Sunglasses make you stylish, but that’s not the main reason to wear them. They are essential to consider when it comes to your eye health.
For years, we’ve promoted the benefits of sunscreen for your skin, regardless of the season. But did you know that your eyes can be damaged and get a sunburn, just like your skin? That’s why it’s crucial to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays.
Overexposure to UV rays throughout a lifetime can lead to severe eye conditions, many of which aren’t treatable.
According to the American Optometric Association, if you are eyes are exposed to excessive amounts of UV radiation, even over a short period, that can be damaging too. “Like a ‘sunburn of the eye,” photokeratitis can be painful, with symptoms including red eyes, a foreign body sensation or gritty feeling in the eyes, extreme sensitivity to light, and excessive tearing. Fortunately, these symptoms are usually temporary and rarely cause permanent damage to the eyes.”
The area around and on your eyelids has some of your body’s most delicate skin. UV light from the sun can damage not only the skin but also the cornea, lens, and other parts of the eye. So, a good pair of sunglasses is much more than a fashion statement. They are an investment in your health said dermatologist Dawn Davis, M.D.
“It’s a very good investment to have big sunglasses around the eyes,” she said. “The bigger, the better, like movie stars wear.”
Bigger doesn’t mean more expensive.
You should choose sunglasses labeled as having broad-spectrum coverage or that block out 100 percent of UVA and UVB rays. Most of the time, the more expensive sunglasses are due to the brand and frame quality; however, inexpensive sunglasses still provide full 100% UV protection. If you wear prescription sunglasses, you should already have 100 percent UV protection.
“Ultraviolet light can pass through the eye to the lens and cause cataracts,” Dr. Davis said. “So if you wear sunglasses, you decrease your risk of cataract formation.”
Four Health Benefits of Wearing Sunglasses:
- Reduce the risk of skin cancer. You don’t hear about it much, but you can get skin cancer on your eyelids and the skin around your eyes. Wearing sunglasses while outdoors can reduce the risk of developing skin cancer on the delicate tissue around your eyes.
- Blue light protection. You’ve heard about the blue light emitted by electronic devices, but you may not know that the sun is the primary source of blue light. Of course, we don’t stare into the sun all day, and we do stare into our devices.
- Safe driving. Wearing sunglasses while driving reduces glare from the sun and improves your vision, allowing you to drive more safely.
- Migraine mitigation. The bright light from the sun can trigger migraines for some folks. Constant squinting causes unnecessary eye strain and fatigue.
Select the same type of sunglasses for your children.”We suggest them to children as early, and as young, as they will wear them,” Dr. Davis said.
Start young and create a lifelong habit of staying stylish and safe in the sun.
