Why Do We Need To Wear Sunglasses?
It’s official — summer is here! The solstice on June 20 marked the start of the sunniest season. So grab your bathing suit, beach chair, and SUNGLASSES! While we are enjoying our summers it’s important to remember that our eyes can be damaged from the sun. Thankfully, there is an easy (and fashionable!) way to prevent this. Read on to learn more about why sunglasses should be a must-have for your summer kit.
What damage can the sun do?
We all know that sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun. But what exactly does this mean? Light, especially from the ultraviolet, or UV, range is absorbed by the cornea (the clear window of the eye) and the retina (the lining on the inside of the back of your eye). Your cornea can get sunburned just like your skin! Photokeratitis happens when there is too much light exposure, especially on the water or snow where the rays of sun are reflected back at your eyes. Symptoms include pain and swelling with redness and blurry vision. This condition is temporary and will go away in a couple days.
Other conditions are caused by sun exposure accumulating over time. Sun exposure is the main cause of visible aging of your skin. The skin of your eyelids and around your eyes are some of the thinnest and most sensitive of the body. So “photoaging” of the skin is often seen around the eyes first.
Prolonged exposure to the sun also increases the risk of developing cataracts and other eye diseases. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness and vision impairment around the world and are caused when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. June is Cataracts Awareness Month — read about some common cataract myths here!
So what kind of sunglasses should you have?
There are so many kinds! Thankfully, you don’t have to go for super expensive ones to get the necessary protection for your eyes. The most important thing to look for is the UV blocking abilities.
Another consideration when shopping for sunglasses is whether or not to get polarized lenses. Polarized glasses filter out glare by blocking all light in the horizontal plane. This is especially helpful for light reflecting off the road or water. Although polarized lenses can be a little more expensive, the reduced glare and sharper vision is worth it!
The advantages to wearing sunglasses go on and on… from blocking foreign objects such as sand and dirt from your eyes to potentially reducing the chances of migraines and headaches from photosensitivity.
At the end of the day, there are so many benefits to wearing sunglasses, and basically no down sides! It’s truly such an easy, affordable way to protect your vision and you’ll look great while doing it.
