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Back when I lived in Connecticut, sunglasses were my main symbol of summer. All years, I'd wait for the sun to get strong enough, and then I'd slip them on, and saunter out, safe in the knowledge that the winter chill could harm me no more.
Flash forward to three years ago, when I moved to South Beach. I'd arrived in December, and, while sunglasses were useful all the time, it was no big deal if I left them behind. The months slipped from March to April to May, and one day, I sauntered out, sans shade -- and quickly hurried back in. The sun had grown so intense, it felt like my eyes were burning, and then stinging and tearing. That's when I learned that, in my new home, sun protection is no joke.
After all, over the years, we've learned to protect our skin from the sun's ultraviolet rays. Well, it's the same thing when it comes to our eyes. When it comes to eyes, ultraviolet radiation is linked to the early development of cataracts, skin cancer of the eyelids, and macular degeneration, the biggest cause of age-related blindness.
Here are some tips to make sure your eyes get the best protection:
- Price is no guarantee of quality. You can get good sunglasses for $20, or bad sunglasses for twenty times that amount. Stick to brand names, and read labels.
- Choose your sunglasses according to their use. Polarized lenses are great for cutting out glare, and can really help you see under the water, for fishing, for instance. Mirrored sunglasses minimize glare, and may feel cooler.
- Color is generally a matter of preference, not an indication of protection. Treated clear lens can protect against 100% UV, and untreated dark glasses may offer no protection at all. You need to check the label.
- As with other forms of sun protection -- like skin protection -- sunglasses do you no good unless you use them.
- Before purchasing, test sunglasses for comfort in both sunlight and shade.
For more tips, click here.
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