Your Go-To Guide for Sunglasses
Spring is here! As the temperatures rise, it’s not uncommon for us Minnesotans to rush outside and take advantage of our few precious months of summer weather. Hopefully you’ve been sporting your shades all winter long, but now is a great time to think about your eye protection for your favorite summertime activities!
UV Protection
While searching for the perfect shades, it’s essential that you first and foremost find a pair that blocks 99 to 100 percent of both UVB and UVA rays. Look for the manufacture labels that note either “Lenses block 99-100% UVB and UVA rays” or “UV absorption up to 40nm”.
The UV protection treatment is actually a clear coating, so the shade and darkness of the sunglasses themselves have nothing to do with the amount of UV protection that the lenses offer. Sunglasses are manufactured with various tints available, but gray has been discovered as the best tint for driving, as some other tints may cause difficulty differentiating the color of traffic lights.
Prescription Glasses
Many individuals opt to purchase customized prescription sunglasses. These can be ideal for many outdoor activities, such as golf, fishing and playing on the beach. You should never swim or use a hot tub while wearing contact lenses, as this puts your eyes at risk for a serious infection called Acanthamoeba Keratitis. If you plan to spend the day on the beach or lounging at the pool, a pair of prescription sunglasses may be the right solution for you! Surprisingly, they can now be created with bifocal and progressive lenses, making them ideal for reading and near work, along with viewing activities from afar.
Some folks opt for Photochromic lenses, which adjust (either lighter or darker) as the environment and lighting conditions change. Although these diminish the need for a separate pair of sunglasses, they may take time to adapt to the lighting changes.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized glasses are great for those individuals who spend a lot of time on the water, such as fishermen and boaters. These lenses help to diminish the glare off the surface of the water, however just because they are polarized does not mean they have UV Protection. Be sure to look for the UV Protection sticker before purchasing. Many bikers, joggers and folks who do a lot of driving appreciate the benefits of polarized lenses as well.
Contact Sports
When taking part in outdoor contact sports, it’s best to utilize polycarbonate sunglasses as they offer strong, impact resistant lenses. These lenses aren’t considered shatterproof, however if they do break, they tend to do so in larger pieces which is not as dangerous as regular lenses. Polycarbonate lenses can be custom made with your glasses prescription, along with the option of polarization if desired.
Some Quick Tips
- Even on a cloudy, overcast day, your eyes are still subject to harmful UV rays, so don’t skip the shades!
- Polycarbonate lenses are more susceptible to scratches, so be sure to handle with care.
- Don’t forget the little ones! It’s even more important that kids protect their eyes from the sun, as damage from UV radiation is cumulative and continues to increase throughout our lifetime.
- High price doesn’t mean high quality and protection. Check the labels to ensure the sunglasses have the protection you need.
Visit your local Optical today and keep your eyes protected!
**Info from All About Vision and WebMD**
