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Pick the Right Sunglasses to Protect Your Eyes

By HERWriter
 
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If you normally shop for sunglasses by shape, size, or color of the frames, think again! Sunglasses are an important tool in your arsenal to protect yourself from the damaging effects of the sun. Here are some tips for choosing the right sunglasses to protect your vision.

UV Protection – Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can cause damage to our skin in the form of sunburn and skin cancer. UV radiation has also been linked to increased risk for damage to the eyes including cataracts, macular degeneration, and other conditions that can cause vision loss.

UV rays come in three varieties which are labeled A, B, and C. UV-C rays get caught by the ozone layer in the atmosphere and are not harmful on earth. Any sunglasses you purchase should provide 100 percent protection against both UV-A and UV-B radiation. This is a case of buyer beware – it’s easy to put a label on something claiming 100 percent protection. Your eye care professional can help you make a good selection and may be able to test your sunglasses to see if they live up to what the label claims.

HEV radiation – High-energy visible radiation from the sun, which is also called “blue light”, can also cause damage to your eyes with an increased risk of macular degeneration. Sunglasses should block most HEV radiation to be effective.

Comfort – Bright sunlight and glare can make your eyes uncomfortable. It can also interfere with your ability to see clearly by making you squint or by making your eyes water. Select sunglasses that have enough tint to reduce glare and allow for comfortable vision. One way to test whether your lenses are dark enough is to look at yourself in a mirror while wearing the sunglasses. If you can see your eyes easily through the lenses, they probably are not dark enough.

Lens color – The darkness and color of the lens does not affect UV protection. But lenses that block HEV rays are typically bronze, copper, or reddish-brown.

Lens size – Fashion trends may try to recommend shape and size of sunglasses, but for optimum vision safety, lenses should be large enough to protect your entire eye. Styles that wrap around the sides can provide extra protection.

Lens quality – Sunglass lenses should be all one color or smoothly gradated, not splotchy. There should also be no waves or bends in the lens that can distort your vision. To check for distortions, hold the glasses at arm’s length and look at something with a straight line or edge. Slowly move the glasses across the line to make sure it stays straight.

Choosing the wrong sunglasses can actually be harmful to your eyes. Dark lenses may make your eyes dilate, which means your pupils will get larger to allow more light into your eyes. If your dark sunglasses are not protecting against harmful UV and HEV radiation, dark lenses will actually allow more damaging rays to enter your eye. If you are not sure if your sunglasses provide the protection your eyes need, talk to your eye care professional to find out how to get your sunglasses tested.

Who needs sunglasses?

The short answer to this question is… everyone! If you think your eyes are less vulnerable to UV damage because of their dark color, you’re wrong. Eye color does not provide any protection against UV or HEV rays. And remember, even if you are wearing contacts with built-in UV protection, the white part of your eye is still vulnerable. The best way to protect your eyes from UV damage is to wear the right sunglasses whenever you are outdoors.

Sources:
American Optometric Association
All About Vision
All About Vision: Lens Tint Chart
All About Vision: UV Index Map

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We value and respect our HERWriters' experiences, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice, although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.

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