Overexposure to the sun can wreak havoc on your eyes. Sun damage can cause serious conditions, and has been implicated in the development of cataracts and possibly more. While not every situation or person needs sunglasses, there are many situations where the use of sunglasses will increase comfort and may also provide eye health benefits. There is strong evidence that chronic exposure to the components of sunlight can accelerate the aging of ocular tissues. Protect the eye so that light cannot enter the eye due to side reflections. Here's a five-point checklist to help you choose the best sun protection for your eyes during summer and all year round:
• Check the UV protection level. Protection from UV and sunglasses is desirable all year round and should also be used during the day, even through cloud cover and fog. Your sunglasses should offer more than 95 percent UV protection.
• Check the tint of the lens. Most people think that dark sunglasses offer better protection from the sun, but that is not true. The tint of the lens should block 80 percent of the transmitted light, but no more than 90 percent to 92 percent of the light; neutral grey, amber, brown or green are good colors to choose from.
• Make sure they block all light. Choose sunglasses that completely cover the eyes and/or wear a hat with a 7.5 cm brim that can block the sunlight from above.
• Wear glasses over your contact lenses. People who wear contact lenses that provide UV protection should still wear sunglasses. Sunglasses are helpful in preventing the drying effect that most contact lens wearers get, which is caused by warm winds.
• Buy sunglasses for your children. For the best protection, consider buying UV-protected sunglasses for your children, and remember that very small babies' eyes should always be protected from direct sun exposure.
