Do Sunglasses Really Protect Your vision?

Counting the days to summer? Is your closet summer ready yet?

From slouchy jumpsuits, crop tops, floral dresses, printed shirts and summer shorts, you want to look your best while basking in the sun. But hold on! There’s something you must be forgetting. Do you have a pair of sunglasses in your wardrobe for UV protection?

Just like you put on sunscreen to keep your skin glowing and avoid sunburn, you need sunglasses for maximum eye protection in the blazing sun.

People view sunglasses as an accessory that shield their eyes from the sun. Not many people are aware of the contributions of shades in preventing some eye conditions. Also, did you know that you need shades just as much in winters as you need them in summers? Sounds kind of strange but it couldn’t be more true.

It is time to give sunglasses the due credit and list some or many eye health benefits they bestow upon us. But first, let’s learn how the sun damages our peepers.

Downsides of the sun

How do you picture a ‘day well spent’ in the summers? Probably by the pool sunbathing, listening to your favourite music and sipping a cold beverage. What a perfect day would that be if only you had your shades on.

Leaving your eyes bare to the UV light can have a long-term impact on your eye health. It targets the center of your retina (macula) that makes for your central vision. Also, spending long hours in the daylight without sunglasses can send an early invitation to cataracts.

Here is what might happen to your eyes if you leave them unprotected from the sun.

• Prolonged exposure to the UV rays can cause inflammation of the cornea. So, if you get dry or itchy eyes after spending a long day in the sun, don’t wonder why. It is all because of the sun.
• Although cataract is an age-related eye condition, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has estimated that up to 20% of the cataract cases could be blamed on the overexposure to the UV light.
• The vicious rays of the sun damage your macula and reduce your central vision. This condition is known as macular degeneration and often leads to blindness.

How the shades help

Yes, those sunnies help you look super stylish. But, they are not all about the good looks. They shield your eyes from the sun, prevent certain eye conditions and reduce the blinding glare. But how? What’s the science behind it? Let’s find out.

UV blocking technology

UVA and UVB are the two most harmful types of sun rays that have the most prominent effects on your eyes. Sunglasses are meant to give top-notch defense from these lights. But beware, only good-quality sunglasses will reflect 100% UV rays.

Anti-glare coating

When the source of light reflects on a horizontal surface, the pesky reflection that our eyes feel is known as glare. It is not only caused in the presence of the sun but also from bright artificial lights. Sunglasses are efficient in eliminating glare and give you a clearer image.

Polarisation

On a snowy day, your eyes must have struggled to look at the snow due to the sun rays reflecting on it. Polarised sunglasses are best to curb the glare and clear up the view. Also, if you indulge in water sports, you could use a good pair of polarised sunnies to avoid glare reflecting off the water surface.

You’ll be glad to know that all the sunglasses at Specscart are polarised. You won’t have to worry about the outdoor settings and will get maximum value from your sunnies.

You can add a prescription

Sun protection is good but what is the use of those cool shades if they are not helping in your vision? If you are dealing with a refractive error, you can add your optical power on the lenses and turn your regular shades into prescription sunglasses. This way, you will keep your eyes protected and give you a better vision at the same time.

What to look for in your next pair of sunglasses?

While we are saying that sunglasses give sun protection, the level of effectiveness might vary in different pairs of shades. To fill you in on the basics of sunglasses shopping, we have gathered the information below.

• While buying a pair of shades, check the label to see if they offer 100% UV protection. Also, choose a style that flatters your face shape and complement your lifestyle.
• For better UV protection, go for bigger frames that will cover your eyes more from the top, bottom and the sides of your sunglasses.
• It is a popular belief that darker tints filter out maximum UV light. However, this isn’t true. Different tintes have different functions but when it comes to blocking UV, they all are equally efficient.
• If you want to save money, you can find cheap sunglasses online that eradicate even the tiniest possibility of UV light reaching your eyes. But, always make the purchase after digging deep into the specifications.

Do you need sunglasses?

We will give you a moment to thank your sunglasses for all that they do for your eyes. To those who don’t wear them, don’t do this injustice to your eyes. Get a pair of polarised sunglasses from Specscart and ward off the eye health risks.