Sunglasses are increasingly becoming an accessory that goes far beyond fashion. In terms of eye health, their protective function begins with reducing the amount of light entering the eyes and preventing the visual discomfort caused by glare, which can lead to photophobia. UV (ultraviolet) radiation, mainly from the sun, is present throughout the day. Even on cloudy, rainy or snowy days, UV rays can be intense and harmful to eye health. When there is a high concentration of these rays in the atmosphere, as there is in summer, they can cause damage to the eye structures, sometimes irreversible. Exposure of the eye to UV radiation can cause problems such as photokeratitis, pterygium and even cataracts. While there is currently a wide variety of sunglasses on the market, they do not always provide adequate UV protection.
It is essential to wear sunglasses with UV protection to prevent these problems and to eliminate the incidence of this radiation in the deeper layers of the eyeball, such as the retina, where it is harmful. In cases where sunglasses do not have this protection, they are even more harmful than not wearing anything at all, as reducing the amount of visible light entering the eye causes the pupil to dilate, allowing more ultraviolet radiation to enter the eye.
You can also combine UV protection with light polarisation in sunglasses . This feature or treatment applied to the lenses eliminates light that is uncomfortable for the eyes. This treatment eliminates all light reflections caused by reflective surfaces such as water or snow, without any loss of visual information, greatly improving visual comfort in these situations.
image credits: Zeiss
When buying sunglasses, you should take all of the above into account and seek expert advice, as protecting your eyes should be your primary consideration, followed by aesthetics.
