In 1979, Dennis Burns, the founder of Gargoyles sunglasses was not fooling around when he decided to manufacture protective sporty eyewear. Innovative technology such as 100% UVA, B and C protection in conjunction with unity polarization, Dual Lens Toric Curve, the Zero Prism Design and extremely high impact resistance offer you sunglasses that, to date, are unmatched by any other brand.

As we all know, our eyes are one of the most sensitive parts of our bodies, and that our eyesight may be harmed, even permanently, by the slightest of occurrences. "Until recently, the medical profession believed that most ultraviolet rays (UV) not already absorbed by the Earth's ozone layer were absorbed by the cornea before entering the eye and those optical eyeglasses had little effect on this process. It has been determined that only a portion of the UV is absorbed by the cornea.Research has demonstrated that the human cornea absorbs UV measuring 286-320 nm (UVB). However, the part of the UV spectrum measuring 320-400 nm (UVA) is the most damaging type of UV radiation, and it is the UVA that travels directly to the crystalline lens of the human eye. UVA can cause extensive damage to our eyes when we are exposed to hours of sunlight." (sport glasses .com)

(Photo courtesy of marfi75, Creative Commons.)

Ultraviolet rays are the harmful ones. They are the reason we put on sunscreen and wear sunglasses - not because it feels good or looks good but for protection. There are three types of UV rays - A, B and C.

• "UVA (320-400 nanometer wavelengths) is linked to tanning, skin aging, and eye damage.
• UVB (280-320 nanometer wavelengths) is obstructed by the earth's ozone, but increasing damage to our ozone is allowing more UVB radiation to reach us. UVB causes sunburns, snow blindness, and can damage your skin and eyes.
• UVC (100-280 nanometer wavelengths) is highly obstructed by the ozone, so lower levels of UVC radiation reach the earth's surface." (petrol eyewear .com)

Gargoyles sunglasses offer you 100% protection from all three categories of ultraviolet rays. "All Gargoyles Polarized lenses absorb horizontally polarized light to eliminate glare. Glare is simply a blinding concentration of light reflected off surfaces like asphalt, sand, water, snow or ice. Glare impedes vision, hampers concentration and can lead to problems such as headaches and eye fatigue." (www.gargoyleseyewear.com)

(Photo courtesy of International Optique.)

The Toric Curve Design was another of Dennis Burns' inventions. What made what he did different was that he incorporated two lenses instead of one. "Gargoyles engineers discovered that the optimal lens design for minimizing peripheral distortion requires dual-lenses. In a dual-lens design, the optical center of each lens can be aligned with the visual center of the eye. The alignment ensures that visual distortion is minimized when looking straight ahead and when viewing objects at extreme peripheral angles. This eliminates eye irritation, headaches and dizziness, associated with long-term use of competing lens designs. This advanced lens design features a horizontal curvature similar to that of a 10-base lens, and a vertical curvature similar to that of a 5-base lens.the result.up to 210 degrees of peripheral coverage - the most extreme wrap in the market. " (www.sporteyes.com)

Not only do Gargoyles sunglasses significantly minimize peripheral distortion, they also increase coverage preventing UV rays from entering through your peripheral vision (sides of your face), which is normally not protected by conventional sunglasses.

Another plus for this patented technology has to do with minimizing refraction - the bending of light as it enters your eyes. "The sophisticated geometry. minimized the refraction associated with other lens' designs. Light is transmitted directly to your eye with virtually no change in direction." (www.sporteyes.com)

This process is also referred to as "unity polarization." (www.gargoylessunglasses.com) and puts an end to all distortion.

In order to be truly competitive in their market and appeal to different types of consumers, Gargoyles sunglasses boasts that their sunglasses "are able to withstand the impact of a .22 caliber bullet from 10 feet away." (sporteyes .com) The lenses in these sunglasses are the result of a blend of polymers, patented by Carl Zeiss Vision, which is superior to the polycarbonate lenses that regular sunglasses use. "Their lenses are 50 times stronger than safety glass and 20 times stronger than structural aluminum." (sunglass universe .com)

One of the benefits of advanced lens mirroring on gargoyle sunglasses is to prevent any type of smudges to blur or distort your vision. "Gargoyles mirrored lenses are treated with a micro film coating that resists dust, moisture, and oils, including fingerprints." (www.gargoyleseyewear.com)

Another benefit is to "reduce the amount of light entering the eye. Mirror coatings (also called flash coatings) are highly reflective coatings applied to the front surface of sunglass. This makes them especially beneficial for activities in very bright conditions, such as snow skiing on a sunny day." (all about vision.com)

Normally, even with most higher-end sunglasses the number of layers used for this process is 5. "On select lenses, Gargoyles uses the most advanced lens mirroring processes available to control the amount of light reaching your eye. The technology is so advanced that up to 12 individual layers are used." (sunglass tent .com)

Incidentally, this coating is part of NASA's arsenal of technologies and is extremely anti-scratch/anti-fog, making it 30% stronger than regular coatings.

Dennis Burns wanted to manufacture sunglasses that were actually good for your eyes. His philosophy: ".that eyewear should not only block UV and glare, but provide physical protection for the human eye. And it must also be comfortable to wear for prolonged periods of time." (sunglass tent .com)

It appears as though he clearly achieved his goal because even The Terminator (I) has a pair of Gargoyles sunglasses.