Protect your eyes, but do it properly and don’t buy just any sunglasses.

Just as you protect your skin with creams with solar filters to avoid premature aging, sunburn and chronic injury, your eyes too need protection against the sun.

Ultraviolet rays, which affect your eyes intensely and continuously, can cause:  redness, tears, dryness in the cornea, burns, abrasions on the eyelid, slight retinopathy, photophobia, and thickening of the conjunctiva, folds that hinder focus, visual strain and in serious cases, retinal detachment, glaucoma, macular degeneration, etc.

Will just any sunglasses do to protect your eyes? The truth is, no.

The glasses should have tinted lenses that darken vision and a solar filter to absorb and neutralise invisible radiation. If the pupil dilates with the dark colour but there is no filter, then the radiation will cause greater harm than if you are not wearing glasses.

• Sunglasses with the darkest lenses or highly coloured lenses are the best for extreme luminosity, but they would not be suitable for Keep that in mind.
• Brown or green coloured lenses are the best for doing sport outdoors, or if you are short-sighted because they filter radiations without reducing clarity.
• Photochromic lenses, which change according to the light, or mirrored ones, are recommended for water sports or skiing.
• Yellow or orange lenses for cloudy days or for dusk.

Remember:

• Never look at the sun directly.
• Make sure that your sunglasses block UV rays.
• If it is cloudy, UV rays can also pass through clouds. Do not forget it.
• Small children should also wear glasses, ones that suit their size, and a peaked cap for shade.
• Wear a hat if you go out when the sun is at its highest. Perpendicular rays are dangerous and your glasses may not provide enough protection.
• If you wear contact lenses ask your eye specialist or optician if they have solar filters and, if not, wear sunglasses.
• Small sunglasses may not cover the entire socket and the rays may be able to penetrate. Be careful with the size and do not just be guided by fashion.

If your sunglasses are inadequate, your eyes could be seriously damaged. So think about it and always buy top quality glasses. Keep your eyes healthy.