Sunglasses are not only a fashion statement they can help in maintaining good eye health. Sunglasses protect the eyes in two ways, by blocking ultraviolet rays and blocking glare. Most people wear sunglasses in the summer, but even when the sun is not shining you still need sunglasses to block ultraviolet rays and glare, which is why it is important to have a pair handy to wear in the winter too. Designer sunglasses such as Dior, Tom Ford, Michael Kors and the classic Ray-Bans offer UV and glare protection which is just as important in winter as in summer.
Five Reasons to Wear Sunglasses
1. UV Protection. Even on cloudy days or during winter months, UV rays still reach the earth from the sun and your eyes need protection. UV rays can cause cataracts and a condition called photokeratitis also known as snow blindness. Snow blindness results from a temporary but painful sunburn of the eye surface which is why is important to wear sunglasses especially when engaging in winter sports.
2. Blue-Light Protection. A condition called macular degeneration can result from long-term exposure to the blue and violet part of the solar spectrum.
3. Comfort. Brightness and glare from the sun causes people to squint and the eyes to water. Sunglasses also protect from wind, dust and debris.
4. Adapting to darkness. The eyes have limited ability to adapt to nighttime or low indoor light levels after being in bright sunlight. Wearing sunglasses helps the eyes to adapt from sunlight to indoor light.
5. Skin cancer. As with wearing sunscreen, people should wear sunglasses when they are outdoors whether walking, participating in sports, working, driving to prevent cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes.
The Importance of Wearing Sunglasses All Year Long Even in the Winter
Most people associate wearing sunglasses at the beach on a bright summer day. It is the season when people wear sunglasses as a fashion statement and accessorize with designer glasses such as the ever popular Ray Bans, but summer is not the only season when you should be thinking about the health and safety of your eyes.
Just because the sun isn’t shining wearing sunglasses in the winter is important, if not more so because people don’t think about protecting their eyes if the sun is not shining. You actually have twice the UV exposure during the winter as the sun shines at a lower angle on the skin. Snow acts as a mirror reflecting the sun into the eyes which could result in snow blindness. How can you protect your eyes during the winter? The best way is to wear sunglasses, even on cold, gray days. You can look just as fashionable in those Ray Ban Sunglasses in the winter as at the beach in the summer. Nothing looks cooler that protecting your eyes year-round, even in the winter too.
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Choosing the Right Sunglasses
Remember to consider UV and glare protection when shopping for sunglasses. You don’t have to reach for the darkest lens color. Dark lens actually cause the pupils of your eye to dilate letting in UV light. Stick with brown, green, amber or neutral gray colored lenses. Look for polarized lens that can minimize glare, but whatever the lens color or whether or not they are polarized, look for sunglasses block 99-100 percent of UV rays. This is especially important in the winter. Protect your eye health and make a fashion statement year-round wearing your sunglasses.
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Rebecca Rochat has been writing about fashion for 10 years and can always be spotted wearing her sunglasses year-round. She especially likes the classic styling of Ray Bans and what they say about her sense of style.
