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Sunglasses were originally invented to reduce distracting glare and allow more comfortable viewing in bright light. Early sunglasses were simply tinted glass or plastic lenses that were primarily meant to reduce brightness. Darker lenses were considered to be better because they screened out more light. As our understanding of the damaging nature of sunlight evolved, the need for better eye protection was recognized, and technology was developed to help sunglasses better screen out the harmful rays of the sun, especially UV rays. Unfortunately there is no way to tell from the color or darkness of the lens how well it will screen out UV light. Similarly, there is little relationship between price of glasses and their ability to block UV light. 

What helped make sunglasses chic was a clever 1960s' style advertising campaign by the comb and glass firm of Foster Grant. Well-known fashion designers, as well as Hollywood stars, escalated the sunglass craze in the ‘70s with their brand-name lines. A giant industry developed where only a few decades earlier none existed. As women since ancient times had hidden seductively behind an expanded fan, veil, hat, or other item, modern women -and men- discovered an allure in wearing sunglasses, irrespective of solar glare.

Fashion and image are two key elements to consider regarding sunglasses design. In the last three decades sunglasses have become a high fashion item, and the current design process reflects this status. Upscale clothing designers, fragrance marketers, and sporting goods vendors custom-design sunglasses to promote their own specific image. By and large these design changes are not functional; they are intended to increase the fashion appeal of the glasses.  From inexpensive models with plastic lens and frames to costly designer brands with ground glass lenses and custom-made frames, sunglasses are available in a staggering array of styles and prices in today's marketplace.  Because sunglasses have been popular fashion accessories for nearly forty years, contemporary designs are often slight modifications of past designs, or revamped copies.  Nothing really new has entered the market in years.

EyeXtras Image Sunglasses

The idea of putting an image on the lens of glasses is nothing new.  Novelty glasses consisting of cardboard lenses with pictures or images on them and a small hole to see through have been around for nearly a century.  The first attempts to adhere images onto actual glass or plastic lenses created a similar novelty with better but still overly restricted vision.  More modern technologies first used perforated vinyl, and later a thin semi-transparent film, to coat the lens with an image.   The vinyl film still noticeably restricts vision and traps dirt in the perforations;  the semi-transparent film process results in little significant difference in vision, but is only economical if the image is mass produced, and the film is susceptible to chipping.

EyeXtras uses a cutting edge high-tech process of transferring the image directly onto the plastic lens.  We don't use vinyl or any kind of film.  The image is imprinted on the lens, not glued, filmed, or silk-screened.  The result is a lasting image which doesn't significantly affect vision, collect dirt, chip easily, and is economical to produce in small quantities. 

Image Glasses are also functional, as they are UV protecting sunglasses with impact resistant lenses as well as unique fashion and image sunglasses.

EyeXtras Image Glasses are the next generation in fashion and image sunglasses.  We are constantly adding new licensing agreements, new styles, better distribution channels, and updated technology to keep our product the most exciting and innovative in the sunglasses market.