Sunglasses, Put Them On!

With health damage from the sun you are quickly inclined to think about your skin, but ultraviolet rays can also damage your eyes. All the more important therefore, in sunny weather to take your sunglasses out of your closet.

Harmful to your eyes

UV rays from the sun are more harmful to your eyes than you think. They can damage certain proteins in the eye lens and your retina. In addition, UV radiation can increase the risk of various eye disorders such as macular degeneration (one of the main causes of age-related blindness), photokeratis (when your eyes are burned and you get temporary blindness or spotty vision). It is even linked to eye cancer.

In some cases, wearing sunglasses is a must. 'If light is reflected by water, snow or your car windows, you'll get a double dose of UV light and that can cause twice as much damage.

Of course you don't want to get that on your eyes.

Sunglasses as a guardian angel.

Sunglasses come in all shapes, sizes, colours, shades and prices. However, apart from the size there is relatively little difference in the protective effect per pair of glasses, 'The most important thing is that the sunglasses block 99 to 100 percent of the UV-A and UV-B rays.'

How can you verify that with certainty? 'Just look for a sticker or tag that displays UV protection.

The size of the glasses is important. “Bigger is better - with small, round John Lennon glasses, you get scattered rays coming in from all sides. A 2018 study by Swiss researchers found that large sunglasses block more UV rays than smaller ones, and that UV-blocking glasses offered the most complete protection.

Not always and everywhere

On the other hand, there are times of the day when shielding your eyes with sunglasses may not be a good idea. Studies have shown that photosensitive photoreceptors in the eye help to set the body's biological clock. These receptors play a role in regulating sleep, appetite and more. People who get a lot of light in the morning often sleep better than people who don't. Wearing sunglasses early in the day can disrupt these processes.

It is advised not to wear sunglasses before 9 to 10 a.m. Assuming you don't look directly at the sun, rays are not strong enough in the morning to cause much damage. Exposing your eyes to natural light can help set the body's 'nternal clocks