Sunglasses: Not Just For Summer
You may have had perfect eye sight all your life. But when you go outside, you should still put on a pair of shades – and not just any old pair. In order to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays, you need to wear sunglasses that have the right protection. You wouldn’t lounge for hours in the sun without sunscreen or some form of protection on your skin, and it’s time we started applying this way of thinking to our eyes as well.
What exactly is UV400?
You may have heard opticians use this term before. UV400 refers to UV rays at the top end of the UV spectrum, up to the 400-nanometre wavelength. Sunglasses with this level of protection will block an even wider spectrum than the British Standard models. So if you want to gain ultimate protection, this is what you should opt for.
Our eyes are much more sensitive to ultraviolet rays than our skin is. The sunlight that pours down on our bodies consists of two harmful rays: UVA and UVB. UVA has been linked to the development of harmful eye diseases, such as cataracts and macular degeneration. UVB helps boost our vitamin D levels, but is the prime cause of sunburn. If you want to protect your eyes whilst maintaining healthy vitamin D levels, wear sunglasses that have UV400 protection and take vitamin D supplements.
Don’t wait until it’s 30 degrees
You might think you only need to pop on your shades when it’s burning hot. However, your eyes still need protection on overcast days, especially if you’re going for a long drive or you play sports, because your eyes will be exposed to the sun for a long period of time. Keeping a pair of sunglasses on you is always handy. If you find it frustrating to keep swapping between glasses and sunglasses when you’re out and about, you can opt for polarised lenses.
Find your dream pair of sunglasses today
At David Paul Opticians, you can find bespoke, designer sunglasses with UV400 protection and polarised lenses. If you want to look stylish and look after your eyesight, make an appointment or come and visit us today.