Sunglasses are critical for eye health, so it is essential to know what you are looking for when selecting a pair of UV-protecting sunglasses.

Sunglasses Are More Than a Fashion Statement

When it comes to sunglasses, often our priority is to find a pair of shades that complement our face. But if your sunglasses can’t protect your eyes and skin, they’re not fulfilling their purpose.

The reason we wear sunglasses is to reduce glare and protect our eyes from ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Here, we’ve provided five reasons you should wear sunglasses 365 days per year.

UV Rays Can Damage Your Eyes and Skin During All Four Seasons

Everyone reaches for sunglasses on sunny days at the beach or the pool, but ultraviolet (UV) rays can penetrate through clouds and damage your vision.

UV light is higher-energy light than visible light, and it has a shorter wavelength. The sun provides natural UV light, but tanning beds, sun lamps, lasers and nail drying lamps can also give off UV light.

The three primary types of ultraviolet light are UVA, UVB and UVC. Most of the UV rays from the sun are UVA, but some are UVB. Overexposure to UV radiation can cause premature aging and disease.

Sunglasses Create a Barrier Between Your Eyes and the Elements

Being outside can expose your eyes to elements like dust, sand and wind. Wearing sunglasses can create a physical barrier between your eyes and the elements, keeping your eyes safe from debris.

Wind and frigid air can cause dry eyes, eye pain and sensitivity, so sunglasses can provide a protective shield in the winter.

Sunglasses Can Prevent Eye and Skin Cancer

A small amount of sun exposure is healthy because sunlight produces vitamin D, an essential vitamin in the body. The World Health Organization recommends between 5 to 30 minutes of unprotected sun exposure two to three times per week.

Overexposure to UV radiation can cause cellular damage. We can measure UV radiation using the UV index, a scale from low radiation (1-2) to high (over 11). Experts recommend sun protection when the UV index is 3 or higher.

Skin cancer is the most common cancer in the United States. The most fatal type of skin cancer is melanoma, and most cases develop from UV radiation.

Similar to skin, eyes can also suffer from sunburn. This is a condition called photokeratitis. Although photokeratitis is temporary, a burned cornea can cause soreness, inflammation and sensitivity to light.

Repetitive exposure to UV radiation can lead to skin cancer of the eye or eyelid. Surfer’s eye, or pterygium, is a fleshy growth that develops on the surface of the eye, and it sometimes requires surgery if it obstructs your vision.

A Quality Pair of Sunglasses Will Help Prevent Eye Disease

A cataract is clouding of the eye lens, and it is a natural part of the aging process. However, overexposure to UV rays can cause cataracts to develop more rapidly through a process called oxidation.

Cataracts are a leading cause of vision impairment and can cause symptoms such as blurry vision, double vision, glare or halos, difficulty seeing at night and sensitivity to light.

Ultraviolet light can also increase the risk for age-related macular degeneration, a condition that affects central vision. Research shows bright sunlight may worsen macular degeneration, but sunglasses can offer protection from UV damage.

Sunglasses Can Reduce Eye Strain

A particular type of lens called a polarized lens can significantly reduce eye strain from glare. Polarized lenses allow vertical light to pass through them, but they block horizontal light, which causes glare. Examples of horizontal light could be a shiny car hood or bright light reflecting off a lake.

Individuals who use polarized sunglasses often report reduced eye strain while engaging in outdoor activities, such as golfing, swimming, boating, fishing and skiing under the sun.

Tips on How to Choose Quality Sunglasses

The FDA publishes guidance for non-prescription sunglasses, and it includes helpful information about requirements. Here are tips based on the FDA recommendations:

1. Learn to read labels, and only purchase sunglasses that have clear information about the protection they offer.
2. Select a pair of sunglasses that offer 100 percent UVA and UVB protection. Look for sunglasses that say “UV400,” meaning they block almost all ultraviolet radiation.
3. Some sunglasses use the term EPF or “eye protection factor,” which evaluates how effectively the sunglasses block UV rays. Choose sunglasses that have an EPF of at least 9 or 10.
4. Typically, sunglasses with light to medium tints are suitable for driving and outdoor pursuits, whereas darker shades are ideal for the beach or skiing. Read the label carefully to determine the amount of protection the sunglasses offer.
5. Sunglasses offer more protection if they wrap around your face and fit close to the eyes. A close fit and wraparound style create a physical barrier to keep out UV rays.
6. Polarized lenses can reduce glare and enhance comfort, but they don’t filter out UV rays. Look for the EPF or UV label to determine the safety of the lens.
7. The FDA mandates that sunglasses must have impact resistance; however, they are not shatterproof, so you must not rely on them as protective eyewear.

If you need protective eyewear for sports or industrial use, purchase safety glasses or goggles with plastic polycarbonate lenses. Polycarbonate lenses without coatings are prone to scratches, so opt for those with scratch-resistant features.

Visit Your Ophthalmologist for a Comprehensive Eye Exam

Comprehensive eye exams with dilation provide accurate information about your vision and eye health. Before the exam, your ophthalmologist or optometrist may ask you about your medical conditions, eye conditions and family history. The exam includes many components like checking for refractive errors, focusing problems and eye diseases like cataracts, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy and age-related macular degeneration.

After your eye exam, you will have an updated prescription as well as a glimpse of your overall health. Often, eye problems can detect issues like hypertension, high cholesterol or diabetes, which makes your eye exam an important part of preventive health care.

Call today to make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam for you and your family. Your vision is a precious gift, and you can take active steps to protect it by visiting your eye doctor.

Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to low vision from diabetic eye disease, but proactive steps like comprehensive eye exams can prevent sight loss and blindness.

Diabetes Is a Nationwide Epidemic

Diabetes is the most expensive disease in the United States and is becoming the fastest-growing disease in the world. Almost 40 million Americans have diabetes, which is about 12 percent of the U.S. population, but one in five people affected are unaware they have the disease (American Diabetes Association).

Below are five ways you can manage diabetes to protect your vision and prevent permanent eye damage.

Educate Yourself About Diabetes-Related Health Problems

About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes, a condition that develops when the body has trouble using insulin to push glucose out of the blood and into the body’s cells. Insulin resistance causes blood glucose levels to rise, and this can cause significant health problems, including the following:

• Nerve damage
• Heart disease
• Kidney damage or failure
• Blood vessel damage
• Feet problems
• Bone and joint issues
• Teeth and gum infections

Understand the Connection Between Diabetes and Vision Loss

Diabetic eye disease is a term for a group of eye conditions that diabetes can cause, including diabetic retinopathy, diabetic macular edema, cataracts and glaucoma.

“Diabetes can silently damage a person’s most precious sense, their sight, before symptoms even appear,” said J. Michael Jumper, MD, president of the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS). “That’s why everyone with diabetes should focus on their eyesight and receive regular dilated eye exams.”

About half of all people with diabetes will develop diabetic retinopathy, a disease that makes retinal blood vessels swell, leak fluid or obstruct completely. Sometimes, abnormal tiny blood vessels will begin to grow on the retina.

Numerous individuals with diabetic retinopathy may not observe symptoms initially, yet signs can start to emerge over time:

• Blurry vision
• Challenges with reading
• Seeing spots or floaters
• Elevated eye pressure
• Difficulty discerning colors
• Double vision
• A shadow across the field of vision

If you have uncontrolled blood sugar or elevated blood pressure or are pregnant, your risk of developing diabetic retinopathy increases significantly.

Visit Your Primary Care Doctor Regularly

Staying current with self-checks, doctor visits and exams can help you manage your blood sugar, body weight, medications and habits. Your physician will recommend if you need to schedule visits every three or six months to monitor your A1C, which evaluates your blood glucose levels.

Your doctor will also test your blood pressure, look at your eyes and examine your feet for diabetes-related foot problems. Every year, you will probably need routine tests to check your kidneys, cholesterol and hearing (CDC).

Get a Comprehensive Eye Exam at Least Once Per Year

Annual comprehensive eye exams with dilation can prevent vision loss and blindness for people with diabetes. The best way to preserve your vision is to visit your eye doctor regularly and make an appointment right away if you notice any vision changes.

If you have diabetic eye disease, you may need to visit your eye doctor more often than once per year. Fluctuations in blood sugar can affect the shape of the lens and cause blurred vision. Often, your vision will go back to normal when glucose levels go back to normal. Therefore, it is important to schedule regular eye exams.

Double vision is another eye problem that affects people with diabetes. High blood sugar can damage the nerves that allow the eyes to work together, and double vision can result (AAO).

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Your daily habits can make a significant difference in your blood glucose levels, particularly in diet and exercise.

Eat a Nutritious, Balanced Diet

Eating foods that are high in protein and fiber as well as complex carbohydrates can help stabilize your blood glucose levels. There are no exact recommendations for what percentage of calories should come from proteins, carbohydrates and fats for people with diabetes. Therefore, it is imperative to build your nutrition plan with the help of your doctor or a nutritionist.

Fill your plate with these delicious foods:

• Lean proteins like fish, turkey, chicken, tofu, nuts and eggs
• Whole grains such as oats, quinoa, brown rice and millet
• Non-starchy vegetables like leafy greens, broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus and green beans
• Legumes like beans (garbanzo, pinto, navy and kidney), peanuts and lentils
• Nuts and seeds like walnuts, cashews, almonds, pecans, chia seeds and sunflower seeds

Get Active and Exercise

Consistent exercise is a cornerstone of diabetes management. When you perform a physical activity, your cells become more sensitive to insulin, which helps lower your blood glucose levels.

If you’re a beginner, you might feel overwhelmed, but even a slight change in your activity level can be helpful. Starting with a daily walk is a great idea, and you can slowly enhance the intensity and length of your exercise as your endurance improves.

Other lifestyle choices to manage the effects of diabetes include the following:

• Quit smoking or not smoking.
• Avoid alcohol or drink only on special occasions.
• Get quality sleep at night.
• Manage your stress levels.

February Is Low Vision Awareness Month

Diabetic eye disease is just one of several conditions that can lead to low vision, a state that cannot be improved with glasses, contact lenses, medications or surgical procedures.

Losing vision doesn’t have to mean you have to give up everything you enjoy. Various treatments and rehabilitation techniques are available for individuals with limited vision, such as oversized print literature, magnifying devices or assistance from a caregiver who can transport you to appointments and activities.

Early diagnosis is the best way to prevent vision loss. During Low Vision Awareness Month, make an appointment for you and your family members to get a comprehensive eye exam with dilation. Your doctor can update your prescription, screen you for common eye diseases and evaluate your eye health.

Make an Appointment with Your Ophthalmologist

The first quarter of the year can be a perfect time to call your insurance company to verify your vision benefits. Feel free to inquire about testing for common eye conditions such as cataracts and check if cataract surgery is covered.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the United States and it often takes only about 15 minutes. A surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear artificial lens, called an intraocular lens. Many people say they have the clearest vision they’ve ever experienced following cataract surgery.

Call your ophthalmologist today to get on the schedule and commit to another year of healthy, clear vision.