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Are your sunglasses safe?
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Sunglasses, they're cute, but are they helping?
Sunglasses are worn for many reasons. Corey Hart used to strut his sunglasses at night and looked pretty hot, but is that the purpose for your sunglasses? Or are you wearing your sunglasses for the right reasons? It's especially important in the harsh New Mexico sun to protect your eyes (and eyelids) as best possible.
Many people mistake the average pair of sunglasses as safe and helpful, but the truth is, sunglasses must meet quite a few criteria and standards in order to maintain proper eye health. Not protecting your eyes correctly can lead to permanent eye damage and even cataracts. There are even reports out saying one should start outfitting their children in proper sunglasses as early as 9 months old to not only raise them in the habit of donning the dark glasses, but also to prevent early cataracts.
The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has developed quite the standard in determining effectiveness in sunglasses. Look for sunglasses that block at least 95 percent UVA rays and 99 percent UVB rays. Sunglasses that meet these standards should have documentation with them declaring their UV (Ultra-violet) protection. Sunglasses that aren't labeled for UV protection should be skipped, and some may even amplify the intensity of the sun.
More points to keep in mind:
- Though dark, some may be simply for cosmetic purposes. Again, if they're not labeled with their UV protection, it's best to skip them.
- Although you are having your prescription glasses polarized (tinted), they may not always offer UV protection. Ask your glasses retailer for details before spending the money to have your lenses polarized. Some may require an addition UV protective coating to ensure proper UV protection.
- While the UV protection of blue-blocking (yellow-colored) lenses is sufficient and meets said standards of being safe, they may make it hard to distinguish proper coloring. This may be especially important while driving and properly seeing streetlights.
- Mirror-coated lenses block a lot of glare and reflect a lot of light away from your eyes, but aren't necessarily good at blocking out harmful rays.
- Transitions® lenses can be purchased from your prescription eye doctor and retailer and offer 100 percent protection for harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sometimes a little more expensive, but worth the eye health.
To understand more about sunglasses and proper Ultra-violet protection, please visit the following resources:
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