Why sunglasses are crucial for everyday eye care

Pretty little girl wearing hat and sunglasses while sitting grass

Being proactive about our eye health is crucial to help us ward off eye diseases and maintain our vision. And one of the best things we can do for our everyday eye care is also one of the simplest.

Wearing quality sunglasses will help protect your eyes now – and in the future. While many of us slip on a pair to avoid the sun’s glare while walking or driving, both non-prescription and prescription sunglass lenses may also help prevent the onset of several eye issues.

At Ian Donald Optometrist, we care about providing expert optometry and eye health services for every customer. To help you understand why sunglasses matter, here’s our guide to sunglasses for everyday eye care.

Sunglasses, UV and skin cancer

Our eyes are incredibly sensitive, particularly to sunlight. While there’s now quite a lot of awareness around skin protection in Australia, there’s less talk of eye protection… but it’s equally important.

The key danger for our eyes is UV light. Ultraviolet A (UVA) is a longer wavelength ray associated with skin ageing, while ultraviolet B (UVB) is responsible for skin burning.

To best protect your eyes, you need a pair of sunglasses that has 100% UVA and UVB protection embedded in the lenses. Sunglasses labelled UV 400 block all rays with wavelengths up to 400 nanometres.

Given a high number of skin cancers occur around the eyes, sunglasses may also help protect the skin in this area, especially if you choose large or wraparound frames.

Sun-related eye issues

Just as the sun can prematurely age your skin, it can ‘burn’ and damage your eyes, which may lead to a number of eye health conditions.

The most common is cataracts, which results in cloudy areas in the lens inside the eye. Cataracts often lead to blurred vision, difficulty seeing in dim light and increased glare sensitivity. Excessive or long-term exposure to UV rays may lead to cataracts and, research suggests, perhaps also to glaucoma, a serious eye disease resulting in sight loss. While cataracts may be detected and treated early, glaucoma develops slowly with minimal symptoms until quite advanced… which is why regular eye examinations are a must.

Another potential issue is pterygium, also known as surfer’s eye. It’s a growth on the eyeball, and while it’s usually not serious, it can be painful.

Sunglasses on shelves in a store

Complete lens options

Ultimately the best sunglasses for eye care are going to be the ones that suit you… and your eyes. Just as there is now a wide variety of glasses and contact lenses available for certain eye health issues, you now have a lot of choice in sunglasses.

Some of your options include:

Polarised lenses – help reduce reflected glare so great for the beach, boating, fishing and skiing. May also be suitable for light-sensitive people and post-cataract surgery patients.

Photochromic lenses – also called transition lenses, they adapt to changing light conditions and darken when exposed to sunlight.

Blue lenses – these protect your eyes from harmful blue light emitted by digital screens, LED lighting and the sun that contribute to eye strain, headaches and visual fatigue.

Expertise for eye health

Ian Donald Optometrist has been looking after the Manly community for decades, and we love helping you keep your eyes in great shape.

Our team of optometrists and optical dispensers can provide you with prescription sunglasses and a range of frames from leading brands including Ray Ban, Tom Ford, Oakley and Maui Jim.

Or if you need an eye test or would like to discuss any of our specialist lenses, please contact us for an appointment.

Leading Eyewear Fashion Brands

Prada  

Specialising in fashion and function, Prada eyewear features high-quality materials and meticulous design.

Anne et Valentin  

Born from the dream of two opticians, Anne & Valentin craft unique frames in Toulouse, France.

Sabine Be  

Sabine Be eyewear by French artisan Sabine Bégault-Vagner reflects her fervent passion for creation.

Tom Ford  

The Tom Ford Eyewear collection epitomises sophistication, innovation and style, encapsulating the essence of the entire brand.

Face a Face  

At Face a Face Paris, designers embark on a cultural and artistic journey, crafting stunning seasonal collections.

Moscot  

Moscot has a proud history spanning five generations and 109 years of eyewear excellence.

Garrett Leight  

Garrett Leight California Optical, established in 2010 by a team of eyewear enthusiasts, creates timeless designs blending craftsmanship and aesthetics.

Ogreen  

The foundation of good design is quality at Orgreen Optics. Established by three friends in Copenhagen, Denmark, Orgreen is now an international eyewear brand.

Mykita  

Mykita designer eyewear adopted its name from the former children’s day care, Kita, where they established manufacturing operations.

Vaanyard  

Conceived internationally, designed in Sydney, Australia, Vaanyard Applied Vision creates premium, handcrafted eyewear inspired by urban design and culture.

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Shop 2, 37-39 The Corso,
Manly NSW 2095

Monday to Friday - 8.30am to 5.30pm
Saturday - 8.30am to 4.00pm