6 Tips for Buying Sunglasses
It is well known that the Sun can be so harmful for the skin and eyes. The use of lenses for protection against light and UV rays is something widespread, although the use that is made of them is not always adequate.
BBC World spoke with an expert to identify the most important aspects that look for when purchasing them and to remove some of the most common myths.
75% Filter
“Good sunglasses should have a filter that absorbs at least 75% of visible light and block all UV light”.
It is the strong recommendation of the President of the Spanish society of Ophthalmology, Luis Fernández-Vega. In a telephone interview from Oviedo (Spain), the expert told BBC the rest of features that should meet the lenses to make protection real and what are the myths around them.
Eyes, even if they are located in two separate cranial cavities, surrounded by supercilii arch, eyebrows and eyelashes, are very little protected in a natural way. And it is essential to wear sunglasses.
Image caption In sunny environments it is essential the use of sunglasses, according to Dr. Luis Fernández-Vega.
“The most important thing is are approved,” insists Vega. At the moment there is an international standard governing the characteristics of sunglasses.
On the other hand, there are three different regulations: the Australian standard, American and European.
“It is essential, in addition, that they acquire in specialised as the optics and not markets, for example stores”.
Myth: the darker, the better
As for the colors, Fernández-Vega explained that darker lenses are not necessarily the best.
“It is not so. That kind of glasses may have other limitations, as they are uncomfortable precisely because they are too dark”.
Thus, he mentioned the lens of green as one of the most suitable. “The green glass little modifies the perception of reality and provides the same eye protection than other colors that the alter more.”
For general purposes is also recommended the grey or Brown, since they minimize color distortion which would be dangerous in certain activities such as driving a vehicle.
Image caption Although they do not offer more protection than others, certain colors lenses do not alter the perception of reality.
Other colors that you can find in the market are red, Orange, yellow, blue or violet. The first three increase the contrast, so it may be appropriate in situations of low light and cloudy days.
Blue or violet lenses, on the other hand, have no real benefits and their contribution is purely aesthetic.
Myth: the polarized protects more
In certain circumstances, polarized glasses also improve visibility, although in terms of protection they do not play any role, says Vega.
“Insofar as they eliminate glare, Polarized Sunglasses on internetages store may be suitable for fishermen”, exemplified by the ophthalmologist.
“With them you will see better River”.
Sunglasses for any age
Vega considers “essential” sunglasses for anyone who is exposed to the Sun’s rays and stresses in the case of children and seniors, groups people who use glasses less frequently.
“The goal is to prevent alterations such as conjunctivitis or keratitis,” he explains. In addition, older persons, certain types and spectra of light, may suffer “damage to the lens and this favour, for example, the occurrence of cataracts”.
Other conditions associated with excessive exposure to UV rays is pterygium, also known as “surfer’s eye”. It consists of an abnormal growth by inflammation of the thin and transparent tissue that covers the outer surface of the eye.
Image caption The President of the Spanish Federation of Ophthalmology insists that it is necessary to use sunglasses at any age.
Nicholas Loizou, 80-year-old, suffers from this condition. He currently lives in London, but the last years in the sunny Cyprus made havoc in one of his eyes.
“It started to irritate, so the doctor referred him to the hospital”, tells his daughter, Christine Loizou, the BBC. “Just one eye, because he had an accident when he was a child. So we have to take care of the sight in that eye”.
Graduate sunglasses
Image caption Some glasses do not offer any protection, and its function is purely aesthetic.
“There is a tendency to not graduate sunglasses”, says BBC World Vega.
“So many people who use glasses because of nearsightedness or farsightedness is removed to get some Sun, and usually go wrong seeing.” In such cases, it is necessary to also adjust sunglasses, according to the expert.
Absence of security: check it
Not only in optical or specialized establishments sell sunglasses. That is why, despite the labels, may be not be sure that they provide the protection they promise.
The Council of experts is sunglasses to an optical or dealer that check if sunglasses block as they should be light and ultraviolet rays.