SUNGLASSES

Are your sunglasses’ lenses tinted brown, yellow, purple or blue? What technology does it use? Is it tinted or reflective? Or does it have photochromic or polarizing qualities in the lenses? Does it filter out harmful OVA and UVB rays?

Do you know how to pick the right pair of sunglasses for your needs from the gazillion pairs you see arrayed inside counters? Although sunglasses are advertised and sold like fashion accessories, they are primarily medical devices. In fact, sunglasses were created to protect your eyes from damage and the deterioration that happens if they are exposed to harmful sun rays and other sources of intense light.

How can you pick a pair of sunglasses to suit your needs? Specifically, here are four ways sunglasses work to protect your eyesight. Keep these in mind when choosing your sunglasses and you’ll have healthy corneas and retinas no matter your age.

There are four ways sunglasses protect your peepers. These are the following:

The right pair of sunglasses will give your corneas protection from the sun’s ultraviolet rays. Scientific research has clearly linked the following diseases such as cataracts, macular degeneration, snow-blindness, pterygium and skin cancer, to the corneas and retinas over exposure to Ultraviolet rays. Hence, when you see stickers on sunglasses that say UV protection, it means your sunglasses filter out UV rays.

An effective pair of sunglasses will protect your retinas from intense light. You see, your irises shut down in self protection when it is hit by intense sources of light. Your eyes will then squint if the light is even more intense. The longer your eyes are exposed to this intense and penetrating light, the harder it is on your retinas, and when the damage is done, it can be permanent.

An effective pair of Polaroid sunglasses provides protection from glare. Many sports enthusiasts especially those who go boating, use Polaroid sunglasses because they know water reflects back a great deal of sun. The glare this generates is dangerous, for this is often uncomfortable as to be distracting. Glare also hides objects that are in your way.

Depending on the specific need you have, your sunglasses will filter out specific frequencies of light. There are frequencies of light so high as to blur your vision and others will enhance the contrast between the lights.

Sunglasses have evolved into becoming fashion statements, but they are first and foremost medical devices for protecing your most precious eyes. So choose wisely. It is advisable to go naked rather than wear a cheap pair of sunglasses at the flea market, which will do more damage.

Tim Gorman is a successful webmaster and publisher of Vision-Doctor.com an online website that offers discounts on contact lenses, eyeglasses, popular sunglasses and free information on LASIK eye surgery procedures that you can view in the privacy of your own home.