Protect Your Eyes from Dangerous UV Light and Look Amazing!
Sunglasses are an awesome way to accessorize any outfit! Yet their benefits go way beyond adding trendy style to your look. You’re probably familiar with the dangers that ultraviolet sun rays pose to your skin. However, the potential hazards of UV radiation on your eyes are just as much of a problem.
Exposure to UV light is associated with both short and long term risks to your eye health. In the short term, ultraviolet rays can cause photokeratitis, which is a painful burn on your outer eyes (just like you get a sunburn on your skin). Over the long term, UV rays can injure your inner eye tissues and increase your chances of developing cataracts and macular degeneration. Overexposure to UV light is also associated with eye and eyelid cancers, as well as various types of ocular growths.
Fortunately, a quality pair of designer sunglasses from our optical collection in St. Louis and St. Charles, MO, can work wonders for keeping your eyes safe from UV light!
Features to Look for When Buying Sunglasses
- Lenses should block 99-100% of UVA and UVB rays, which are the most harmful parts of sunlight
- Sunglasses need to fit well on your face. Frames that wide lenses that fit snugly and line up with your brow offer ultimate protection. A slight curvature to the lens, like wraparound sunglasses, is ideal – as they limit light coming in from the sides. This protects your eyelids and can help prevent wrinkles too!
- Lenses must be free of distortions or imperfections and match each other precisely in color
- For clear vision, gray lenses offer the best color recognition. Don’t be fooled by the tone of your sunglass lenses! The degree of darkness and tint has no connection to their ability to block UV light.
Polarized Lenses Do Not Protect Against UV Light
We offer a range of lens types for sunglasses frames, with various coatings or treatments. Many patients choose polarized lenses to help reduce glare from water, snow or ice. However, it’s critical to know that polarized lenses do not offer protection against UV light! Polarization is a filter that can help sharpen vision, yet to reap the health benefits of sunglasses - you need to add UV protection to the lenses.
Sunglasses Are Essential for Kids Too!
The effects of harmful UV light are cumulative, which means that the risks to your eye health begin to build up from the time you are very young. That’s why kids, who typically spend more time playing outdoors than their parents, need a pair of high quality sunglasses with UV protection. Sadly, surveys administered by the Academy of Ophthalmology claim that only a third of all parents in the US fit their kids with sunglasses! Wearing sunglasses as a child or teen sets the basis for health vision throughout life. To keep your child’s vision safe and lasting, check out the wide array of cool designer sunglasses for kids in our St. Charles and St. Louis optical stores.
More Benefits
Blocking UV radiation is the greatest health gain from wearing sunglasses, yet sunglasses also reduce many other risks. Premium sunglasses can protect your eyes against blinding glare, which can be life-saving when you’re driving or biking. Quality sunglass lenses can also diminish eye fatigue, eyestrain and headaches, as they limit the amount of light that enters your eyes – with no need for you to walk around squinting when it’s bright outside.
We look forward to helping you choose the perfect sunglasses from our designer collection in St. Louis and St. Charles, MO, to complement your image and boost your eye health!
Saturday - by appointment only!