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Sunglasses: Style + protection
When driving the car, taking a walk, working in the garden, sitting by the pool… remember the sunglasses, even on a cloudy day.
Wearing the right pair of sunglasses not only looks good, it can protect your eyes from problems caused by long- and short-term exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays.
- Long-term exposure to bright sunlight can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration, main causes of blindness. Eye growths and some forms of cancer may also result.
- Short-term exposure to UV reflections off sand, snow or pavement can damage the eye's surface. Corneal flash burns are painful, but usually heal quickly.
Buy sunglasses with UV protection.
- Look for a peel-off label that indicates how much protection the lenses offer. The best rating is 100, meaning the lens blocks 100 percent of the sun's rays.
- If there's no UV label, the lenses probably offer no protection from UV rays at all.
- Of the many styles available, the ones that wrap around to the sides of the eyes offer the most protection; they keep UV rays from sneaking in from the side.
Related Links
Going out in the sun? Check the UV index
Source: American Academy of Ophthalmology; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
First published: 06/20/2002
Last updated: 07/03/2006
Reviewed by: Paul Kleeberg, MD, medical director, Allina.com