We use our eyes with pretty much anything –– from the moment we wake up to the moment we sleep. They help us see the world, see the faces of our friends and loved ones, and get our work done. In fact, 80% of what we perceive as humans comes from our sight. So, it’s only fitting that we take good care of them.
But, many people rarely take precautions to take care of their eyes and eyesight. In reality, some only go to the doctor once something already goes wrong, when we should be taking care of our eyes just as well as the rest of our body.
One effective way to take care of our eyes is using prescription sunglasses. Not only are they stylish but they also provide total protection to your eyes. In this article, we’re listing down reasons why prescription glasses are a necessity and not an option.
1. See better, do better
When you can see things better, you can do a lot of things better. A good example of this is using prescription sunglasses as sportswear. With your sunglasses, you can see things clearer on the field or when you are playing a game.
Mind you, there’s appropriate sunglasses for any outdoor sports. Prescription sunglasses can help provide contrast so that you can see objects clearly. Also, it can protect your eyes from flying objects and the environment. So, this is also a must when your work is mostly done outdoors.
Prescription sunglasses can help prevent dust and debris from getting into your eyes which can cause scratches and damage. In addition, they can help protect your eyes from the brightness and glare of the sun and from other car’s headlights that might result in eye strain. That’s why you should also wear sunglasses while driving.
2. Prevent Eye Diseases
Using prescription sunglasses also helps block your eyes from harmful UV rays. There are multiple eye diseases that you can get from UV exposure alone. Here are some examples:
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Photokeratitis
This disease is the swelling of the cornea. The cornea is the clear covering found in the front of our eye. This disease causes blurred vision, eye redness, eye pain, tearing, and light sensitivity. This is a temporary condition but it causes discomfort and pain.
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Pinguecula
This disease causes a white or yellow bump within your conjunctiva. This is the gelatinous layer that covers the white part of your eye. It can cause redness and swelling. This does not go away by itself. A continuous treatment should be followed.
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Pterygium
This is a white wedge or wing-shaped growth over the white part of your eye. If this continues to grow and is not treated, it can grow up until your cornea. This can cause permanent scarring and could lead to vision loss or distortion.
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Cataracts
This happens after years of sun exposure. It is common among the elderly, however, those who are constantly and more often exposed to the sun develop them sooner.
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Macular Degeneration
This disease is the damage to retinal tissue. Our macula is where the central vision and clearest vision come from. Once there is macular degeneration, there will be a loss of central vision which causes blurred vision and eventually loss of parts of your vision.
A simple practice such as wearing prescription sunglasses every day can prevent or reduce your eye’s exposure to UV rays. This can delay or prevent having these diseases altogether.
3. It Fights Skin Cancer and Aging
UV rays are also the main cause of skin cancer and aging.
As we mentioned while driving, you may experience glare and squint. However, you may develop a squinting habit as long as you are outdoors and your eyes are unprotected. This is because our eyes naturally want to reduce the sun’s damage which causes us to close our eyes or squint.
However, the skin around our eyes is one of the most delicate parts of our body. This is why you may notice that this is where fine lines and wrinkles may first develop. If you squint often, you may have rapid development of fine lines and wrinkles, which we consider aging.
Since the skin near our eyes is so delicate, it is also the part that is most prone to skin cancer. Prescription sunglasses won’t only protect your eyes, but also the skin around them. Just make sure to choose sunglasses that cover the area completely.
4. Sunglasses and Eyeglasses in One
What’s the difference between sunglasses and eyeglasses?
Sunglasses are used to protect the eyes from UV rays and glare of the sun, while, eyeglasses are used to correct vision.
Often, people buy these two separately and it’ll cost you hefty. Prescription sunglasses on the other hand, lets you have the benefits of both sunglasses and eyeglasses in one. You can go out and about while being protected from the harmful UV rays and still see clearly.
The best thing about prescription sunglasses is that you don’t have to carry two pieces of eyewear anywhere you go. Further, you can upgrade your lenses based on your needs. Example of lenses are:
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Transition Lenses
Transition lenses are light responsive lenses. They are clear indoors and they turn darker as they get exposed to more sunlight. These are the best if you plan on buying prescription sunglasses for daily use.
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Polarized Lenses
Polarized lenses are special lenses that fight glare, improve clarity, and boost contrast. These are preferable if you want to reduce glare from reflective surfaces. You can choose this option if you will use your sunglasses often for outdoor activities such as sports or at the beach.
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Mirrored Lenses
Mirrored lenses reduce glare and light by using the mirrored coating to reflect the light outward instead of into your eyes. These remove glare from hard surfaces such as the road or metal better than polarized ones.
Conclusion
Prescription sunglasses aren’t just a stylish option that goes well with any outfit. It’s time that you paid more attention and cared for your eyes too. We hope that our article provided enough information about prescription sunglasses and how they can help protect and improve the health of your eyes!