Sunglasses

Sunglasses for adults, children, toddlers and babies are available for both non-prescription and conversion into prescription. Patients have the choice of polarised or non-polarised lenses and can choose from several lens tints depending on personal preference.

The most important reason for wearing sunglasses is to protect your eyes from UV (ultraviolet) rays from the sun, which can cause irreversible damage to vision.

Protecting Your Eyes From The Sun

Most of us are aware of the dangerous effects UV rays have on our skin, using cream for protection, but few of us realise the danger imposed on the surface tissues as well as internal structures of the eyes.

Cumulative UV exposure has been found to accelerate the onset of cataracts and is implicated in the development of a range of other conditions, such as macular degeneration. It is never too late to begin protecting your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.

Sunglasses provide UV protection not just to the eye but to the delicate eyelids and skin surrounding the eyes. Even if you are wearing contact lenses that have UV protection, you still need to wear sunglasses.

Tips for protecting your eyes:

• Wear good quality protective eyewear; even on cloudy days and in winter months, as the eyes are still exposed to UV rays.
• Invest in good quality dark sunglasses which include full UVA & UVB protection.
• Wear a wide-brimmed hat which can also help protect your eyes.
• Inspect your sunglasses regularly for surface scratches and chips as this can affect the protection.
• Never look directly at the sun; doing so can irreversibly damage your eyesight.

Children

It is imperative not to forget to protect babies, toddlers, children and teenagers.  Young children’s eyes are susceptible to long-lasting damage from the sun’s rays; so it is important to protect their eyes to reduce risk of problems now and in later life. Children also often spend more time in the sun than adults.

Tips for protecting your eyes:

• Set a good example by wearing sunglasses yourself as younger children will be encouraged to be imitative.
• Invest in good quality protective children’s sunglasses.
• Establish the habit of sunglasses wear when outdoors.
• A wide brimmed hat offers additional shading to the eyes and face.
• Teach good sun sense to children; such as never looking directly at the sun.

Polarised Sunglasses

Some people are prefer polarised sunglasses, which do an excellent job of reducing reflections and glare. Other benefits of a polarised lens include; improved contrast, reduced eyestrain and true colour perception. They have a specialised filter incorporated into the lens which cuts down the reflected light that can cause glare, so reduces the visual discomfort.

Polarised lenses are especially beneficial for people who do a lot of driving and are a great option for sport enthusiasts.