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The Maui Jim Starfish is a cat eye frame built on SuperThin Glass, the crispest lens Maui Jim makes. It’s the pair in this store for the sharpest view of the water.

We haven’t travelled with this one ourselves, so what follows is the spec and what owners keep saying about it.

SuperThin Glass, cat eye, 56mm

The lenses are SuperThin Glass, which Maui Jim makes 20 to 32 percent thinner and lighter than standard glass. On top sits PolarizedPlus2: polarization that cuts glare, a coating that blocks 100 percent of UVA and UVB, and a colour layer that makes water and sky look richer instead of just darker. The frame is a cat eye with a sloping brow, 56mm lenses, one size in a medium fit. Five frame colours: shiny black, black with tortoise, translucent chocolate, matte burgundy, and sandstone with blue. Two-year warranty from Maui Jim, and prescription lenses run from +3.00 to -6.50.

Noon on the water

Glare off water and sand is the hardest light there is to see through, and glass is what you pick when the view matters most. On a bright day on the water the SuperThin Glass is where the difference from a plastic lens shows up. The trade is weight: glass is heavier than Maui Jim’s MauiPure, which is what the rimless Lighthouse uses.

What keeps coming up

Owners talk about the fit and the look first, and a few with light-sensitive eyes say this is the pair that lets them stay outside. Owners who know the brand say the make is what they expected from it. The frame is one size in a medium fit, so it sits small on a larger face, and the case that comes with it is the soft folding kind rather than a hard shell.

Capture the trip

The Ray-Ban Meta glasses are a different thing altogether. A camera and open-ear speakers built into a Wayfarer frame, so you can film the walk or the view without reaching for your phone. If that’s more what you’re after, take a look.