Sunglasses have been considered a fashion statement for decades, worn by celebrities and other famous people in a desperate attempt to hide their identity or play the part of a movie star, all while looking fabulous. Although this use still exists, more and more average people are realizing the importance of using them to protect their priceless eyesight.
Although the sun is more than 93 million miles away, its harmful rays may be the sole cause of a variety of health problems. Ultraviolet radiation (also known as ultraviolet radiation or UV rays) is probably the largest solar-based contributor to such health problems. UV-A, UV-B and UV-C are the categories of UV radiation that we know of at the moment. With the exception of UV-C rays (which are believed to be absorbed by the ozone layer around the earth), these rays can have both short- and long-term effects on your eyes and vision.
Now that you’re a little more aware of why, you need to know more about when. For example, UV rays reflect off snow, sand, pavement, and water, causing a higher risk of damage than in a “greener” environment, such as a park or field. Lightning in a reflective situation will come at you from two angles instead of one in a greener environment, as the rays will bounce off the reflective surface as well as strike directly at you. Wearing sunglasses that offer UV protection will help protect your eyes when you are in these types of circumstances.
High altitude is another situation where sunglasses should be worn. Ultraviolet rays filter through the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in fewer harmful rays converging with the Earth’s surface. Simply put, high altitudes produce a greater amount of lightning because it hasn’t had a chance to filter through yet.
Between 10am and 4pm is the time of day when UV rays are most powerful, so protective eyewear is crucial during this time period, whether or not the sun is shining brightly in the sky or hidden behind copious amounts of clouds (both white and fluffy and dark and gloomy). UV rays can easily filter through cloud cover and rain to cause irreversible eye damage.
Since you now know the situations that require proper eye protection, you need a short list of what to look for when shopping for your ideal pair of sunglasses. Green, brown or gray lenses generally work best, combined with a feature that filters out at least 99% of UV-A and UV-B radiation and 75-90% of visible light. Taking care of your blue, brown and green babies now will ensure you have a lifetime of beautiful visions.
