You may like to consider purchasing a good pair of polarised sunglasses for additional protection from solar glare. You don’t need to spend the earth, although a great deal of the designer sunglasses will certainly protect you and may not be as expensive as you think.
It’s not just in the summer you need worry about the sun but in the winter as well, you also need to consider what you are actually doing when you are wearing them. For example, if you are skiing or snowboarding you need to make sure your ski goggles protect you adequately as the glare from the sun will bounce off the snow. However, if there is a danger of thin ice, polarised sunglasses could cause problems because in some cases, definition will be lost because of the lack of reflection off the landscape. If there is no snow but conditions are bright, you will also get this ‘bounce’ effect from wet surfaces. An example of someone who would benefit from polarised sunglasses are fisherman, as these would make it easier for them to see more clearly into the water without the sun reflecting in their eyes. Therefore it is important to remember that safety rather than fashion should be your foremost consideration.
Originally developed by Edwin Land in 1936, lenses are either coated with a protective substance (more common) or have a filter enclosed within them. Polarisation now absorbs solar glare from reflective surfaces by up to 99% and counteracts the bright glare to the eye by restricting the light waves to a singular direction. For example, a visit to the Oakley sunglasses website and you will see that their technology has optimised polarisation so that it now exceeds 99% protection with the lens coating being moulded at the molecular level.
As there are many replicas around, to test whether your polarised sunglasses are authentic, rotate them and watch to see if the light passing through the lens changes intensity – it should not. Do not go for cheap imitations, it is your sight we are talking about.
Your sunglasses should also protect against 100% of all UV rays ( UVA, UVB and UVC). You should also remember that despite the colour or darkness of the lens, it is the clear outer coating that filters the rays and not the colour. UV radiation comes in at least two primary forms, UVA and UVB and both carry their own dangers. UVA can lead to premature skin aging while UVB may cause skin cancer. UVC is a third type of radiation and is mostly found in artificial sources such as certain types of lamps. While short-term exposure is not really harmful to the eyes, repeated and extended exposure is. What you need to look for is a 99 – 100% protection against UV, irrespective of the price of your glasses or the darkness of the lens.
Admittedly, polarised sunglasses may cost you a little more, but even if they are a second pair, there are certainly many benefits, so do at least consider this option.