Dig out those Ray-Bans people because summer is on its way! And when summer comes around sometimes the last thing on people’s minds is appropriate eyewear. However before you think this is all about appearances (and wanting to look more like a famous movie star) there is a lot to consider about the main reason sunglasses were invented in the first place – to protect our eyesight and shield our eyes from those harmful sunshine rays.
Not to try and bore you with the science aspect of it so I’ll keep this part brief. The suns rays can be split into several groups, the one to focus on avoiding in this case are the well known ultraviolet rays (or UV rays). These are the invisible rays of light that are taken in by our body to assist in the production of vitamin D, as this vitamin is produced in response to exposure to UV rays. These are also the rays that cause tanning when the skin is exposed to the sun, which is the bodies natural defense against ultraviolet rays. Excessive exposure to UV rays without proper eye protection can lead to many problems that people often never relate to sunlight, such as damage to the cornea or premature cataracts.
Reflection from other surfaces can also contribute to the amount of UV rays that reach your eyes. If you are surrounded by a highly reflective surface (like snow or water), rays can be reflected from the ground and sneak up on you from below.
For these reasons it is especially important to wear sunglasses in sunny weather. If you are looking to buy a new pair, make sure that it is one that offers 100% UV Protection and wraps around enough to block out the suns rays.
What if you are short sighted (myopic) and need a prescription for glasses? Are you supposed to swap for the darker shades and hope you don’t bump into everything or miss an important sign, or squint in a supermarket to read the ingredients on the… oops its upside down! Of course not – most companies that make frames for glasses also produce a selection of sunglasses that are suitable for the incorporation of your spectacle prescription too. If you’re lucky and pick the right time you might even get a deal supplying a free pair (or a bargain pair) of prescription sunglasses with your regular glasses, so keep an eye out for a good optician.