At the time of writing, we have experienced what seems like endless weeks of sunny weather. Love it or hate it, it looks to be here for a few more weeks at least so by now I hope you have already found the sunglasses in the back of the draw from last year or have bought yourself a lovely new pair. If not, now would be a good time to invest in a good quality pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes as it looks like this weather is here to stay.
Having good quality UV protective sunglasses is vital for the health of our eyes. Did you know our eyes are 10 times more sensitive to UV light than our skin? Having increased exposure to UV light can increase your risks of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. According to the World Health Organisation UV damage is the biggest modifiable risk factor of cataract development.
So, when the sun appears please always remember the following:
- Make sure that you have good quality, dark sunglasses with UV protection. Look for the British Standard (BS EN ISO 12312-1:2013) or the CE mark, which is the manufacturer’s assurance that the sunglasses have been made to the appropriate safety standards. Wearing poor-quality sunglasses can be more harmful to the eyes as the tint causes the pupil to dilate, allowing more damaging UV light into the eyes.
- There are a variety of tints available for sunglasses, in many colours, so you can choose one to suit you. If you are out in the sun for long periods, you may want to consider wraparound sunglasses for greater protection. And don’t forget – a wide-brimmed hat offers additional protection, too!
- If you already wear glasses, we have a range of frames that have a very light ‘clip-on’ which can attach with invisible magnets to the front of the frame. These are tinted and polarised (which significantly cuts down on glare compared to a standard tint) and can be removed when they aren’t needed. This is a very popular option with our patients.
- You can also have glasses with photochromic lenses, which change colour according to light conditions, so you don’t have to go looking for your sunglasses when the sun comes out!
We have plenty of options available for sunglass frames, tints, and lenses. Please call in if you would like any more information.