What does it mean to choose the right sunglasses?

Luca & Luce was developed by optometry students. That is why the question of good sunglasses begins not with trends, but with three things that need to work together: protection, fit and comfort.

If one is missing, you notice — perhaps not in the mirror, but over the course of the day. Sunglasses that pinch, slip or let in too much stray light from the sides soon get left at home. And sunglasses left at home protect nothing.

Fit is about proportions, not tightness. The bridge should rest naturally on the nose and carry the weight where it belongs — keeping the frame in place without unnecessary pressure. The temples should be long enough to sit securely behind the ears, rather than relying on pressure against the sides of the head.

Luca Costa was designed with exactly this in mind. The dimensions — 55 mm lens width, a 16 mm bridge and 145 mm temples — were chosen to keep the front stable on the face and let the temples do their job behind the ears, not against the sides of the head. You cannot see that in a product photo. But you feel it after a few hours in the sun.

Sunlight does not reach your eyes only from the front. It comes from above, from the sides and as reflections from bright surfaces around you. The size and shape of the lenses therefore determine how much of this light actually reaches your eyes.

Costa lenses are designed to provide generous coverage around the eyes. Larger lenses can reduce the amount of light entering from different angles — including above and from the sides — providing more than just protection from the front. No ordinary sunglasses seal out light from every direction; the point is that good coverage offers broader protection than a small, flat lens can.

A frame that feels comfortable for three minutes in front of the mirror can feel very different after three hours outdoors. That is why Luca Costa has flexible temples: they give just enough to accommodate different head widths without losing their grip. The result is a secure fit with less pressure at the temples — often the difference between keeping your sunglasses on all day and putting them in your pocket.

Ultraviolet radiation has shorter wavelengths than visible light — you cannot see it, but your eyes are exposed to it every day you spend outdoors. UV400 means the lenses are designed to block ultraviolet radiation with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers. This covers both UVA and UVB and helps protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure.

Importantly, this does not apply only to the brightest summer days. UV radiation is present outdoors even when the light does not feel strong, so protection matters well beyond days at the beach.

UV400 and polarized lenses are not the same thing. UV400 is about protection from ultraviolet radiation. Polarization primarily reduces glare from reflected light — water, wet asphalt and snow. Luca Costa combines both.

The right sunglasses are not necessarily the ones you notice first. They are the pair where aesthetics, optical protection and comfort work together — so naturally that you stop thinking about them. That is what a pair of sunglasses should achieve.