One of the best ways to safeguard your eyesight is to don sunglasses outdoors. The sun’s rays comprise a wide spectrum of light, including ultraviolet (UV) radiation and blue light. Both can be harmful to your eyes.
UVA and UVB radiation cause sunburn, and they may also contribute to cataracts. This type of radiation can damage proteins in your eye lenses, which then cloud over.
“Blue light … penetrates the eye more than other colors due to its higher energy and shorter wavelength and minimal absorption by the cornea and lens,” explains integrative optometrist Neda Gioia, OD, CNS, IFMCP. “[This results] in deeper penetration into the retina compared to the rest of the visible light spectrum.” Blue light also generates more free radicals, which can harm the cells in your eyes.
A lifetime of sun in your eyes can contribute to the onset of macular degeneration, eye or eyelid cancer, or even painful growths on the eye itself — including pterygium, also known as surfer’s eye.
Given that too much sunlight is hazardous for vision, many sunglasses are regulated as medical devices by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health.
With the right UV protection, drugstore sunglasses can be just as protective as designer brands. Choose a pair with lenses that filter both UVA and UVB radiation (marked as 100 percent UV or UV 400 protection) and opt for ones that are amber tinted, which filter blue light.
And don’t hesitate to go big. The larger the lenses, the fewer rays that can sneak in around the sides. Add a wide-brimmed hat, and your eyes will thank you.
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