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Not everyone understands the importance of sunglasses when the weather turns cold.
Polarized sunglasses are usually associated with Summer, but in some ways it is even more important to wear protective glasses during the Winter.
It’s getting to be that time of year when the sun sits at a much different angle, and its rays impact our eyes and skin at a lower position. This translates to an increase in the exposure of harmful UV rays, especially if we are not wearing the proper sunglasses as protection.
Polarized sunglasses, which are much different than the older dye-tinted lenses, are both anti-reflective and UV resistant. A good-quality polarized sunglass lens will protect you from the entire UV spectrum. This not only preserves your vision, but it also protects the skin around the eyes, which is thought to have a much higher rate of susceptibility to skin cancer.
Snow poses another issue that can be countered by polarized sunglasses.
Snow on the ground tends to act as a mirror because of its white reflective surface and this reflection can become a hindrance while driving. The anti-reflective surface of polarized sunglasses helps reduce the glare and gives drivers improved visibility.
Polarized sunglasses come in many different options based on a patient’s needs. Whether it’s single-vision distance lenses, bifocals, or progressive lenses, there is a polarized lens for every patient.
Winter is a great time of year to ask your optical department about purchasing polarized sunglasses.
Article contributed by Richard Striffolino Jr.
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We sometimes get asked, "Why do I need an eye exam when I can see great?"
An eye exam doesn't just check your visual acuity--we are also looking for a number of treatable eye diseases that have few or no visual symptoms in their early stages. In fact, the three leading causes of legal blindness in the United States all start with almost no visual symptoms detectable by the person with the disease. These three diseases are macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. Each of these diseases gets more prevalent as people age. That is why regular eye exams are recommended to become more frequent as adults get older.
Macular Degeneration: The leading cause of legal blindness in the United States is a treatable--but not curable--disease. Early detection and treatment can significantly improve the long-term outcome. In the earliest stages, often when people are unaware that they have a problem, treating the disease with a very specific vitamin regimen called AREDS 2 can help. These vitamins have been shown to slow the progression of the disease and to improve long-term outcomes. When the disease becomes more advanced there is the possibility of bleeding in the retina. If left untreated, that almost always results in severe visual loss. There are now several medications that, when injected into the bleeding eye, can arrest the bleeding and potentially improve vision.
Glaucoma: The second leading cause of legal blindness in the United States is often called "the silent thief of sight." With glaucoma,
Read more: 3 Blinding Diseases We We Can Check for During Your Exam
