Those oversized shades you see Paris and Nicole sporting offer more than paparazzi protection—they shield their peepers from the summer sun.
“People who spend excessive hours in the sun have an increased risk of later developing age-related eye conditions such as macular degeneration, cataracts and corneal problems,” says Dr. Bruce Rosenthal, OD, chief of low vision programs at Lighthouse International.
Wearing (the right) sunglasses reduces the amount of light entering the eye, protects against harmful ultraviolet (UV) light, decreases glare, and increases contrast. Follow Dr. Rosenthal’s sunglass smarts when heading to the beach:
A dark lens doesn’t necessarily have UV protection – look for lenses that absorb 99 to 100% of UV light, particularly UV-B (400+ UV protection). Or add an ultraviolet-blocking coating to your lenses.
Going boating? The water reflects and intensifies the sun, so keep your glasses on.
Avoid blue-tinted sunglasses – the blue tint actually emits UV light, which is what you’re trying to block out!
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