By Dr. Gary Goberville
Wearing sunglasses is cool and very fashionable but most of all, very healthy for you. Sunglasses are essential to protect you from the suns harmful uv rays and also help prevent premature wrinkles, Macular changes and Cataracts.
Not all sunglasses are created equal… polarized and blue blocking tints are best. Lens quality is the most important aspect. Inexpensive sunglasses can blur vision and, in some instances, make your vision worse. It is recommended to purchase them from a Doctor’s office to ensure you get lenses that help and not harm you. Here are 5 reasons to wear good sunglasses.
Reasons to Wear Sunglasses
1.) UV Protection.The sun’s UV radiation can cause cataracts; benign growths on the eye’s surface; and photokeratitis, sometimes called snow blindness, which is a temporary but painful sunburn of the eye’s surface. Wide-brimmed hats and caps can block about 50 percent of UV radiation from the eyes, but optometrists say that is not enough protection.
2.) Blue-Light Protection. Long-term exposure to the blue and violet portion of the solar spectrum has been implicated as a risk factor for macular degeneration, especially for individuals that are “sun sensitive.”
3.) Comfortable vision. The sun’s brightness and glare interferes with comfortable vision and the ability to see clearly by causing people to squint and their eyes to water.
4.) Dark adaptation. Spending just two or three hours in bright sunlight can hamper the eyes’ ability to adapt quickly to nighttime or indoor light levels. This can make driving at night after spending a day in the sun more hazardous.
5.) Skin Cancer. Cancer of the eyelids and skin around the eyes is more common than people think. People should wear sunglasses outdoors whether they are working, driving, participating in sports, taking a walk, running errands or doing anything in the sun.
Dr. Gary Goberville, Optometric Physician
Eye Site Vision Center, 2344 N. University Dr. Coral Springs
954-344-3937 • www.eyesitevision.com