With winter comes cold temperatures and short snowy days. But just because it's cold outside doesn't mean you shouldn't wear sunglasses!
Sunglasses, whether prescription sunglasses or not, provide year-round eye protection, which is why it's just as important to wear them in the winter months as during the bright summer season!
Here are five good reasons why you should wear sunglasses in the winter.
1.) UV PROTECTION
This is the most important reason to wear sunglasses, regardless of the weather or time of year.
UVA and UVB ultraviolet radiation can be very harmful. They can do a great deal of damage to the skin, potentially causing skin cancer. But they can also damage your eyes, and they are the main culprits in a number of eye conditions.
This includes cataracts, a clouding of the lens which impairs vision. Other common UV-related disorders are corneal sunburn and even pterygium, a growth on the sclera which can potentially block vision.
The incidence of harmful UV rays does not decrease in the wintertime. They can even be more harmful since people might choose not to wear sunglasses during this part of the year.
Therefore, using sunglasses year-round is a crucial part of eye care, since they can protect your eyes no matter what the weather is.
2.) REDUCED GLARE
Glare can be very annoying, and it can impair driving and other activities.
Glare is caused by bright sunlight shining in your eyes and obstructing your view, typically around sunrise and sunset. The truth is, glare is much worse during the winter months because the sun is much lower on the horizon, scattering light into your eyes.
Sunglasses cut down on glare, allowing you to see more clearly and helping you to be a safer driver.
3.) THEY FEND OFF DEBRIS
Winter can be unpleasant for your eyes. First, there's the dryness, which causes eye irritation and excessive tear production. Cold, windy air can do a lot to dry out eyes.
Wearing sunglasses adds another layer of protection to slow down the evaporation of our eyes' natural moisture. Plus, they help fend off bits of dust and other particles that wind can often blow into our eyes.
4.) THEY HELP WITH EYE STRAIN
Eye strain can be a big problem in the winter.
The presence of reflective snow and the bright winter sun causes a lot of light to enter your eyes, and this leads to automatic pupil constriction. But many times, the pupils can't constrict enough to block off this bright light. This leads to squinting, which in turn leads to eye strain and headaches.
Wear sunglasses in the winter to prevent eye strain and other discomforts.
5.) PREVENT SNOW BLINDNESS
Finally, if you're an outdoor or winter sports enthusiast, sunglasses are crucial.
Whether you're snowshoeing, mountain climbing, or downhill skiing, sunglasses can help prevent snow blindness in the wintertime. Snow blindness is corneal sunburn, or photokeratitis, and is often caused by the reflection of the sun's rays from bright snow.
LOOKING FOR SUNGLASSES TO PROTECT YOUR EYES THIS WINTER?
If you’re looking for a hot new pair of sunglasses to protect your eyes this winter, then pay a visit to Langley Optometry Clinic! Prescription sunglasses have your corrective prescription built right into the lenses to offer you clear vision, eye safety and glare reduction all year round. Plus we carry sunglasses and frames from a selection of top brands to match your style and accentuate your face.
Contact us today at Langley Optometry Clinic—your eyes will thank you!