Technical Info

LENS MATERIALS BY BRAND AND THE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION GIVEN BY EACH

DIFFERENT LENS MATERIALS

• ACRYLIC
• CR 39
• POLARISED
• TAC
• POLYCARBONATE
• GLASS

LENS COLOR

GREY	Good clarity Restful No blue block No contrast
GREEN (G15)	(G15) Clarity Restful Some blue block Some contrast
BROWN (BIO)	(BIO) Strong contrast 60% blue block Not restful to some
YELLOW/AMBER	Highest contrast 100% blue block Colour distortion Not restful to some
MIRRORS	More Glare block Underlying colour determines properties

LENS MATERIALS BY BRAND

DIRTY DOG (NON POLARISED) LENSES.
Polycarbonate is universally recognised for its toughness. Sports people, outdoor workers, armed forces and other government personnel are either issued, or purchase sunglasses with this lens material.

As well as the physical strength and 100% harmful UV protection, Dirty Dog sunglasses with polycarbonate (PC) lenses provide many additional benefits. Models are available with up to 90% visible light and 70% infrared (heat) protection. All brown lensed Models have significant blue light block for high contrast viewing. Detailed statistics on all models and lens colours, environmental protection are available on request.

BILL BASS STYLE, ME New York, ROCKET, IDESIGN, HOOP, and VISTA have ACRYLIC LENSES.
Reflecting the mass volume of purchases of these ranges, acrylic lenses are appreciated as excellent value for money.

All have guaranteed 100% harmful UV protection. Additionally, visible light block averages 85% (recognised as near the ?ideal?) and up to 50% infrared (heat block).

BILL BASS PREMIUM and JAGUAR have CR39 LENSES
Superior optical quality when compared to other cheaper plastic lenses.

POLARISED LENSES

DIRTY DOG POLARISED, BILL BASS POLARISED , NORTH BEACH, PACIFIC POLARISED and COVERGLASSES have POLARISED LENSES.
Polarised lenses have been developed to cope with reflected glare. This is especially the case where glare off water is a problem eg. Fishing/boating. However polarized lenses are allso used widely on land, as the benefits of polarized lenses can be appreciated with glare reduction from any surface such as snow, glass, wet roads etc.

All VMD's polarised lenses are designed to block 100% of horizontally reflected glare. This makes them the top fishing and boating glasses - you can see directly into the water!

Polarization is like a chemical venetian blind which rearranges light and lets you see "through" glare. 100% Polarized lenses are the only truly effective way of elininating glare. Water, fg, rain, snow or early morning dew, have reflective properties, which enhance reflected glare. In addition to water, glare is also a problem on roads and highways.

Polarised lenses can be used for driving reducing glare from surfaces such as cars and roads. Cutting glare and haze makes your eyes more comfortable, decreases driver fatigue and allows for better visibility.

Reflected light from surfaces such as roads, water or glass is typically horizontal. Light is normally scattered in all directions, where as reflected light generally travels in a more horizontal direction creating intense light or glare. The filter in polarized lenses blocks this type of horizontally reflected light.

Polarized lenses are not always desirable, for instance they make it more difficult to identify ice patches when skiing or may reduce the visibility of LCD screens on digital devices.

For most outdoor activities polarised sunglasses offer great advantages and are widely appreciated.

BILL BASS, NORTH BEACH, DIRTY DOG, PACIFIC POLARISED AND COVER GLASSES POLARISED LENSES
The polarising filter an integral part of the lens manufacture - it cant peel or delaminate in heat. Further there is the safety protection factor of withstanding impact from flying sinkers etc.

Dirty Dog polarised lenses also have the polarising filter an integral lens structure sandwiched between two layers. This structure adds strength - no popping out of the frame, and no delaminating.

All VMD polarised TAC ranges give 100% harmful UV block and come in either green; grey & brown (ideal for trout fishing) lenses colours.

The thickness of the lens prevents any buckling and distortion.

Technical Info

THE FEATURES AND BENEFITS OF VARIOUS LENS COLORS

Apart from the appearance enhancement, i.e. lens and frame colors complementing each other, each lens color brings its own features and benefits to the wearer.

