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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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Manly NSW 2095
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