Shedding Light onto Some Misconceptions about Sunglasses

The correct sunglasses will protect the eyes from the damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays of the sun and prevent poor eyesight. However, some misconceptions should be corrected to get the maximum benefits from sunglasses.

 It's not true that darker sunglasses give more eye protection than the less-tinted ones. Some sunglasses with lighter shades may provide more protection than those with darker tints. The secret lies on the label that says “100 percent UV protection” or “UV400.” However, not all outlets provide reliable information. Buy only from reliable companies to get accurate information. Lenses made of polycarbonate provide 100 percent protection while those made of CR-39 plastic lenses give 88 percent. Worse, triacetate lenses can provide only 40 percent.

 It's not true that kids don’t need sunglasses. As a matter of fact, because children spend more time outdoors than adults and their eyes’ pupils are larger as a percentage than adults’ pupils, they are more exposed to the sun’s UV rays.

 It's not true that people need to wear sunglasses only on sunny days. In fact, UV exposure can be greater on cloudy days. It is recommended that sunglasses be worn when spending more time outdoors, particularly at midday and in the summer.

Better eyesight as you grow older

It’s a fact of life. No one is spared. Human vision declines after age 40 and the ability to see clearly at various distances becomes an effort.

Presbyopia is a slowly-developing eye condition where the lens starts to harden making it less flexible that result to difficulty in looking at close objects. Due to blurring, presbyopics tend to hold the reading material farther away.

The good news is that there are many ways to correct the vision—eyeglasses, contact lenses, and surgery.

With single vision lenses, each pair of eyeglasses has its own specific use, for example, near vision (reading books) and distance vision (watching TV). An alternative is the self-adjustable spectacle that has two sets of lenses, which resolves the problem of having multiple eyeglasses. One can simply slide which lens best fits the situation.

Like spectacles, contact lenses come in varied forms depending on use. For distance vision, lens is worn in the dominant eye while for near vision, lens is worn on the nondominant eye.
Corrective surgery for presbyopia includes reshaping the cornea, the outer transparent front covering of the eye. Another approach is the removal of the eye’s lens and replacing it with an implant.