There are many reasons to protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) light. Medical conditions such as cataracts, age related macular degeneration (AMD) and pterygiums (growth on eye) all can be accelerated by exposure to UV light.
There is also the comfort factor of not squinting into bright lights and ease of vision when your eyes are protected and shaded are a few. Be sure to select sunglasses that have 100% UVA & UVB protection. In the optical field there are many options that can be purchased to provide protection from UV light. These options include;
• Frames with Clip-on sunglasses as a set are an economic way to have one frame with prescription glasses and polarized sunglasses. You can also order a custom clip on that is made specifically for your frame and have the same benefit. The downside of choosing a clip-on is that the clips can be misplaced or lost, lenses can get scratched if the clip-on is applied incorrectly and the time to apply and remove the clip on when going indoors and outside. Also, a consideration for a custom clip-on you also must send your frame away for 7-10 days and therefore you will need a back up pair of glasses in the interim. That said to have a back-up pair of glasses is always recommended if you cannot live your life without your glasses.
• Photochromatic lenses in your everyday glasses which tint dark when exposed to UV light. This technology has built in UV filters to protect your eyes. For some people they do not like the esthetics of the tint as they may not change fully dark with low UV exposure and only partially change when you are behind glass such as behind a windshield as the glass filters the UV light.
• Mid to High Index lens materials have built in UV protection. Many companies sell low index (1.5) lenses as a price conscious lens material however it is important to be aware that this index does not provide 100% UV protection.
• Having a separate pair of prescription or non-prescription sunglasses. Prescription sunglass lenses are available with and without antireflection coatings, polarized or non-polarized and numerous color choices.
• Tinting lenses for dark tints up to 85% is also a good option for those who use technology and electronic controls such as pilots. When you are tinting a lens, it is always best to use a lens material that has built in UV protection within the lens such as mid or high index lens. If you chose a low index lens, then UV protection must be added to the lens coating to ensure your are truly protecting your eyes from UV light.
Educate yourself and make a choice on what works best for your lifestyle. Choosing to protect your eyes from UV is always a good investment for your eye health!
Any content, resident submissions, guest columns, advertisements, and advertorials are not necessarily endorsed by or represent the views of Best Version Media LLC (BVM) or any municipality, homeowners associations, businesses, or organizations that this publication serves. BVM is not responsible for the reliability, suitability, or timeliness of any content submitted, inclusive of materials generated or composed through artificial intelligence (AI). All content submitted is done so at the sole discretion of the submitting party.
