Why Protect Your Eyes?

1. Sunglasses protect your eyes from harmful UV rays
Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight has been associated with the development of cataracts and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Quality sunglasses protect your eyes by blocking 100 percent of the sun's harmful UV rays. UV rays can also cause wrinkles and premature aging in the delicate skin around the eyes.

 

2. Sunglasses reduce glare
All surfaces reflect light. Surfaces like water, snow and automobile windshields can cause extremely bright reflections that are distracting and particularly dangerous when driving, riding a motorcycle, skiing or boating. Sunglasses reduce glare for safer, more comfortable vision. Polarized lenses are particularly effective.

 

3. Sunglasses protect your eyes from wind, dust and debris
Sunglasses are an effective wind barrier. Wearing them reduces the rate of tear evaporation and helps keep your eyes moist and comfortable. They help prevent contact lenses from drying out and windblown particles from causing a corneal abrasion. Close-fitting, "wrap" style sport sunglasses are particularly effective at reducing the potential for dry eyes and eye injuries.

 

4. Sunglasses reduce headaches and eyestrain
The pupil controls how much light reaches the light-sensitive retina in the back of the eye. In dim light, the pupil increases in size (dilates) to allow more light in. In bright light, the pupil constricts to keep too much light from striking the retina. In very bright conditions, the pupil cannot constrict small enough to reduce light to a comfortable level. This causes a person to squint. Muscle fatigue associated with squinting and constant constriction of the pupil can lead to headaches and eyestrain. Sunglasses reduce the amount of light reaching the eyes to a more comfortable level, eliminating the need for squinting and severe pupil constriction. This increases comfort and reduces headaches and eyestrain.

 

5. Sunglasses improve vision
Our eyes require a certain range of ambient light for good vision. Too much light is as bad as too little. Excessive brightness causes glare, light-induced "bleaching" of the retina and squinting, all of which can temporarily reduce visual acuity. On bright sunny days, sunglasses reduce the amount of light that reaches the retina to more optimal levels for clear, comfortable vision. They filter light and protect your eyes from damaging ultra-violet (UV) rays. Mounting evidence shows that exposure to UV rays can damage your eyes; long-term exposure can lead to cataracts, macular degeneration or skin cancer around the eyelids.

 

You should choose sunglasses that:

  • Reduce glare
  • Filter out 99-100% of UV rays
  • Protect your eyes
  • Are comfortable to wear
  • Do not distort colours

 

What Type of Sunglasses Should I Get?
When you buy sunglasses, look for a label that tells you how much UV radiation the lenses reflect. Experts state that sunglasses should block 99-100% of both UV-A and UV-B rays. Wearing a wide-brimmed hat also helps to block sunlight from overhead.

 

Picking the Right Lens
Once we understand how light affects our eyes, we need to determine the colour of the lens that our eyes respond to the best. Darker lenses such as grey and green are very similar. They are good for bright sun because the darkness minimizes squinting while allowing us to see full colour. Rose and amber-coloured lenses reduce blue light and offer great contrast and clarity. They are ideal for outdoor sports and driving.

 

All of the sunglasses available at the Sunglass and Watch Shop offer UVA/UVB protection. Proper protection is important all year round as we are exposed to UVA/UVB light every day. UVB rays can burn the eye's outer tissue when exposed for long periods of time. Properly-fitted sunglasses, with high quality lenses, give your eyes the security they need.