# What is the point of "Shutter" style sunglasses? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [December 7, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383 "2009-12-07T23:18:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SecretaryofEvil](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e95f7d/32.png) [@SecretaryofEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SecretaryofEvil)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/1 "2009-12-07T23:18:07Z")
While at places where sunglasses are sold, I have been seeing these odd sunglasses for sale. They look like this [http://www.amazon.com/STRONGER-SHUTTER-SHADES-CELEBRITY-SUNGLASSES/dp/B001GDN4JE/ref=sr\_1\_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1260226917&sr=1-1](http://www.amazon.com/STRONGER-SHUTTER-SHADES-CELEBRITY-SUNGLASSES/dp/B001GDN4JE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=apparel&qid=1260226917&sr=1-1) What is the point of this product? I tried a pair on, and not only did they limit my vision exactly as one would imagine they would, they seemed to be completely ineffective as sunglasses, as in the sun got in my eyes exactly as if I wasn’t wearing any type of sunglasses. Again, what is the purpose of this product? I see them available for sale everywhere, but I’ve never seen anyone wear them. The only thing I can find out about them is that they are somehow related to well known jackass Kanye West. ---
**Author:** ![Silophant](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a698b9/32.png) [@Silophant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Silophant)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/2 "2009-12-07T23:33:48Z")
They look cool, at least to the douchebags and hipsters who wear them. As far as the usual purposes of sunglasses go, they make it harder for people to see exactly where you’re looking. As you found out, they don’t block the sun. ---
**Author:** ![BrandonR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/779978/32.png) [@BrandonR](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrandonR)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/3 "2009-12-07T23:41:43Z")
I don’t think most fashion accessories have a point. The products you point out is something I’d classify closer to fashion accessory than sunglasses (which actually have a functional purpose). ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 7, 2009, 11:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/4 "2009-12-07T23:50:42Z")
Oddly, they do work to block the sun - even with this coarse a mesh - the total amount of light entering your eyes is reduced by the bars that obscure some of it. Similar to this: > **[Wilderness Survival: Cold Weather Survival - Cold Injuries](http://www.wilderness-survival.net/cold-6.php)** > > Describes how to survive in a cold weather survival situation. Including how to make a shelter, and find food and water. Includes diagrams and pictures. Another possibly related phenomenon - in very bright sunlight, it can be painful to open both eyes, but comfortable enough to open one or the other. ---
**Author:** ![Hi\_Medlo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/a183cd/32.png) [@Hi\_Medlo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hi_Medlo)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/5 "2009-12-08T21:03:29Z")
I remember seeing something like that in “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” in the early 60’s, and maybe even had some that you cut out from the back of a cereal box. I always thought the point was to cut the glare without being blocked by blowing snow. ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/6 "2009-12-08T21:50:37Z")
That’s right, but it’s also because in a survival situation, suitable materials to make proper sunglass lenses (i.e. dark, but clear) are likely to be difficult to source. As a thought experiment, imagine sunglasses made of a gid as fine as a diffraction grating or polarising filter… then double the breadth of the obscure and transparent strips - keep doing that… Is there a point where it becomes completely ineffective in reducing glare? (I’m going to say “yes, when the bands are bigger than your eyes”) ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [December 8, 2009, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-is-the-point-of-shutter-style-sunglasses/520383/7 "2009-12-08T22:39:20Z")
> [@Hi\_Medlo](#): > > I remember seeing something like that in “Sergeant Preston of the Yukon” in the early 60’s, and maybe even had some that you cut out from the back of a cereal box. I always thought the point was to cut the glare without being blocked by blowing snow. No doubt inspired by [Eskimo sunglasses.](http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ajWaBjfwj48/SO0AtIeFIVI/AAAAAAAAAAM/isyontF-Ffs/s400/Eskimo+man+wearing+wooden+shades.jpg)