No, Not All Sunglasses Are Created Equal. Here's What to Look For

If you’re looking for some new sunglasses, you’re not alone. Even during the winter months, many people still shop for sunglasses. Here in the Chicago area, the sun can seem extremely bright on certain snowy days. You may get glare off of all the snow in the environment.

When it comes to choosing sunglasses, you need to consider more than just fashion. Selecting the right sunglasses can protect your eyes against the harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun.  The providers at Eye Q Optique explain more about how to protect your eyes and the potential damages you want to avoid.

Why vision protection is important

Sunglasses aren’t just a way to make yourself look cool — they’re also an essential accessory that can protect your vision.

The sun’s rays beam UV radiation directly at you, which can potentially cause health issues, such as cataracts, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration. 

The sun produces three types of ultraviolet rays: 

UVA

These have the longest UV wavelengths, reaching from 315-400 nanometers.  These rays can penetrate the ozone layer and are very powerful.

UVB

Thes rays have the second-longest wavelength form of UV rays, reaching from 280-315 nm. Most of these rays are absorbed by the ozone layer, but some still get through.

UVC 

These rays have wavelengths of 100-280 nm. They get completely absorbed by the ozone layer and don’t reach your body at all.

Good-quality sunglasses should block the UVA and UVB rays as much as possible. Some sunglasses are only for fashion and don’t offer much protection against UV rays, so you should avoid these.

If you need glasses, you may also want to get prescription sunglasses. You’ll probably wonder how you lived without them for so long once you get them. 

Are darker sunglass lenses always better?

No, UV protection has little to do with how dark the lenses are. Sometimes, even lighter lenses can still offer good UV protection.

In fact, darker lenses can actually cause damage to your eyes if they don’t block UV rays at all. These lenses cause your pupils to widen, which allows more of the UV rays to reach your eyes. This can potentially cause greater damage to your eyes than not wearing sunglasses at all.

The best sunglasses

The best type of sunglasses you can choose is called UV400. These lenses block out UV rays up to 400 nm in wavelength. Even clear lenses can have UV400 protection, so it doesn’t matter how dark the lenses are.

An additional option is to select polarized lenses. While these don’t offer specific protection against UV rays, they can help filter out the glare you may get from the sun reflecting off of snow or in other weather conditions.

If you’re choosing a new pair of sunglasses, you want to select a pair that’s flattering on your face. However, you should also keep in mind the issue of UV protection. 

The sun’s rays can cause real damage to your eyes, so you want to protect your eyesight as much as possible. Contact the providers at Eye Q Optique at a location near you or request an appointment online today.