Is It Worth It To Invest In A Good Pair Of Sunglasses?

Is wearing sunglasses really worth it?  Many people wonder whether protecting your eyes from the sun is really beneficial or not.  This article will address some of the reasons it is worth it to wear sunglasses.

Protection from the sun

The UV rays from sunlight have been known to cause cataracts (cloudiness in the lens of the eye), benign growths and snow blindness, which is a painful but temporary sunburn on the eyes surface.  In order to protect the eyes against these ailments sunglasses need to block out 99% of Ultraviolet A and B rays.  Wide brimmed hats can block about 50% of UV rays but it is not enough to protect against these diseases.

Skin Cancer

People are often very careful to not spend a prolonged amount of time in the sun without wearing sunscreen.  This is to protect the body from skin cancer.  However, skin cancer can also develop on the eye lids, an area many people may not think of.  Wearing UV protective sunglasses can help decrease your risk of skin cancer on your eye lids.

Macular Degeneration

Macular degeneration causes severe vision loss.  This disease has been linked to prolonged exposure to the blue light emitted from the sun.  Sunglasses can help protect from this disease.

Vision Comfort and Safety

If you have ever attempted to drive when the sun is rising or setting directly in front of you, it is quite difficult.  Wearing sunglasses can help to make your vision clearer.  In addition, having a lot of direct sunlight causes you to squint and can even make your eyes water.  Once again, sunglasses can protect from these nuisances.

Dark Adaptation

After spending a day in the sun, it can become more difficult for your eyes to adjust to the lower light levels found indoors or night.  Wearing sunglasses makes this transition easier.

 Finding the Right Pair

Make sure to find a pair of sunglasses that will block 99% of UVA and UVB rays.  A cheap pair of sunglasses may be enticing, but one can actually do more harm than good to your eyes.  The dark shade of sunglasses makes your pupils dilate, and more UV rays can get into your eyes if the lenses do not filter them out.

There are many health benefits to wearing sunglasses.  For those who wear prescription glasses, it is a good idea to also have a pair of prescription sunglasses that can be used when spending time in direct sunlight. Monroe Optical, Inc. is a local eyeglass shop that offers prescription sunglasses.