Everything You Need To Know About Maui Jim Sunglasses

By Julie Manther

Maui Jim Sunglasses originated as a little booth selling sunglasses, found on a Maui beach. They first opened in 1980. Shortly after they started selling sunglasses they found that there did not appear to be any sunglasses on the market that could stand up to the glare of the Maui sun without ruining the colors of the island. They started developing their own sunglasses, and were selling sunglasses with a new technology by 1986.

On their website, Maui Jim Sunglasses describes that their sunglasses come with PolarizedPlus2 technology. This technology uses polarized lenses to help block glare. It also protects against UV rays.

UV rays come in three types, UVA, UVB, and UVC. UVA was considered harmless until recently. Many sunblocks don't protect against UVA because of this. Scientists have recently determined that UVA actually can cause cancer indirectly by causing chemical reactions inside the body. UVB is the most harmful kind of radiation for us. It is what causes tans, sunburns, and skin cancer. UVC is actually stronger than UVB, but it is blocked by the earth's atmosphere.

Maui Jim Sunglasses lenses are made out of many layers. In the center there is a polarizing film. Surrounding that is a layer for optical correction, for those who require prescription lenses. Surrounding that is what Maui Jim calls. "clear shell.. " This is a coating to reduce the risk of scratches.

Around that layer there is an anti-reflective lens on one side, and a bi-gradient mirror on the other. Both of these layers protect from different types of glare. The final layer is a waterproof coating. This protects the glasses and makes it easier to clean them.

With all of this advanced technology in them, you can expect that Maui Jim Sunglasses can't be found for cheap. Most of the sunglasses range between 270 and 300 dollars. That is the kind of price you should pay for sunglasses if you are really serious about your outdoor life. The glasses also come in a huge variety of styles, shapes, different frames, choices of lens type, colors, and everything else you can think of.

Other sunglasses come with UV protection as well. Really you should never buy a pair of sunglasses that doesn't have UV protection, but most sunglasses have it. You can find polarized lenses as well, although it is a bit more difficult. The combination of UV protection and polarized lenses doesn't really imitate what Maui Jim offers. If you ask Maui Jim enthusiasts though, nothing compares to the real thing. - 29871

About the Author:

Sign Up for our Free Newsletter

Enter email address here