Many people just throw on their sunglasses only on bright, sunny days to see better and reduce the sun’s glare. However, shades are more than just a helpful fashion accessory that help us see more clearly when the sun is obscuring our view. Sunglasses are great for cutting down brightness when the sun is out (that’s why we call them sunglasses, right?), but that’s not all they’re good for. A quality pair of sunglasses are a must for everyone all year round!

Something a lot of people do not realize is that not all sunglasses are created equal. When working with your optician to get your next pair of shades, make sure you get lenses and frames that will properly protect you and your eyes. Lenses should have UVA/UVB protection and an anti-glare coating on the backside of your lenses to shield you from harmful ultraviolet rays from the sun. But don’t worry, you can have your cake and eat it too--you can still find fun, fashionable sunglasses that still offer maximum protection. 

Regular and long term use of sunglasses and UV protective lenses have multiple benefits for not only the health of your eyes. They have multiple health and safety benefits to their wearers! Here are the top reasons you can benefits from wearing sunglasses:

• Helps prevent eye disease:

  • Studies show that long term and excessive exposure to UV rays can contribute to and exacerbate the severity of macular degeneration, glaucoma, cataracts and pterygiums.

  • Macular degeneration happens when part of the retina deteriorates, which leads to central vision impairment and in some cases blindness. Exposure to harmful UV rays can make the progression of macular degeneration worse, causing a speed up the degeneration process. 

  • Cataracts cause blurred, impaired vision when the lens of the eye becomes clouded over time. Cataracts are actually the leading cause of blindness in the world! Pterygium is also a growth on the eye that can make astigmatism worse and create blurry vision. Sunglasses that block harmful sun rays can slow the onset of cataracts and prevent the cataracts from getting worse as well as prevent pterygium.

• Protection from the elements:

  • UV blocking lenses not only protect your eyes from the sun, but are a physical barrier between your eyes and elements such as sand, dust, grass, and wind. Protecting your eyes while mowing the lawn, sitting on the beach, or even walking outside on a windy day could prevent damage caused by wind burn or a foreign object--like sand, dust, or grass scratching or irritating or eye. 

• Anti-Aging:

  • Who doesn’t want to prevent wrinkles and their skin from looking younger? Sunglasses with larger lenses, fuller coverage, and/or a wrapped shape sitting closer to your face protect your eyes, face and skin from sun rays that contribute to sun spots, wrinkles and damaged skin. Also, when it’s sunny outside or even overcast, we tend to squint, which causes wrinkles and crow's feet over time. Even when it is cloudy outside, UV rays can still cause damage to your eyes and skin, contributing to signs of aging. So pop on a pair of shades to protect your eyes and prevent wrinkles even if it’s overcast! 

• Prevents headaches and migraines:

  • Bright light and sun exposure can be major triggers for headaches and  migraines. Getting ahead of your headache symptoms by wearing sunglasses regularly can be a helpful preventative strategy to ward off headaches and migraines before they start and can help reduce their intensity once you’re already experiencing one.

• AND they can help you see better and reduce glare:

  • Polarized lenses reduce glare from the sun, especially when rays bounce off water or something that is wet. Whether you spend a lot of time near a beach or lake, drive a lot in the car, or play outdoor sports, polarized lenses help block the blinding glare of the sun on the ocean, puddles, snow and even wet grass. 

  • Lenses that are just tinted can help cut down on the brightness of the sun, however, polarized lenses drastically reduce the amount of glare you see from the sun as compared to tinted lenses. 

Not only are sunglasses great for the health and protection of your eyes, they can also be a fun accessory! Finding the right pair of sunglasses can really spice up an outfit or give you a totally new look!