5 Myths About Sunglasses
Often, sunglasses aren’t something we put a lot of thought into, and if we do - we usually just think of them as a fashion accessory.
While a great pair of sunglasses can make any outfit better, they’re also so important to the health of our eyes.
Don’t take your vision for granted! Learn these 5 myths about sunglasses so that you can protect your invaluable eyes.
1. You Don’t Need Sunglasses When It’s Cloudy
We tend to think we only need to wear our sunglasses when it’s bright and sunny outside. But UV rays are strong and can penetrate through the clouds.
Have you ever accidentally gotten sunburned on a cloudy day because you forgot to put on sunscreen? The same thing can happen with your eyes - harmful UV rays can go through the clouds and hurt your eyes.
Be sure to wear your sunglasses on both sunny and cloudy days!
2. Kids Don’t Need Sunglasses
Why would adults need sunglasses, and not children?
Young people need eye protection just as much, if not more, than adults, since their bodies are still developing. Did you know 80% of an eye’s exposure to UV rays happens during childhood?
Be sure to protect your children’s eyes from harmful rays by getting them their own child-sized pair of UV protected sunglasses.
3. All Sunglasses Protect the Eyes
Just because a pair of sunglasses looks like they’d block harsh light, doesn’t mean they will protect your eyes.
In fact, sunglasses without proper UV protection can actually do more harm than good. This happens when the dark lenses block out light, making your pupils open up wider. This allows more harmful UV rays to enter into your eyes!
Be sure to check that your sunglasses have adequate UV protection before purchasing them.
4. Darker Lenses are Better
Just because a lens is dark doesn’t mean that it will protect your eyes better. In fact, light lenses can protect your eyes just as well if they provide UVA/UVB protection. Lens tint or color has no indication of how much protection a pair of sunglasses offer.
5. Polarized Lenses Always Offer UV Protection
Polarized lenses can offer better clarity and vision, but they don’t always offer UV protection. Make sure to check that the lenses include adequate UVA/UVB protection before you purchase them.
Polarized lenses can be great if you are near reflective surfaces like water, if you play sports, or if you just prefer really clear and crisp vision.
Be sure to take care of your eyes by wearing eye protection and making sure that the lenses blocks harmful UV rays!