Eye Health - How To Choose Sunglasses

Overview

The sun produces several types of light that can damage your eyes. Bright light, blue light, and UV light (ultraviolet) can all affect the health of your eyes.

The good news is that sunglasses, even many low-cost ones provide reasonable protection from the sun.

Bright Light

Children are told from an early age not to look directly at the sun, and for good reason. Looking at the sun, even for a brief period of time can damage the retina, causing permanent loss of vision.

Sunglasses DO NOT provide enough protection to allow you to look at the sun (a welding helmet might).

Sunglasses do reduce the glare of intense light thereby reducing eye strain.

Blue Light

Blue light is contained in the light that reflects off snow and water.

Routine exposure to blue light over many years may age the retina, increasing the chance of decreased vision or blindness for persons over the age of 60.

Ultraviolet Radiation (UV Rays)

The same UV rays from the sun that cause sun burn and skin cancer also affect the health of your eyes.

Different parts of your eyes absorb the two primary types of UV radiation which are UVA and UVB.

UV radiation is highest in winter and spring, and every day around noon.

Water and snow reflect UV rays and glare from the sun, which makes it especially important to wear the correct sunglasses if you participate in water and snow sports.

Overexposure to UV rays can damage your eyes and may contribute to the formation of cataracts (a clouding of the lens).

Choosing The Right Sunglasses

For many, price and appearance are the only considerations when selecting a pair of sunglasses. There are however, other features to consider:

• UV Protection
  Most sunglasses (even the cheap ones) provide UVB protection, but not UVA protection (the most damaging UV rays).
  Check to see that the sunglasses you purchase offer UV 400, or UVA and UVB protection.

• Polarizing Lenses
  Designed to cut reflective glare, polarized lenses are a good choice for water sports, snow sports, and driving.

• Scratch Resistance
  Almost all sunglasses use plastic lenses which make them shatter resistant, but also prone to scratching, especially if the lens has a mirror coating. Choosing scratch resistant sunglasses may extend the life and performance of the glasses.

Some cosmetic sunglasses are designed primarily as a fashion accessory as they are lightly tinted and provide little if any UV and glare protection.

Conclusion

As most sunglasses reduce glare, and provide some UV protection, wearing a cheap pair of sunglasses is better than none at all.

However, choosing the right sunglasses for your sport or environment can protect the health of your eyes, and make the time spent outdoors more enjoyable.

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