The journal

Eyewear, explained

What the lens actually does, how a frame is meant to fit, and how to tell real stock from a convincing copy. Written to be useful rather than to fill a page.

Buying guides 3 min read

Buying Sunglasses Online in South Africa: A Practical Checklist

You cannot try them on, so the things you can check matter more. Measurements, stockist status, the return path, and what the… Read on

Screens and reading 3 min read

Why Your Eyes Feel Tired After a Day of Screens

Digital eye strain is real, common and largely mechanical. The causes are blinking, sustained focus and posture, and the fixes… Read on

Lenses and protection 3 min read

Mirrored Lenses: What They Do and When They Are Worth It

A mirror coating is a surface layer that reflects light away before it enters the lens. Genuinely useful in extreme brightness… Read on

Lenses and protection 3 min read

Lens Categories 0 to 4: What the Number on the Tag Means

A separate scale from UV400, describing how much visible light a lens lets through. One of the five categories is not legal to… Read on

Brands 3 min read

The Aviator, the Wayfarer and the Clubmaster: Where the Icons Came From

Three shapes account for a remarkable share of every pair of sunglasses sold. Each was designed to solve a specific problem, and… Read on

Care and maintenance 3 min read

When to Replace Your Sunglasses

Lenses do not have an expiry date, but there are four clear signals that a pair has stopped doing its job. None of them is how… Read on

Lenses and protection 3 min read

Fishing Sunglasses: Seeing Into the Water Instead of Off It

For anglers, polarisation is not a comfort feature. It is the difference between looking at a mirror and looking through a window. Read on

Lenses and protection 3 min read

Children and UV: Why Sunglasses Are Not Just for Adults

Children receive a disproportionate share of a lifetime's ultraviolet exposure, and their eyes filter less of it. What that means… Read on

Choosing frames 3 min read

Sport Sunglasses: What Actually Matters for Cycling and Running

Fit, venting, coverage and lens choice, in the order they matter. Sport eyewear is one of the few categories where the technical… Read on

Choosing frames 2 min read

Choosing Sunglasses for a Square Face

A strong jaw and a broad forehead call for curves rather than more corners. The shapes that soften an angular face, and the one… Read on

Choosing frames 3 min read

Choosing Sunglasses for a Round Face

Angular frames give a round face definition it does not already have. Which shapes work, which ones fight you, and the… Read on

Lenses and protection 3 min read

Night Driving and Tinted Lenses: Why Yellow Glasses Do Not Help

Yellow-tinted night driving glasses are widely sold and do not do what they claim. What they actually do is reduce the light… Read on