Love Your Eyes – Wear Sunglasses Year Round

Love is in the air. It’s time to send your V-cards and wishes to those loved and adored.  We encourage our patients to give a valentine to their eyes this February -a pair of sunglasses. The sun’s damaging effects are a concern year round regardless of the outside temperature.

In addition to visible light, the sun also gives off ultraviolet radiation: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. The earth’s ozone layer naturally absorbs UV-C radiation, leaving our sunglasses to protect us from UV-A and UV-B rays. Studies indicate that long-term exposure to ultraviolet radiation can contribute to the development of cataracts and macular degeneration.

Children are particularly susceptible to the sun’s damaging rays because they typically spend more time outdoors without sunglasses.  The effects of UV radiation are cumulative, so it’s important to develop good protection habits early in life.

The sun’s brightness can create a disabling glare that interferes with comfortable driving vision. This glare occurs on both cloudy and sunny days. Especially on snowy days, sunglasses can reduce the reflected glare.  The best protection against the sun’s damaging UV rays and blocking glare is consistent use of sunglasses.

Give your family the gift of lifelong healthy vision with a great pair of sunglasses-your eyes will love you for it.