Sunglasses can be a great fashion accessory, but their main purpose should always be protecting your eyes and vision. Part of a healthy eye care regime is wearing sunglasses outside and ensuring that you choose a pair that will provide protection—in addition to looking good!
Wearing sunglasses can protect your eyes and vision from a number of potential hazards:
UV (Ultraviolet) Light
UV light is a form of electromagnetic radiation most commonly associated with the sun’s rays—but can also result from electric arcs, tanning lamps and black lights. UV light can damage eyes and vision by contributing to cataracts and damaging the cornea, lens and retina. Thankfully most of the UV from the sun is filtered out by the Earth’s atmosphere and the 10% that reaches the Earth can be filtered out by wearing sunglasses.
Protection from the Elements
Most people associate sunglasses with summer, but it’s important to protect your eyes all year. Snow can reflect up to 80% of the sun’s UV rays, causing snow blindness—where the glare from the sun can actually burn the cornea. Wearing sunglasses can help prevent painful snow blinding as well as protecting your eyes from dust, debris or sand that could cause permanent eye damage.
Reduce the Sun’s Brightness
Most of the time we welcome the sun shining brightly—except when we’re involved in an activity like driving. The glaring bright sun can actually become a safety hazard, and wearing sunglasses can allow you to drive safely and confidently.
Not all Sunglasses are Made Equal
It’s important to choose the right pair of sunglasses—simply having dark coloured lenses is not enough to protect your eyes and vision.
- Look for sunglasses that block 99% -100% of both UVA (long waves) and UVB (short waves) light.
- Labels with “UV 400” block all light rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometers and includes all UVA and UVB rays.
- Polarized lenses and anti-reflective coating can reduce the amount of the sun’s glare that reaches your eyes, increasing your safety and comfort.
Hakim Optical has a wide selection of prescription and non-prescription sunglasses. Stop by your nearest location and let one of our licensed optometrists help you select the perfect pair for your needs.
Hakim Optical keeps our customers stylish. We offer all of the latest eyewear trends in a selection of designer brands and our Hakim brand frames.