At Doctor &
Associates and Eyewear at Willows in Fairfield County, Connecticut we like to remind patients that finding
the best
sunglasses often requires
that you to keep in mind that there is more to UV eye protection than just
making a fashion statement. Sunglasses are an
important form of protection for your eyes against the damaging rays of the
sun. It's important for you to know what types of light you need to protect
your eyes from and what types of light are not necessarily harmful.
Here
are some tips for picking the right pair of nonprescription
sunglasses.
- Choose Sunglasses that Block 99% of Ultraviolet (UV) Rays. This is the most important feature of your sunglasses, and you should always choose sunglasses that provide this protection. Long-term exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation in sunlight is linked to eye disease, including cataracts. Some manufacturers' labels say UV absorption up to 400nm. This is the same thing as 100 percent UV absorption. Some glasses make additional claims for blocking infrared rays, but research has not shown a close connection between infrared rays and eye disease.
- Don't Rely on the Price. Many types of affordable sunglasses offer 99 to 100% UV protection, so you don't necessarily need to spend a lot of money on a pair of sunglasses.
- Do Rely on the Quality. In addition to UV protection, you also want to check the optical quality of the lenses. You can easily test the quality of sunglasses by looking at something with a rectangular pattern, such as a floor tile. Hold the glasses at a comfortable distance and cover one eye. Move the glasses slowly from side to side, then up and down. If the lines stay straight, the lenses are fine. If the lines wiggle, especially in the center of the lens, try another pair.
- Look for Impact-Resistant Lenses. All sunglasses must meet impact standards set by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for safety. No lens is truly unbreakable, but plastic lenses are less likely to shatter when hit by a ball or stone. Polycarbonate plastics, used in many sports sunglasses, are especially strong, but scratch easily. If you buy polycarbonate lenses, choose ones with a scratch-resistant coating.
- Use Protective Eyewear NOT Sunglasses for Hazardous Activities. If you are going to be engaged in outdoor activities like water or snow skiing that put your eye at risk for injury, don't count on your eyeglasses for protection. Protective eyewear is available with UV protection to shield your eyes from sunburn and glare.
- Lens Color Tinting & Polarization are Personal Preferences. There's no medical reason to recommend one tint of lens over another. Likewise, while polarized lenses work better at deflecting glare, they're not blocking any more harmful UV light than non-polarized lenses.
- Once you have the right sunglasses, make sure you wear them, especially in the summer when UV levels are at least three times higher than in the winter. Also be sure to wear them when participating in winter sports, particularly at high elevations.
If you or someone you know has a
question or would like to learn more about choosing the right sunglasses please
feel free to call Eyewear at Willows at Doctor
& Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor &
Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to
schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a
leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice providing eye
examinations for adults and children, cataract surgery and intraocular lens
implants (IOL), laser vision correction such as LASIK, diagnosis and treatment
of cornea disease including cornea transplants, diagnosis and management of
diseases of the retina including diabetes and age related macular degeneration
and diagnosis and treatment of glaucoma as well as contact lenses, eyeglasses
and optical services. For those patients in need of eye surgery, as a founding
member of the Wilton Surgery Center, Doctor & Associates eye surgeons are
able to provide eye surgery in a convenient, close to home and cost effective
ambulatory surgery center.
Whatever your eye care, eye
health or vision correction needs might be-Doctor & Associates can serve as
a Connecticut ophthalmic consultant and will be conveniently located for
patients from Fairfield County and southern Connecticut including Danbury,
Stamford, Greenwich, Westport, Weston, Wilton, New Canaan, Norwalk, Fairfield,
Bridgeport, Cannondale, Aspetuck, Redding, Trumbull, Shelton, Monroe, Darien,
Glenbrook and Ridgefield Connecticut.
