How to choose a pair

Five things to check before you buy.

The checklist

• Integrated shields, not clip-ons. Shields moulded into the frame sit flush, block properly and survive a bag. Clip-ons rattle, let light through and fall off.
• Coverage below the lens corner too. Distraction sneaks under the outer edge as well as round the side. Look for a lower shield or fin at the outer lens corner, not just a flat side panel.
• Wearable in public. If they look like lab equipment you will not wear them. Matte, plain frames are easier to keep on.
• Lens options. Clear for the office, tinted if brightness is part of your problem. If you wear prescription glasses, make sure prescription lenses are available, otherwise you will not wear them.
• A maker that does not overclaim. Skip anyone promising cures or quoting precise focus percentages. Nobody has measured one.

Fit notes

Shielded frames sit closer to the temple than ordinary glasses, so temple width matters more than usual. Wide, flat temples spread the contact comfortably; thin wire temples concentrate it. If you are between sizes, size up. A shield that presses on your cheekbone all day will not stay on your face for long.