GREY LENSES
The colour is effectively natural. There is no alteration in colour perception. Therefore grey is a very 'soft' and natural colour to view through. Grey is practically useful to those individuals who are troubled by high contrast lenses. Very light grey lenses can be simply a 'fashion' lens with little glare block. However a dark grey tint can be quite effective. Since there is little or no blue light block grey is not a contrast-enhancing colour.

 
GREEN LENSES
This standard green lens (code G15) is a very good everyday colour. It combines 'softness' of grey with a degree of contrast, as there is some blue light block.

 
BROWN LENSES
The standard soft brown (code B10) is an excellent lens as it has a good degree of 'soft' viewing whilst providing substantial blue light block. This makes a good colour to wear where contrast viewing is required eg. driving/flying/sporting activities.

 
MIRROR LENSES
Full or partly full (bloom) mirrors provide extra glare block. The lens colour behind the mirror provides nearly all the visual quality.

Technical Info

FRAME MATERIALS BY BRAND

DIRTY DOG
VMD constantly monitors technological developments in frame material. We are proud to provide Dirty Dog plastic frames in TR90. This is the latest and best material ever. TR90 is a 50% nylon 50% polymer mix. This gives it excellent strength and flexibility without stiffness and cold weather problems nylon is subject to.

Dirty Dog metal frames are 100% nickel free to European, US and Australasian legal standards so there is no danger of an allergic nickel core release reaction, which so concerns regulatory agencies.

Dirty Dog RX and Optical frames have either hand-made Italian actetate with wire core templates to allow adjustment once heated or optical quality metal frames with floating nose pads for adjusting to different nose shapes. Spring temple models resist frame distortion.

 
BILLBASS POLARISED, CARRERA, CELINE, COSMOPOLITAN, DAVIDOFF, DIOR, FENDI, JAGUAR, JAI KUDO, JK LONDON, MARC BY MARC JACOBS, MENRAD, MORGAN

Frames either hand-made actetate with wire core templates to allow adjustment once heated or optical quality metal frames with floating nose pads for adjusting to different nose shapes. Spring temple models resist frame distortion.

 
BILL BASS STYLE, NORTH BEACH, PACIFIC POLARISED, ME NEW YORK, ROCKET, I-DESIGN, HOOP, COVER GLASSES, VISTA
All are made from stable crylon polymer or quality metal frames.

Technical Info

THE NEED FOR ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND MEDICAL CONDITIONS ARISING FROM SOLAR

KEEP YOUR EYE ON OZONE
The depletion of the ozone seems certain to have a significant impact particularly during summer.

Less ozone in the atmosphere means more ultraviolet light reaches the earth. Scientists agree that the depletion of the ozone will result in more people suffering eye damage at an earlier age from exposure to high levels of UV light, and an increased risk of developing cataracts that may lead to blindness. To protect your eyes good quality lenses are essential. As well as traditional sunglasses, some eye experts suggest wrap-around glasses which guard against reflected light that hits the eye sideways, eg Dirty Dog. As the diagram indicates this would assist greatly in situations such as fishing or skiing. With quality standard fitting sunglasses it is unlikely peripheral UV would do damage within the human lifespan.

Other precautions are simply common sense- wear a hat when out in the sun for any length of time and avoid exposure in the two hours either side of midday.

LONG TERM

SHORT TERM

1. CATARACTS Believed to be caused by exposure to UV light over time Serious eye disease clouding the lens of the eye Can cause partial or total blindness. Thousands of people undergo surgery per year Many millions of people world-wide suffer from Cataract problems 2. PTERYGIUM Can be caused by over exposure to UV light and wind Thickened film growing over the cornea that obscures vision 3. CANCER OF THE EYE AND THE ORBIT Grows on the surface of the eye and can eventually lead to blindness 4. PENETRATION OF OBJECTS Caused by accidents Not wearing correct eyewear 5. MACULAR DEGENERATION Believed linked with exposure to blue light causing blindness in elderly people 6. WRINKLED SKIN From squinting and exposure to infrared (heat) rays

