Sunglasses, They Make You Look Great!

It’s fine to pack the sunscreen to protect your skin when going on holiday, we know we have to or we may get some painful sunburn which is a powerful incentive to use it. But have you given the same consideration to your eyes? It is important to remember that sunglasses are not just a fashion statement and that they should protect your eyes properly.

However careful you are you probably know that the sun can seriously damage your skin and hopefully, you realize that it can also multiply the risk of damage to your eyes, e.g. an increased risk of developing cataracts in the long term. This may not unduly worry you if you are younger (although it should), but there is also a short-term problem that is painful and can cause a temporary loss of vision. Often associated with highly-reflective snow fields or exposure to a solar eclipse, this condition is known as photokeratitis which is basically reversible sunburn of the cornea from UVB rays.

So what should you look for when buying your new sun glasses? Most people are now aware that they need UV protection but just to explain, UV radiation comes in at least two primary forms, UVA and UVB and both carry their own dangers. UVA can lead to premature skin aging while UVB may cause skin cancer. What you need to look for is a 99 – 100% protection against UV, irrespective of the price of your glasses or the darkness of the lens or whether they are cheap or more expensive designer sun glasses.

Don’t go for really dark lenses that may distort colours, particularly when driving. For the best perception of colour, it is usually suggested that lenses should be brown, green, amber or a natural grey.

Take care of your eyes by wearing the correct sunglasses, it doesn’t matter whether they are from a High Street store or designer sun glasses, they must protect your eyes from possible damage. Don’t forget to ensure your children also have sufficient protection, so don’t buy toy glasses and make sure they are shatter-proof!

Remember that even if you wear sun glasses with full UV protection, some light can still enter from the periphery or from the top if the glasses, especially if they are particularly small frames. Also remember that if you engage in certain sports (e.g. surfing, skiing, cycling or mountaineering etc., that you will need more specialist glasses with additional properties.

There are a good range of fashionable sun glasses that will protect your eyes although these need not be designer sun glasses. Just remember that whether they are designer or non-branded glasses that they MUST have full UV protection to adequately shield your eyes.