I hate to say it but price is my number one criteria. I never have a pair of sunglasses more than a couple months before I either break or lose them. Don't get me wrong. I love a good (expensive) rod or reel as much as anyone but I consider sunglasses disposable. For example I was in San Diego last week when a wave tipped my kayak (or maybe I was screwing around). Lost to the sea fairy was one pair of $30 glasses not 2 hours old. I rest my case.

Maui Jim copper lens work great in the streams I fish. Very light but the poly is easily scratched.

I picked up a pair of Orvis HVOs with glass lens. Heavy but very nice ... and cheaper than the Maui Jim's. I use cords to keep them from falling into the water and the hard case to keep them from getting damaged. Three seasons and counting.

Got to go with glass. Plastic is fine for work but not play.

Not to sound like an advertisement, but my number one criterion for sunglasses is that they are Smiths. I've never even put on another pair of sunglasses that comes close. I have yet to try glass, but I look forward to giving them a try.

I used to wear glasses for years, and I used to be great at never losing sunglasses as a result. Now I wear contacts and I have forgotten my sunglasses in friend's cars, etc. Luckily I've never lost or broken a pair.

I think plastic can take more of a beating and both require the same amount of cleaning for clarity. Glass can be more clear and give you more visibility but plastic wont cost as much.

Dougfish said the magic word, bifocals. I purchased a pair of cheap ($35) bifocal polarized sunglasses this spring for fishing and close up work. I hated them. It was tough to walk because the ground was distorted by the bifocals. Now I carry a pair of reading glasses along when I go fishing. Does anyone have a good suggestion for polarized bifocals?

Deeter, I just noticed, that's a nice self portrait.

I was hoping this was an article on rods (graphite vs fiberglass...). Anyway, prescription requires me to buy expensive glass lenses. I can only envy the people that have a choice and can pickup a pair wherever they find them.

Sorry posted by accident. Costa Del Mar 580 Green Mirror because:
1. Will not scratch from normal use
2. Clarity
3. If price is a worry, purchase on line
4. Solvents will not harm the lens
5. focal point of vision is spot on
6. strong frames
7. I ONLY USE THEM WHEN FLY FISHING!!!
8. Lots of styles to pick from

Costa Del Mar 480 interchangeable poly lens:
1. Can scratch easily
2. Clarity is fine, but If I'm fishing I want to see the details
3. Price is excellent
4. Solvents can be absorbed on plastic lens destroying them for good
5. focal points are not centered
6. frames are good

I have a pair of Sport Optic Fishbones I retired and put on the min. I'm off the water.
This way the expensive new pair stay functional longer and It doesn't mater how I treat the off-water glasses, which by the way are glass as well and well worn.

For many years, I went with cheap sunglasses for all the reasons described above, but mostly because I tended to lose, scratch, or break them.

Then I got a good pair (glass, Costa del Mar) as a lavish gift from a girlfriend, and two things happened: 1) I could see waaay better; and, 2) I magically started paying attention to my sunglasses and taking care of them.

I still have them...

I use a prescription glasses in photo-brown cristal
the natural contrast is a plus when fishing in sun-shadow
areas like in mangroves.

I prefer polycarbonate. it is one of the strongest if not the strongest plastic material. I'm trying to make my own from ABS and Polycarb I got from http://www.iplasticsupply.com/ Hope i can finish them soon.