Editor’s Note:
When someone asks my birthdate or checks my I.D., I vainly hope they’ll be shocked, or at least surprised, that I’m 66. The fact that it’s never, and I mean, never happened makes me think I look far older than my age. The exception is my eyes. At my first appointment with a new optimistrist, she said I have the eyes (not vision) of a 20-year-old. The reason? I wear polarized sunglasses year-round.
Vanity aside, eye health is linked to wearing sunglasses, especially in the summer, according to a Cleveland Clinic doctor. Read on for details.
Happy belated National Sunglasses Day. It was June 27, if you keep track of that sort of thing.
While a cool pair of shades is often a summer staple, they also provide important protection from the sun.
“There are many types of conditions that can be caused by significant UV exposure. The most concerning
is skin cancer. And so, it’s important to make sure you’re protecting that area. Photokeratitis and solar
retinopathy can also be an issue,” says Nicole Bajic, MD, ophthalmologist at Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Bajic said when it comes to buying sunglasses, it’s not the price that matters but the type of lenses.
She recommends choosing a pair that has 100% UV protection, sometimes called UV 400. This will offer the best protection. You could also opt for polarized lenses, which a lot of athletes tend to like since they can help reduce sun glare.
And while it may not always be trendy, Dr. Bajic says it’s best to go with bigger lenses since they cover
more of the delicate skin around the eyes.
“Right now, the trend is the ‘90s, so smaller, low-profile sunglasses, so smaller, low-profile sunglasses.They look really chic, but they don’t offer as much protection as the larger lenses,” she says.
Dr. Bajic says if you plan to go swimming this summer, they also make goggles with UV protection.
