Other than the importance of using sunscreen, another thing I learnt in 2007 was the importance of wearing sunglasses. I used to think that sunglasses were merely a fashion accessory designed to help you look “cool”. However, I soon learnt that sunglasses were actually, a necessity for the health of your eyes.
Just like how we apply sunscreen on our face and body to protect our skin from the damaging UV rays of the sun, sunglasses perform the same function by shielding and protecting our eyes. The eye membrane is very thin and unfiltered UV rays can cause damage to the eyes in the form of cataracts.
From a beauty point of view, squinting in the hot glare of the sun leads to the formation of wrinkles around the eyes which can be prevented if you wear proper sunglasses that help cut out the sun’s glare. Using eye creams or wrinkle creams won’t help you if you don’t stop the problem at the root.
I personally am using a pair of sunglasses (unbranded) with polarized lenses. These kind of lenses help cut out glare better and I am told, are used by people who partake in snow activities. The snow reflects a lot of UV rays and glare despite the deceptive coldness. However, not many branded sunglasses use polarized lenses, which explains why I’m not using a branded pair!
I was also told that when choosing sunglasses, one should always look for lenses which state that they cut out UV rays or more specifically, UV-A and UV-B rays. Also, it is not necessarily the rule that the darker the lenses the better, because lenses that are too dark but which do not come with UV protection, might actually harm your eyes instead of protecting them! If the lenses are too dark it will cause your pupil to dilate more to let in the light and without UV protection, this lets in more harmful UV rays too.
So, my advise would be to go to a proper optical store to purchase your sunglasses, and do not purchase them off street stalls or buy fakes, because these sunglasses might cause you more harm than good. You can get prescription lenses if you have poor eyesight so there really is no excuse not to wear a pair.
Besides, everyone looks good in a pair of shades!
I got a pair of polarized sunglasses from a department store few months back, as the sales person claimed that they cut out glare on the road. I travel a lot. However, since most vehicle windshields are layered with heat control window films nowadays, I see rainbow colors on everything from my windshield instead. It gave me headaches. So I gave it away and bought myself another pair with UV block but without polarized lenses.
PB says: Yeah I do realise that with polarised lenses but so far so good for me
hey… it also helps minimise wrinkles since we squint less when we wear sunglasses!
PB says: Yes that too! And less wrinkles mean prettier us! hehe
If you’re in Australia, pop into any of the cancer council shops. All their sunglasses are polarized and are not as expensive as branded ones. Can arm yourself with some sunscreen and hats too while you’re there. =)
PB says: Thanks! I hope to get some that way some time soon.
The more people learn to recognize that sunglasses protect your eyes from a health point of view the more fashionable eyewear will become. Your site gives people justifiable reasons to wear sunglasses everyday.