Sunglasses + San Diego = A good time
The adventures of a non-glass wearer
By Amy Contizano, ABOC
Living in San Diego, we’re all too familiar with the act of applying
sunscreen as we’re spoiled enough to live minutes away from beaches. So you’re packing up for a day at the beach and
you apply sunscreen and you bring more
sunscreen along to reapply later, but what about sunscreen for your eyes? It’s hard to believe, but many people
overlook sunglasses. “Well, I lose my
sunglasses all the time so I just buy the cheap ones at the drug store” or “I
got these because they were super cute but the tint seems kind of light”. Does any of that sound familiar?
Sunglasses aren’t just a fashion choice but also a way to
provide protection against the dangers of UV radiation. Think about it, you’re out in Pacific Beach
or strolling through our world famous San Diego Zoo and though you’ve applied
sunscreen, you can still feel the warmth of the sun on your skin, prompting you
to reapply sunscreen to protect yourself.
Do you do the same for your eyes?
Ultraviolet radiation, or UVR, cannot be seen with the naked eye and can
cause damage in a number of eye related areas.
In 2013, the Vision Council did a study revealing that 40% of adults
don’t wear sunglasses while outdoors, making them susceptible to major ocular
issues that can easily be avoided with one simple step.
I’m not trying to get all scare tactics on you by any
means. I just think that this is one of
those things that people don’t think about.
I mean, what harm can the sun really do to your eyes? Well, for starters, the skin around the eyes
is quite delicate so not wearing a good pair of sunglasses that are large
enough to cover that area could lead to wrinkles and cancer of the eyelids and
skin around the eyes. UVR can also cause
cataracts which is the clouding of the lens of the eye. Benign growths can form on the eye’s surface
due to excessive exposure to UVR and patients could also develop photokeratitis. This condition is also called snow blindness,
a temporary yet painful sunburn on the surface of the eye. Comfortable vision is compromised without
having sunglasses to block out the glare created by sunlight reflecting off of
various surfaces.
So what exactly do you need to be on the lookout for when
searching for that perfect pair of sunglasses that both protects your eyes and makes you look good? Well, you want to make sure that the lenses
are of ophthalmic quality, but what does that mean exactly? It means the lens is of the same type of
quality that is used for prescription lenses unlike the inexpensive lenses used
in sunglasses that can be found at drug stores or gas stations. Because the lenses are of a higher quality,
they’ll block 99-100% of both UVA and UVB radiation.
Another option available for superior sun protection is to
do polarized lenses, which reduce much more glare than a traditional sunglass
tint would. A good example of this is
that if you were a fisherman and you were standing on the deck of your boat,
wearing a lens with a sunglass tint would make things darker and block out the light,
but you’d see the reflection of the sun bouncing off of the water’s
surface. Now, if you were wearing a
polarized lens, then the glare would be eliminated so dramatically that you’d
be able to see down into the water to see the fish.
At Global Laser Vision, we’re thrilled to provide you with
the cutting edge technology of Maui Jim sunglasses. Their patented polarized lenses give you the
best clarity of vision with crisp lines and colors that pop allowing you to see
clearly and comfortably even on the brightest, sunniest days as well as on
those overcast days when glare is at an all time high. Maui Jim sunglasses are available in
prescription as well and are by far the best lens on the market to protect your
eyes. Here at Global Laser Vision, we
introduce new styles frequently. Stop in
to see us and find out what your sunny life in SD can look like through a great
pair of sunglasses!
San Diego LASIK Center Global Laser Vision
619-243-2444
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