The Importance of UV Protection Sunglasses

Most people know that too much sun exposure without adequate protection accelerates the aging process and increases their risk of developing skin cancer. However, did you also know that UV exposure can also pose a risk to the health and condition of your eyes? This ultraviolet radiation may increase your natural levels of vitamin D and give you a great tan, but it also poses a risk to your health. Fortunately, there’s a fairly easy way to protect them – wearing UV protection sunglasses.

How Does UV Light Damage Our Eyes?

The sun may be the most obvious source of UV light, but there are other things that can emit it too – including tanning beds, lasers, and welding machines. When our eyes meet UV light, we almost certainly won’t notice any adverse effects right away. However, after even a small amount of exposure, it’s possible to start to experience some short-term effects. These can include:
 

• Painful or uncomfortable eyes

• Dryness

• Sensitivity to light

• Excessive tearing

• Redness and puffiness

• Feeling as though you have grit or another foreign object in the eyes

Some people, particularly those who participate in outdoor sports, may suffer from a condition called photokeratitis. This is also referred to as corneal sunburn and occurs because of severe glare or intense exposure, such as when sunlight is reflected off snow or water.

It’s not just short-term effects that you need to worry about though. Prolonged sun exposure can also lead to severe, long-term consequences for your eyes and vision. Many of these can have permanent effects on your eyesight, and include:
 

• Pterygium, abnormal growth on the surface of the eye

• Cancer on the skin around the eyes

• Increased risk of cataracts

• Increased risk of macular degeneration

• Increased risk of glaucoma

UV damage is accumulative, meaning that the longer you don’t protect your eyes, the worse the effects of your exposure are likely to be.

Protecting Your Eyes With UV Protection Sunglasses

Wearing sunglasses is one of the best ways to protect your eyes from the effects of UV exposure. Wearing them on overcast days is important since UV light is present even when it’s a cloudy day. However, one of the most important things to be aware of is that not all sunglasses are equally as effective when it comes to protecting our eyes.

Many sunglasses are ‘fashion’ sunglasses but the lenses themselves aren’t proven to be effective in blocking out UV light. Many people think that the darker the lenses are, the better the protection they will offer. Unfortunately, this isn’t necessarily true. What you should be looking for is sunglasses that have a sticker or label that shows that they offer both UVA and UVB protection to block at least 99% of ultraviolet radiation. Ideally, they should also block between 75-90% of all visible light. These sunglasses will offer your eyes the best protection against the effects of UV radiation.

The style of sunglasses you choose can also make a difference in how much protection your eyes receive too. Oversize lenses, thicker frames, and wraparound styles can help stop UV light from creeping in around the edges of your lenses, where it has the potential to still reach your eyes.

If you would like more information about the importance of UV protection sunglasses, visit Reed Optical in Sunapee or Claremont. Call (603)543-3125 to schedule an appointment today.