The importance of wearing sunglasses to block UV light should not be underestimated. Even though there has been no concrete evidence presented that wearing sunglasses without proper UV protection can cause damage to your vision, it does make sense.
High quality lenses are designed with 100 percent UV protection and generally provide a greater degree of comfort.
The website “AccuWeather” is updated twice a day and is the best source of information to determine how high the UV light levels are in your area. Quite a few of the cheaper sunglasses options are stamped made in China offering 100 percent protection from UV rays.
Most inexpensive sunglasses will absorb UR rays to a certain degree. Plastic lenses marked CR-39R will typically absorb 88 percent.
Polycarbonate lenses will absorb 100 percent. Purchasing your non-prescription glasses at optical shops will insure your eye ware is guaranteed to absorb 100 percent UV rays. Inexpensive polarized sun glasses are designed to cut some of the glare of UV rays and they offer UV absorption. The cheaper sun glasses are made from triacetate which only absorb 40 percent.
Glasses made with acrylic materials only offer partial to full absorbance of UV rays. Choosing a color of your sun glass lenses is a matter of personal preference. Most importantly make sure your glass provide 100 percent protection of your vision.
You’ll want to invest in a pair of glasses that have been round instead of punched which minimize any visual distortion. A very popular tint in sunglasses is the one originally developed by the company “Bausch & Lomb” for pilots called Ray-Bans. The lens tint is G-15 a combination of green and gray. Brown polarized lenses are another great choice. They cut down the glare even on hazy days and everything is seen in sharp detail.
For those that spend a lot of time doing outdoor activities, polarized lenses are a great choice. These lenses cut out light that comes from horizontal meridians and allows light to filter in from vertical meridians. This type of design blocks light from reflective surfaces such as water or highway glare. If you experience any type impaired vision as a result of spending extended periods of time outdoors, you really want to be sure you are wearing a quality pair of glass.
You may be under the impression that because the extent of your outdoor activities is to tend to your garden and that wearing a large sunhat is protection enough but it is not enough to protect you from harmful UV rays.
If you don’t want to invest in a pair of sunglasses just for that use there are now on the market sunglass clips that fit the frame of your regular glasses. A great pair of quality clip on lenses is a great investment. The information in this article is provided as general information and serves as a guideline in your search for eye wear. For any specific concerns we highly recommend you make an appointment with your eye care provider.