Eye Expert Explains The Top 4 Reasons to Wear Sunglasses
Sunglasses can be an expression of style and an essential accessory to any outfit.
But did you know they do so much more than that?
They protect the eyes from harmful damage from the sun.
But what exactly are we protecting the eyes from?
We chatted with Dr. Tiffany Lundberg, optometrist from Yakima Vision Center to learn more about the importance of wearing sunglasses.
Sun Damage To The Eyes
Dr. Lundberg explained there are four leading causes of sun damage to the eye:
Pterygiums
This is when the white part of your eyeball combined with associated blood vessels grow into the cornea (the clear front part) of the eye. This can cause prescription changes, dry eyes, and cosmetic issues due to constant redness and appearance. Dr. Lundberg explains, “They aren’t fully sure of the mechanism that causes it, but prevalence is higher in areas with a lot of sun exposure. So to prevent pterygiums you need to wear UV glasses.”
2. Cataracts
Our eyes use light to allow us to see. As light enters the eye, the cornea and lens absorb shorter wavelengths of UV (ultraviolet) light and allow the longer wavelengths to reach the retina, allowing us to form images. If the lens absorbs too much UV light it causes changes in the proteins or pigments in the lens. The lens can become denser and cloudier over time, which we call cataracts. This decreases vision and contrast sensitivity. “When we are younger our lens has a lower absorption rate of UV, so contrary to popular thought, it is most important for children to wear sunglasses,” Dr. Lundberg informs.
3. Macular Degeneration
Your retina is made up of 10 layers that are separated into an inner retina and out retina. The more UV damage you have to the retina, the more it breaks down the outer retina. As this layer breaks down it cannot perform the task as efficiently and we start to get buildup of waste material. The more accumulation of this you have, the more vision changes that can occur.
4. Carcinomas
It's well known that sunscreen can help prevent skin cancer, but it’s rarely applied to the eye area. This leaves an increased risk for malignant changes from UV exposure. UV damage can cause skin cancers, including melanoma, to the eyelid and surrounding eye area.
Choosing The Right Sunglasses
For optimal eye health, wearing sunglasses each time you're in the sun is essential. But not all sunglasses are made the same. Dr. Lundberg recommends looking for sunglasses that have a sticker on them stating “UVA/UVB (or Broad Spectrum) Protection.” If they don’t have this, they are just another stylish accessory, yet are not protecting the damaging UV rays.
Polarized Sunglasses
Polarized glasses are popular to reduce glare, but Dr. Lundberg points out that although the reduced glare is a great feature, it does not affect the UV protection. Additionally, the more expensive a pair of sunglasses is does not suggest they have increased UV protection.
According to Dr. Lundberg, the most important thing to remember is to choose sunglasses that have broad spectrum protection and to wear them even when it’s cloudy out. As we know, UV damage can occur on sunny and cloudy days. So dust off those aviators, wayfarers, cat eye and oversized sunglasses.
You’ve got the trendiest accessory out there, and it’s doing double duty protecting your eye health.
-Amanda Lundberg, RN, BSN
