The coolest shades for Singapore's eternal sunshine

SINGAPORE – Sunglasses are often seen as nothing more than a fashion accessory, worn to make a statement. But whether you choose Aviators or Wayfarers, the truth is that sunglasses do protect your eyes.

Doctors have previously recommend both children and adults wear sunglasses while outdoors, particularly in a climate like Singapore’s, not only to block out the glare, but also to repel the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. In the long run, UV rays can cause a variety of eye problems, including cataracts, macular degeneration, or skin cancer around the eyelids.

Luckily, not all of the best eye defenders will burn a giant hole in your wallet; and these days, they do more than repel the sun's rays: There are those that pack video cameras or headphones into their frames. Really.

The list below offers some of the coolest shades you can find for every budget, but which ones should you get? Well, there are a couple things you need to know before you pop to the shops.  

Choose the right shape: Sunglasses frame your face like the painting that it is. If yours is rounded, you’ll be best served by sunnies sporting rectangular shapes. Those with squarer faces should try curvier, semi-rimless styles; while oval faces can take pretty much anything.

Know your lenses: Sunglasses are often pricey because of the frame material, design and branding, rather than the actual lenses, But that's the most important part. A lens’ ability to protect your eyes from glare and uv rays is marked from 0-4, with 4 as the darkest. The first two categories offer pretty limited protection, so a category 2 or 3 is best for sunny holidays, sports and driving. The exception is polarised lenses, which give you extra protection from reflected glare – though these might be overkill unless you’re constantly driving or around water. You can also get prescription shades too, if necessary.

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Zungle Panther. 

Bone conduction tech might not be our first choice method of listening to music, but it is a clever way to make a pair of headphone-sunglasses. With its built-in microphone and Bluetooth, the Panthers could come in handy when we’re exploring cities by bike or taking hands-free calls. At 45g, they are a tad on the chunky side, but that’s only slightly less than some non-techy shades. The only downside? You can only pre-order them now, as delivery will only be done later this year.

Snapchat Spectacles. 

Yes, you read right. Say hello to the first pair of video recording sunnies. The Spectacles let you take still photos or 10-second videos to fling to your Snapchat feed, just by pressing the shutter on their left temple. A white LED tells people you’re recording so you don’t get accosted, and the case handily acts as a charger too. Some online stores such as Lazada offer promotional prices on this.

Mykita Mylon Delta. 

Okay, 3D printing didn’t quite deliver the home manufacturing revolution we hoped for, but it does make some cracking sunnies. Mykita’s Mylon range was among the first to embrace the tech’s benefits - customisability and durability - and the lightweight Deltas feature a screwless hinge, scratch-resistant lenses and a sleek matte finish. You can get these from various outlets here, including Eyewear Optics (at Thomson Plaza), Eyes@Work (at Millenia Walk) and Paris Miki (at Takashimaya).

Dita’s Cooper. 

Ray Ban’s iconic frame has been reinvented by every sunglasses maker out there, but this modern take on the Wayfarer by Japanese artisanal brand Dita is no knock-off. The Cooper’s handmade acetate frame takes around eight months to make by hand, and is finished with a traditional bamboo polishing technique. But at S$825, it’s best not leave these on the train.

Jeepers Peepers Square. 

At just slightly more than S$30, these are fairly inexpensive, but the Squares still have full UV protection and come in various styles, shapes and colours that can suit any occasion. 

A version of this story first appeared on Stuff Singapore.