Tips for Finding the Right Sunglasses

While you’d be hard pressed to find someone not wearing sunglasses on a sunny day at the beach, their history isn’t very old. Inexpensive, mass produced sunglasses were first offered in 1929, when Sam Fosterbegan selling them in New Jersey. A decade later, 20 million had been sold in the United States, although most wore them as a fashion statement.

Looking stylish may be a reason for choosing protective eyewear, but there is a much more important one: eye health. Just as the sun can damage skin, it also harms the lens of the eyes. The more exposure your eyes receive, the higher the chance of developing cataracts and possibly macular degeneration. While the former can be removed surgically, the latter is a permanent problem that eventually leads to blindness. Cosmetically speaking, sunglasses can also help slow down the formation of wrinkles such as crow’s feet.

When looking for sunglasses, experts suggest choosing those that reflect or filter out 99 percent of UVB and 95 percent of UVA rays.The darkness of the lens is not a good indicator of protection. In fact, a darker lens can be more harmful than no glasses at all because they force the eye to dilate, thus allowing in more unfiltered radiation.

Price is not an adequate predictor, either. For the best protection, lenses should fit closely to the face with little light reaching your eyes from any direction. If you want to minimize color distortion, choose red, gray, green or brown lenses. Yellow is considered the best for defining objects, and work especially well for skiers, hunters and pilots. Blue and purple are simply used for looks.

 The manufacturer will usually label the sunglasses so you know what protection they offer. If you are unsure, an optometrist can check them for you. Also, remember that no standard sunglasses are powerful enough to protect your eyes from looking directly at the sun.

Of course, you want to look good in your eyewear. Once you’ve determined which ones offer the best protection, you’ll need to choose a style. There are mirror shades, which have a mirror coating on the surface; aviators, which are the teardrop-shaped lens favored by pilots and military; wayfarers, the ones made popular in the 1950s by movie stars like Audrey Hepburn; and oversized frames, which are popular among female celebrities.

Whatever style you decide, be sure that you are getting the protection you need to keep your eyes healthy while you’re outdoors. To find out more about stylish shades in El Cajon, please visit this website.

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How to Prepare For an Eye Exam?

Certainly going to see an eye doctor isn’t as frightening as seeing a dentist, but it can be just as important. Even if you don’t feel like you’re having a problem, it is a good idea to get checkups. Besides examining your eyes, an optometrist can determine if you are at risk for other issues such as diabetes, heart disease and even brain tumors.

Before you go to your appointment, there are a few questions you should be prepared to answer.

How do you use your eyes?

If you do need a glasses prescription, there are lenses made for how you will use them. For example, if you work on a computer all day, you may want an anti-glare coating. If you work with children, you may want the anti-scratch option. If you work outside, you may want prescription sunglasses.

How healthy are you?

You may be asked to give a health history, so be prepared to tell if your family has a history of diabetes, glaucoma or other health issues.Also, the doctor will want to know if you take any medications or have allergies.

Dry eyes are also something you can bring up during your exam. Dryness isn’t always just due to strain or fatigue; it could also be a result of ocular surface disease that can lead to intense pain and even infection.

Being prepared with a little background information can help you make the most of your visit to the optometrist.

Learn more about getting an eye exam in Chula Vista visit here.

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What You Need To Know When Buying Sunglasses

Sunglasses are more than just accessories, so when buying new sunglasses, it's important to know what to look for to get the best eye protection.

While most people think of sunglasses as a fashion statement, these accessories serve an important health purpose. The right pair can guard your eyes against long term damage, so choosing based on the level of protection they offer in addition to style is a great way of investing in your eye health.

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The Convenience of Prescription Sunglasses

Spending time outside has proven health benefits, like reducing stress and improving sleep. But when the sun is blazing, it can be hard on the eyes. If you wear glasses, your only relief may be squinting, which doesn’t offer much in the way of eye protection. Clip-on shades may help, but those don’t always cover your glasses properly, and can leave annoying gaps.

Prescription sunglasses combine the convenience of your regular eyewear with shaded lenses. They can make going to the beach, skiing down the slopes, or just driving in the car a lot more pleasant.                              

Why Wear Sunglasses?

Some people are more sensitive to brightness, so wearing sunglasses seems an obvious choice. But, everyone is susceptible to eye damage from the sun. Even when you close your eyes, your peepers can be sunburned. Just as sunscreen does, shades can help prevent long-term harm.

Sunglasses also prevent damage to the skin around the eyes, which is the most prone to skin cancer. Of course, who doesn’t need a little wrinkle prevention?