BUYER'S FORUM
Fashion AND Function

In the past few years, style-conscious consumers have trended toward several pairs of ophthalmic eyewear to create a unique sense of fashion for different looks.

This multiple-pair fashion phenomenon is also present in sunwear; however, function plays an equally strong role. Now that brands are offering more specialized lenses, tints, and materials, patients have more reasons than ever to buy a different pair of sunwear for each activity.

Photochromic, polarized, and colored lenses each provide a unique use for the wearer, ranging from a sporting advantage to a frame that meshes well with a general lifestyle.

Fashion is still key--even the most technical of sunwear has become more glamorous. This season, as illustrated in our sunwear feature, no matter what the frame function, bright colors take center stage.

At its annual meeting in New Orleans, The Sunglass Association of America presented its findings of this year's eyewear performance in sunglasses. The 2004 results show that sunglasses were up 0.3 percent year-to-date in dollars and up 4.8 percent in units. ECPs can ensure future growth in this sector by touting the value of multiple pairs for function's AND fashion's sake.

Joanne F. Schell
Senior Editor, Frames