Sunglasses 101

Sunglasses 101

Protect your eyes and look great with a fabulous pair of sunglasses!

Sunglasses are one of the easiest ways to protect your eyes from sun damage. Whether you are a trendy fashionista with an eye on the trends, or a bargain hunter, there is definitely a pair of sunglasses out there for you. As long as your sunglasses have certified U.V protection, your eyes will be protected.

While most of us love to bask in the sun’s rays, the light can actually harm you. Three types of light will cause injury to your eyes if you are not properly protected. They are: ultraviolet radiation (often called UV rays), bright or intense light, and blue light. UV rays carry more energy than visible light, so your eyes are at risk when they absorb UV radiation. Two types of UV rays actually reach the Earth’s surface: UVB rays and UVB rays. These are the rays that can cause several different eye diseases and UVB rays are linked to skin cancer. Any damage that happens to the eyes via UVB and UVA rays happens over long periods of time and can’t be reversed, so make sure you wear a good pair of sunglasses when you are outdoors.

Sunglasses can greatly minimize your risk of eye damage. A great pair of sunglasses can protect your eyes against UV rays, bright light, and blue light. Sunglasses also act as a safety device; when you are driving, they can help reduce glare and improve your visibility on the road. Be sure to wear sunglasses whenever you are out in bright sunlight, especially between 11:00am and 4:00pm when the sun’s rays are the strongest.

Choosing the right pair for you

Always try sunglasses on before you buy. Make sure the lenses are dark enough to keep out the bright light, just make sure that your vision isn’t reduced. If you are going to be outdoors for long periods of time in intense glare from sunlight reflecting off water or snow, try wearing sunglasses that specifically block blue light. Sunglasses with medium to dark lenses and gray, brown, or green tinted lenses will filter out blue light the best.

Most sunglasses have plastic lenses; these are tougher than glass and less likely to shatter. Make sure your plastic lenses have a scratch-resistant coating. When you are trying them on, try looking around at different objects, this will help you determine the amount of distortion the lenses have.

Different lenses

• Regular lenses reduce brightness

• Poloarized lenses eliminate the glare that you get from reflection. These are great for driving and any outdoor activities that involve being around water or snow.

• Photochromatic lenses change with the amount of UV light they are exposed to by turning darker when outdoors.

• Flash or mirror lenses will reflect all or part of the light rays instead of absorbing it. The downfall: they scratch easily.