1. HEADACHES 2. CORNEAL DRYNESS 3. MUSCLE FATIGUE 4. "SUNBURN" OF THE EYE Can cause a swelling of the Conjunctiva Can cause conjunctivitis or lesions of the retina 5. CHROMATIC ABERRATION Unprotected eye strains to focus blue light, all other colours can be distorted 6. TROUBLE IN ADAPTION The eye can have trouble adjusting to night vision 7. "SNOW BLINDNESS" Cornea absorbs UV causing reddening. Not wearing correct eyewear results in a sensation of 'sand' in the eyes. This can be very painful 8. HOT TIRED EYES From infrared (heat) exposure

Technical Info

SUNGLASS STANDARDS

Regulatory bodies worldwide have in recent years either introduced or amended and upgraded standards for sunglasses. VMD, as a significant eyewear exporter ensures that all its products pass or exceed standards worldwide.

Every new sunglass lens is sent to either of the following legally accredited testing laboratories.

VMD sunglass and eyewear ranges are certified to pass the following standards.

- Australian/New Zealand standards AS/NZS 1067:2003

- European (EU) standards EN ISO 12311 and EN ISO 12312

- USA standard ANSI Z80.3-2001 

The Australian sunglass standard is AS/NZ1067:2003. The five ratings for transmittance (filter) under this standard are based on the amount of absorbed light, 0 to 4, with "0" providing some protection from UV radiation and sunglare, and "4" indicating a high level of protection, but not to be worn when driving. Australia introduced the world's first national standards for sunglasses in 1971. They were subsequently updated and expanded, leading in 1990 to AS 1076.1-1990 Sunglasses and fashion spectacles (incl. Part 1 Safety Requirements and Part 2 Performance Requirements), which was superseded in 2003 by AS/NZ1067:2003. The 2003 update made the Australian standard relatively similar to the European Sunglass standard. This step opened the European market to Australian-made sunglasses, but the standard also maintained requirements considered specific to Australia's climate.

 

European sunglass standards in order to demonstrate compliance with the basic health and safety requirements of the EU Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) 89/686/EEC Directive, sunglasses have conformed with the European sunglasses safety standard EN 1836.  

(a)        EN ISO 12312-1:2013 – Eye and face protection – Sunglasses and related eyewear, Part 1: Sunglasses for general use.

(b)        EN ISO 12311:2013 – Personal protective equipment – Specifies test methods for sunglasses and related eyewear.

 

The U.S. sunglass standard is ANSI Z80.3-2001, which includes three transmittance categories. According to the ANSI Z80.3-2001 standard, the lens should have a UVB (280 to 315 nm) transmittance of no more than one per cent and a UVA (315 to 380 nm) transmittance of no more than 0.3 times the visual light transmittance. The ANSI Z87.1-2003 standard includes requirements for basic impact and high impact protection. In the basic impact test, a 1 in (2.54 cm) steel ball is dropped on the lens from a height of 50 in (127 cm). In the high velocity test, a 1/4 in (6.35 mm) steel ball is shot at the lens at 150 ft/s (45.72 m/s). To pass both tests, no part of the lens may touch the eye.

Technical Info

BRAND MATERIAL SPECIFICATIONS

DIRTY DOG

• Plastic Frames - TR90
• Metal Frames - Nickel Silver or Monel
• Polarised Lenses - TAC 1.0
• Regular Lenses - Polycarbonate

BILL BASS PREMIUM

• Plastic Frames - Acetate
• Metal Frames - Nickel Silver or Monel
• Lenses - CR39

BILL BASS POLARISED

• Plastic Frames - Acetate
• Metal Frames - Nickel Silver or Monel
• Lenses - TAC 1.1

BILL BASS STYLE, IDESIGN, HOOP, ROCKET

• Plastic Frames - Crylon Polymer
• Metal Frames - Nickel Silver
• Lenses - Acrylic

NORTH BEACH

• Plastic Frames - Crylon Polymer
• Metal Frames - Nickel Silver
• Lenses - TAC polarised

COVER GLASSES

• Plastic Frames - Crylon Polymer
• Lenses - TAC polarised

VISTA

• Plastic Frames - Acetate
• Metal Frames - Stainless Steel , Aluminum and Copper
• Lenses - Acrylic