If the brightness of a sunny day has you squinting, it’s time for some shades. The glare from the sun while doing daily activities can be dangerous to your eyes. Having the proper eye protection is crucial to good eye care.
With so many styles available and so many fashion statements made, it is easy to forget that sunglasses actually serve a purpose…protecting us from the sun. Many people fail to realize the importance of eye protection.
We should start thinking of sunglasses like we do sunscreen. Glasses, like sunscreen, help keep harmful UV rays from your eyes. Exposure to the sun in excess can cause cataracts to develop which can in turn lead to other eye problems. Other painful eye conditions can occur as well as several types of eye cancer.
Just as we should apply sunscreen in not only the summer months but winter as well, the same is true for sunglasses. They should be worn year round. Especially true when participating in winter sporting, sunglasses are important enough to wear at other times as well. The glare of the sun seems to bounce off snow and water. This type of glare can cause damage to unprotected eyes.
Because of these potential risks, we should remember to not only protect our eyes, but our children’s as well. Children can learn to wear sunglasses at a young age which then sets a habit in for later wearing. Establish a routine of wearing sunglasses whenever going outdoors. It is a small task that can greatly reduce the chance of eye damage in the future