4 essentials to look for when buying sunglasses

Reena Mehta, OD

Optometry

Sunglasses are one of the few accessories that not only allow you to make a fashion statement, but also keep your eyes protected and healthy. Reena Mehta, OD, explained how they help and what to look for when buying sunglasses for optimal eye protection.

“Sunglasses are an important part of your ocular (eye and vision) health. Studies have shown a good pair of sunglasses can help protect against certain ocular conditions such as pterygiums, cataracts, skin cancers of the eyelid, eye cancers within the eye, keratitis and even progression of macular degeneration,” said Dr. Mehta.

Sunglasses also help filter out glare and keep your eyes comfortable from the effects of wind, sand, snow, pollen and other environmental elements.

Dr. Mehta shared four essential things you should look for when buying sunglasses.

1. Make sure your lenses have 100% UV protection (both UVA and UVB). This will allow the lenses to filter out the harmful UV rays that can affect the eyes and lead to eye and vision issues.
2. Pay attention to the size and shape of the frames. Are your frames small and only protect a small portion of your eyes? Are they larger and protect your eye and the surrounding skin? The more protection, the better.
3. Make sure your lenses are polarized. This will help with glare reduction and ultimately help eliminate the need to squint while wearing sunglasses. Polarized lenses can also help reduce any dark to light adaptation time.
4. Get your annual dilated eye exam. Your eye care provider can answer all your questions regarding your ocular health, including helping you choose the right sunglasses.