Eye-health experts contend that wearing sunglasses during winter is more crucial than during summer months. Why? During the winter, eyes are exposed to the sun’s damaging UV rays and the rays reflected by the mirror-like snow. Sunglasses worn from November through March can help reduce winter glare, snow blindness, and vision-related headaches.
UV Protection and Polarized Lenses
The most harmful ultraviolet rays are UV-B; they can cause DNA damage and may increase the risk of developing cancer. High-quality sunglasses will protect against all types of ultraviolet radiation, including UV-B. Without any protection at all, prolonged exposure to winter glare can result in short- and long-term ocular problems, such as snow blindness, cataracts, and various forms of eye cancer.
Check to ensure winter sunglasses screen for more than 99% of UV-A and UV-B light and wavelengths up to or exceeding 400 nanometers. To further the fight against glare and long-term ocular problems like cataracts, consider investing in polarized sunglass lenses. Polarized lenses are especially important for summer water sports and winter skiing–virtually any conditions in which high glare is encountered call for polarized lenses.
In essence, when light reflects off the snow, the light waves align in horizontal patterns, causing glare. Polarized lenses work by precluding these horizontal lines from reaching the eyes. This reduces glare, the chances of distraction, and eye strain. Also, with high-quality polarized lenses, the risk of skin damage and premature aging (“crow’s feet”) around the eyes diminishes to the degree that the lenses are UV-protecting.
Working with Nature: Reducing Eyestrain
Normally, when people are exposed to high-light conditions, the pupil contracts so that only a small amount of light hits the retina. In low-light conditions, the pupil dilates to allow more light to reach the retina. Nature’s solution sans sunglasses is having people squint; unfortunately, this can result in eyestrain and headaches. Wearing sunglasses reduces glare, prevents UV damage, improves comfort, and reduces eyestrain and headaches caused by squinting.