Health & Wellness

Sunglasses Are Like Wearing Sunscreen for the Eyes
By: Dr. Dr. Mark Sibley
Published: May / June 2008

Who has not walked out into the Florida summer sun and quickly run back in to grab a pair of sunglasses? The average person in Florida owns two pairs of sunglasses.

Our research has proven that there is a direct link between the "sunburn rays" from the sun and the developing of damage to the eyes that will block driving vision and reading vision!

Ultraviolet radiation (sunburn rays), from the sun or any UV source, will lead to increased formation of cataracts and retinal degeneration, both of which can cause vision to go bad. The good news is that this damage can greatly be reduced by simply protecting the eyes from the sun's harmful ultraviolet rays. Think of wearing sunglasses as wearing sunscreen for your eyes.

More than 80 percent of sunglasses sold in the Tampa Bay area are imported, and there is absolutely no correlation between the cost of sunglasses and their protection. There also is no correlation between the darkness of the sunglasses and their protection.

Tampa Bay residents need to choose sunglasses that offer the best protection for their eyes. Almost everyone picks sunglasses for the wrong reasons: to make a fashion statement. The #. 1 reason should be to provide visual protection by filtering out ultraviolet light. The glasses also should reduce glare, while distorting colors as little as possible.

Very few of us realize that sunglasses without UV protection are actually doing more harm than good! Wearing old sunglasses WITHOUT UV protection lets in MORE UV light to damage the eye. The dark lenses fool the eyes, and the pupils of the eyes dilate, letting in more UV light.

As a medical doctor ophthalmologist, I want you to enjoy wearing your sunglasses with comfort and confidence. When you are shopping for sunglasses for yourself or your children, I recommend you look for the following:

1. Get the best (100-percent) UV absorbing sunglasses available. The label should say "meets general purpose (or special purpose) UV protection requirements.: They may have a statement "Blocks at least X-percent of UVB and Y-percent of UVA." The higher the percent of protection from UVB (B is bad) is what you want.

2. Do not use the high price of sunglasses or the dark color of the lenses as any indicator of their protection. Remember: Cost and darkness are no proof of sunglasses' protection.

3. Avoid buying sunglasses that have no ultraviolet protection rating posted on them. This might include the fast-food chains that are giving millions of sunglasses to kids this summer, often with no labeling.

We live in Florida, so please take advantage of those fantastic sunny days on the beaches; but be sure to use proper protective eye wear as "sunscreen for your eyes." This is the time of year when the sun's rays are the most direct and are able to do the most damage.

Remember, your eyes deserve the best -- they are the only ones you will ever have.

Dr. Mark Sibley, M.D., F.A.C.S., is a Board Certified Ophthalmologist and laser specialist who practices locally. He is medical advisor to the Society to Prevent Blindness and to the American Diabetes Association, and is team ophthalmologist for the Devil Rays. For more information call Florida Eye Center at 727-895-2020.Visit www.floridaeyecenter.com for more information.