Sunglasses are pretty prevalent in most parts of the world. The vision care market in the U.S. alone generated $34.54 billion in 2012, and it really does make sense. About 40% of American sunglass-wearers have them for health reasons, and the benefits are numerous for the other 60% as well. Not only are they stylish, but they block 98-99% of UV rays and can even protect against glare. There’s a lot to be said for a quality pair of sunglasses, which is why I don’t mind dropping a couple hundred bucks on a new pair. The trouble is that they don’t always last as long as you may want.

A pair of sunglasses is broken, lost, or sat on every 14 seconds, and that doesn’t go down so well with those who have spent significant chunks of change on their shades. Fortunately, there are cheaper and greener op