We’ve taken a look at the multitude of uses for safety sunglasses, but how exactly are safety sunglasses made? Broken down to their simplest form, they are nothing more than durable lenses paired with hard frames. Sport sunglasses or goggles might incorporate polarized lenses or other features specific to the defined used of that particular pair, but safety sunglasses are still essentially just frames and lenses.

The technology that goes in to making the safety lenses has advanced in leaps and bounds over the years. No longer bound to glass or cheap plastic lenses, there are new blends of polycarbonates and sophisticated plastics that many manufacturers use to create lightweight, shatter-resistant, scratch-resistant safety lenses in many colors. They can also incorporate many new features, such as polarization, filtered tints, progressive tints that darken with increased exposure to sunlight, prescription lenses, and much more.

The lenses are arguably the most important part of the safety sunglasses or goggles; after all, they are the part that protects the eye from the sun and other harmful objects like debris or excess wind. However, most people select a pair of sunglasses — whether they’re sport or safety sunglasses — not because of the lens, but because of the frame. That’s right, the frame is what most people use when deciding on one pair of safety sunglasses over another. It makes perfect sense when you consider that the frame defines not only the shape of the sunglasses and how they look on the wearer’s face, but also the comfort, fit, and feel of the sunglasses.

Once they have the looks and the fit, for many people, the decision-making process is over. But it’s important to consider the available lens features, including prescription lenses, polarization, tint, color, safety features, etc.