While the eyes are amazingly resilient and complex, there is only so much abuse they can take. Over the course of some years, simple daily actions and negligence of some precautionary measures can damage the eyes. The following are some dangers to avoid:
Ultraviolet exposure
Sunglasses are much more than cool shades. They are protective barriers that reduce exposure to ultraviolet light, a portion of the sun’s rays that can cause eye diseases such as macular degeneration and cataracts.
Ophthalmologists recommend that you protect your eyes whenever you are in the sun long enough to get a sunburn. Wearing a brimmed hat cuts sunlight exposure to your eyes by about half. Sunglasses will further increase your protection. The sun’s rays can also give off reflection from water, sand and snow, so it is advisable to wear sunglasses in addition to a wide brimmed hat.
You can get good ultraviolet blocking even with cheap sunglasses. It is recommended that no more than 30% of sunlight should reach your eyes. In bright places like the beach, it may be better to put on sunglasses with a transmission factor of only 10%. Remember that overly dark glasses with no ultraviolet blocking give you no protection whatsoever. In fact, they increase your likelihood of eye damage since they dilate the pupils. That allows more light in without blocking the harmful ultraviolet rays.
The following are a few points to remember when you are buying sunglasses:
1. Lens colour has no bearing on level of ultraviolet protection
2. Sunglasses which are darker on top and gradually clearing toward the bottom don’t shield your eyes well enough when you are out in the open sunlight such as at the beach.
3. Polarized lenses are not necessary for ultraviolet protection but they do cut glare from reflective surfaces.
4. Be sure the sunglasses feel pleasant; otherwise, you won’t want to put them on for long periods of time.
5. Test non-prescription sunglasses for deformity by holding them a few inches in front of your eyes. Look via the glasses to focus on some rectangular shape like a window framework. Move the glasses gradually from side to side, then up and down. If straight lines look like short lines that curl and loop irregularly, the lenses are of poor quality.
6. Be sure that the sunglasses are labeled as providing protection from ultraviolet A and B radiation.
7. Price is not a good indicator of sunglasses protective quality. Some very expensive designer sunglasses do not provide very good protection against the sun. Protect your eyes in any extreme weather condition you find yourself.