Sunglasses: Not just for fashion on Faribault Daily News

Green grass, flowers and warm sunshine have finally arrived. You pack the car for the beach, including the cooler, the sand toys, the swim goggles, your wide-brimmed hat, and the sunscreen … but haven’t you forgotten something? What about your sunglasses?

More than just a fashion statement, sunglasses should be a vital part of our “sun-protection package.” Just as sunscreen protects our skin and prevents burns and skin cancer, sunglasses protect the eyes from harmful ultraviolet rays that can damage the retina. Studies show conclusively that UV exposure increases the risk of vision loss due to macular degeneration and other similar conditions. These risks go up even higher in people who have had cataract surgery because the cataract is a natural UV blocker; once it is removed, UV exposure increases.

“Okay, I should wear my sunglasses,” you say, “but are my old cheapies any good?” When evaluating a pair of sunglasses you really have three factors to consider: UV blocking, polarization and tint. UV blocking is the single most important feature to look for relative to the health of your eyes. In fact, most sunglasses, even the cheap ones, are likely to provide UV blocking to some extent. Look for 100 percent UVA and UVB blocking on the label; some might even block UVC rays, but that is less important.

Polarization is what makes good sunglasses so comfortable. A polarizing lens blocks reflected light, thus greatly reducing glare without darkening. Sun bouncing off the water or oncoming traffic is a major source of glare and can affect every driver, but also fishermen, boaters and beach goers. A polarized pair of sunglasses is the kind that allows your face to relax the moment you put them on … no more squinting. Fishermen claim to be able to see into the water’s depths with polarized sunglasses, allowing them to better chase the big one.

Tint or color is the least significant feature in the making of a good pair of sunglasses. Simply put, the darker the tint, the less light that passes through the glasses, and the darker the vision becomes. Gray/green tints darken the most and will wash out colors, making everything dimmer while a brown tint will enhance colors, providing the proverbial “rose-colored glasses.” Amber or yellow tints block the least amount of light and can actually work well for dusk/dawn and even into the night without too much trouble; competitive skeet, rifle and pistol shooters prefer the amber tints.

The most important, but often most overlooked feature in sunglasses is the lens itself. Most commercial sunglasses are made of relatively cheap plastic and cannot compare to the quality of a ground lens. A cheaper plastic lens has the UV blocking, the polarization, and the tint all added as coatings while a high quality ground lens can add these features into the grinding process, creating a much more optically pure lens and better vision. Even those of you with clip-ons for your regular glasses will notice a slight blurring of vision when you use them, demonstrating the drawback of “adding layers.” Ground sunglasses, therefore, even if you do not use prescription glasses regularly, are the best sunglasses available but you have to look to find them ... and pay more.

To review, sunglasses should always be 100 percent UVA and UVB blocking to offer maximum protection, with polarized lenses to minimize glare and maximize comfort. The tint is really a personal preference, keeping in mind the affect it has on darkness and color perception, and ground lenses are far superior to commercial grade plastic lenses. Cabela’s, for example, sells Maui Jim sunglasses with ground lenses, polarization, UV blocking and in any tint you would like and in an assortment of frame options, but you will pay a premium.

The best place to get a great pair of sunglasses, however, is in an optical shop. Here the optician can help you select the features that suit your needs, guide you through the different brands available, help you select the proper tint and a quality frame that fits. Putting the whole package together, including your prescription and a bifocal, if needed, will assure you the best sunglass experience you can get.

So next weekend as you pack for the beach, bring the lunches, the cooler, the toys, wide-brimmed hat and the sunscreen, but don’t forget the sunglasses.

— Michael G. Richie, M.D., is an ophthalmologist at Richie Eye Clinic in Faribault. He may be reached at 332-9900.

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Member Opinions: By: mindful on 6/27/10 i wonder how civilization made it this far when they did not have sunglasses. Must have been dropping dead like flies or blind as a bat
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