Compliments from a doctor are rare, based on my experience. Maybe that’s why I hold on to something my eye doctor told me a couple of years ago during my annual exam. She said my eyes looked like they belonged to someone far younger than my 60+ years. “Do you wear sunglasses?” she asked.
As a matter of fact, I do. Year-round, almost every day, regardless of sun or clouds. I never go anywhere without my polarized sunglasses. My eyes feel better, more relaxed, when they’re tucked behind a pair of my favorite sunnies. It looks like I’ve stumbled onto something. Read more on the value of sunglasses from a Cleveland Clinic ophthalmologist.
We always hear that sunglasses can help protect your eyes from the sun, but what injuries can the sun cause?
“The sun can be very dangerous to the retina. It can cause solar retinopathy and also increase your risk for other retinal diseases. But not only that, it accelerates aging. Just like the sun accelerates aging of the skin, it can also accelerate aging of the eye and also put you at increased risk for skin cancers,” says Nicole Bajic, MD, ophthalmologist at the Cleveland Clinic.
Dr. Bajic says, when it comes to buying sunglasses, there’s not much of a difference between a pricey pair and something cheap. What matters is the UV protection. They should have 100% protection, sometimes known as UV400.
Dr. Bajicalso recommends picking sunglasses with larger lenses. The smaller lenses, while trendy, don’t offer a lot of coverage for your eyes and the skin around them. And speaking of lenses, what about the kind with a mirror finish?
“One thing that I always get asked about are the mirrored lenses. That’s actually polarization; it’s not necessarily for the UV protective factor, but it does cut down on glare. So people will ask, ‘Do I need to get polarized lenses?’ If you do want to cut down on glare to help with sports or driving, then yes, it’s a great option,” says Dr. Bajic.
She said if you’re not a big fan of sunglasses, you could wear a wide-brim hat to help protect your eyes, or try to limit your time outdoors. But really, sunglasses are the best option.
