It’s finally summertime, and you know what that means: pool, playing outside, vacation, and fun in the sun! It’s great to spend time outside in the sunny, warm summer weather, but are you protecting your eyes from the sun as best as possible?
Protecting your eyes from sunny weather is crucial for maintaining good eye health, especially during the really sunny months of summer. Let’s explore steps for protecting your eyes every chance you get!
Is Wearing Sunglasses all the time Good for your Eyes?
The best time to wear sunglasses is outside when sun exposure is high. Wearing sunglasses outside is important in maintaining good eye health, but some sun exposure is actually good for your eyes. Just make sure it’s not extremely hot out. There are wavelengths that the sun gives off that can benefit your eyes. If you overwear your sunglasses, your eyes can miss some of the 1,500 wavelengths contributing to your eye health.
How Do I Know if my Sunglasses Protect my Eyes?
Today, you can buy sunglasses online, at gas stations, malls, grocery stores, and even coffee shops. Whether they are vintage, cheap, expensive, or polarized, it’s essential to check to see if they are as effective as you think.
To ensure your sunglasses are protecting your eyes correctly, you want to look for a label that says:
- 100% protection against both UVA and UVB
- 100% protection against UV 400
If you are unsure about your sunglasses, most opticians will test them for free to ensure they are a good choice.
What are the Best Sunglasses for your Eyes?
Just because sunglasses are expensive doesn’t always mean they are doing a great job protecting your eyes from the sun. When buying your sunglasses, look for characteristics like:
- Wrapped-shaped frames around your eyes. According to Colombia Doctors, about 20% of UV enters the eye from reflective light from the side, and that wrapped shape shields your eyes.
- Lenses that are light enough. Dark lenses can be harmful if they do not offer good UV protection or if UV rays reach the eye from the sides.
- Anti-reflection coating enables better vision by decreasing reflections off of your lenses.
- Bigger frames of sunglasses can offer more coverage. You want to make sure your entire eye is covered.
Which is better, UV or Polarized Sunglasses?
UV protection sunglasses filter out UVA and UVB light before it can reach the eyes, protecting them from UV damage. Polarized sunglasses have lenses that have a polarized laminate pressed into the lenses, that filters reflected light in a vertical plane. An example would be a glare when you are driving that you don’t notice because you are wearing sunglasses, polarized lenses help to reduce glare.
Polarized lenses have a variety of benefits:
- Improved vision in the sun
- Improved safety in the sun
- Reduced glare
- Reduced eyestrain
- Details are easier to see
The best option is getting a pair of sunglasses that has both UV protection and polarizing filters.
What type of Sunglasses do Eye Doctors Recommend?
Eye doctors recommend sunglasses that provide 100% UV protection and polarized lenses for added glare reduction. Bigger frames and lenses ensure safety and comfort for your eyes. Protecting your eyes with the right sunglasses is essential all year round and even more during the long, hot summer days.
Eyepic has a summer sunglasses collection that offers both protection and style.