Posted by: Aker Kasten Eye Center in Optical Services on April 15, 2019
Sunglasses are important because extended exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays can cause eye damage. If you need more reasons to wear sunglasses, consider that when you squint you may be causing little wrinkles to form at the edges of your eyes. Before you decide to splurge on expensive sunglasses or completely forget and are forced to buy a cheap pair at the gas station, you should know the best features to look for. There are a lot of factors to consider such as:
UV Protection
To keep it simple, long term exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays can cause damage in your eyes. UV rays can lead to cataracts or other serious issues that can impact your vision later on in life. When buying a new pair of sunglasses, or evaluating current pairs, look for 100% UV protection. Ideally, your sunglasses should protect you from UVA and UVB rays. When you’re out shopping, glasses will have a sticker to tell you they offer UV protection. If you’re not sure about older pairs, consider replacing them, and only buy new sunglasses with full spectrum protection.
Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses can help cut down glare when you’re outside in bright light, so you may love them if you are out on the lake or by the ocean. But, polarize lenses don’t equal UV protection. If you like polarized lenses, make sure you find a pair of sunglasses that help cut out UV rays in addition to the glare.
Family
Why leave anyone out? If you’re wearing sunglasses, everyone in your family should be sporting them, too. By teaching kids to wear sunglasses now, you can help set up great habits and influence better eye health. One good way to remember sunglasses is tying the idea to sunscreen. When you think you need sunscreen, you probably also should bring sunglasses.
If you’re not sure about your options or what sunglasses would be a good fit for you, get in touch with us to learn more. We want to help you have the best eye health, and preventative measures n go a long way! Give us a call at (561) 338-7722 to schedule a consultation today.