are not easy to find. However, you should be careful about still another problem – inexpensive sunglasses sometimes are non-uniform in thickness and have poor optical quality. This can mean that they sometimes distort the shape or clarity of an object, depending on what portion of the lenses that you look through.

Myth #5: Sunglass Tint Is Not Important

Many people think that the tint of the sunglass lenses is not that important. That it is purely an aesthetic decision based on your personal preferences and the “cool factor” you’re looking for.

Fact: The tint or hue of the sunglass lenses plays an important role in the perception of colors. Yellow or rose tinted lenses generally can make it difficult to distinguish different colored traffic lights. Gray, green, and brown lenses, however, minimize color distortion and are a better choice when you’re driving a vehicle. Some specialized sunglasses can have a special tint that are designed to enhance your performance of a specific task or sport; e.g., at least one sunglasses manufacturer has created a whole array of lens hues, one of which can possibly improve your tennis game by enhancing the color of the tennis ball.

Myth #6: Size Of Sunglasses Not Important

Most people choose the size of their sunglasses on whether or not they think they look “cool.” Thus, they think that size is not important.

Fact: Size, at least when it comes to sunglasses, does matter. It’s this simple: The larger the sunglasses, the broader the protection of your eyes, eyelids, and the skin around your eyes against UV damage. However, you can have all of that and still look “cool.”

Enjoy your spring and summer and enjoy your new sunglasses.

Capitol Lighting created a friendly competition challenging local designers to create one-of-a-kind bathroom spaces and put a call out to all Northern New Jersey-area interior designers to participate. Two top designers were chosen out of numerous applicants to compete in the unique challenge of remodeling the men’s and women’s bathrooms at the company’s Paramus showroom — one of which will be crowned the “Thronedown” champion. The finalists were chosen based on previous work and have been given a $2,000 project budget with lighting supplied by Quoizel and Feiss.

Anna Maria Mannarino- Mannarino Designs, Inc.

Science fiction aficionados may appreciate today’s blog post on one of the fundamental ingredients needed to create an other-worldly retreat where you can … well, space-out. From childhood bedrooms to multi-million dollar estates, science fiction has been the motivation for some of the most amazing spaces ever. Call it your Star Wars Sanctuary, Asimov Alcove, or Halo Haven, sci-fi rooms all have similar characteristics that give it their “universal” appeal. LIGHT.

One of the most popular settings for a fictional future is in outer-space. A black landscape, interrupted only by the flickering of shining planets & stars is the perfect backdrop for sci-fi design. LED fiber optic ceiling lights will make you look like you’re in space.

Patience and attention to detail will go a long way when installing these kits. You’ll find detailed instructions Make a home-made star constellation projector with star printables and a flashlight to mark real constellations!

Did you know that today is National Science Fiction Day, as well as Isaac Asimov’s birthday? 

With little ones crawling around the floors, it is hard to always keep an eye on what they are doing all the time. Electrical outlets are at the perfect height for them and seem to be the most interesting thing to investigate. This convenience leads to hundreds of children suffering severe shock (electrocution) each year. This is why tamper resistant outlets are so important. If your home is missing tamper resistant outlets, it may be time to upgrade.

A tamper resistant outlet looks just like a normal outlet, to the untrained eye but have important mechanisms behind the plastic to ensure that nothing foreign can find their way into electricity. Behind the two top prong holes is a small plastic panel. This panel slides across to cover the prong holes. If a child approaches the receptacle with a key or other narrow object with the intention to insert it into the outlet, the plastic panel will prevent them. No matter how much force they apply, it will block the foreign object from entering the outlet and allowing electrical current to escape.

If this plastic panel is preventing objects from entering the prong holes, how do you plug in your normal devices then? The trick to this is that pressure must be applied equally through both prong holes in order to slide the panel to the open position. If there is uneven pressure, the panel does not move. This is how it can prevent paperclips from entering, but operates seamlessly when plugging in a lamp.

Tamper resistant outlets can prevent serious injuries to children. If you have a young one making their way around your home and you aren’t sure if you have tamper resistant receptacles, now is the best time to check. Contact your local Expert Electric at 604-681-8338. We can help to identify what kinds of outlets are used in your home, and upgrade them if needed.