I love my big sunglasses. And I’ve always made sure they provided good UV protection. But who knew about glare and that 40 percent of UV light can go in the sides and top of your sunglasses??? Not me. Again, this is why I like doing these stories. I learn something new everyday! And one point that didn’t make it into the body of the story… there are kids sunglasses now that are “transition” glasses. So your child can get one pair they wear inside and outside. There are also super flexible sunglasses for kids too – so they’re really difficult to break. Lots of options out there, so chat with your optometrist.
Here’s the story.
Robyn Silverberg is getting her eyes checked. Her optometrist says she’s a good patient because she thinks of sun protection year round.
Silverberg admits, “I wear my glasses every single day.”
Doctor Paul Dame says that’s great, particularly in a city like Calgary where he sees sun damage in his patients regularly.
“We have so much sunshine in Calgary, we’re so high so there’s more UV, I probably see it 3 to 4 times a day.”
And sun damage can be very dangerous, says Dr. Dame. “It can cause cataracts to occur at a faster rate, prematurely in younger people 30, 40, 50 year old people.”
It can also cause macular degeneration, the loss of central vision, to occur sooner.
“Macular degeneration is normally an age related change in the back of the eye,” explains Dame, “but with excessive UV it could certainly enhance it, make it occur at a faster rate.”
That’s why Doctor Dame recommends polarized sunglasses that protect the eye from UV rays and glare, and also wrap around the eye.
“A lot of fashion sunglasses are very flat and they let in about 40 percent of UV through the sides, whereas wrapped ones let in very little.”
Not only are sunglasses your best protection against sun and glare, but they’re also your best protection against skin cancer.
“There’s carcinomas and melanomas that we commonly see along the eyelid unfortunately, says Dr. Dame, “and you can’t get suntan lotion too close to the eyes it burns, so sunglasses, if we can get patients to wear them, will protect against that too.”
Silverberg’s father has skin cancer of the eyelid, which is another reason why she’s so diligent about wearing her sunglasses. It’s also why she makes her three daughters wear them too.
Silverberg says, “they all have the best quality sunglasses and sunglasses that protect not just the eye but the skin around the eye, and I make them wear them all the time.”