Protect Your Eyes, Don’t Skip The Sunglasses

Sunglasses are not only used for fashion, they can be used to protect and shield your eyes from the sun and keep harmful UV rays from your eyes. No matter the season, sunglasses should be worn. There are many different types of sunglasses that are available for you to choose, depending on your needs and budget. Before buying sunglasses, be sure to check the UV protection factor.

Now, lets talk about glare. It can cause some huge problems, especially when driving. It can come from snow, shiny surfaces and buildings. Glare causes you to have to squint in order to see properly, and can also be fairly painful at times. You can get sunglasses specifically made to reduce glare, so check into it if you're on the road a lot. Whether it be from the sun or other cars, you'll be glad you made the investment to help rid yourself of the problem.

The biggest problem you face is ultraviolet rays, or UV rays which come from the sun. They are intensified when reflected, and long term exposure to these can cause a condition called photokeratitis. Its only temporary, but its basically sunburn on the surface of your eyes. They can also cause cataracts, and age-related macular degenaration, also known as AMD.

Before you buy a pair of sunglasses, try them out first! See how they feel and look, make sure they have 99 to 100 percent UV A or B protection. If it doesn't say or you aren't sure, ask the assistant or an eye care profession for some help. The bigger the lenses are, the better. Make sure they are big enough to block out the majority of light. You'll also want them to be dark enough to reduce glare, but not so much that it'll interfere with street lights, signs or anything else of importance. One way to check if they are dark enough would be to look at yourself in a mirror, can you see your eyes? If so, you'll probably want to go with something a bit darker. Lastly, don't forget your kids! The same goes for them, but you might want to look into polycarbonate lenses as they are more shatter-proof and should last a bit longer.