Photographer: Spencer Platt via Oakley.com
I moved to Florida in 2003 and quickly learned why it’s nicknamed the Sunshine State. I somehow survived four years of living here without sunglasses, finally buying my first pair when I went to college. The minute I put them on, I regretted not buying them sooner. After that, it was hard to find me outside without them on. They made the Florida sun bearable, they were comfortable and of course I thought I looked good in them. After a couple months of enjoying the style affects, I learned of the health benefits as well.
The first and probably most important advantage is the blocking of Ultraviolet (UV) Rays. Prolonged exposure to these rays can cause cataracts (cloudy formations within the eyes), photokeratitis (sunburn of the cornea) and macular degeneration (loss of vision in the center of the visual field). Sunglasses also protect your eyeball as a whole. Too much sun exposure can actually turn the whites of your eyes a yellowish color. Also, the larger wraparound sunglasses not only protect against the sun, but also wind, sand, dirt and even pollen in the air.
When buying sunglasses, always be sure to spend money on a good pair that states it block UV Rays. Sometimes people will buy cheap dollar sunglasses and it actually does more harm than good. Imagine, you put on a cheap pair of sunglasses, your iris notices it’s dim so it decides to open. Now all of a sudden all of those UV rays are coming into your eyes. This is actually worse, because without sunglasses your iris stay closed, causing you to squint and disallowing a lot of those UV Rays entrance to your eye. The morale of the story is to make sure you’re buying sunglasses with UV protection.
Sunglasses are a great invention. They look stylish, are comfortable and most importantly protect your eyes against the negative effects of the sun and other airborne ailments. With all of the benefits that come from them, they are no longer just an accessory; they are becoming a necessity, especially to those who live in a place where the sun shines year round.
Compiled with Information from:
iCoat Company
2020 optical store
http://www.20-20.co.uk/benefits-of-wearing-sunglasses.asp
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