We think sunglasses make great giveaways. They have a SWAG all their own. There are rubberized, polarized, and UV inhibitor sunglasses that are available in aviator, retro, and Malibu styles. There are designer, mirrored, and even sunglasses with a bottle opener! But here are three special reasons that sunglasses make great promotional products.

Sunglasses Can Stop a Sneezing Fit

My father sneezes — a lot. He has sneezing fits. Growing up on a farm in Indiana, when he was old enough to help bale hay, he discovered he had hay fever. In the fall he monitors the pollen count daily and stays indoors until there’s a hard freeze. He’s had back problems for 40 years and has occasionally “thrown his back out” during a sneezing fit. The two seasons, which challenge him the most are spring and fall. The leaf mold, goldenrod, and high pollen count in the fall all irritate his nose and sinuses resulting in sneezing fits. But why does he sneeze in the spring of the year? It may be the Sun.

According to Scientific American somewhere around one-third of the population is affected by PSR (Photic Sneeze Reflex). The Greek philosopher Aristotle  asked, “Why does the heat of the sun provoke sneezing?” Aristotle credited the sneezing to the heat of the sun, but in the 17th century, Francis Bacon refuted this claim by stepping from the dark to the sun with his eyes closed. The heat didn’t cause the sneeze – the light did.

Sunglasses Relieve Migraine Headaches  

Some estimates claim more than 1 in every 10 Americans suffer from Migraines. One out of every four households in the USA has a member afflicted with these severe headaches. Migraines triggers include stress, diet, physical exertion, weather changes, hormonal fluctuations, and light. Common symptoms may include pulsating or throbbing pain often located in one area, nausea, vomiting, and Sensitivity to light. Flickering light may especially cause distress for many.

Excessive brain activity may induce mild headaches to severe migraines. Consider the brain activity involved in gathering information such as light flickering off a lake or the constantly changing glare from sun reflecting off of snow. A bright sunlit day adds information for the brain to analyze. Studies have shown wearing tinted eyewear in some cases lessons the chance for a migraine by reducing brain activity.

The best way to ascertain what triggers a migraine may be to track triggers and consult a physician, but it doesn’t hurt to reduce glare. “Sunglasses are better than no sunglasses,” according to Robert Daroff, MD, professor of neurology at Case Western University School of Medicine. Why not be prepared? Always have sunglasses ready before being faced with the glare of bright or reflected

Sunglasses Improve Diabetes

Diabetes touches the lives of millions and causes damage to every system in the human body including the eyes. Diabetes is the leading cause of new cases of blindness for ages 20 to 74 in America. The good news is there are preventative measures easily taken to help prevent the eye damage caused by diabetes.

One way to prevent diabetes is to protect your eyes from UV rays. There are studies exploring the correlations between UV light, diabetes, and blindness. “Winter or summer, the sun is capable of burning the surface of the eye causing a painful condition called photokeratitis, which in turn increases the risk of developing other diabetic eye conditions.” Diabetic Connect: Protect Your Eyes.

Should Your Organization Giveaway Branded Sunglasses?

Sunglasses are a universal promotional product, any business marketing every type of product under the sun has clients who not only appreciate but need sunglasses. And when your customer’s favorite pair of sunglasses has your brand on the arm of the frame, they remember you!

Would you like to see what’s new in advertising specialty sunglasses? Here’s one example, Bamboo Sunglasses.

Photo Credit:  Unsplash Photos Ari He