During the summer months, many of spend more time outside. We know we should wear sunscreen to protect our skin and avoid getting a sunburn or skin cancer, but we should also wear quality sunglasses to protect our eyes, too.
There are great benefits to wearing quality sunglasses. We will share a few of them here!
Protection from UV Rays
Just like your skin, your eyes can be damaged by the UV rays from the sun. UV-A rays reach all the way to the retina, the light-sensitive layer in the back of the eye and can lead to macular degeneration (loss of central vision), while UV-B rays affect the cornea and lens, which can cause corneal sunburns and increase the risk of developing cataracts.
When you buy sunglasses, make sure the label says they block at least 99% of UV rays. Although most sunglasses are chosen for their style, opting for a style that has wider frames will allow more coverage and protection.
Babies and children need to wear sunglasses to protect their eyes from the sun, too! The lenses in their eyes allow more UV radiation to pass through than those of adults, and damage sustained to their eyes during childhood can put them at increased risk of developing serious eye conditions and diseases later in life.
Better Vision While Outside
Whether you are driving, at an athletic event, or simply going for a walk, spending time outside without sunglasses can be uncomfortable due to the harsh glare and bright light of the sun. Putting on a pair of quality sunglasses provides instant relief and better visual clarity.
Different colors of lenses provide different benefits. Yellow and amber lenses filter out blue light, making them ideal for watching sports, while rose and purple lenses increase the contrast against blue and green backgrounds, which gives you an advantage while spending time on the water. Whatever color of lenses you choose, remember that polarized lenses are a must for glare reduction.
If you typically wear eyeglasses or contact lenses to see your best, getting prescription sunglasses provide you with better vision outside then simply wearing non-prescription sunglasses over your contact lenses or eyeglasses. Prescription sunglasses are customized to your unique visual needs, and offer you clear, crisp vision while outside, making you more comfortable.
Sunglasses at Greene & Greene Optometry
We carry top sunglass brands in our optical. Come see us and we can help you pick out the perfect ones to suit your style and protect your eyes. We can fit them to you as well and make sure you’ll get the most UV protection possible, no matter how you spend time outside this summer!