Sunglasses

In Arizona the sun is severe. Our clean, dry air allows many harmful UV rays to reach our bodies. It is highly recommended that one wear sunscreen, a hat, protective clothing, and sunglasses. The sun can damage the lens of our eyes, causing cataracts. Our retinas are also sensitive. Please don't forget to protect your children!

Disability Glare

Disability glare is associated with the sun's brightness and it interferes with your comfortable vision and your ability to see clearly. It causes you to squint and your eyes to water.

Disability glare can occur on either sunny or cloudy days; sunglasses that screen out 75% – 90% of available light are effective in reducing the brightness and the effects of disability glare.

When the sun's light bounces off snow, water, sand, or highway pavement, reflected glare occurs. Polarized sunglasses are more effective at eliminating reflected glare than are ordinary sunglasses.

Reducing glare makes driving, as well as outdoor recreational and occupational activities, safer, more comfortable, and productive.

Choosing the Right Sunglasses

There are a number of options when purchasing sunglasses. Here are a few:

• Polarizing lenses effectively reduce reflected glare, the sunlight that bounces off smooth surfaces such as water or pavement. They are particularly useful for driving and boating.
• Photochromic lenses darken or lighten with the amount of light available.
• Mirror coatings reflect rather than absorb light and are primarily for wear under intense glare from snow or water.

No matter what sunglass styles you choose, you should insist that your sunglasses:

• Block out 99% – 100% of both UV-A and UV-B radiation
• Screen out 75% – 90% of visible light (fashion tinted lenses usually do not meet this level)
• Are perfectly matched in color and are free of distortion and imperfection
• Have lenses that are gray, green or brown (gray is recommended)

If you wear your sunglasses for eye-hazardous sports or work, you should choose polycarbonate lenses. These lenses provide the greatest available impact protection.

Wrap-around sunglasses, which are shaped to keep light from shining around the frames, are worth considering, particularly if you spend a lot of time outdoors in bright sunlight.

Wearing a wide-brimmed hat provides additional protection from UV radiation.

Purchasing Sunglasses Can Be Complicated

It can be difficult to know if the sunglasses you purchase are right for you, because there are no federal sunglass regulations regarding UV radiation, visible light transmission levels, and lens quality. And, don't be confused. Price is not necessarily a gauge of lens quality or UV blockage.

Ways to Judge Nonprescription Sunglass Quality

• Check lenses to be sure the tint is uniform, not darker in one area than another (except gradient-density lenses).
• Hold glasses at arm's length and look through them at a straight object. Slowly move the lens across the object. If the edge of the object distorts, sways, curves, or moves, the lens has imperfections.
• To be sure the lenses block enough light, try them on in front of a mirror. If you can see your eyes clearly through the lenses, they probably are not dark enough for glare reduction and comfort. This test does not apply to photochromic lenses.
• Ask your optometrist to help you check your lenses' UV protection capabilities, to suggest which options are most appropriate for your needs and to help you decide which sunglasses are best for you.

Sun Protection for Children

Children's eyes need protection from the sun too. In fact, scientific studies show that kids need sun protection even more than adults do.

The same UV rays that cause sunburns can also contribute to eye health problems. Kids are especially vulnerable to developing these eye disorders because they spend so much time outdoors. Scientists have determined that most eye damage occurs before age eight.

We carry Eyes Cream Shades^® in a wide selection of colors, which can block up to 100% of harmful UV rays. The polycarbonate lenses are shatterproof and the frames are durable.

Sun Protection for Dogs

The weather outside is delightful! Dogs love to ride in the car with their heads out the window, on the back of a motorcycle, or in the bed of a truck. Imagine driving or riding without a windshield or a mask. Protect the eyes of your beloved pets from sand, bugs, and sun. We carry Doggles^® with changeable lenses from clear to sunglass tinted.

This information provided by the American Optometric Association (AOA). To find out more, visit their website at www.aoa.org.