Sunglasses are often treated as a fashionable accessory, because we tend to pay more attention to their style than their protective function, forgetting that their job is primarily to protect the eyes and prevent wrinkles.
Text: PETER TOKARSKI, OPTICAL BOUTIQUE CULT OF VISION
UV light is absorbed by the human eye cornea. The blue radiation is the most dangerous, because it can damage the cons and rods at our retina. The sunglasses filter (the best for the eye is brown or amber colour filter) by cutting out the blue light radiation.
Ambermatic lenses are a kind of transitional lenses, in an amber color, that transition from gold to brown, something that is caused by changing weather conditions. They also block glare, improve contrast and sharpen details. They are ideal for sports and outdoor activities especially during summer on the beach when we are EXPOSED to dangerous BLUE LIGHT radiation. As far as we know today radiation is very dangerous, because this harmful light can cause the age-related macular degeneration (AMD or ARMD). This is a medical condition that usually affects older people(>50 years) and results in a loss of vision in the center of the visual field (the macula), because of damage to the retina. It occurs in “dry” and “wet” forms and it is a major cause of blindness and visual impairment in older people, afflicting 30-50 million people globally. Macular degeneration can make it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces, although enough peripheral vision remains to allow other activities of daily life.
Polarized lenses: Because of these lenses’ ability to block the reflecting light, many fishermen and water lovers favor this type of lens. Now that many others who spend time outdoors have discovered the benefits of polarized lenses, interest in these types of sunglasses has soared. These lenses are well known by outdoor enthusiasts such as bikers, joggers, golfers and gardeners looking to eliminate glare. Drivers benefit from these lenses as they reduce the glare from the road as well as the light reflecting from the hood of the car. Polarized lenses are also appropriate for indoor use and can be worn by people whose eyes are light-sensitive; including post-cataract surgery patients and those continually exposed to bright light through windows. They may reduce the visibility of images produced by liquid crystal displays (LCDs) found on the dashboards of some cars or in other places such as the digital screens on automatic teller (bank) machines. The Best Polarized lenses are made by Ray ban and Oakley.
Photochromic lenses (or “transitional lenses”) are clear while in-door and automatically darken when exposed to sunlight. These lenses provide full ultraviolet radiation protection. Photochromic lenses are convenient as they reduce the need to switch from prescription sunglasses to indoor prescription glasses. They come in a wide variety of lens materials; whether you prefer polycarbonate lenses, high-index lenses, regular plastic or glass lenses, you typically will be able to purchase a photochromic version of your preferred lenses. According to experts, the risk for cataracts and other age-related eye problems is associated with a person’s lifetime exposure to the sun’s UV ray.
For the eye’s good condition the proper hydration of the conjunctiva is crucial. During Summer eyes dry faster, so keep your sunglasses close at hand and regularly use moisturizing eye drops with hyaluronic acid (*To be found in good optical salon). These top-class eye drops do not contain preservatives, yet they remain sterile for several weeks.
Sunlight often strikes us in the eye. Eyes react to light so-called excess pupillary reflex – under the influence of a stronger light the pupils of both eyes narrow and the iris muscles tense rapidly to let less light onto the retina and avoid glare. Pupillary reflex is supported by eyelid closure, i.e. with a slight excess of light we squint our eyes, and with a very strong light we close them completely. As a result of frequent squinting, wrinkles form around them, called crow’s feet.
Every person should use well-chosen sunglasses to prevent the ingress of an excessive amount of light into the eye and dazzle. The muscles responsible for facial expressions do not unnecessarily tense, and as a result there is no premature formation of wrinkles – face looks younger, or at least does not age too quickly.