Sunglasses are essential for summer outings. They not only add style to any look but also protect your eyes. Since their invention in 1752 by English optician James Ayscough, sunglasses have evolved significantly in both technology and design. Despite their wide availability, it is crucial to choose sunglasses that effectively protect your eyes from harmful UVA and UVB rays. Sunglasses without this protection not only serve no purpose but can also be harmful to your eyes.

Doctor Mahyar “Max” Maddahali recently shared a video on his Instagram to explain the potential harm of wearing sunglasses without UVA and UVB protection. He highlighted that “cheap” sunglasses, which do not block these rays, can damage the retina and sclera. As per the doctor, using poor-quality sunglasses can lead to issues like blurred vision, decreased eyesight, and even pinguecula, which is characterised by yellowish spots on the whites of the eyes. He also mentioned that it is essential to choose sunglasses that offer adequate UVA and UVB protection to safeguard eye health effectively.

In the caption of the video, the doctor wrote, “Solar retinopathy is a condition that occurs when the retina is damaged by staring at the sun or other bright lights for too long without protection. It can result in blurred vision, blind spots, or even permanent vision loss.”

Dr. Inna Ozerov, an Ophthalmology specialist, told Miami Eye Institute that other than having glasses that block radiation, one should choose glasses that have a larger frame. She explains, “The pupils will naturally dilate when someone wears sunglasses to allow more light into the eyes. If the frame is not large enough, the UV light will get around the edges of the lens and have an easier time entering the eye when the pupil is dilated.” Interestingly, the colour of lenses, be it red, grey, or black does not matter when it comes to blocking radiation.