The importance of UV protection for your eyes

As the sun starts to show itself a little more and spring starts to bring warmer and longer days, it’s important to protect your eyes from harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays. That’s right, even in spring the sun’s rays can damage our eyes! Luckily, you can protect your vision by wearing sunglasses.

What are UV rays?

UV radiation is invisible to the human eye and is generated from the sun. There are three types of UV rays – UVA, UVB and UVC. Prolonged exposure to UVA and UVB light from infancy right into adulthood can lead to eye damage and put you at greater risk of developing eye conditions such as:

● cataracts

● pterygium

● photokeratitis

● skin cancer around the eyelids

● macular degeneration

Thankfully, protecting your eyes from UV is easy – a good quality pair of sunglasses can shield your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays and reduce your risk of developing eye conditions.

How do sunglasses help protect your eyes?

Sunglasses protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful UVA and UVB rays by blocking out these dangerous light wavelengths. High quality adults’ and children’s sunglasses are made from glass, plastic or polycarbonate that’s been finished with a UV-absorbing coating.

How to choose the right sunglasses

The best sunglasses for UV protection are those that offer 100% UV protection – you can find out which pair is best for you by asking Hitesh, our resident optometrist, or Amar, our experienced optical assistant.

As a rule of thumb, we advise you to opt for larger or wraparound sunglasses, as these can help to protect not only your eyes but also your eyelids and the rest of the skin around your eyes.

If you want a pair of sunglasses that can protect your eyes and reduce glare reflected off bodies of water and snow, or road surfaces, then it’s a good idea to choose a pair of sunglasses with polarised lenses.

Finally, sunglasses that are scratched, broken or old should be replaced as they won’t be able to offer the right amount of protection for your eyes.

Find your favourite sunglasses

We have a wide selection of sunglasses to suit all faces, ages, styles, and needs, which can also have your prescription in them. Visit our opticians, serving the Kensal Rise and Queen’s Park areas to find your favourite pair of sunglasses, or get in touch with us to learn more about UV protection.