One of the best ways that sunglasses can help your eyes is by protecting them from UV rays from the sun. This is a form of radiation that can cause damage to the eyes in several ways. Conditions like macular degeneration and cataracts can be caused and worsened by the eyes being exposed to UV rays. These rays can even cause your eyes to become sunburned. Sunglasses that block UV rays have a filter that keeps this radiation from affecting your eyes.
When you are outdoors, the wind and the debris that it blows up can pose a risk to your eyes. A lot of wind in your eyes can cause dry eye, which is a painful condition that causes the tear film of the eyes to evaporate. Wearing sunglasses can keep the wind from drying out your tear film and prevent you from developing dry eye. It can also block the wind from carrying tiny particles into your eyes. This is a common source of scratches to the cornea.
When you are choosing sunglasses, it is important to pick the right pair. It is often recommended that you get prescription sunglasses if you are an eyeglasses wearer. This allows you to seamlessly switch between them and to be able to wear them as you drive. With so much glare coming from traffic, this is an important way to protect your eyes.
Choosing your sunglasses also has to do with what looks the best on you. When you are shopping for your sunglasses, use some of the same techniques that are used with selecting eyeglasses. Choose a pair that has a frame shape that goes well with the shape of your face. With sunglasses, you also want to choose the color of the lenses. It is usually recommended to choose gray or brown lenses for the best vision, but you can discuss the best color for you with our optometrist.
