The Future’s So Bright… I gotta wear shades!

The Future’s So Bright…

I gotta wear shades!

Summer is just around the corner, and with it – hopefully – the sun. It’s a time to start thinking about eye protection.

I have a theory that sunspecs are the coolest accessories ever invented. They add instant glamour to any outfit; disguise tired eyes, and offer handy hangover relief when required. In addition, you don’t have to worry about whether they make your bum look big, and even a designer pair won’t break the bank.

Yet as useful as these qualities are they pale into insignificance beside sunspecs’ real function, which is to protect our eyes.
The sun’s UV rays can damage the delicate structures of the eye, such as the lens and the retina. This damage can lead to cataracts and macular degeneration in later life.

UV FACTS

UV penetrates clouds so even when you can’t see the sun your eyes may still be damaged unless you protect them
UV is most intense between 10am and 2pm. Make sure that your eyes are protected during this time.
UV is more powerful at high altitude
The effects of UV are amplified in reflective environments: snow, sand, water and concrete.
A wide-brimmed hat or baseball cap offers excellent eye protection screening around 50% of all UV.
Any UV light you’re exposed to now can cause eye problems years down the line, such as macula degeneration (AMD) and cataract,

Decisions, decisions!

Handy hints to help you choose.

All sunspecs must carry the CE mark to prove they filter 99-100% of all UV rays.
Wraparound styles offer the most protection but the large sunspecs favoured by WAGs and celebrities are also good.
Grey tints reduce brightness without distorting colour.
Brown and amber offer best protection from visible blue light and reduce haziness.
Green is good for contrast and a great all-rounder
Rose is good for water-sports and offers good contrast for objects viewed against blue or green backgrounds.

By Louise Addison