Sunglasses are fashionable, but they are also quite helpful for keeping your eyes safe from the sun. Before you buy a new pair, consider what makes sunglasses worth your hard-earned money. There are a lot of factors to consider such as:
UV Protection
We all know about wearing sunglasses to keep us more comfortable when the sun is glaring down, but long term exposure to UV (ultraviolet) rays can cause damage in your eyes, too. This is why it’s so important to wear good quality sunglasses.
When looking at a new pair of sunglasses, or evaluating current pairs you own, look for 100% UV protection. Your sunglasses should protect you from both UVA and UVB rays. If you’re not sure your older pairs offer that protection, consider replacing them, and only buy new sunglasses with full spectrum coverage.
Lens Color
Did you know that the color of your lenses doesn’t add to UV protection? In fact, dark lenses could actually lead to more UV exposure with glasses that don’t offer UV deflection. Essentially, our eyes can’t tell the difference between a dark room and the darkness that comes with dark lenses. Our pupils open up wider, letting more light in and letting us see better. If your sunglasses allow UV rays in, those rays can impact your eyes more, as more will be let into your eyes. Ultimately, find a pair of sunglasses that offer UV protection to keep you safe.
Family
If you’re planning a day trip or a long vacation, remember to pack your sunglasses. And, while you’re at it, why leave anyone out? If you’re packing sunglasses, everyone in your family should have a pair, as well. By teaching kids to wear sunglasses now, you can help them have better eye health as they get older. One good trick to remember sunglasses is tying them mentally to sunscreen. When you think you need to bring sunscreen along, you probably should bring sunglasses, too.
If you’re not sure about your options, get in touch with us to learn more. Call us at (435) 986-2020 for our 200 North location in St. George, (435) 628-1112 for our location on Sunset Blvd in St. George, or (702) 346-2950 for our Mesquite, Nevada location.