Why Do Curved Sunglasses Lack Power Despite Their Design?

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SUMMARY

Curved sunglasses lack optical power due to their design, which features parallel surfaces that do not create the necessary curvature difference to function as a lens. While they may slightly distort light, this effect is minimal, akin to looking through a window. Prescription sunglasses are an exception, as they incorporate varying curvature to provide optical correction. The discussion highlights that only extremely thick or highly curved glass can distort images, but they do not operate like conventional lenses.

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  • Understanding of optical lens principles
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  • Basic concepts of light distortion
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Please someone tell me why sun glasses have no power,though they are curved...
 
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They do very slightly distort light but because both surfaces are curved and parallel and the material thin the effect is minimal. Like looking through a window.
 
You can get prescription sunglasses, which do have 'power'.
 
A lens works because of a difference in curvature between the sides. A curved sheet of glass with parallel sides is neither concave nor convex and does not act as a lens. This statement only really applies for relatively thin glass that isn't 'very' curved. Extremely thick / curved glass sheets will distort images, although they don't behave like simple lenses either.
 

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