Shady customers on increase

It's a trend that is gathering all the pace of a runaway juggernaut, except that the designer sunglasses now sported by an increasing number of professionals - and, indeed, amateur players - are considered more than just mere fashion accessories. Although a far cry from your typical Irish summer, clinical and medical research in the United States has confirmed that sun - or, more specifically, UV radiation - is the main cause of skin cancers around the eyes and cataracts and, so, the medical fraternity are now encouraging golfers' to wear such eye protection.

David Duval is rarely seen without his Oakley sunglasses, and Bolle are the official sponsors of the PGA of America. In fact, Bolle - who sport a line of Eagle Vision sunglasses - claim their eyewear is "designed specifically for golfers to help block out the sun, wind and glare without interfering with peripheral vision."

And, recently, Callaway Golf teamed up with Bausch & Lomb to produce new sunglasses by RayBan which "filter away the glare to enable golfers to read greens better." Indeed, it prompted the company's founder Ely Callway to proclaim: "I have never worn sunglasses before when I played golf, but I will now."

Obviously, the trend started in America . . . but it is catching on with Irish golfers too, and Ellen MacNally, of MacNally Opticians On The Green, in St Stephen's Green in Dublin, claims that there has been a significant increase in the numbers purchasing wraparound sunglasses for use while playing golf.

The type of glasses sported by Duval, in particular, are proving immensely popular. His Oakley glasses have a VR28 lens and what is called an "M" frame.

"Even though they are wraparound, there is no distortion of images," explained Ellen MacNally. "Not only do they offer 100 per cent protection from the sun, but they have a high contrast lens that gives exceptionally good clarity. It makes it easy for players to pick out the flight of the ball."

She continued: "These glasses have been designed with the golfer in mind. They are lightweight and comfortable to wear and are proving particularly popular."

These designer golf sunglasses are retailing in Ireland for between £85 and £140.