March marks Save Your Vision Month, an annual reminder of the importance of eye health and protection. While we often associate sunglasses with style or comfort on sunny days, their role extends beyond aesthetics or convenience. Sunglasses are critical in safeguarding our eyes against the harmful long-term effects of ultraviolet (UV) rays and serve as a physical barrier against airborne allergens.
In this article, we'll explore why incorporating sunglasses into your daily routine is essential for eye health and how, for contact lens wearers, switching to daily disposables can offer a further layer of defense alongside sunglasses to protect against allergens and offer another layer of UV protection.
UV-Protective Sunglasses to Safeguard Vision
Every time you step outside into the sun, you expose your eyes to UV radiation, which can harm your long-term vision health. Damage from this radiation is cumulative, meaning that it builds up throughout the years, slowly increasing your risk of developing eye health issues such as cataracts and macular degeneration later in life. From a more short-term perspective, overexposure to UV rays can also lead to photokeratitis, a temporary “sunburn of the eye.”
Sunglasses protect against these harmful rays, preventing them from reaching the delicate parts of the eyes and reducing your risk of potential long-term or short-term damage. When selecting sunglasses, choosing a pair that offers 100% UV protection against UVA and UVB rays is crucial. This level of protection ensures that your eyes are shielded from the broad spectrum of UV radiation, reducing your risk of developing UV-related eye diseases.
Sunglasses: Shielding Eyes from Allergens
Beyond their role in UV protection, sunglasses are a physical barrier that helps prevent allergens from coming into direct contact with the eyes. Seasonal allergens like pollen, dust, and pet dander can irritate the eyes, leading to redness, itchiness, and discomfort. You can significantly reduce the allergens that reach your eyes by wearing sunglasses, thus minimizing allergic reactions and discomfort. This is particularly beneficial for individuals who spend considerable time outdoors, whether for work or leisure.
A Side Note for Contact Lens Wearers
Daily disposables are a great option for those who wear contact lenses and want to avoid eye allergies and increase UV protection. These lenses are thrown away after a single use, reducing the likelihood of allergen and bacteria accumulation that can occur with longer-wear lenses, and many leading daily contact lenses offer extra UV protection beyond your sunglasses as well.
UV & Allergy Defense Eyewear at Kips Bay Optical
Protecting your eyes from UV rays and allergens is crucial for maintaining long-term eye health. Sunglasses offer a simple yet effective solution, blocking harmful UV radiation and serving as a barrier against airborne allergens.
Visit Kips Bay Optical in New York today to see our wide selection of the latest and most stylish eyewear so that you can protect your eyes and look great every time you step out the door!