Sunglasses can be a fun, fashionable, accessory that most of us start reaching for at this time of year. They also serve a very important role in protecting our eyes from UV damage.
UV light, or ultraviolet radiation, is an invisible type of short-wavelength light energy (from 100-400 nanometers). This type of radiation can damage the skin and structures in and around the eyes. Just like sunscreen and UV-blocking clothing are important for our skin, sunglasses, UV-blocking contact lenses, and wide-brimmed hats serve to protect our eyes.
Examples of Eye Conditions that Arise from UV-Damage
Cataracts: While cataracts are a normal, age-related condition, UV damage speeds this process along. The cumulative exposure over a person’s lifetime relates to how quickly the lens in the eye will become cloudy and reduce their vision.
Macular degeneration: Chronic UV exposure can also damage the retinal cells at the back of the eye, contributing to the onset and progression of macular degeneration. This is especially true in blue-eyed people, who have a higher risk of developing this condition as compared to those with darker coloured irises.
Photokeratitis: Often caused by intense exposure to UV radiation, photokeratitis is like a sunburn on the surface of the eyes. Other terms for this include “welder’s flash” when caused by welding sparks, or “snowblindness” when caused by the sun’s reflection off of snow. It is a temporary, but painful, condition that can cause blurry vision.
What Should You Look for in Your Next Pair of sunglasses?
Size: Generally, sunglass frames are larger than regular glasses in order to provide more coverage of the eyes, eyelids, and delicate skin around the eyes that can be prone to UV damage.
Tint: Gray is the most neutral tint that darkens all colours equally and is great to prevent fatigue on bright, sunny days. Brown can provide improved contrast (especially for activities like golf when you need to find that ball) and works for variable sunlight. Green tends to be a balance of the glare reduction and contrast of these other two classic tints.
Polarization: Polarized lenses reduce glare, especially off of reflective surfaces like water, snow, wet roads, and metal. They are a game-changer for those wearing their sun lens for fishing, skiing, or driving in wet conditions.
UV Protection: Above all, your sunglasses lenses should protect you from sun damage. The label “UV400” means the product protects from all of the harmful wavelengths of light.
The Bottom Line
UV damage is a “modifiable risk factor”, meaning we can limit how much UV exposure our eyes get over time by wearing sunglasses. Plus, we get to look cool while protecting our eyes!