Beautiful eyes are subjective - whether it has to do with color, shape, or something else - everyone has an opinion. Though beyond looks, our eyesight is one of our most important assets, which doesn’t make the sun our friend.
Image courtesy of davidicke.com.
Experts are finding that ultraviolet light can cause a number of short-term and long-term ocular problems.
Dr. Troy L. Bedinghaus - a board certified optometric physician, who owns and operates Lakewood Family Eye Care - says, “Studies show that ultraviolet radiation can accelerate the development of cataracts.
“The bright sun can also cause pinguecula and pterygium, which are benign growths on the surface of the eye. Ultraviolet radiation can also cause cancer of the eyelids and the skin surrounding the eyes.”
Dr. Bedinghaus adds that, “Ultraviolet radiation can also cause photokeratitis, which is a temporary but painful burning of the cornea. Photokeratitis often occurs while water or snow skiing without sun protection. Studies are also showing that long-term exposure to the sun’s harmful rays may contribute to the development of macular degeneration.”
As a preventative measure, he suggests, “At the very least, you should look for sunglasses that block at least 99 percent of both UV-A and UV-B radiation, and screen out 75 to 90 percent of viable light.”
Right now, there are no mandatory regulations for ultraviolet coatings on sunglass lenses. Major standards for ultraviolet coatings do exists in the Australia, Europe, and the United States, but they’re voluntary. These three major standards offer the following guidelines:
- The Australian Standard - is AS/NZ1067:2003. It’s a rating system based on the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the lenses, with zero offering some protection up to four offering the highest level of protection (at this level, they shouldn’t be worn when driving).
- The European Standard - is EN 1836:2005. It’s a rating system based on the amount of ultraviolet light absorbed by the lenses, with zero for insufficient protection up to seven for full protection, meaning no more than five percent of ultraviolet rays can pass through.
- The American Standard - is ANSI Z80.3-2001. This standard requires that no more than one percent of ultraviolet light is allowed to pass through the lenses.
When shopping for a pair of sunglasses, look for a label showing how much ultraviolet protection the lenses provide. Read the labels carefully and don’t be afraid to ask the salesperson questions.
Sunglasses gain their ultraviolet protection when a special clear protective coating is added to the lenses, so it’s not possible to determine protective strength by how dark a lenses are.
Dr. Cary Silverman, medical director and ophthalmologist at EyeCare 20/20, says, “Tinted sunglasses without ultraviolet protection cause more harm than wearing no sunglasses. When light is cut out, your pupils dilate in order to let more light into the visual system. Tinted glasses without ultraviolet protection spell trouble because they let more harmful ultraviolet rays into the dilated pupil(s).”
Different color tints do though serve a purpose. They provide varying color contrasts that are each useful for particular circumstances. Sierra Trading Post, a retailer and advice guide, gives the following guidance for selecting the appropriate color tint:
- Gray - Outside colors will remain the truest with these lenses. They flatten light to help you maintain normal depth perception and reduce glare. This makes them ideal for everyday activities such as driving.
- Green - These also ensure that outside colors remain true, as well as offer some additional ultraviolet protection. Note: Regardless of this, make sure you buy glasses with a ultraviolet protective coating.
- Brown - Especially effective at filtering light in hazy, foggy, and low light conditions. It improves depth perception and contrast in various light conditions. Brown lenses are very popular for skiing, boating, and driving.
- Yellow - Enhance depth perception, although outside colors can become somewhat distorted. They are intended for use in partially cloudy light conditions and offer the high contrast necessary in high speed, high attitude sports like skiing. Hunters also like this color because it can pick up the slightest movement.
- Rose - Effectively filter light and improve contrast. The lenses absorb foggy or gray conditions, increasing contrast and depth perception, which is also perfect for high speed activities like snowboarding, skiing, or snowmobiling. Many people consider rose-colored lenses to be the easiest on their eyes over a long period of time.
Moving from function to style, another important consideration to think about when purchasing any kind of glasses is the shape of your face. Sierra Trading Post gives the following advice for selecting the most flattering frame shape
- Square Face - If you have a square face, look for frames that are curved slightly. The top of the frames should sit high enough on your face to downplay your stronger jaw line.
- Round Face - To offset a predominantly a round face, look for frames with straight or angular lines. Frames in a darker color also minimize fullness.
- Triangular (Heart Shape) Face - Frames with a thin rim and straight vertical lines will help balance out a triangular face. Make sure that the frames don’t sit too high on your face or they will exaggerate the shape. Large frames, bold colors, and square shapes should be avoided on triangular faces.
- Oblong (Long) Face - Most frames look good on oblong faces as long as the size of the frames is in proportion to the rest of your face.
When considering the style of your glasses, another consider to take into account is the material of the frames. If you have the budget for it, it’s always best to go eco-friendly. Some notable makers of eco-friendly sunglasses with large selections include:
- Revo - Their selection of environmentally-friendly frames come in two lines:
- Re-Use: These frames are made from 100 percent recycled pre-consumer (leftover from manufacturing) plastics, also called polymer resins.
- Eco-Use: These frames are made largely of a flexible material derived from the seeds of the castor bean plant, instead of petroleum-based nylon, which is more commonly used to make frames.
Revo Ambassador Alexandra Cousteau wearing a pair of Re-Use frames. Photo courtesy of shoppingblog.com.
- Kayu - Their selection of frames are handcrafted from the mao-zhu species of bamboo, which isn’t eaten by pandas. The company says the sustainable bamboo is cultivated without the use of fertilizers or pesticides. The frames also contain buntal, a type of straw that comes from palm trees, and shells.
- iWood - Their selection of frames come from reclaimed wood originally used to decorate the interior of private luxury jets, according to the company. The glue and protective coating used in the final assembly of the frames are formaldehyde free and emit no volatile organic compounds.
Kayu bamboo sunglasses. Photo courtesy of Launderette: Cleaning Up Dirty Fashion.
iWood sunglasses. Photo courtesy of notcot.com.
With all this information, one thing should be stressed as well. Regardless of whether you select an eco-frame or not, from a consumer health standpoint, your top consideration should always be the best quality lens for your eyes, which doesn’t always mean spending the most amount of money. Quality is defined by getting a pair of sunglasses that meets your particular needs to provide you with the greatest protection for your eyes.
Reader comments and input are always welcomed!