Myths About Sunglasses
By Sara Butler
Sunglasses are a staple when you're outside. There's no doubt that sunglasses are a great thing to put on when you're outside since they help to protect your eyes, but there's also a lot of misinformation about sunglasses out there. Here's what you need to know about sunglasses to make sure you're getting the best protection when out in the sun.
What Sunglasses Really Do for Your Eyes
When you wear sunglasses, no matter what time of the year, you're protected your eyes from the damaging UVB and UVA rays of the sun. That's why you always want to choose sunglasses that provide UV protection. Ultimately, they'll protect your eyes as well as the skin around your eyes from the sun, which can help to reduce damage to the skin that can lead to serious issues such as skin cancer.
Myth No. 1: The More Expensive the Sunglasses, the Better
Price really doesn't have much to do with the protection offered by sunglasses. What you want to look for is 100 percent UVB and UVA protection for your eyes, not the price tag. Good protection can come at any price point, but if you don't see the appropriate protection, then give them a pass.
Myth No. 2: The Size Isn't Important
Choosing sunglasses that simply cover your eyes isn't the only important thing when it comes to sunglasses. The larger the lens, the better the protection for your eyes since sunlight can get around sunglasses' frames if they're not large enough and can cause damage to your eyes.
Myth No. 3: Sunglasses Can Reduce Glare
If you're looking to reduce glare, then you need to opt for polarized sunglasses. Polarized lenses help to block reflected light, cutting glare and protecting your eyes from the damaging UV rays of the sun. Choosing unpolarized lenses won't have the same impact.
Myth No. 4: The Darker the Lenses, the More Protection Offered
It seems intuitive to think that darker sunglasses will result in more protection, but that's simply not the case. The level of UV protection is not impacted by how dark the lenses are. Sunglass lenses either need to be treated to block UV rays or they need to be made of special polymer materials that do so.
Protect your eyes in the Florida sun all year long!
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