PROTECT YOUR PEEPERS!
Story by Judy Goppert
“I wear my sunglasses at night,” and “Cheap sunglasses” are two songs you can hum as we enjoy these sunny… lazy crazy hazy days of summer. Whether you’re after unique statement sunglasses like Gucci, Prada, Ray-Ban or Oakley, or trendy retro designs, there’s a frame for every face. Think of them as sunscreen for your eyes.
Sunglasses may just be the most important accessory you can own. Not only because they shield some of our most valuable assets from harsh UV rays, but also because they complete almost every outfit. Think what Audrey Hepburn, Holly Golightly, would have looked like in Breakfast at Tiffany’s without those pretty face jewelry sunglasses?
As a blonde, blue-eyed gal, I have always worn sunglasses. As a lifeguard I learned that their protection was essential. The Vision Council Foundation came up with National Sunglasses Day on June 27, 2013. They realized that UV radiation can have damaging, long- and short-term impacts on vision. They invite you to celebrate your shades and help educate your friends and family on their value, and how everyone can stay protected while having fun in the sun.
Too much of a good thing can cause problems, and overexposure to that glorious sunlight can have harmful effects on your skin, eyes and immune system. Fortunately, skin cancer can be prevented by applying sunscreen to exposed parts of your body, and sunglasses should be worn year-round to ensure protection.
Doses of sun exposure are good for us, and a certain amount is beneficial to overall health, particularly for vitamin D. Just 20 minutes a day spent outdoors helps reduce stress, and those sunglasses with 100 percent UVA/UVB protection help make sure we safely achieve the physical and mental health benefits you get from it.
The right protective eyewear can enhance performance in sports and activities by optimizing vision clarity, depth perception and contrast sensitivity.
A quick fact list: The sun emits three kinds of UV radiation, including UVA, UVB and UVC. UVC is absorbed by the earth’s atmosphere, while the other two can burn the skin and eyes, and cause damage.
Make sure your kids wear that sunscreen and eye protection too, as they spend a lot more time outside in the warmer weather on the playground, participating in sports, and swimming. And if you have light-colored eyes, definitely protect yourself. You can tell if your sunglasses block UVA and UVB light by checking the stickers, or label on the lenses.
Those lenses over your eyes can actually help prevent serious eye conditions, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. Ultraviolet light can pass through the lens of the eye to the cornea and cause cataracts! So, besides being fashion statements, they are really daily health necessities. That area around and on your eyelids has some of the body’s most delicate skin. Bright sunlight and its reflective rays can not only damage the skin, but the cornea, lens, and other parts of the eye.
Even after just one day spent outdoors without UV-protective eyewear, you might experience red, swollen eyes, blurred vision, and sensitivity to light. Ever walked indoors after being in the bright sun skiing, running, or swimming, and it takes a minute for our eyes to adjust? Case in point.
Some good things to remember are that polarized sunglasses do reduce glare, which is great for boating, fishing, or anything near water. Anti-reflective coating can reduce glare and can help you see more clearly. You can get anti-glare coating and polarized lenses in regular glasses, as well as sunglasses. On the flip side, mirrored sunglasses don’t protect, they are just for fashion.
Transition glasses are another option, as they look like regular lenses when you are inside and get darker when you go outside. The thing to keep in mind is that UV rays are what sets them off, so if you are in your car where the windshield has a UV blocker, the glasses won’t change color.
Two options to protect your eyes and see clearly are to wear contact lenses under plain sunglasses or put a prescription into your sunglasses. Magnetic clip-on sunglasses also work great! Just make sure they are UV protective. Check with your eye doctor.
Celebrate this day in your own way. Pick a day and go to your favorite store, try on several pairs and have fun with it. Leave a different pair in your car, your beach bag, your purse, and golf bag. Have your kids join in the selection, and place theirs in their backpack, bedroom, and bathroom. This way nobody gets tired of wearing them and you can match them to swimsuits, sundresses and boat or wave runner color.
Take selfies and show everyone how smart you are protecting your eyes, while looking FABULOUS!
